President Donald Trump is set to meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to evaluate which ‘Democrat Agencies’ should be cut, as the government shutdown enters its second day. Trump has expressed a willingness to proceed with eliminating these agencies, suggesting that the cuts could be either temporary or permanent. The potential for up to 750,000 federal employees to be furloughed, as indicated by the Congressional Budget Office, has sparked significant political debate. White House officials are attempting to justify these layoffs as a necessary and disciplined response to the ongoing shutdown, while Democrats are pushing for continued government funding to avoid further disruption.
Vought has stated that mass firings could begin within a day or two, following a memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget. This memo urges agencies to prepare for significant reductions in personnel during a shutdown scenario. At a recent White House press briefing, Vice President JD Vance criticized Democrats for shutting down the government, calling for the government to be reopened rather than complaining about the consequences of the shutdown. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly expressed a positive outlook on the potential job cuts, suggesting that they are an unprecedented opportunity for the country.
Additionally, Vought has announced plans to claw back funding from Democratic-led cities and states, including an $8 billion cut in energy funding from 16 states that supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The administration is also considering withholding funding for New York City’s Gateway Tunnel project, further escalating tensions between the executive and legislative branches. These developments highlight the deepening political divide and the significant financial and operational impacts of the ongoing government shutdown.