David Muir reported on the ‘paralyzing’ government shutdown and its impact on federal workers – and said there are currently ‘no signs of this ending any time soon’

David Muir halted his ABC show last night to share some “paralyzing” news in a brutal blow to President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday night’s edition of ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, the journalist introduced a report by his colleague Rachel Scott as they gave an update on the government shutdown which began on Wednesday.

With no easy endgame in sight, the White House has threatened mass layoffs of federal workers and no new talks have so far been scheduled after the president failed to secure a deal with congressional leaders.

“Let’s be honest, if this thing drags on,” warned Vice President JD Vance during a visit to the White House briefing room, “we are going to have to lay people off.”

As both Republicans and Democrats refuse to budge, federal agencies are waiting to see what happens next.

Opening his show on Wednesday evening, David said, “Good evening. We begin tonight with this paralyzing government shutdown, the impact felt already.

And tonight millions of government workers, from some two million US troops to the TSA security agents at checkpoints keeping flights safe, all now facing the real possibility of missing their pay checks.”

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David Muir reported on the government shutdown(Image: ABC)

He continued, “At the White House today, Vice President JD Vance in the Briefing Room blaming Democrats and warning mass layoffs could be coming.

Sources telling ABC News tonight that those layoffs could come as early as tomorrow.

“Tonight Democrats demanding Medicaid cuts to be restored and healthcare subsidies to be extended to keep millions of Americans from seeing their premiums go up.

And tonight, no signs of this ending any time soon.”

David then introduced a report by his colleague Rachel who told viewers how Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other for the shutdown and revealed the real impact this is having on everyday federal workers who fear they will either miss their pay checks or lose their jobs altogether.

She also interviewed a woman working in the cafeteria of the library of Congress for 40 years and described the shutdown as “terrible.”

The woman, who said she lives “pay check to pay check,” expressed her fears that she won’t be able to pay for her rent or other expenses.

After the report, David asked Rachel whether she could give any indication of how long the shutdown might last.

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Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on September 30(Image: Getty Images)

She replied, “Well, David, the shutdown will last for at least one more day.

The Senate will not be back in session until Friday.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are really trying to turn up the heat on Senate Democrats, especially those in tough political races ahead.

But tonight the vast majority of Democrats are holding firm, David.”

The TV host then asked whether the shutdown could even go beyond Friday, to which the reporter replied, “Way beyond that, David.

Days if not weeks.” Roughly 750,000 federal workers were expected to be furloughed, and some fired, by Trump’s Republican administration as a result of the shutdown.

Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as the president promises to zero in on programs Democrats like.

Trump’s deportation agenda is likely to run full speed ahead, while education, environmental and other services sputter.

The economic fallout could ripple across the nation.

This is the third time Trump has presided over a federal funding lapse and the first since his return to the White House this year.

His record underscores the polarizing divide over budget priorities in a political climate that rewards hard-line positions rather than more traditional compromises.