White House Starts Firing Workers During Shutdown

Layoffs and Workforce Impact - Thousands of federal workers are expected to be laid off, with the reductions in force having begun [1][2] - Approximately 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, raising concerns about permanent firings [5] - Only about 20% of the federal workforce is located in Washington DC, indicating a nationwide impact [4] Economic Impact of Shutdown - If the shutdown extends into a third week, the unemployment rate could increase to 47%, as furloughed workers are counted as temporarily unemployed [5] - Many federal workers have missed their first paycheck, and members of the military might miss their paycheck on October 15th [7] Political Standoff - Both sides believe they have the upper hand, creating a unique logjam [6] - Republicans and the White House are firm on not negotiating until the government reopens [8]