Trump threatens mass layoffs ahead of deadline for government shutdown

Earlier this morning, President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter about how many federal workers he plans to lay off if a government shutdown is not averted.

"Well, we may do a lot," he said.

Trump blamed the Democrats, claiming they wanted more people to enter the US illegally.

White House budget chief Russ Vought recently circulated a memorandum explaining how the Trump administration would use a shutdown to make new, long-term reductions in federal spending and employment rolls.

Positions and government programmes deemed "nonessential" during the closure will be permanently shuttered – an expansion of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) cuts from earlier this year. READ MORE...https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clylje0rmp2t