The White House confirmed Thursday that federal layoffs are expected as a result of the government shutdown that began at midnight on Wednesday, following Congress’ failure to pass a stopgap funding bill. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Caller that layoffs were “imminent,” attributing the shutdown to Democratic leaders. The current impasse centers on health care funding, with Democratic leaders pushing to extend subsidies created under the Biden-Harris administration’s expansion of the Affordable Care Act. They say Democrats are holding government operations hostage to secure a long-term extension of the health care subsidies. The dispute has now triggered the first major federal shutdown since President Donald Trump returned to office.