Good evening, everyone. Welcome to Laura Coates live. No more, will they or won't they? They did. And we're nearing day two of the government shutdown. And if you ask the magic eight ball when it will be over,

it'll probably tell you to ask again later.

But there's nothing uncertain about what is already happening.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers

are already in the process of being furloughed.

Others are told they must work without pay

and be satisfied by a promise of back pay someday.

The White House says layoffs are imminent.

Tonight we're hearing from President Trump after Vice President Vance weighed in on the mass firings.

Well, there could be firings, and that's their fault, and it could also be other things.

I mean, we could cut projects that they wanted, favorite projects, and they'd be permanently cut.

We are going to have to lay some people off if the shutdown continues.

We don't like that.

We don't necessarily want to do it, but we're going to do what we have to to keep the American

people's essential services continuing to run.

So one of these pink slips going out?

So just tell us that the Trump budget chief is telling Republicans they'll come in the next

day or two.

As for who is being cut, you have no idea.

And having been a federal employee during a shutdown who had to work for back pay, the uncertainty

is unbearable.

The limbo, frankly, cruel.

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