Overview

• A Defense Department document says 334,904 civilian employees were placed on unpaid leave, while more than 2 million active-duty troops continue working without pay.
• State Department plans call for 10,436 employees to be furloughed as excepted operations continue under shutdown rules.
• President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance blamed Democrats for the impasse, with Trump saying he is consulting OMB Director Russ Vought on cutting certain agencies, potentially on a permanent basis.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned the shutdown could dent GDP and jobs, and the IMF said the economic impact hinges on how long the funding lapse lasts.
• The Washington Post reported internal legal cautions that mass firings during a shutdown could violate budget law, and federal unions have sued to block proposed layoffs.