The U.S. government shutdown entered its third week on Wednesday, as the Senate once again failed to break the deadlock over funding and President Donald Trump doubled down on plans to eliminate what he called “Democrat programs.”
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Late Tuesday, senators voted 49–45 in favor of the Republican stopgap funding bill—short of the 60 votes needed to advance. The latest failed vote ensures the shutdown will stretch into another week, with no signs of an imminent breakthrough.
Trump Targets “Democrat Programs”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said his administration will release a list of programs set for closure later this week.
“We are closing up Democrats’ programs that we disagree with and they are never going to open again,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a list of them on Friday, closing up some of the most egregious, socialist, semi-communist… programs.”
The president’s remarks indicate a new escalation in the standoff, signaling that the White House intends to use the shutdown to advance deeper spending and policy cuts.
White House Says Layoffs Will Continue
In a post on X, the Office of Management and Budget said it would “batten down the hatches and ride out” the shutdown, confirming that reduction-in-force notices (RIFs) would keep rolling out across agencies.
“Pay the troops, pay law enforcement, continue the RIFs, and wait,” the post said.
The statement reflects a strategy of endurance rather than compromise, as the administration pushes to shrink government operations while maintaining critical functions.
Markets Brace for a Prolonged Standoff
Prediction markets suggest the political stalemate could soon enter historic territory. Polymarket now shows a 54% chance that this will become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, surpassing the 35-day record set between December 2018 and January 2019. Meanwhile, PredictIt places an 81% probability on the shutdown continuing beyond October 25.
It Is a Test of Political Resolve
The shutdown’s economic effects are beginning to spread, from stalled government contracts to mounting uncertainty among workers and businesses. Analysts warn that extended paralysis could slow growth heading into the fourth quarter and dampen investor confidence.
For now, Washington appears locked in a political standoff with no clear off-ramp. Trump’s vow to shutter Democratic-led programs adds a new dimension to the crisis, which is one that could make compromise even harder to reach in the weeks ahead.
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