Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman told ABC News' Rachel Scott that he is "not worried" about a possible government shutdown potentially backfiring on Democrats.

"I'm not really worried about the politics. This is our core responsibility, Republicans or Democrats, is to keep our government open," Fetterman said on Tuesday, hours before the government funding deadline.

Other senators voiced their thoughts on the looming deadline, including Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, who told ABC News, "there is going to be a shutdown tonight."

"I think it will have a real impact on our communities, on our states, on our families," Coons said.

A Republican staffer told ABC News Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speech to top-ranking admirals and generals came off as a "missed opportunity" to discuss broader issues at the Pentagon and was "pedantic" in its concentration on fitness tests and haircuts.

"Aside from a nod to workforce compensation improvements in the accompanying department memorandums, the event accomplished nothing and looked more like political theater than addressing serious challenges," the staffer said.

Additionally, Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed called the event an "expensive, dangerous dereliction of leadership by the Trump Administration."

"While American forces confront real threats across the globe, Mr. Hegseth and President Trump chose to pull generals and admirals away from their missions to listen to hours of political grievances," Reed said in a statement.

Reed also said Hegseth's words were "divisive and corrosive to the force itself."

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that if there is a government shutdown, about 750,000 employees could be furloughed each day, with the total daily cost of their compensation estimating $400 million, according to a new report published on Tuesday.

"The number of furloughed employees could vary by the day because some agencies might furlough more employees the longer a shutdown persists and others might recall some initially furloughed employees," CBO states.

The report also reviews how a government shutdown would impact the economy, income and business activity, military, pay for members of Congress, contracts along with National Parks and monuments.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

As the clock ticks down toward a government shutdown, 150 House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, gathered on the House steps on Tuesday morning ahead of the government funding deadline -- with Jeffries addressing a deepfake video generated by artificial intelligence shared by President Donald Trump.

The video, shared by Trump on Monday night, disparages Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"Mr. President, the next time you have something to say about me, don't cop out through a racist and fake AI video. When I'm back in the Oval Office, say it to my face!" Jeffries said.

Jeffries added that Democrats are "ready" to find a bipartisan path to avert a shutdown -- as he sharply criticized House Republicans for canceling votes this week.

-ABC News' John Parkinson and Lauren Peller