US President Donald Trump has followed through on a threat to use the government shutdown to target Democratic priorities, targeting programs in 16 states run by the opposition party.
The moves made clear that Trump will use the shutdown to punish his political opponents and extend his control over the $7 trillion federal budget, which in theory is the domain of Congress.
The government shutdown, the 15th since 1981, suspended scientific research, financial oversight and environmental cleanup efforts, including $US8 billion for green-energy projects in 16 Democratic-run states, including California and Illinois.
WHAT ABOUT THE JOBS OF FEDERAL WORKERS?
Some 750,000 federal workers have been ordered not to work, while others, such as troops and Border Patrol agents, began to work without pay.
Vice President JD Vance said at a White House briefing that the administration would be forced to resort to layoffs if the shutdown lasts more than a few days, adding to the 300,000 who will be pushed out by December. Previous shutdowns have not resulted in permanent layoffs.
WHY ARE DEMOCRATS ALLEGING âBLACKMAILâ?
Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, said the funding freeze for subway and harbour projects in his home state of New York would throw thousands out of work.
Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, also from New York, said Trump was targeting regular Americans for partisan aims.
âHe is using the American people as pawns, threatening pain on the country as blackmail,â Schumer said.
Republican Senate Leader John Thune dismissed concerns that the spending freeze amounted to hostage-taking.
âWell, vote to open up the government and that issue goes away, right? I mean, itâs pretty straightforward,â he said at a press conference.
Jeffries said he had not had any contact with the White House since a meeting with Trump earlier in the week.
âWe havenât heard from the White House since the White House meeting on Monday,â he told CNN. âClearly, they wanted to shut the government down.â
IS THERE ANY SIGN OF RESOLVING THE DISPUTE?
Not at the moment â the Senate has again rejected efforts to keep the government functioning.
Both a Republican proposal that would fund the government through November 21 and a Democratic vote that would pair funding with additional health benefits failed to pass.
Trumpâs Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, but they need the support of at least seven Democrats to meet the chamberâs 60-vote threshold for spending bills.
Both sides seek to pin the blame on the other, looking for advantage ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
With Reuters
