Up First from NPR Shutdown Day 3, No Jobs Report, Trump Pressures Universities
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Oct 3, 2025 The Senate is in a stalemate over competing funding bills as a government shutdown continues. This impasse is delaying the release of critical job market data, leaving economists in the dark. Meanwhile, the White House is pressuring universities to agree to terms that tie federal funding to policies on free speech and diversity. Specific demands include tuition freezes and compliance with gender policies. It's a high-stakes negotiation that could reshape the landscape of higher education funding.
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Shutdown Stalemate And Political Tactics
- Neither side is showing urgency to end the shutdown, with Senate votes seen as political posturing.
- Republicans hope pressure tactics will force Democrats to break the filibuster but Democrats hold firm on ACA subsidies.
ACA Subsidies Drive Democratic Resistance
- Democrats refuse to vote for the stopgap without addressing expiring ACA subsidies that affect millions.
- Those subsidies could raise premiums for 20 million people, making them a powerful bargaining chip.
Jobs Report Delay Clouds Economic View
- The monthly jobs report was postponed due to the shutdown, leaving economists and policymakers without key data.
- Missing the report hampers assessment of whether job growth keeps pace with labor force expansion and affects Fed decisions.