Live updates: Johnson, House GOP lay blame on Schumer, push for votes to end shutdown

LIVE Video: House GOP leaders give remarks on Day 2 of shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his leadership team pushed blame for the government shutdown on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) at a press conference on Thursday morning, while urging the Senate to keep voting to end the two-day-old shutdown.

“The ball is in [Sen.] Chuck Schumer’s hands right now,” Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) said about the New York Democrat.

With at least another day before the Senate votes to potentially end the government shutdown, the White House is preparing for mass layoffs.

President Trump said he would meet Thursday with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought to discuss which departments to target.

As many as a dozen lawmakers may be looking for a resolution on both a new deadline for a stopgap measure and on enhanced Affordable Care Act credits, which will expire at year’s end and result in soaring premiums. 

Lawmakers expect the shutdown could last a week, and any status change may depend on whether Trump and Republicans or Democrats are feeling the most political pain.

Follow along all day for updates.