Trump Targets 'Democrat Agencies' As Government Shutdown Enters Third Day

Tue Oct 14 2025 09:07:06 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As the US government shutdown drags on, President Donald Trump announces plans to cut funding for 'Democrat Agencies', intensifying the blame game between parties as hundreds of thousands of federal workers face uncertainty.

President Trump has vowed to work with budget officials to identify which 'Democrat Agencies' may face funding cuts as the government shutdown continues into its third day. Both parties are engaged in a spirited blame game over the shutdown, which has forced hundreds of thousands of federal workers to stay home or work without pay. Despite ongoing negotiations, analysts suggest that the situation may only improve under pressure from everyday Americans, many of whom have yet to feel direct impacts from the shutdown.

President Donald Trump has said he and his budget director will work out which 'Democrat Agencies' to cut as the US government shutdown approached its third day.

He suggested Republicans should seize the opportunity to 'clear out dead wood' and gave no hint of concessions to Democratic demands that legislation funding the government should include healthcare insurance subsidies.

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, continued to blame each other for failing to keep federal agencies open.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are staying home, while others worked without pay. Some federal attractions closed to visitors while others, including the Statue of Liberty, stayed open.

Analysts don't expect either side to budge without pressure from everyday Americans, most of whom have yet to feel direct impacts on their lives.

When Congress fails to keep the US government open, the OMB director works with the president to pick which government activities should stop and which are essential.

Both sides must come together to pass legislation if the government is to reopen. Republicans need eight Democratic senators to vote with them, while Democrats need 13 Republicans to side with them.

As politicians traded barbs, US government services started to grind to a halt, and thousands of federal workers stayed home. About 750,000 federal workers were expected to take unpaid leave, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).