VP JD Vance says to expect layoffs as government shutdown continues

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Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that layoffs are expected within the federal government as the shutdown continues. "We don't like that, we don't necessarily want to do it, but we're going to do what we have to — to keep the American people's essential services continuing to run," Vance said on Wednesday. In Congress, the stalemate has continued as funding measures proposed by both Democrats and Republicans have failed to secure the 60 votes needed — lawmakers have largely voted along party lines. Democrats have urged GOP lawmakers to negotiate an extension in subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, warning that millions of Americans could see higher premiums in the months ahead if action isn't taken. Republicans say they are open to negotiations but insist health care should not be part of the current funding debate. With no resolution in sight, Scripps News learned Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought told House Republicans on a conference call that federal employee layoffs will begin in the next few days. He also said certain programs would be cut, including infrastructure projects in New York, the home state of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and energy projects in more than a dozen Democratic-led states.