Trump targets ‘Democrat Agencies’ as US shutdown enters third day

President Donald Trump has threatened sweeping cuts to what he labelled “Democrat Agencies” as the United States government shutdown stretched into a third day, deepening partisan tensions in Washington.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump vowed to work with his budget director, Russell Vought, to identify programmes and departments he said were bloated or politically biased, declaring it was time to “clear out dead wood.”

The president gave no sign of conceding to Democratic demands that any deal to fund the government must include health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans. Instead, he and House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats for holding the country “hostage,” branding the crisis the “Democrat shutdown.”

Meanwhile, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of trying to strip working families of healthcare support. He dismissed Trump’s threat to fire federal workers, saying: “They have been firing federal employees all along.”

Federal workers caught in the crossfire

The budget standoff has already left around 750,000 federal employees without pay. Some are furloughed, while essential staff such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, and TSA workers continue to work unpaid.

National parks, museums, and monuments faced closures, though attractions such as the Statue of Liberty remained open. Analysts warn that if the shutdown drags on, air travel could face delays as unpaid staff increasingly call in sick — a scenario seen during past shutdowns.

Political blame game intensifies

On Capitol Hill, negotiations collapsed again on Wednesday after only three Democrats sided with Republicans in a failed Senate vote. Another attempt to break the deadlock is scheduled for Friday.

Republicans are pushing for a “clean” funding bill with no policy add-ons, while Democrats insist on renewing health insurance subsidies expiring at year’s end. Both parties need cross-aisle support to pass legislation, but neither side appears willing to give ground.

Pollster Lee Miringoff of Marist University said Americans remain divided sharply along party lines. While majorities of Democrats and Republicans blame the opposite side, 41% of independents say both share responsibility.

“Both parties have mastered the art of finger-pointing,” Miringoff noted. “But what Americans increasingly believe is that the country is headed in the wrong direction.”

With little sign of compromise, pressure is expected to mount once everyday Americans begin to feel the direct impact of the shutdown.