Washington, Oct. 2 -- The US government shut down much of its operations this week for the first time in six years after the Senate failed to pass a stopgap funding bill, plunging the country into chaos. Tensions escalated further as President Donald Trump threatened new layoffs of federal employees.

Terming the fund lapse as "Democrat-forced closure", US President Donald Trump urged Republicans to "use this opportunity to clear out fraud".

"Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat forced closure to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump has framed the government shutdown as a political tool to pressure opponents and push for long-t...