President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on October 9, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Thursday he is prepared to cancel Congress-approved funding that he believes will go to Democratic-backed programs, although he did not share any additional details during a Cabinet meeting.
“We will be cutting some very popular Democratic programs that are not popular with Republicans,” he said. “They wanted to do it, so we’ll give them a little taste of their own medicine.”
Meanwhile, on the ninth day of the government shutdown, members of the U.S. Senate failed for the seventh time to introduce a stopgap spending bill by either Democrats or Republicans, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said partisan tensions in his chamber were so intense that he was reluctant to bring members back until a resolution was found.
“It’s getting personal. Emotions are high. People are upset. I’m upset,” Johnson told reporters at a morning news conference.
There were also threats of dismissal and refusal to pay outstanding wages
Throughout the shutdown, Trump has signaled that he wants to unilaterally cancel Congress-approved funding, lay off thousands of federal workers and may try to reinterpret a 2019 law that requires back wages for furloughed federal workers when funding expires.
He has not yet provided any details about those plans or said exactly when he will try to take such steps, which will likely result in additional lawsuits.
During the hour-long public portion of the Cabinet meeting, Trump said Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought would be available to share more details, but Vought never spoke and Trump did not visit him.
“You know, the shutdown was pretty damaging. I mean, not yet because it’s early. But it’s getting worse as time goes on,” Trump said. “And we will make cuts that will be permanent and we will only cut Democratic programs. I hate to say it. I think it makes sense, but we will only cut Democratic programs. But we’ll start there and we have Russell who can talk to you about it if he wants.”
The president is generally required to faithfully execute laws approved by Congress, including government funding laws.
The White House budget office has frozen or canceled funding several times this year without seeking lawmakers’ approval, which is required under a 1970s law.
This has led to numerous lawsuits, with the Government Accountability Office repeatedly citing the administration for illegally confiscating funds.
No progress in voting
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers have been deadlocked for weeks over introducing a stopgap bill to fund the government.
The Senate voted in favor of this resolution by a majority of 54 to 45 bill passed by the House that would fund federal programs through November 21 and 47-50 on a Democratic counterproposal that would provide spending authority through October 31 and make significant changes to health care policy.
The result of the seventh vote approving these two proposals was not much different from the previous ones. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, both Democrats, as well as Maine Independent Sen. Angus King voted with Republicans to pass their bill. Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul voted “no.”
For the legislation to work in accordance with the principle of legislative filibuster in force in this chamber, the support of at least 60 senators is needed.
The vote came shortly after Speaker Johnson, R-La., made disparaging remarks about Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer during a press conference, with the two increasingly blaming each other for the funding impasse.
“There is one thing that Chuck Schumer cares about more than anything else, and that is his Senate seat,” Johnson said. “The guy has been in Congress for 44 years. He doesn’t know how to live outside of this building, so he’ll do anything to keep this seat.”
Asked about growing tension between Republicans and Democrats over the funding lapse and health care policy, Johnson said it would probably be better if lawmakers in the chamber were separated until a resolution was reached.
“I’m a very patient man, but right now I’m very angry because it’s dangerous,” Johnson said. “So would it probably be better for them if they were physically separated right now? Yes, they probably are, honestly.
“I wish it weren’t. But we have to turn the volume down. The best way to turn the volume down is to turn the lights back on and allow the government to open up to the people.”
Standby allowance for military members
Johnson reiterated that he did not intend to bring the House back from the extended work stoppage to vote on a separate bill aimed at ensuring soldiers are paid on time during the work stoppage.
Johnson maintained his position that the best way to ensure pay for U.S. troops was for Democrats to pass the GOP’s stopgap spending bill, despite Trump breaks with Johnson on this particular issue.
Trump, asked Wednesday about the upcoming military paycheck on Oct. 15, said that “it will probably happen” and that “we will always have to take care of the military.”
However, Johnson said during Thursday’s news conference that the only solution was to pass the Republican stopgap bill, which is stuck in the Senate.
“We’ve already voted to pay the troops. We did that three weeks ago. We put that bill on the floor and Republicans voted to pay the troops, TSA agents, border patrol, air traffic control and everyone else,” Johnson said. “So coming back here and doing that and then voting twice to do the same thing they’ve already done wouldn’t do anything.”
Schumer, D-N.Y., said during a floor speech that the closures won’t end until Republicans and Democrats find a way to extend tax breaks for people who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace at the end of the year.
Schumer also blasted Johnson for the House’s work schedule, which had only members in Washington for 12 days since tardy July.
“If you’re a person who works two jobs, weekends or overtime to make ends meet, what the hell are you supposed to think when House Republicans aren’t even bothering to show up to reopen the government?” Schumer said.
New England Senators begin talks
Senate Appropriations Chairman Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she had spoken with New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen about possible solutions to the impasse.
“I have been in very close contact with Senator Shaheen, who is very constructive and trying to find a way forward,” Collins said.
“The ACA issue is important to many of us, not just Democrats,” she added. “Tax breaks have been increased during Covid-19. They need to be reformed, but they also need to be extended. They expire at the end of the year. We need to open the government today, before more damage is done and before the military loses their paychecks.”
Ariana Figueroa and Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report.
