Government Shutdown Enters Second Day

The federal government entered its second day of a shutdown, leaving federal employees facing furloughs or unpaid work and nonessential offices closed. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said public pressure will force President Trump and Republicans back to the bargaining table to seek a bipartisan deal, while Republican leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson said they had sent a 'clean' continuing resolution through Nov. 21 that preserves Senate Democratic spending levels. Republicans cited a CBO letter they say shows proposed reforms would remove 2.3 million ineligible Medicaid recipients and save $185 billion. The sharp blame game has left the Senate deadlocked and prompted competing press conferences, and federal workers face extended uncertainty as the administration signals it may pursue temporary or permanent workforce spending cuts. Jeffries also publicly condemned an AI 'sombrero/mustache' video posted by President Trump as racist and demanded direct engagement, even as some Democrats privately worry he has been baited. Democrats remain divided over whether their demands would provide health benefits to undocumented immigrants, with Jeffries asserting federal law bars such coverage while others say the dispute over health-care provisions is central to the impasse.