WASHINGTON – The federal government shutdown rolled on to Day 10 on Friday after senators the day before voted down dueling funding bills for the seventh time.

With both sides not budging from their positions, it appears increasingly likely the shutdown will extend through the weekend and into next week.

The Senate on Thursday defeated a Republican-backed bill to fund the government through Nov. 21, in a 54-45 vote that fell shy of the 60 votes it needs to override a Democratic filibuster. Democrats continue to demand changes to health care policy be included in any funding bill.

President Donald Trump doubled down on his threats to cut what he called “Democrat programs” from the government if the shutdown keeps dragging on.

“We're going to be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren't popular with Republicans, frankly, because that's the way this works," President Trump said. "They wanted to do this, so we'll give them a little taste of their own medicine."

Trump is scheduled to travel to the Middle East on Sunday to celebrate the signing of a peace deal between Isarel and Hamas. It's unclear how long he will be there.

Nonprofit leader: 'Wrong to use civil servants as hostages'

Following the White House's announcement that mass layoffs of federal workers were underway, a nonpartisan nonprofit leader spoke out against the moves, calling them "unnecessary and misguided."

In a statement, Max Stier, the CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said the government shutdown does not justify further cuts, and that it's "wrong to use civil servants as hostages in this ongoing breakdown of our public institutions."

Stier added the reductions will "further hollow out the federal government and rob it of critical expertise." He reiterated the group's claim that the Trump administration has already reduced the federal workforce by more than 200,000 employees.

− Terry Collins

Trump faces lawsuit from unions over layoffs during shutdown

White House officials have argued the layoffs are needed to ensure essential government services have funding. But many legal experts and unions representing government workers have raised legal objections, accusing Trump of using the shutdown to advance his political agenda and to punish Democrats.

Two unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, preemptively sued the Trump administration on Sept. 30 over the president's repeated threats of layoffs. The suit argues firing workers during the shutdown is an abuse of power that strips federal employees of back-pay rights and violate agencies’ statutory duties.

“It is disgraceful that the Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country," AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement Friday.

‒ Joey Garrison

White House says mass layoffs of federal workers have begun

The White House said Friday that mass firings of federal workers are underway.

“The RIFs have begun,” Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said in a post on X, referring to “reductions in force.”

Trump has repeatedly threatened to pursue mass firings of workers and government programs since the shutdown began on Oct. 10.

‒ Joey Garrison

Who is Russ Vought?

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, who announced Friday that mass layoffs of federal workers has begun, has played a key part of Trump’s sweeping attempt to claim authority over the federal budget. Federal judges have stalled many of those actions, but the efforts have escalated during the shutdown when the executive branch has broad authority to dictate which employees and programs are "essential" to a functioning government and which are not.

Vought is responsible for overseeing the president’s budget, reviewing federal regulations and setting funding priorities for executive agencies. The role is one that often goes under the public radar yet holds key power in implementing the president’s goals.

Read more about Russ Vought's background.

‒ Sarah D. Wire

'Get off the golf course' House Democratic leader tells Trump

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Friday that Republicans have an obligation to meet Democrats to negotiate the end of the shutdown.

“The American people know that its Donald Trump and Republicans who need to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan agreement in good faith,” Jeffries said. “Get off the golf course, come back from vacation, stop publishing deep fake videos and get serious, because the lives of the American people are on the line,” Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, said.

On Friday House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters in a separate news conference that the chamber would no longer meet Oct. 13 and did not set a date for members to return.

“We will come back, and get back to legislative session, as soon as the Senate Democrats turn the lights back on,” Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, told reporters. “That’s the fact. That’s where we are.”

The Senate left Friday and is expected to return Oct. 14, the day before members of the military miss their first paycheck because of the shutdown.

‒ Sarah D. Wire

Can I sign up for ACA coverage during shutdown?

In nearly every state, the open enrollment period to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces begins Nov. 1. Idaho is the only outlier, beginning open enrollment Oct. 15.

