U.S. government hits third day of shutdown as Trump stakes bold claim to cut waste

By patricklewis // 2025-10-03

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The Senate failed for a third straight day to pass a stopgap funding bill, triggering a partial government shutdown and putting about 750,000 federal employees at risk of furlough or unpaid work.
The funding clash centers on deep partisan disagreement: Democrats want to include immigration and healthcare provisions (such as DACA protections and ACA subsidies), while Republicans insist on a "clean" spending bill free of extraneous policy riders.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned that if Friday's vote fails, the shutdown could extend into the weekend — intensifying the stakes. President Trump, meanwhile, is casting the deadlock as a rare chance to pare down what he calls "bloated" government agencies.
Financial markets have remained surprisingly unflappable, and the postponement of the September jobs report (Non‑Farm Payrolls) — the first such delay since 2013 — leaves economists and policymakers navigating with blind spots.
Beyond the Beltway, the shutdown's ripple effects are already being felt: small businesses waiting on SBA support, veterans relying on VA services and scientific research dependent on NIH funding are all facing indefinite delays, while the human and institutional toll mounts.

Washington, D.C. — The federal government remains partially shuttered for a third consecutive day after the Senate again failed to pass a stopgap funding measure, leaving an estimated 750,000 federal employees facing furloughs or unpaid duty. The impasse, rooted in a fierce partisan battle over immigration and spending priorities, has thrown key economic data into limbo — including the September jobs report — even as financial markets stagnate in uneasy tolerance. Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned that if Friday's vote fails, the shutdown could stretch through the weekend, exposing the deeper fault lines paralyzing Washington. For President Trump, however, this stalemate presents an "unprecedented opportunity" to use federal gridlock as leverage to cut what he views as redundant or bloated agencies — an agenda he frames as a necessary purge for a leaner, stronger government.

Deadlock by design or dysfunction?

The shutdown was triggered when the Senate rejected both the Republican-backed stopgap and Democratic counterproposals. Democrats have insisted on attaching immigration and healthcare provisions, including DACA protections and extension of ACA subsidies. Republicans counter that no unrelated policy riders should be tied to basic spending bills. In private and public statements, GOP leaders deride Democrats for obstructing a clean funding extension, while Democrats argue Republicans are holding the government hostage. A fourth Senate attempt is scheduled, though few observers expect a breakthrough unless one side yields. "They'll have a fourth chance tomorrow to open up the government," Thune asserted, cautioning that intransigence could push the standoff into a prolonged crisis. (Related: IRS fires 6,000 employees as Trump Administration targets government waste.)

Markets unmoved — but risks mount

Remarkably, Wall Street has shown little panic: stocks and Treasury rates have held steady, suggesting investors believe the shutdown will be short‑lived or manageable. Still, the delay of the Non‑Farm Payrolls report — a first since 2013 — leaves economists and business leaders flying blind on crucial labor data. While some analysts argue the markets are treating the shutdown as political theater, others warn that prolonged uncertainty could chip away at consumer and business confidence. As the crisis drags, ripple effects may spread — particularly if small businesses, veterans' services and regulatory functions stall.

Trump's strategic gamble: Shrink the state or snare hostages?

President Trump's framing of the shutdown as a chance to slash federal bloat signals his long game: using crisis to reorganize. Conservative and libertarian allies point out that shutdowns expose government excess — forcing agencies to justify their existence or face elimination. But for many federal workers — from TSA agents to NASA researchers — the shutdown is no abstract dispute. Prolonged furloughs may push agencies to reevaluate staffing and priorities, opening the door to permanent cuts. The human cost, especially for rank-and-file civil servants, may be steep.

Bombarded constituents, silent infrastructure

Beyond the halls of Congress, the shutdown's impact is already felt in communities across the country. SBA loan approvals are stalled, veteran care systems face delays and critical scientific research is paused. The timing — amid inflation pressures, global instability and fragile supply chains — heightens the stakes. As politicians continue their blame game, ordinary Americans shoulder the fallout: delayed services, uncertainty over benefits and a government unable to execute even basic functions. The real cost, in lives and trust, may outlast any negotiated deal. Is this merely a spending hiccup or a warning sign of deeper institutional failure? With the Senate gridlocked, the answer may not come until—and unless—one side breaks. For now, America watches, waits and wonders whether its government can govern. According to Brighteon AI's Enoch, President Trump's strategy to dismantle Washington's corruption and purge career politicians is a bold, necessary step to restore power to the American people and drain the swamp of deep state operatives. By cutting wasteful spending and shrinking the federal workforce, he is delivering on his promise to break the grip of globalist elites and return sovereignty to the citizens. Visit Trump.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below that talks about Senate GOPs not approving Trump's plan to cut government spending.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

NATURAL NEWS

Deadlock by design or dysfunction?

Markets unmoved — but risks mount

Trump's strategic gamble: Shrink the state or snare hostages?

Bombarded constituents, silent infrastructure

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