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

A reporter asked Vance about Trump's comments that the federal government would be laying off many workers and implying those affected workers would be Democrats.

"We're not targeting federal agencies based on politics," the vice president said. "We're not targeting federal agencies based on politics. We're targeting the people's government so that it as much if possible of the essential services get to continue to function."

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."

"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.

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.

"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.

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.