Insurance marketplaces are run by the states and have not closed. So, enrollment can begin as planned if the government is still closed on those days.

All the states have consumer assistance programs prepared to answer questions for worried consumers, said National Association of Insurance Commissioners President, Jon Godfread, who is also North Dakota's insurance commissioner

“One of the values of the state-based system... is we're also not shut down right now,” he said. “We're going to be at work and offering that help for individuals. Every state insurance department is still open today.”

‒ Sarah D. Wire

Will ACA premiums increase during the government shutdown?

No. The shutdown itself is not increasing premiums used on the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges.

The question might have come up because Congress is arguing over whether to extend the enhanced premium subsidies that Congress created during COVID. The enhancement gave more money to people already purchasing insurance through the exchange and also expanded who was eligible to include more middle class people. The enhanced premiums expire Dec. 31 and without them a lot of people are going to see their premiums double or even triple.

Democrats want the enhanced premiums permanently extended. Republicans say Congress shouldn’t have this conversation while the government is shut down.

Read more on why the timing of this debate matters.

‒ Sarah D. Wire

Trump heading to Walter Reed today for physical

President Donald Trump is getting his second physical of the year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center today after being diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency in July.

The condition – common among people in their 70s - has resulted in visible swelling in Trump’s lower legs near his ankles but Trump told reporters Oct. 9 that he feels good.

"I think I'm in great shape, but I'll let you know," Trump said in the Oval Office. "I've had no difficulty thus far.”

Trump’s physical is scheduled for 10 a.m.. He also is scheduled to make an announcement at 5 p.m.. The White House hasn’t released details about the announcement.

‒ Zac Anderson, Joey Garrison

Senate leaving town as federal workers begin to miss paychecks

No additional votes are expected on reopening the government until at least Oct. 14.

Senators voted Oct. 9 on a pair of bills to fund the government, with both failing for a seventh time. The Senate has a pro forma session with no business scheduled for Oct. 10, and then will be adjourned until the 14th.

Some federal workers will begin missing paychecks today. About 1.3 million active-duty military personnel will miss paychecks on Oct. 15 if lawmakers don’t restore funding by then.

‒ Zac Anderson

Trump won't commit to extending health care subsidies

After expressing openness earlier this week on a deal with Democratic to extend health care subsidies, Trump is now pushing back on the issue.

Democrats in Congress have demanded that extending the health care subsidies be included in any funding bill to reopen the government – something Republicans in Congress have refused to entertain until the shutdown is over.

During a Thursday Cabinet meeting, Trump accused Democrats of using healthcare costs “as a cudgel” and argued Republicans have become the party of improving healthcare.

“We are the ones who are saving health care,” Trump said.

Trump on Wednesday was noncommittal when asked whether he supports extending the subsidies in the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. If not extended, insurance premiums are expected to double for millions of Americans.

"All I want to do is very simple. I want to get the country open, and then we'll discuss that," Trump said when asked whether he wants to extend the subsidies.

‒ Joey Garrison

Trump, Republicans jump all over Schumer remark

Trump and Republicans spent Thursday hammering Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer for comments he made claiming that as the shutdown drags on, “Every day gets better for us.”

Schumer, who made the remarks to Punchbowl News, was referring to the political position of Democrats as the shutdown continues. He argued that because Republicans control the Senate, House and Senate, they are getting more of the blame for the shutdown.

But Republican quickly used Schumer’s remarks against him.

"Chuck Schumer proclaimed this morning that every day gets better for them. No, it's actually getting worse for them,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting. “This is a confession that he's acting not to serve the people but to serve the partisan interests of his party. And I don’t think he’s serving them well.”

“Who does he mean by us,” said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, from the Senate floor. “Not the military who’s not getting paid, not the Border Control that’s not getting paid, not the air traffic controllers who aren’t getting paid. Who is us? He’s playing a game."

‒ Joey Garrison

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White House says mass layoffs of federal workers have begun. Shutdown live updates.

Reporting by Joey Garrison, Zac Anderson and Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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