Government Shutdown Takes Hold With Mass Layoffs Looming and No End in Sight

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 29: A view of the U.S. Capitol on September 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) are scheduled to meet Monday afternoon with President Donald Trump at the White House to try and avoid a government shutdown at midnight September 30. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government was thrown into a shutdown with no easy endgame in sight. Democrats held firm Wednesday to their demands to salvage health care subsidies that President Donald Trump and Republican in Congress have refused to negotiate. The White House threatened mass layoffs of federal workers in a matter of days. No new talks were scheduled after the president failed this week to secure a deal with congressional leaders. Blame was being cast on all sides. A vote to end the government shutdown has failed. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he’s praying that Democrats come to their senses.