Federal Government Shutdown Deepens Amid Political Blame, Threatened Layoffs, Health Coverage Cuts

The federal government shutdown, now in its third day, has been widely attributed to President Donald Trump, with accusations that his administration is using the shutdown to push a political agenda and consolidate power. Critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have called Trump a "megalomaniac" who seeks increased power for himself and his allies, highlighting the unprecedented refusal of Senate Republicans to negotiate bipartisan funding to keep the government open. The shutdown has led to thousands of federal workers being furloughed and threatened mass layoffs, particularly impacting agencies like the CDC, intensifying fears among employees that the administration intends to downsize government functions deliberately. Democrats are leveraging the funding negotiations to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Republicans oppose, falsely framing Democrats as supporting free healthcare for undocumented immigrants, a claim that has been debunked. The Trump administration's tactics have drawn legal criticism for potentially violating the Hatch Act by coercing federal employees to deliver politically charged messages blaming Democrats for the shutdown. The impasse threatens to result in significant healthcare losses for millions of Americans, with Sanders warning of potential deaths linked to Medicaid and ACA cuts if the stalemate continues.