New Delhi, Sept. 30 -- With a midnight deadline looming, the United States faces its first government shutdown in nearly seven years as Democrats and Republicans remain locked in a standoff over federal spending and health care.

President Donald Trump warned that many federal workers could be laid off if a funding agreement is not reached. "We may do a lot and that's only because of the Democrats," Trump said, pointing to Democratic resistance as the reason for potential terminations.

The White House last week instructed federal agencies to prepare contingency plans for mass firings in the event of a shutdown, though no agency has officially called for layoffs so far.

The impasse stems largely from Democrats' demand to extend Affordabl...