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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.

ByKevin Shalvey, Megan Forrester, Ivan Pereira, and David Brennan
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.
Oct 01, 2025, 1:45 PM EDT

Vance says government needs to 'triage' during shutdown

Vice President JD Vance was asked about the federal government's freezing of New York's transit infrastructure and if the move was done to "squeeze Chuck Schumer's home state until he blinks."

The vice president didn't answer the question, remarking that White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was "heartbroken about the fact that he's unable to give certain things to certain constituencies."

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing in Washington, October 1, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

"We want to do everything that we can to help the American people. But when the Democrats shut down the government, we have to actually do a little triage to make sure the most critical and most essential services are provided," Vance said.

Oct 01, 2025, 1:40 PM EDT

'I don't think it's going to be that long of a shutdown': Vance

Vice President JD Vance, while speaking at a White House press briefing, said that he does not think the government shutdown will be long.

"I don't know, I can't predict what Congressional Democrats are going to do," Vance said.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing in Washington, October 1, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

"I actually don't think it's going to be that long of a shutdown," Vance said.

Vance also continued to falsely claim that Democrats want to give free health care to those without legal status.

Oct 01, 2025, 1:27 PM EDT

Vance joins Leavitt for White House press briefing

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was joined by Vice President JD Vance in a press briefing on Wednesday. Leavitt spoke about the government shutdown that took part on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., saying "pure partisan politics" caused the shutdown.

"So the American people woke up this morning and asked the obvious question, why is the government shutdown right now? The answer is pure partisan politics being played by the Democrat party," Leavitt said.

A sign indicating that the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed due to the government shutdown, October 1, 2025 in Washington.
Al Drago/Getty Images

Oct 01, 2025, 12:58 PM EDT

Government websites displaying messages blaming Democrats for shutdown

Official government websites are starting to display messages on their homepage blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.

A view of a podium ahead of a press conference with U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on the first day of a partial government shutdown, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, October 1, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, website updates will be limited until full operations resume," the State Department's website reads.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development states on its website that the "Radical Left in Congress shut down the government."

"President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people," the statement on the Department of Agriculture's website reads.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

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