By Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Nolan D. McCashill and Andy Sullivan
The president of Washington (Reuters) -s, Donald Trump, warned the Democrats of Congress on Tuesday that allowing the federal government to close at midnight would allow its administration to take “irreversible” actions, including important closing programs for them.
“We can do things during the closure that are irreversible, which are bad for them and irreversible by them, such as cutting a large number of people, cutting things they like, cutting programs they like,” Trump said in comments to the journalists of the Oval Office of the White House.
“You all know Russell Vought,” Trump added, referring to the director of the Office of Administration and Budget. “It has recently become very popular because it can cut the budget at a level that could not do otherwise.” Trump did not specify the actions he could take, but has recently raised the possibility of further reducing federal workforce.
At midnight, the United States will enter its 15th government closure since 1981, unless the Republicans and Democrats in Congress agree to temporarily finance federal agencies with the beginning of Wednesday of a new fiscal year.
However, no sign pointed out such a result.
The Senate controlled by the Republicans is expected to vote on a temporary spending bill that has already failed once, without signs that a second vote will bring success before the deadline of midnight (0400 GMT on Wednesday).
Democrats want to modify the bill to extend the health benefits for millions of Americans who will expire at the end of the year. Republicans say they must address this problem separately.
The budget -related clashes have become a routine feature in Washington, since the policy of the nation has become increasingly dysfunctional, although they are often resolved in the last minute. The Government closed for the last time for 35 days in 2018 and 2019, during Trump’s first mandate, due to a dispute over immigration.
Billion dollars fight
In question, it is now $ 1.7 billion that finances the agency’s operations, which is equivalent to approximately a quarter of the total budget of $ 7 billion from the government. Much of the rest goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing debt of $ 37.5 billion.
Meanwhile, federal agencies began issuing detailed plans that would close the offices that carry out scientific research, customer service and other activities that are not considered essential and would send thousands of workers home if Congress does not agree on a solution before the funds expire.
Budget experts warned that some Americans could already be feeling the consequences.
With Medicare’s refunds for “acute hospital care” at home potentially when interrupted, patients needed to find hospitalized facilities, said Jonathan Burks, a health specialist at the Bipartisan Policies Center. “That is a real interruption while we talk,” he told the journalists early on Tuesday.
He added that Medicare’s refunds for Telesalud’s medical visits would also expire at midnight.
The airlines warned that a closure could delay flights, while the Labor Department said it would not issue its monthly unemployment report, an economic health barometer observed closely. The administration of small businesses said it would stop issuing loans, while the Environmental Protection Agency said it would suspend some pollution efforts.
The longer a closure lasts, the wider the impact will be.
Public housing subsidies for low -income families could wilt and some operators of the early education programs of Head Start for children from low -income families could see delays in their reception money, according to experts at the Bipartisan Policies Center.
Deepfake video
A White House meeting on Monday between Trump and Congress leaders did not lead to an agreement. Trump continued to publish a Deepfake video that shows manipulated images of the leader of the Democratic Senate Chuck Schumer, seemed to criticize the Democrats, while the Democrat of the Top Chamber Joffries stopped with him, with a crudely drawn hat and mustache taxes on his face.
Speaking to journalists outside the United States Capitol, Jeffries responded to Trump’s publication: “The next time you have something to say about me, do not send a video of racist and false. When I return to the oval office, say to my face.”
Any last minute agreement would also have to be approved by the Chamber controlled by the Republicans, which should not call until Wednesday, after the financing expires.
Administration threatens more dismissals
Trump’s will to ignore the laws of expenses approved by Congress has injected more uncertainty this time, and has threatened to extend its purge of the Federal Labor Force if the Congress allows the government to close.
In spring, he ordered federal agencies to consider saying goodbye to “non -essential” employees that they would normally be ordered that they do not work during a closure.
Trump has also refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, which led some Democrats to question why they should vote for any expense legislation. Although Republicans control both Congress cameras, they need at least seven democratic votes to approve Senate legislation.
Together with extended health subsidies, Democrats have also tried to make sure Trump cannot undo these changes if they are signed.
Closed outside of power in Washington, the Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to obtain a rare victory before the mid -period elections of 2026 that will determine the control of the congress during the last two years of Trump’s mandate. The impulse of health has given them the opportunity to join behind a subject that resonates with voters.
Even so, some at the party have questioned whether it is worth risking it.
“It is not about politics or who is blamed for it. It is the damage to millions of Americans,” Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told journalists.
(Richard Cowan report, Courtney Rozen, David Morgan, Nandita Bose, Andy Sullivan and Bo Erickson in Washington; additional reports from Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu, Nolan McCashill and Trevor Hunnicut; writing by Andy Sullivan; Edition of Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)
(Tagstotranslate) Donald Trump
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