LDL. Trump Issues Ultimatum: End the Shutdown or Watch Thousands of Federal Jobs Disappear. LDL

President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to congressional Democrats: reopen the federal government or face widespread layoffs and program cuts across multiple agencies.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump signaled that his patience with the ongoing budget standoff was wearing thin, setting a rough deadline of four to five days before his administration begins what he described as “substantial reductions” in the federal workforce.

The warning comes amid a prolonged government shutdown, now entering its third week, after Senate Democrats — led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — blocked a temporary spending measure that would have reopened the government while broader negotiations continued.

Trump’s Ultimatum: “A Lot of Those Jobs Will Never Come Back”

When asked how many federal positions could be permanently eliminated if the impasse continues, Trump said his administration was still finalizing the numbers but made clear that the cuts could be sweeping.

“I’ll be able to tell you that in four or five days,” Trump said. “If this keeps going on, it’ll be substantial, and a lot of those jobs will never come back. You’re going to have a lot closer to a balanced budget.”

The president also hinted that his administration has identified several federal programs that could be downsized or abolished entirely, though he declined to provide specifics.

“Oh, sure, we have a lot,” Trump said. “I’m not going to tell you, but we’ll be announcing it pretty soon. We have a lot of things that we’re going to eliminate and permanently eliminate.”

He added that the shutdown, though disruptive, had presented his administration with an opportunity to review and eliminate what he described as “billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse.”

“Democrats have handed it to us on a silver platter,” Trump said.

Democrats Blame Trump for Shutdown

Democratic leaders have accused the president of manufacturing the crisis in order to push through budgetary cuts without congressional approval.

“This is not fiscal discipline — it’s political blackmail,” said one senior Senate Democrat. “The president is holding federal workers hostage to achieve ideological goals he couldn’t pass through the normal legislative process.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed that sentiment, accusing Trump of “using the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Americans as bargaining chips.”

Schumer added, “If President Trump wants to negotiate in good faith, he knows where to find us. But threats of layoffs and cuts are not how you govern a democracy.”

The Sticking Point: Health Care Funding for Immigrants

At the center of the shutdown is a funding dispute over healthcare programs. Democrats are pushing to expand Medicaid reimbursements for states that provide coverage to undocumented immigrants, as well as to increase federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

The White House has strongly opposed those measures, arguing that they would incentivize illegal immigration and place additional strain on taxpayers.

A senior administration official said that the disagreement “isn’t about compassion — it’s about responsibility,” adding that “American citizens should not be footing the bill for illegal immigrants’ healthcare.”

White House Sees Shutdown as Leverage

Behind the scenes, administration officials have reportedly been discussing how to use the shutdown to permanently streamline the federal bureaucracy.

According to multiple reports, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Director Russell Vought, has been preparing a list of federal departments and programs that could be targeted for consolidation or elimination if the impasse continues.

An unnamed White House source told reporters that Trump views the shutdown as an opportunity to “reset the size and scope of the federal government.”

“The president has long believed that Washington is bloated, inefficient, and full of duplication,” the source said. “He’s serious about cutting waste — and the shutdown gives him the leverage to make it happen.”

Calls From Democrats Behind the Scenes

Trump also revealed that several Democratic lawmakers had reached out privately to request meetings with him, though he said he was unfamiliar with some of their names.

“I’ve gotten a lot of calls — from people who say they’re leaders,” Trump told reporters. “Some of them I don’t even know. But they want to meet. They’re starting to realize this isn’t going away unless they work with us.”

According to aides, the president remains open to negotiations but insists that any new deal must include stronger fiscal controls and limits on healthcare spending for non-citizens.

Federal Workers Brace for Impact

As the shutdown continues, its effects are rippling across the country. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees remain furloughed, while others are working without pay.

Union representatives have expressed growing alarm over Trump’s comments about “permanent eliminations,” calling them “deeply irresponsible.”

“Federal employees are not political pawns,” said Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. “Threatening people’s jobs to gain leverage in a political fight is beyond unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, some conservative economists have applauded Trump’s stance, arguing that the federal government has grown too large and inefficient.

“This could be the wake-up call Washington needs,” said Dr. Thomas Larkin, a fiscal policy analyst at the Heritage Institute. “If the administration uses this moment to cut waste and modernize federal operations, it could be one of the most consequential fiscal reforms in decades.”

The Political Stakes

The ongoing shutdown poses risks for both parties. For Democrats, continued gridlock could alienate moderate voters who want stability and functioning government. For Trump, mass layoffs could create backlash from working-class constituencies that helped fuel his electoral success.

Political strategist Karen McNeil said the president appears willing to take that gamble.

“Trump is betting that voters will side with him on the need to rein in government spending,” McNeil said. “But if federal workers start losing their jobs, the political fallout could be significant — especially in swing states with large government workforces.”

A Test of Governing Strategy

The standoff highlights the broader ideological divide between Trump and congressional Democrats over the role of government. While Democrats argue for expanded social safety nets, Trump has prioritized spending cuts, deregulation, and budget balance.

“The federal government has gotten too big, too slow, and too expensive,” Trump said during Tuesday’s meeting. “This shutdown shows we can do better — we can get leaner and more efficient. That’s what we’re going to do.”

What Comes Next

If no deal is reached by the end of the week, insiders say the White House could begin issuing layoff notices to select agencies, starting with departments deemed “non-essential.”

The Office of Personnel Management is reportedly preparing contingency plans, though details remain unclear.

Financial markets have so far remained relatively stable, but analysts warn that prolonged uncertainty could shake investor confidence.

As the deadline looms, both sides are signaling a willingness to talk — but with vastly different priorities. Democrats insist on restoring healthcare funding, while the president remains focused on cutting federal costs.

For now, the message from Trump is clear: the longer the shutdown lasts, the smaller the federal government may become.