Johnson: "An Opportunity for Republicans"
Vice President Vance: "No Desire for Layoffs... Responsibility Lies with Democrats"
Senate Rejects Stopgap Budget Bill Again
On the first day of the U.S. federal government shutdown (temporary suspension of work) on October 1 (local time), the Donald Trump administration and the Republican Party discussed reducing the number of federal employees. Hardliners insist that large-scale layoffs should be used as leverage to pressure the Democratic Party, while moderates are taking a cautious stance, fearing a backlash.
The Senate once again held a vote on a stopgap budget bill to end the shutdown, but it was ultimately rejected.
According to Bloomberg News on this day, the Republican Party openly discussed reducing the federal workforce in light of the current shutdown.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House from the Republican Party, said in an interview with Fox News, "This shutdown gives us an opportunity to pursue things that would normally be difficult for Republicans to achieve without Democratic votes. The White House will have to decide which services are essential, which programs and policies should continue, and which are not priorities."
This statement is in line with President Trump's remarks the previous day. He had warned the Democrats, saying, "If there is a shutdown, there will be many layoffs."
In contrast, Vice President J.D. Vance drew a clear line against the possibility of mass layoffs using the shutdown. He asserted, "No one in the Republican Party wants to fire anyone," and claimed that the responsibility for the negative consequences of the shutdown lies with the Democrats.
Congress failed to pass not only the new fiscal year's budget but also a stopgap budget bill by the previous day, the last day of the 2025 fiscal year. As a result, as of 12:01 a.m. on this day, the federal government suspended operations for the first time in seven years since December 2018. The Democratic Party insists that the extension of Obamacare subsidies must be included in the stopgap budget bill, but the Republican Party opposes this, defining it as a benefit for undocumented immigrants, leading to a deadlock in negotiations. Without congressional approval, most government agencies cannot receive funding, resulting in a significant number of federal employees, except for essential personnel, being placed on unpaid leave and various administrative services being suspended.
Meanwhile, moderate members from both the Republican and Democratic parties are seeking common ground to restore normal government functions and are discussing exit strategies that could help both parties save face.
On the same day, the Senate convened a plenary session to try to pass the Democrats' stopgap budget bill to end the shutdown, but it was rejected by a vote of 47 in favor and 53 against. The Republican stopgap budget bill was also rejected, with 55 in favor and 45 against. At least 60 votes are required to pass a stopgap budget bill. However, as three Democratic or Democratic-leaning independent senators voted in favor of the Republican bill, there is speculation that the Democrats' negotiating power may weaken going forward.
CNN reported that the next Senate re-vote is expected to take place on October 3.
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