U.S. Government Shutdown Enters Third Day Amid Trump Layoff Threats

The U.S. federal government shutdown has continued into its third day with no resolution in sight, as Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over funding and policy demands, particularly concerning subsidies for health care plans under Obamacare. Senate votes on competing short-term funding bills have repeatedly failed to break the impasse, with no votes held on Thursday due to Yom Kippur and weekend votes appearing unlikely. President Trump has responded by threatening mass layoffs of federal workers, escalating concerns that furloughs could turn into permanent job losses. The shutdown has also caused a halt in critical federal functions, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inability to release September employment data, complicating economic assessments during this period. Experts warn that over 1.3 million federal workers risk losing pay if the shutdown continues, underscoring the widespread impact on government employees and services. Unless a compromise emerges soon, the shutdown is expected to persist into the following week, prolonging uncertainty for federal workers and the economy.