Trump Predicts Shutdown, Blames Democrats for Stalemate/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ morning Edition/ The Trump administration is preparing for a federal government shutdown, refusing to negotiate with Democrats over a stopgap funding bill. White House officials believe Democrats will take the blame, despite Republicans controlling the government. Democrats argue the GOP is posturing and will be held responsible in the public eye.
Trump Shutdown Strategy Quick Looks
- Trump administration expects a shutdown starting Wednesday
- No current plans for talks with Democratic leaders
- White House aims to “extract maximum pain” from Democrats
- Layoff plans target non-essential federal employees
- Democrats call the strategy a bluff
- GOP refuses Affordable Care Act subsidy extension demanded by Democrats
- Trump says Democrats’ requests are “ridiculous”
- Senate Democrats blocked Republican funding plan last week
- Shutdown messaging centers on blaming Democrats publicly
- Trump canceled a scheduled meeting with Democrat leaders
Deep Look: Trump White House Prepares for Shutdown, Bets Democrats Will Take the Fall
WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 26, 2025
With just days remaining before a potential federal government shutdown, President Donald Trump’s administration is signaling a hardline stance. According to senior White House officials, the administration expects the government to shut down by Wednesday and has no plans to negotiate with Democrats over a funding resolution.
Behind the scenes, top aides say the president sees the shutdown not as a failure but as an opportunity — one that he believes will allow him to corner Democrats politically and emerge stronger. As one senior White House official bluntly put it:
“We’re going to extract maximum pain… They will pay a huge price for this.”
Shutdown Strategy: No Deal, No Talks
The administration is betting on the assumption that Democrats will cave under political pressure, especially as the ripple effects of a shutdown — such as federal furloughs and suspended services — begin to impact the public.
White House officials are preparing agencies for reduction-in-force plans, signaling that mass layoffs are on the table, targeting positions considered non-essential or discretionary.
“Historically, it’s the aggressor that always loses,” said the official. “Their constituencies and their priorities are all going to get chewed up, and ours, not so much.”
Trump advisers believe they’re in a stronger position than during the previous shutdowns in his first term, citing more experienced personnel and a more coordinated Republican Party in Washington.
Democrats Push Back: Call It a Political Bluff
Democrats, however, are calling the White House’s approach a political bluff designed to intimidate, while reminding the public that Republicans control the government — including the presidency and both chambers of Congress.
They are urging Republicans to support a bipartisan continuing resolution that includes critical measures, such as an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at year’s end. The subsidies, expanded in 2021, have become a flashpoint in the ongoing budget negotiations.
Trump Escalates Rhetoric, Rejects Talks
On Thursday, Trump canceled a planned meeting with Democratic congressional leaders and lashed out at their demands, which he characterized as outrageous and politically motivated.
“He read all the stuff they’re asking for, and he said, ‘on second thought, go [expletive] yourself,’” said the White House official.
Trump also took to social media, accusing Democrats of supporting “taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for minors,” a charge that even some Republicans dismissed as exaggerated and inflammatory.
The administration’s internal belief is that Democrats won’t hold out for long once a shutdown begins. GOP aides say House Republicans are “strapped in for a fight” and prepared to force repeated votes to hammer their message home.
Senate Dynamics and Democratic Strategy
Democrats argue the president cannot push through any budget legislation without their cooperation, especially in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to override the filibuster.
“In what world do you ask people for their votes without sitting down and having a conversation with them?” asked Shalanda Young, former OMB director under President Biden.
Last week, every Senate Democrat except Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted against a GOP-led clean seven-week stopgap bill, which lacked sufficient concessions.
What’s Next: Bracing for Political and Economic Fallout
While the public may not feel the immediate impact on day one, a shutdown will soon disrupt services, delay paychecks, and create economic uncertainty. Still, the White House appears unconcerned with the potential fallout — at least publicly.
“We’re bracing for impact,” the senior official said.
If the shutdown materializes, it would represent yet another high-stakes standoff in a polarized Washington — and a test of which party voters will blame as the 2026 midterms begin to loom on the horizon.
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