White House press secretary urges spending cuts as shutdown continues
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an NPR interview on Oct. 2–3, 2025 that the Trump administration must look for government spending cuts as the federal government entered its third day of a shutdown. Leavitt said President Trump backs a 'clean' continuing resolution, that the administration is meeting with the Office of Management and Budget to identify 'responsible' savings, and she blamed Democratic leaders for forcing the shutdown while warning the White House has proposed layoffs if the funding lapse is prolonged.
Politics
Economy
🔍 Key Facts
- Karoline Leavitt (White House press secretary) conducted an on‑the‑record NPR interview published Oct. 3, 2025.
- Leavitt said the White House is meeting with OMB to identify where to 'cut back to save money' during the shutdown.
- The administration offered a 'clean' continuing resolution and contends Democratic demands for ACA subsidy extensions caused the impasse; proposed layoffs for a prolonged shutdown have drawn a union lawsuit.
📍 Contextual Background
- OMB is the abbreviation for the Office of Management and Budget, an office within the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for assisting the President in preparing the federal budget and supervising its administration in executive agencies.