The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for alleged delays in processing concealed carry permits, a move reported just before the October 1st, 2025, government shutdown deadline. This lawsuit, aimed at supporting gun owners' rights, cites delays of up to two years as a violation of the Second Amendment, according to an announcement made during the reporting window. As the government shutdown deadline approached, with less than 12 hours remaining, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth continued to address military personnel, emphasizing standards and potentially controversial recruitment policies. Hegseth reportedly stated that individuals with beards could join special forces and that the military is "not full of Nordic pagans." He also reiterated previous comments about the unsuitability of overweight personnel in command roles, calling it a "bad look" for the military, as reported by NBC News and other outlets. Meanwhile, House Democrats occupied the chamber for a pro forma session, some displaying signs with House Speaker Mike Johnson's face and the words "missing person," according to reporting from Axios. Democrats have expressed readiness to work on a continuing resolution to fund the government and address healthcare concerns, while House Republicans were reportedly absent. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a shutdown could furloughes 750,000 employees daily, costing approximately $400 million in compensation. President Donald Trump also made remarks to military leaders, suggesting the use of "dangerous cities" as training grounds and referencing an executive order for a quick reaction force to quell "civil disturbances" and address the "enemy from within." These comments follow previous statements by Trump at Quantico on September 30th, 2025, where he announced $170 billion in global contracts and criticized policies such as "identity months" and "climate change worship." Previous reports indicated ongoing congressional negotiations to avert the shutdown, with Republicans seeking a 7-week extension and Democrats pushing for health insurance subsidies. The Senate was slated to vote on a House-passed bill. Discussions also touched on national security, global contracts, and Trump's criticism of certain social and environmental policies.
