Trump and Vought Plan Cuts to ‘Democrat Agencies’ During Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump said he will meet with budget director Russ Vought to decide which “Democrat Agencies” could face cuts during the ongoing government shutdown. The White House is threatening large-scale layoffs of federal workers, even as labor unions sue, arguing such firings would be unlawful. Trump tied the effort to Project 2025, signaling a push to reshape government under executive power while Democrats denounce the move as political punishment.
Quick Look: Trump and Vought Shutdown Plans
- Trump says he and OMB Director Russ Vought will decide which federal agencies face cuts.
- Shutdown enters day two with 750,000 workers potentially furloughed daily.
- White House threatens permanent layoffs, unions argue firings violate federal law.
- Trump cites Vought’s Project 2025 ties despite distancing himself last year.
- Democrats accuse administration of using workers as political pawns.
Deep Look: Trump, Vought Use Shutdown to Target Federal Agencies
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to review federal agencies and decide which should face budget cuts as the government shutdown drags into its second day.
The president, in a Truth Social post, said he and Vought — whom he praised as “of PROJECT 2025 Fame” — will determine “which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent.”
Trump added that he “can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats” gave him what he called an “unprecedented opportunity” to reshape the federal government by forcing a shutdown.
Shutdown as Political Weapon
Unlike previous shutdowns, where furloughs are standard, the Trump administration has threatened mass layoffs of federal employees. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed earlier this week that firings were “imminent.”
Unions quickly filed suit, arguing that such actions are illegal. The American Federation of Government Employees called the administration’s plans “contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious,” warning that federal workers are being turned into pawns in a partisan showdown.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that around 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed daily, costing the economy roughly $400 million in lost wages every day.
Limits of Presidential Power
While Trump has vowed to slash “Democrat Agencies,” the president does not have unilateral authority to dismantle agencies created by Congress. Permanent structural changes require legislation, though Trump can pressure agencies to downsize operations or reduce staffing through budget directives.
The White House has already put on hold nearly $18 billion for major infrastructure projects in New York City, citing “DEI-based” spending, and has ordered agencies to prepare “Reduction in Force” (RIF) notices for employees in programs deemed inconsistent with Trump’s priorities.
Project 2025 Connection
The intrigue deepened when Trump openly acknowledged Vought’s ties to Project 2025 — the Heritage Foundation’s sweeping conservative blueprint to expand executive authority, overhaul the civil service, and remake federal agencies.
Trump had previously distanced himself from the playbook during the 2024 campaign, as Democrats made it a centerpiece of their opposition. But by referencing Vought’s co-authorship, Trump appears to be aligning his administration’s shutdown strategy with some of the same principles outlined in Project 2025.
Political Fallout
Democrats blasted the administration’s strategy, arguing that Trump is using the shutdown to carry out political revenge and to weaken agencies that traditionally oversee programs supported by the left.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said: “This is not about fiscal responsibility. It’s about cruelty and control. The president is treating government workers as expendable.”
Meanwhile, labor unions warn that attempts to turn furloughs into permanent layoffs could trigger chaos across multiple federal programs, from education to health care.
What’s Next
As the shutdown continues, Trump and Vought are expected to outline which agencies or programs could face cuts. Whether these will be temporary measures or longer-term downsizing remains unclear.
The administration’s aggressive stance signals a shift: instead of treating shutdowns as budget impasses, the White House is framing this one as an “opportunity” to pursue long-term structural changes in government.
For now, the legal fight over whether mass layoffs are permitted during a shutdown looms as the first major test of the administration’s approach.
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