US Government Shutdown Nears Seventh Day Amid Layoff Threats

The ongoing government shutdown, now in its sixth day, has led to furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal employees, with the Trump administration warning of potential mass layoffs if Congress does not restore funding. President Trump and the White House have placed blame on Senate Democrats, accusing them of prolonging the shutdown by attaching healthcare provisions for undocumented immigrants to funding bills, a claim disputed by Democrats. Senate Republicans have proposed a temporary funding bill, but it requires 60 votes to pass, with Democrats demanding healthcare and Medicaid provisions be addressed separately. Senator Susan Collins criticized Democrats for holding the government hostage while also expressing concern about Trump's threats of layoffs. The administration has already frozen billions in infrastructure funds in states with large Democratic populations as negotiations continue without signs of resolution. Both parties remain at an impasse, with the House not set to reconvene until funding is restored, leaving federal workers uncertain about their paychecks and employment status.