White House retracts Trump’s claim of layoffs amid ongoing government shutdown
Washington: The White House clarified on Monday that no US government employees have been laid off “right now.” Stepping back from President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks suggesting that job losses were already underway due to the ongoing federal shutdown, officials, however, cautioned that layoffs could occur if Congress fails to restore government funding soon.
In its sixth day, the partial shutdown has halted operations across multiple agencies, while no permanent dismissals have been reported.
President Trump had stated on Sunday night that workers were being laid off “right now.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified on Monday that the president was referring to federal employees who have been furloughed since funding expired on October 1, and claimed that the Office of Management and Budget was working with agencies to determine which employees would risk layoffs if the shutdown continued.
Labor unions representing federal workers have filed lawsuits to block any such dismissals. They argued that such actions would violate existing labor laws, which carry criminal penalties.
The Republican proposal seeks to extend funding through November 21, while the Democratic proposal includes an extension of healthcare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. Trump has indicated openness to a deal on healthcare subsidies, which would assist about 24 million Americans in purchasing insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Democratic Senator Patty Murray, on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said on social media, “We need a deal that reopens the government and stops premiums from doubling.” Speaker Mike Johnson said he had no plans to reconvene the chamber until a funding agreement was reached, while the House of Representatives was not in session.
The impasse has frozen an estimated $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending, which is one-quarter of the federal budget. The remainder of U.S. government expenditure goes toward entitlement programs and interest on the national debt, which currently stands at $37.88 trillion.
The administration has also placed a hold on at least $28 billion in infrastructure funding earmarked for New York, California, and Illinois, all states led by Democrats. Democratic leaders have refused to yield to the White House’s stance.
Essential personnel, including border security and airport staff, have continued working without pay, while non-critical government functions have largely come to a halt. The Federal Register, which typically publishes over 100 notices and proposed regulations daily, listed only four entries on Monday.
The impact may deepen next week when 1.3 million military personnel and associated workers are expected to miss their first paychecks. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also warned that rising sick calls among air traffic controllers could result in flight delays.
Senate Democrats have voted down the Republican funding bill four times, and GOP leaders need at least eight Democratic votes to advance their measure, while only two Democrats and one independent have crossed party lines so far.
Several Democrats are pressing for a healthcare subsidy deal before open enrollment begins on November 1, while Speaker Johnson suggested that negotiations could take time.
“We’ve got probably 100 ideas for reforms on the table, but I can’t snap my fingers this afternoon and make that happen,” Johnson said in an interview with the Hugh Hewitt Show.
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PM must clarify whether he endorses Sarma's 'utterly shameful' remarks on Kharge: Priyanka
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New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the use of "abusive" language by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is "utterly shameful" and added Prime Minister Narendra Modi must clarify whether he endorses this "insult".
Sarma had triggered a row on Tuesday when he hit out at Kharge, saying that he was "speaking like a mad man" due to old age, after the latter put the onus on central agencies to probe the charges made against the Assam chief minister.
In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The kind of abusive and derogatory language used by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against the Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, is utterly shameful and unacceptable."
She said Kharge is one of the most senior leaders in the country and serves as an enlightened representative not only of the Congress party but also of the Dalits and the marginalised sections of the nation.
"By insulting him, the BJP chief minister has insulted crores of people across the country," she said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi must clarify to the nation: does he endorse this insult directed at crores of Indians?" she said.
The Congress on Tuesday accused Sarma of insulting party chief Kharge and demanded an unconditional apology from him for his "deplorable conduct" that it alleged reflects the "anti-Dalit mindset" of the BJP.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday had said the use of "derogatory language" against party chief Mallikarjun Kharge by Sarma was an insult to the entire SC/ST community, and the silence of Prime Minister Modi on the matter "is not his helplessness, but his consent".
"If the prime minister sees an attack on the dignity of crores of Dalits in the country and does not speak up - he is not only shirking his responsibility, but is also a party to that insult," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
Gandhi said the use of "vulgar and derogatory language" by Sarma against Kharge "is entirely condemnable, shameful, and unacceptable".
"Kharge ji is a senior and popular Dalit leader of the country - his experience, stature, and prestige are unparalleled. Insulting him is not an insult to one individual alone, but also to crores of people from the SC-ST community in this country," he posted.
This, he said, just reflected the "old and premeditated mindset" of the BJP-RSS and was nothing new.
"Whether it is the insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar, belittling Dalit leaders, or personal attacks on representatives of the SC-ST community - the history of BJP and RSS bears witness that whenever a Dalit leader speaks the truth, they stoop to humiliate him," Gandhi said.
"This is their ideology, this is their true character and face," he added.
Posing a direct question to the prime minister, he asked, "Do you support Himanta Sarma's use of this language? Your silence is not helplessness, it is consent."
