JD Vance, the vice president of the United States, faced backlash after using false claims to blame Democrats for the current government shutdown. His remarks came as the White House warned of possible layoffs across federal agencies while a funding standoff continues in Congress.
The shutdown began at midnight after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a temporary funding measure. This deadlock has brought heightened tension, with President Donald Trump aiming to cut federal departments and hinting that furloughed workers could face permanent job losses.
Speaking at the White House briefing room, Vance said the administration might be forced to lay off workers if the shutdown drags on. “We don’t like that. We don’t necessarily want to do it, but we’re going to do what we have to do to keep essential services running,” he told reporters. Around 750,000 federal employees are expected to be furloughed, while essential staff such as military and border agents could work without pay.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the warning, claiming Democrats caused the shutdown. She said the president had instructed agencies to prepare for cuts and confirmed that layoffs could begin soon, though no exact timeline was given.
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