Trump calls US shutdown a “forced closure,” says billions can be saved

In his first public reaction following the federal government shutdown, President Donald Trump described it as a “forced closure” and urged Republicans to view it as an opportunity to eliminate “dead wood, waste, and fraud.”

He asserted that billions of dollars could be saved through this effort, framing the shutdown not as a failure but as a chance for fiscal reform.

Trump’s remarks come amid intensifying blame exchange between Republicans and Democrats over the funding impasse. While Democrats accused Republicans of pushing the country into chaos, Trump portrayed the shutdown as a corrective moment to address inefficiencies in the federal establishment.

At the same time, his administration has frozen $26 billion in federal funds intended for Democratic-leaning states—targeting projects in infrastructure and green energy — escalating the political stakes of the shutdown.

Essential government functions such as national security, air traffic control, and disaster response remain operational under “excepted” status, but hundreds of thousands of federal employees are now furloughed or working unpaid until the funding deadlock is resolved.

The duration of the shutdown is uncertain. Previous closures have lasted from a few days to over a month; this standoff’s economic and human costs could escalate rapidly if Congress and the White House don’t reach agreement soon.