President Donald Trump said on Oct. 5 that federal layoffs are “taking place right now ” in the midst of a government shutdown, now in its sixth day. One of his top advisers said the next morning that the administration would take “sharp measures” soon.
On Sunday evening, the president was asked by a reporter about federal workers being fired. He responded, “It’s taking place right now—and it’s all because of the Democrats. The Democrats are causing the loss of a lot of jobs with their shutdown. It’s their shutdown; not our shutdown.”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday morning that Trump is “hoping that we’re going to get the government to stop being shut down” during Senate votes on reopening the government later that day….