President suggests layoffs will be ‘a lot’ and in Democrat areas as unions for federal workers take the matter to court – key US politics stories from 10 October at a glance

The Trump administration and Republicans have sought to blame Democrats for the government shutdown, and any negative fallout from it.

Reduction-in-force notifications have gone out to employees in departments including the Treasury and Homeland Security.

Mass firings of federal workers have begun.

President suggests layoffs will be ‘a lot’ and in Democrat areas as unions for federal workers take the matter to court – key US politics stories from 10 October at a glance