00:00U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance warns more federal layoffs are likely
00:04as the government shutdown enters its third week.
00:08Hundreds of thousands of employees are already on leave without pay
00:12and no congressional vote has been scheduled to reopen the government.
00:18The Trump administration announced on Friday that seven agencies,
00:22including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
00:25had begun cutting over 4,000 jobs.
00:27Essential workers such as federal law enforcement officers
00:31and air traffic controllers continue to work without pay.
00:34Services like Smithsonian Museums, Research Centers
00:37and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. have also shut down.
00:42Exceptions have been made for some essential personnel, including American troops.
00:46President Donald Trump reportedly directed Secretary of War Peter Hexiv
00:50to find available funds to cover troop wages this week.
00:53The Pentagon may divert around US$8 billion from research and development funds
00:58to pay service members if the stalemate continues.
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