Trump Says Substantial Number of Jobs Will Be Permanently Lost If Shutdown Persists

President Donald Trump said on Oct. 7 that a “substantial” number of federal jobs and programs could be permanently cut if the shutdown continues for another four or five days.

While speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House, Trump was asked whether he knew what programs he would eliminate if the government shutdown persisted.

“We have a lot of things that we’re going to eliminate and permanently eliminate,” Trump said.

Trump said that “in four or five days if this keeps going on … it’ll be substantial,” referring to jobs and programs that could be terminated. “And a lot of those jobs will never come back. But you’re going to have a lot closer to a balanced budget, actually,” he added.

“Because of the shutdown, which I think they made a big mistake, we’re able to take out billions and billions of dollars of waste, fraud and abuse,” the president said, describing Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought as “serious” about making cuts.

The president again pinned the blame on Democratic lawmakers and their leadership for failing to come to an agreement with Republicans on reopening the government.

“I look at your leadership. I don’t know who to speak to. I’ll tell you what, I’m getting calls from Democrats wanting to meet. I never even heard their names before. … The Democrats have no leader,” the president said.

The government was shut down on Oct. 1, forcing a number of nonessential employees to be furloughed. The furloughs are temporary, and usually when the impasse in Congress is resolved, employees return to work with back pay.

However, The Epoch Times confirmed that furloughed employees who return to work after the shutdown may not receive back pay. A White House official said that the administration is going to argue that federal law mandates that Congress has to specifically approve the back pay.

“There are some legal analysts who are saying that [back pay] may not be appropriate or necessary,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said during a Tuesday news conference. “I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion about that. … That should turn up the urgency and the necessity of the Democrats doing the right thing here. Even more pain.”

But Johnson said Trump has told him personally that he does not want federal employees to go without pay or back pay.

Democrats have refused to vote on legislation to fund the government unless it includes an extension of certain Obamacare subsidies, which are slated to expire by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Republicans say such a measure should be considered separately rather than as part of negotiations to reopen the government.

Party leaders showed no signs of budging from their positions on the seventh day of the shutdown.

“We’re not asking Democrats to support any Republican policies,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on the Senate floor. “We’re just asking them to reopen the government. It’s that simple.”

His counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), said that Democrats want to negotiate, while criticizing Johnson and Trump.

“Democrats stand ready and willing to negotiate,” Schumer said on the floor. “We urge Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to do the same.”

Since taking office, Trump has signed executive orders meant to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. At one point earlier this year, the White House launched a separation initiative that offered eligible employees months of pay and benefits in exchange for their voluntary resignation.

The president also established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which previously counted tech billionaire Elon Musk as one of its leaders before he left in May, to reduce what the administration says is fraud, waste, and abuse.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.