White House: "High Likelihood U.S. Government Shutdown Will End This Week"

Kevin Hassett, NEC Chairman, in CNBC Interview
"If Shutdown Is Not Resolved, Stronger Measures Will Be Considered"

Kevin Hassett, Chairman of the White House National Economic Council (NEC), stated on October 20 (local time) that the United States federal government shutdown could come to an end within this week.

Kevin Hassett, Chairman of the White House National Economic Council (NEC). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

In an interview with CNBC on the same day, Chairman Hassett placed the blame for the shutdown on Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, saying, "I believe the Schumer shutdown is very likely to end this week." He added, "There is a strong possibility that the situation will be resolved very quickly this week. Moderate Democratic lawmakers will step forward to reopen the government, and by then, they will be able to negotiate the policies they want through normal procedures."

He warned, "If that does not happen, the White House will have to closely consider taking stronger measures together with Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to bring the Democrats to the negotiating table."

This shutdown crisis has continued for 20 days since October 1, after the U.S. Congress failed to pass both the new fiscal year 2026 budget and a stopgap spending bill. The Democratic Party insists that the temporary spending bill must include an extension of subsidies for Obamacare, while the Republican Party opposes this, viewing it as a benefit for undocumented immigrants. As a result, the federal government has suspended operations except for essential work.

President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to continue cutting funding for programs promoted by the Democratic Party in light of the shutdown. In a Fox News interview aired the previous day, he said, "We will cut Democratic programs that we never wanted," adding, "They do not realize that I have the authority to eliminate free welfare programs that the Republican Party never wanted."