Vance warned of potential layoffs as a "necessary evil" while expressing hope that moderate Democrats would soon break ranks to end the impasse. (Image: KFOX)
US Vice President JD Vance stood with press secretary Karoline Leavitt at a heated White House briefing and scolded Senate Democrats, whom he blamed for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The remarks set a firm and unyielding tone from the administration as the political and economic consequences of the funding impasse begin to mount.
The briefing opened with Press Secretary Karine Leavitt citing a New York Times poll suggesting two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the shutdown, a sentiment she immediately attributed to Democratic "partisan tactics." Vice President Vance then took the podium and sharpened the attack, focusing his criticism squarely on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Vance accused Schumer of being "overly influenced by the left-wing faction of his party," suggesting the shutdown stemmed from internal political maneuvering rather than substantive policy debates. Vance made a salient personal accusation against Schumer, saying that the Democratic leader was putting "his own political survival" ahead of the government's ability to function and that Schumer's actions were motivated by a fear of a primary challenge from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
At the heart of the funding battle are deep ideological divisions. The Vice President used the platform to dismiss a key Democratic proposal, framing it in starkly partisan terms.
The Vice President specifically criticized the Democratic push for provisions related to healthcare for undocumented immigrants, labeling it a "ridiculous proposition." He dismissed the initiative as an unfounded claim, signaling a major roadblock in negotiations. While acknowledging that Republicans are "open to discussing healthcare policy," Vance was adamant that such talks could not occur "under the conditions of a government shutdown," establishing a firm pre-condition for any dialogue.
As hundreds of thousands of federal workers were forced to work without pay or endure furloughs, the discussion eventually shifted to the practical consequences of the impasse.
In one of the briefing's most sobering moments, Vance acknowledged that government workers, including US military personnel, were already feeling the strain. He went a step further, warning that if the shutdown persists for weeks, layoffs could become a "necessary evil." This statement emphasizes the administration's belief that workers will inevitably face financial strain as a result of what it perceives to be Democratic stubbornness.
When asked about President Trump's previous comment that laid-off workers would lean Democratic, Vance rejected the premise. He stated that politicizing the economic pain was not his priority, reaffirming that the administration's focus was on keeping essential government functions operational while placing the responsibility for ending the crisis on the other side of the aisle.
Despite the firm rhetoric, the White House did express a glimmer of optimism, hinting at potential cracks in the Democratic coalition.
