WASHINGTON (AP) — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pinned the government shutdown on the GOP and said Democrats are willing to negotiate on the issue, but "need credible partners on the other side."
Watch the news conference in our video player above.
Jeffries' remarks came on the second full day of the shutdown in Washington.
President Donald Trump has seized on the government shutdown as an opportunity to reshape the federal workforce and punish detractors, by threatening mass firings of workers and suggesting "irreversible" cuts to programs important to Democrats.
WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because 'they apparently wanted' a shutdown
Rather than simply furlough employees, as is usually done during any lapse of funds, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said layoffs were "imminent." The Office of Management and Budget announced it was putting on hold roughly $18 billion of infrastructure funds for New York's subway and Hudson Tunnel projects — in the hometown of the Democratic leaders of the U.S. House and Senate.
Jeffries insisted that Democrats want the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act to become permanent.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Thursday that he is "glad" that rank-and-file Democratic and Republican senators are talking about a potential compromise that could lead to the government reopening, but he sounded a note of skepticism about some of the ideas under discussion.
Some senators have been discussing legislation that would fund the government for a few weeks while they also negotiate extending Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Find more of our government shutdown coverage
- WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown
- READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway
- WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because 'they apparently wanted' a shutdown
- READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here's what our poll found
- WATCH: Democrats' demands are a 'ransom note,' GOP Rep. Haridopolos says