US President Donald Trump in his first reaction since the federal government shutdown began called on Republicans to seize the “opportunity”, framing it as a chance to “clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud”.“Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat forced closure to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.The shutdown, which began Wednesday, immediately disrupted iconic sites including the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania and Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, while about 750,000 federal workers faced furloughs. Also read: How long will the shutdown continue? what to expect in the coming daysTrump’s message came as Republicans and Democrats traded blame over funding disagreements, with the White House alleging that Democrats prioritised health care for undocumented immigrants.Economic data critical for policymaking and investment decisions is also on hold, with the monthly jobs report and weekly unemployment figures delayed. The Federal Reserve has warned that the absence of such information could complicate decisions on interest rates as inflation remains above target.