The U.S. government shutdown, now into its twelfth day, has prompted Vice President JD Vance to warn of more severe job cuts beyond the thousands already lost.
“The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be. Some of these cuts are going to be painful,” he said. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed without pay amid stalled congressional negotiations.
The shutdown began on October 1 after Democrats blocked a short-term funding bill, demanding an extension of health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans have refused, leading to a deadlock that has halted many government operations. Democrats warn millions could lose affordable coverage if subsidies are not restored.
The Trump administration started cutting over 4,000 federal jobs across agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though some CDC layoffs were reversed after notices were mistakenly sent.
Essential staff such as law enforcement and air traffic controllers continue working without pay, but troops will be paid with Pentagon funds redirected from research budgets, as ordered by President Trump.
Cultural institutions are also feeling the impact, with the Smithsonian museums and National Zoo in Washington, D.C., temporarily closed due to funding exhaustion, depriving the public of access to major national landmarks.
Political tensions remain high, with Democrats insisting on immediate reinstatement of healthcare subsidies, while many Republicans oppose extensions. Vance blamed Democrats for the impasse, calling the situation a difficult set of cards.
Federal employees face financial hardship as paychecks are missed, despite guaranteed back pay after the shutdown ends. The continuing budget dispute puts essential government functions on hold and affects millions of Americans nationwide.