Trump was asked Tuesday afternoon why people in the government would be laid off during a shutdown when the federal workforce has already undergone a reduction through cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump reinforced that people will be laid off during the shutdown and placed blame on Democrats, again falsely claiming that Democrats want certain health care guarantees for immigrants without legal status.
President Donald Trump sits in the Oval office to sign an executive order, at the White House, Sept. 30, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
“Well, the Democrats want to shut it down. So, when you shut it down, you have to do layoffs. So, we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And the Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats,” Trump said.
“As you know, we — this country, no country, can afford to pay for illegal immigration, health care for everybody that comes into the country. And that’s what they’re insisting. And obviously, I have an obligation to not accept that — that would affect everybody,” Trump said.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie
