As the US government shutdown enters its second week, Vice-President JD Vance has warned of further staffing cuts if the impasse continues. This comes amid a partial reversal of layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where around 700 employees were reinstated after being mistakenly notified of their termination. The Trump administration had initially announced the firing of over 4,000 federal workers across seven agencies, including the CDC, as part of its broader effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce and cut government spending. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clarified that some CDC employees were never actually separated from their roles. Vance, speaking on Fox News, emphasized that prolonged shutdowns would lead to deeper and more painful cuts. Meanwhile, the shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed without pay, while essential personnel, including military service members, are being paid through reallocated funds. The Department of Defense has secured $8 billion from previous fiscal year reserves to ensure troops receive their paychecks by October 15. Political deadlock persists, with Democrats and Republicans unable to resolve their funding disputes. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) reiterated his party’s stance on reinstating federal healthcare subsidies, while Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) opposed extending such measures. As the shutdown continues, its ripple effects are being felt across government services, including the closure of Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Representatives from the CDC, HHS, and the White House have yet to comment on the ongoing situation.