Smithsonian museums, zoo to close due to shutdown after Saturday

What to Know

• The White House budget office said today that mass firings of federal workers have started as the government shutdown continues.
• Trump said the reductions in force across the federal government will be “Democrat oriented,” adding that his administration will announce the number of layoffs in the next couple of days. He warned that it will be “a lot.”
• Trump said this afternoon that he would be hitting Chinese goods with a 100% tariff “over and above any tariff that they are currently paying,” in response to moves by China to institute export controls. The president’s announcement immediately sent U.S. stocks lower.
• Trump is planning to depart Sunday on a trip to Egypt for the formal signing of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The president said he would “probably be there” when the remaining hostages in Gaza are released on Monday or Tuesday.