The Business Times

US politics

International

Frustrated federal employees line up for food as US shutdown wears on

US President Donald Trump has in the span of just four days fired thousands of government employees, transferred billions in federal funds and threatened to unilaterally cancel “Democrat programmes” - all during a shutdown and without Congress’s approval.
International

US judge halts shutdown layoffs as Trump threatens 10,000 jobs

Trump has repeatedly threatened to fire federal workers during the shutdown standoff, in its 10th day on Friday, and has suggested his administration will aim primarily at parts of the government championed by Democrats.
International

White House says substantial US government job cuts have begun due to shutdown

Travellers pass through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening at Hollywood Burbank Airport during the first day of a partial US government shutdown in Burbank, California, Oct 1, 2025. The airport, which connects Los Angeles to the rest of the country, was set to be without qualified staff in the control tower for around six hours, Governor Gavin Newsom said.
Transport & Logistics

No air traffic control at LA area airport, delays at others amid US government shutdown

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump was asked by reporters when the administration would begin laying off federal workers. Trump responded, without elaborating: “It’s taking place right now.”
International

White House: Mass layoffs will start if shutdown talks ‘going nowhere’

The impasse, in its fifth day, showed no signs of ending, with a top Democrat saying there had been no talks between congressional leaders since Monday.
International

Republicans warn of pain ahead as US shutdown faces second week

The de minimis exemption allowed nearly 1.4 billion packages to enter the US duty free in 2024 and fueled a boom in direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipments from Chinese e-commerce firms Shein and Temu.
International

Key Democrat blasts ‘abrupt’ end of popular US tariff exemption for package shipments

The White House’s moves to pull back funding and dismiss federal workers aim to put pressure on Democrats to vote to reopen the government.
Global Enterprise

Trump eyes firing thousands of federal workers over shutdown

America's economic dynamism may be hardly undone by tightening up on the inflow of foreign talent.
Opinion & Features

The US$100,000 fee should not damage America’s economy: an ex-H-1B visa holder reflects

As the messaging war over the shutdown intensified, Vice-President JD Vance took centre stage at a White House briefing normally headed by Leavitt to upbraid Democrats over their demands.
Global Enterprise

White House says firings ‘imminent’ as plan to reopen government collapses

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