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ABC News

Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington.
3:58
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
White House: Cuts to federal programs, firings 'very real'
By Kevin Shalvey, Megan Forrester, Ivan Pereira, David Brennan
Last Updated: October 3, 2025, 8:36 PM

The federal government remains closed amid a bitter impasse on Capitol Hill over competing congressional spending bills.

President Donald Trump and Republicans have cast blame for the shutdown on Democrats' health care demands, while Democrats insist Republicans need to negotiate.

The Trump administration has threatened mass layoffs of some federal workers during the shutdown.

Key Headlines

  • House cancels votes next week, including vote on Epstein files
  • Republican senator rebukes Trump targeting blue states
  • Leavitt brushes off criticism of Trump's trolling as firings loom
Here's how the news is developing.

Oct 03, 2025 8:36 PM

House cancels votes next week, including vote on Epstein files

The House will not hold votes next week, even as the government shutdown continues. The chair just announced Friday that the designation of Tuesday, Oct. 7 through Monday, Oct. 13 will be a "district work period."

PHOTO: House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks next to Senate Majority Leader John Thune during a press conference on the third day of a partial shutdown of the federal government at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 3, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks next to Senate Majority Leader John Thune during a press conference on the third day of a partial shutdown of the federal government at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 3, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters


The decision by GOP leaders to cancel House votes also delays any floor vote to release the full Jeffrey Epstein files.

Johnson has yet to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who won in a special election in Arizona on Sept. 23.

Grijalva, who said she will sign the Epstein files discharge petition once sworn in, would be the 218th signature -- the magic number needed to trigger a floor vote.

Johnson has been opposed to the Epstein files effort being led by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ken., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller


Oct 03, 2025 8:24 PM

Republican senator rebukes Trump targeting blue states

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, offered a rare Republican rebuke of the Trump administration's targeted cuts to federal programs in blue states, saying "let's not further divide people politically," amid the ongoing government shutdown.

"Whether you're in a blue state or whether you are in a red state, we're all Americans. We shouldn't be targeting different areas in ways that would be viewed as communicative. That's just not what we do," Murkowski told reporters on Friday outside the Capitol.

"If there is a rationale that the administration has for foreclosures or terminations of grants, you know, present it out there. But let's not paint it blue and red. Let's not further divide people politically. This is already stressful enough, and we just don't need to do that," she added.

PHOTO: US Capitol Police officers stand at a security checkpoint at the US Capitol building on the third day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 3, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images
US Capitol Police officers stand at a security checkpoint at the US Capitol building on the third day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 3, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Isabella Murray


Oct 03, 2025 5:59 PM

Leavitt brushes off criticism of Trump's trolling as firings loom

ABC News' Mary Bruce asked Leavitt about Trump's online trolling with deep fake videos to threaten mass firings, despite claims from the White House that it is trying to avoid cuts.

"The president has described this as an unprecedented opportunity to lay off additional workers. He's posted a video likening it to the grim reaper. Which is it? Is this an opportunity to fire more workers or an unfortunate consequence?" Bruce asked.

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images


Leavitt claimed that "both can be true at the same time."

"We don't like laying people off. Nobody takes joy and if you think that, that's very sad you view the White House and our staff as wanting to put people out of work. Nobody wants to do that, but sometimes in government, you have to make the tough decisions," she added.



Oct 03, 2025 5:48 PM

Leavitt provides no update on Trump's IVF campaign promise

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President Donald Trump has not abandoned his campaign promise to mandate insurance companies to cover IVF services.

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

However, when asked for an update, the press secretary could not give one, even though the deadline set by an executive order to come up with a plan had passed.

"As far as IVF goes, I'll check with our policy team and get you some updates," she said before taking another question.


Oct 01, 2025 3:23 PM

White House ballroom construction to continue through shutdown, official says

Construction of the White House ballroom will continue through the government shutdown, according to a White House official.

"There will not be a stoppage of ballroom work when the shutdown occurs," a White House official told ABC News.

As the White House Office of Management and Budget laid out in a memo last week, programs and projects with sources of funding not related to the appropriations that have lapsed will continue. The White House has previously said that the construction of the ballroom is funded by private donations.

"Work will continue to be performed as the funds currently supporting are not tied to a FY26 enacted appropriation," the White House official said.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart


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