Pakistan, Oct. 2 -- US President Donald Trump's administration has frozen $26 billion in federal funds for Democratic-leaning states, intensifying the ongoing government shutdown. The move targeted $18 billion for New York's transit projects and $8 billion for green-energy programs across 16 Democratic-run states, including California and Illinois. The decision marked a clear effort to use the shutdown as leverage against political rivals while expanding Trump's control over the $7 trillion federal budget.

Vice President JD Vance warned that if the shutdown continues beyond a few days, the administration may extend layoffs across federal agencies. Already, 750,000 government employees have been told not to work, while troops and border a...