U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s hardball tactic of ordering permanent layoffs Friday amid a government shutdown hardened Democrats¡¯ deep distrust of Republicans and risks prolonging a standoff that is already the fourth longest in American history with no end in sight.

Sen. Patty Murray, a senior Democrat, slammed the firings announced by Trump budget chief Russell Vought as illegal and ¡°nothing new¡± from an administration that has ignored spending laws since Trump returned to power in January.

¡°No one should be intimidated by these crooks,¡± she fumed on Friday. ¡°The way we reopen government is compromise, a simple concept every American understands ¡ª and no amount of threats will change that.¡±