White House ballroom construction to continue through shutdown, official says

White House cancels $8B in energy funding amid shutdown

The White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced that the administration is moving to cancel $8 billion in funding for programs that he claims, "fuel the Left's climate agenda."

"Nearly $8 billion in Green New Scam funding to fuel the Left's climate agenda is being cancelled," Vought said in a post announcing the move.

Vought added that more details would come from the Department of Energy.

"The projects are in the following states: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, MD, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA," Vought added in the post.

The states that Vought listed all have at least one Democratic Senator voting against a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. The move comes after the administration paused funding for a New York infrastructure program that was championed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Social Security payments will stay on schedule during shutdown

Social Security payments to more than 74 million Americans will stay on schedule during the government shutdown, a spokesperson for the Social Security Administration tells ABC News.

The American flag over the Capitol is illuminated by the early morning light on the first day of a government shutdown, in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

"In the event of a lapse in appropriation, SSA will follow the contingency plan for continued activities, and Social Security beneficiaries would continue receiving their Social Security, Social Disability Insurance, and SSI payments," the spokesperson said Wednesday.

In a page on its website updated on Wednesday, the agency confirms there will be "no change in payment dates," adding "you will still receive your payments on time." The website also says local offices will remain open to the public but could provide "reduced services."

-ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze

Despite shutdown, all federal courts will remain open through Oct. 17

All federal courts are open and expect to maintain full operations through Oct. 17, if the government shutdown runs that long.

Court fee balances and "other funds not dependent on a new appropriation" will be used while the government is shut down, according to the announcement from the U.S. Courts.

U.S. Capitol building on the first day of a government shutdown, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, October 1, 2025.

Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Federal judiciary expects no impacts on proceedings or deadlines until then -- unless government attorneys are furloughed in certain cases and need to request a delay.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer

Layoffs are 'imminent' due to shutdown, Leavitt says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that federal layoffs are "imminent" due to the government shutdown.

"These are unfortunate consequences to a government shutdown," Leavitt said on Wednesday.

Leavitt could not state a specific percentage of layoffs that will occur. She also did not state a specific day when the layoffs would happen, but simply said it would occur "soon."

U.S. Capitol building on the first day of a government shutdown, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, October 1, 2025.

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters