US – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his warning to slash “Democrat programmes” as the US government shutdown enters its sixteenth day without resolution.
The shutdown is negatively impacting Democrats by closing programs they oppose. According to ABC News, Trump warned reporters on Tuesday that many of them would never return.
Trump said a list of programmes may be released as soon as Friday, although he did not provide further details in his remarks. He said that “Republican programmes” would be safe.
Trump has already used the government shutdown to pause or cut $28bn in federal funding for infrastructure and energy projects in Democrat-leaning states like California, Illinois and New York.
The White House has also started making cuts to the federal workforce. About 4,200 employees from eight government departments and agencies received “reduction-in-force notices” on Friday, according to CNBC.
Major cuts were made at the Treasury Department, the Health and Human Services Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some programmes on the chopping block included those historically supported by Republicans as well as Democrats. They included the entire staff of the Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which works with low-income communities, according to CNBC.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, there are around 2.25 million civilian government employees, with roughly 60% working in the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security.
Since the closure began two weeks ago, around 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed, while “essential” staff have continued to work without pay until they are compensated when the shutdown ends.
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The White House says it will take the unusual move of reallocating $8bn in existing funds to keep paying military and coastguard personnel throughout the shutdown, although historically, they also work without pay.
The Senate remains deadlocked over a government spending bill needed to end the shutdown.
A Republican-backed spending package that would have extended government funding until November 21 failed on Monday by a vote of 49 to 45, largely along party lines.
The bill requires 60 votes to pass, but Republicans have been unable to persuade more Democrats to join their cause despite getting the support of a few individual members. Democrats are stalling the bill to push Republicans to negotiate healthcare subsidies.
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