US federal shutdown enters sixth day as threat of layoffs looms

6/10/2025 18:59

The U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day on Monday, with President Donald Trump's Republicans and congressional Democrats still at an impasse and the White House threatening to ramp up pressure by ordering mass layoffs of federal workers.



The Republican-led Senate was slated to vote again on dueling measures to fund federal agencies, including a Republican stopgap bill approved by the House of Representatives that would fund operations through November 21, and a Democratic alternative.



Neither was expected to receive the 60 votes needed to advance. Asked on Sunday night when the government would begin laying off federal workers, Trump said: "It's taking place right now." He blamed Democrats for the impasse but did not elaborate on the layoff plans.



The White House has said thousands could be fired if the shutdown persists. Trump's budget director, Russell Vought, has already frozen at least $28 billion in infrastructure funds for New York, California and Illinois — all home to sizable Democratic populations and critics of the president.