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Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

"We will not fund states that allow anarchy," she told reporters.

Last Updated: October 4, 2025, 8:50 AM EDT

The federal government remains closed amid a bitter impasse on Capitol Hill over competing congressional spending bills.

President Donald Trump and Republicans have cast blame for the shutdown on Democrats' health care demands, while Democrats insist Republicans need to negotiate.

The Trump administration has threatened mass layoffs of some federal workers during the shutdown.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 29, 2025, 6:27 PM EDT

Bondi directs ‘all necessary officers’ to protect ICE

Attorney General Pam Bondi formalized her directive dispatching "all necessary officers" from ATF, the U.S. Marshals, DEA and FBI "to defend ICE facilities and personnel whenever and wherever they come under attack, including Portland and Chicago."

Bondi previously announced the directive in social media posts over the weekend.

In her memo, Bondi said she has directed the department to evaluate whether existing grant fundings and other technical assistance can be proved to federal, state and local authorities providing assistance to ICE facilities.

Attorney General Pam Bondi listens as President Donald Trump signs a presidential memorandum on the death penalty in the District of Columbia in the Oval Office at the White House, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

She added that funding could also be used toward "the purchase of body-worn cameras and other such equipment" that may be deemed necessary by federal authorities.

"The Department of Justice will arrest and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law every person who aids, abets, or conspires to commit these crimes, whether through funding, coordination, planning, or other means," Bondi said.

-ABC News’ Alex Mallin

Sep 29, 2025, 6:26 PM EDT

OPM memo: Workers responsible for firings will work during shutdown

Federal government employees who oversee firings will be allowed to continue working during a government shutdown, the Office of Personnel Management said in a memo Monday.

The guidance appears to pave the way for the Trump administration to follow through on plans to lay off federal workers if the government shuts down.

In another change in policy from past shutdowns, furloughed federal employees will be able to use government-issued computers -- to check for emails announcing layoffs, OPM said in the memo. In past shutdowns, furloughed workers have been prohibited from using official laptops for any reason.

-ABC News’ Benjamin Siegel

Sep 29, 2025, 5:45 PM EDT

Congressional leaders blame each other after White House meeting to avoid shutdown

Vice President JD Vance said Monday the government appears headed for a shutdown on Wednesday “because Democrats won’t do the right thing.”

Congressional leaders from both parties met with Trump at the White House Monday but left without a deal to extend funding past the 12:01 a.m. Wednesday deadline with both sides blaming the other for the stalemate.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that "large differences" remain -- particularly on health care.

Vice President JD Vance talks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune listen.
Alex Brandon/AP

House Speaker Mike Johnson accused the Democrats of inserting “extraneous issues” into the discussions.

“If the Democrats make the decisions to shut the government down, the consequences are on them.”

While Vance said Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries offered some “reasonable” ideas, “What’s not reasonable is to hold those ideas as leverage and to shut down the government unless we give you everything you want.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the Democrats’ demands "a hijacking of the American people, and it's the American people that are going to pay the price."

Sep 29, 2025, 3:34 PM EDT

Trump says Israel has 'our full backing' in their response if Hamas rejects plan

President Donald Trump said they are waiting for approvals "from a lot of different countries that are involved in this" regarding his proposal.

If Hamas ultimately rejects the plan, the president told Netanyahu during his remarks that "you'd have our full backing to do what you would have to do."

"Everyone understands that the ultimate result must be the elimination of any danger posed in the region, and that danger is caused by Hamas," Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, September 29, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock

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