Vance warns ‘deeper’ cuts forward for federal employees as shutdown enters twelfth day

By STEVE PEOPLES

Vice President JD Vance on Sunday stated there shall be deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the authorities shutdown goes on, including to the uncertainty dealing with lots of of hundreds who’re already furloughed with out pay amid the cussed stalemate in Congress.

Vance warned that because the federal shutdown entered its twelfth day, the brand new cuts could be “painful,” whilst he stated the Trump administration labored to make sure that the navy is paid this week and a few companies could be preserved for low-income People, together with meals help.

Nonetheless, lots of of hundreds of presidency employees have been furloughed in current days and, in a court docket submitting on Friday, the Workplace of Administration and Funds stated nicely over 4,000 federal staff would quickly be fired along side the shutdown.

“The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be,” Vance stated on Fox Information’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “To be clear, a few of these cuts are going to be painful. This isn’t a state of affairs that we relish. This isn’t one thing that we’re wanting ahead to, however the Democrats have dealt us a reasonably tough set of playing cards.”

Labor unions have already filed a lawsuit to cease the aggressive transfer by President Donald Trump’s funds workplace, which works far past what normally occurs in a authorities shutdown, additional inflaming tensions between the Republicans who management Congress and the Democratic minority.

1 of 4

Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson, R-La., listens to different GOP leaders as a authorities shutdown begins its tenth day, in Washington, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photograph/J. Scott Applewhite)

Develop

The shutdown started on Oct. 1 after Democrats rejected a short-term funding repair and demanded that the invoice embrace an extension of federal subsidies for medical insurance underneath the Inexpensive Care Act. The expiration of these subsidies on the finish of the 12 months will end in month-to-month value will increase for thousands and thousands.

Trump and Republican leaders have stated they’re open to negotiations on the well being subsidies, however insist the federal government should reopen first.

For now, negotiations are nearly nonexistent. Dug in as ever, Home leaders from each events pointed fingers at one another in rival Sunday appearances on “Fox Information Sunday.”

“Now we have repeatedly made clear that we are going to sit down with anybody, anytime, anyplace,” stated Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “Republicans management the Home, the Senate and the presidency. It’s unlucky they’ve taken a my-way-or-the-highway method.”

Home Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats and stated they “appear to not care” in regards to the ache the shutdown is inflicting.

“They’re attempting their finest to distract the American folks from the straightforward undeniable fact that they’ve chosen a partisan battle in order that they’ll show to their Marxist rising base within the Democratic Celebration that they’re keen to battle Trump and Republicans,” he stated.

Progressive activists, in the meantime, expressed new help for the Democratic Celebration’s place within the shutdown battle.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the main progressive protest group Indivisible, stated he’s “feeling good in regards to the energy of Dem place.” He pointed to fractures within the GOP, noting that Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly warned final week that well being care insurance coverage premiums would skyrocket for common People — together with her personal grownup kids — if nothing is finished.

“Trump and GOP are rightfully taking the blame for the shutdown and for looming premium will increase,” Levin stated. “Their chickens are coming house to roost.”

And but the Republican administration and its congressional allies are exhibiting no indicators of caving to Democratic calls for or backing away from threats to make use of the chance to pursue deeper cuts to the federal workforce.

1000’s of staff on the departments of Training, Treasury, Homeland Safety and Well being and Human Companies, in addition to the Environmental Safety Company, are set to obtain layoff notices, based on spokespeople for the companies and union representatives for federal employees.

“You hear numerous Senate Democrats say, nicely, how can Donald Trump probably lay off all of those federal employees?” Vance stated. “Nicely, the Democrats have given us a alternative between giving low-income ladies their meals advantages and paying our troops on the one hand, and, however, paying federal bureaucrats.”

Democrats say the firings are unlawful and pointless.

“They don’t have to do that,” stated Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “They don’t have to punish those that shouldn’t discover themselves on this place.”