President Trump said the ongoing federal shutdown presents an "unprecedented opportunity" to meet with budget director Russell Vought about cutting what he called "Democrat agencies," including considering whether reductions would be temporary or permanent [nytimes.com#1][time.com#1][time.com#2][npr.org#1][scmp.com#1]. Legal analysts caution that permanent layoffs during a shutdown may violate federal law and would likely be tied up in court for months [time.com#1][thehill.com#1][alternet.org#1]. Federal worker unions have begun preparing challenges to any layoffs amid the funding stalemate [time.com#2][cbsnews.com#1].
Highlights:
- Planned meeting: The President said he would meet with OMB Director Russell Vought to decide which agencies to cut and whether reductions are temporary or permanent [nytimes.com#1][time.com#2][npr.org#1].
- Legal hurdles: Experts say enacting permanent staffing cuts during a shutdown may be illegal and could be challenged in court for months [time.com#1][thehill.com#1].
- Project 2025 ties: Trump referenced Vought as “of Project 2025 fame,” signaling alignment with a conservative blueprint he had distanced himself from during the 2024 campaign [time.com#1][time.com#2][nytimes.com#2][abcnews.go.com#1][axios.com#1].
- Furlough scale: About 750,000 federal employees are currently furloughed during the shutdown, according to a CBO estimate cited by the New York Post [nypost.com#1].
- Policy dispute: Democrats are pushing to extend ACA tax credits and reverse Medicaid cuts, while the White House says it will target agencies that don't align with its values [time.com#2][time.com#1].
I’m allowed to cut things that never should have been approved in the first place and I will probably do that. – President Donald Trump
Perspectives:
- President Trump: Says the shutdown is an "unprecedented opportunity" to cut "Democrat agencies" and consider permanent workforce reductions. (The New York Times)
- White House: Says it is evaluating agencies that don't align with the administration's values and are seen as wasteful of taxpayers' dollars. (TIME)
- Legal analysts: Argue permanent layoffs during a shutdown may be illegal under federal law and would face prolonged court challenges. (TIME)
- Federal worker unions: Have begun preparing preemptive challenges to potential layoffs. (TIME)
- MSNBC opinion: Contends the claim that cuts would hurt Democrats exclusively is unfounded. (MSNBC)
Sources:
- Trump piles pain on Democrats over US government shutdown – scmp.com
- Trump is entertaining a puzzling delusion about the shutdown – msnbc.com
- Trump’s Promised Shutdown Layoffs Could Be Stuck in Court for Months – time.com
- Trump plans for ‘thousands’ of federal firings on government shutdown day 2 — and they could be permanent – nypost.com
- Trump barrels toward uncharted legal territory with plans for layoffs during shutdown – thehill.com
- Trump says he could cut ‘favorite projects’ of Democrats because of shutdown – pbs.org
- Trump Calls Shutdown an ‘Unprecedented Opportunity,’ and Eyes Deep Cuts – nytimes.com
- Trump threatens permanent cuts as shutdown stalemate continues – cbsnews.com
- As the shutdown drags on, the threat of permanent cuts is mired in politics – npr.org
- Trump no longer distancing himself from Project 2025 as he uses shutdown to further pursue its goals – abcnews.go.com
- Trump embraces Project 2025 after denying it during 2024 campaign – reddit.com
- Trump embraces Project 2025 after disavowing it during 2024 campaign – axios.com
- Trump boasts of meeting with Project 2025 architect to cut 'Democrat agencies' – alternet.org
