WASHINGTON — On Thursday, President Trump met with White House budget director Russ Vought to strategize on potentially eliminating “thousands” of federal jobs, marking the second day of the ongoing government shutdown.
The anticipated layoffs, which could be disclosed as soon as Friday, are expected to significantly affect what Trump referred to as “Democrat Agencies,” such as the Education Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, which are currently being targeted for workforce reductions.
“I’m having a meeting today with Russ Vought, known for PROJECT 2025, to figure out which of the numerous Democrat Agencies, the majority of which I believe to be a political SCAM, should be downsized, and whether those job cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
“It’s hard to believe that the Radical Left Democrats have handed me this incredible opportunity. They’re intelligent; maybe this is their subtle way of wanting to rapidly and quietly MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the projected number of job losses is “likely going to be in the thousands,” in addition to the nearly 300,000 federal employees and contractors who were let go earlier this year as part of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
Vought had requested Reduction in Force (RIF) plans from various federal agencies last week, paving the way for substantial workforce reductions as Democrats rejected a temporary spending bill aimed at preventing a shutdown.
Around 750,000 federal workers are currently furloughed during the shutdown, as reported by the Congressional Budget Office, with daily fluctuations in numbers.
Agencies facing heavy cuts include the Food and Drug Administration, which has plans to temporarily lay off 40% of its 80,000 employees, and the Education Department, with plans to furlough 95% of its staff not involved in student aid administration.
Leavitt indicated that Trump and Vought are prioritizing cuts at agencies that do not align with the administration’s values.
The nation is experiencing its first multi-day shutdown since January 2019 due to Democratic demands for the continuation of enhanced pandemic-era subsidies for approximately 22 million individuals who obtained health insurance through Obamacare exchanges.
Republicans highlight that these benefits do not expire until December 31, allowing for ample negotiation time, while they oppose elements of the Democratic counter-proposal, which seeks to restore funding for National Public Radio and reimbursements for hospitals treating illegal immigrants. The Democrats’ proposal would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next decade and has been rejected twice in the Senate along party lines.
There has been little advancement in negotiations between the two parties, with Republican leaders hoping to see more Democratic senators crossing party lines.
The shutdown commenced on Wednesday when a majority of Senate Democrats utilized the 60-vote filibuster to block a House-approved bill meant to maintain federal spending at existing levels through November 21. The vote fell short, with 55 in favor and 45 opposed.
Three Democrats—Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), and Angus King (Maine), who caucuses with Democrats—voted for the temporary spending bill. Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky) was the only Republican in opposition.
A post-shutdown vote on Wednesday resulted in the same 55-45 split, and no votes were held on Thursday due to Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
Another attempt to advance the short-term spending bill is anticipated to fail on Friday, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who informed reporters Thursday that it is “unlikely” there would be votes over the weekend, indicating that the shutdown could extend into at least next week unless unforeseen developments occur.
“They’ll have another chance tomorrow to reopen the government. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll give them the weekend to reconsider. We plan to regroup and vote again on Monday,” Thune stated.
The White House has cautioned about potential interruptions to significant programs, including the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program, which offers financial assistance for nutrition to low-income mothers with young children.
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The WIC program reportedly has sufficient funding to operate for about one to two weeks before benefits begin to deplete for its recipients, as stated by Ali Hard, director of public policy for the National WIC Association, in comments to ABC News.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has intensified efforts to pressure Democrats, seeking to encourage more centrist defections.
On Wednesday, Vought paused $18 billion in Transportation Department allocations for New York’s Gateway Tunnel project and the Second Avenue subway expansion, ostensibly to evaluate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies among grantees, a maneuver aimed at undermining Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of whom are from Brooklyn.
Shortly after, the budget director revealed the Energy Department’s recapture of $8 billion earmarked for green-energy initiatives across 16 states, including California and New York, all of which supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who met with Trump at the White House on Thursday afternoon, asserted that Vought “takes no pleasure in this.”
“Russ does this with reluctance,” Johnson remarked. “He does not relish this responsibility.”
The last government shutdown persisted for 35 days in late 2018 and early 2019, as congressional Democrats turned down Trump’s request for funding to construct a US-Mexico border wall. Ultimately, Trump allocated military funding for the project, breaking the deadlock.
