President Trump's administration is using the ongoing government shutdown to grant his budget chief, Russ Vought, unprecedented authority to selectively fund programs and fire federal workers. Prioritizing Trump's agenda, Vought is slashing jobs in health, education, and other areas, drawing criticism as illegal and facing court challenges, as the shutdown enters its third week.
The current government shutdown, now in its third week, is being managed by President Donald Trump in an unprecedented manner, granting his Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rare authority to pick winners and losers among federal programs and employees. OMB Director Russ Vought, dubbed the 'grim reaper' by Trump, is preparing for more reductions in force, selectively funding Trump's priorities like the military and mass deportation, while cutting jobs in health, education, sciences, and cyber security. This strategy, criticized as illegal and facing court challenges, is seen by Democrats as a deliberate effort to dismantle programs and 'terrorize' federal employees, aligning with conservative blueprints like Project 2025. While some programs like the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food aid program were maintained using leftover tariff revenues, thousands of federal workers have received layoff notices. Trump stated that programs favored by Democrats are being targeted and may 'never come back.' Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, have condemned these actions, asserting they are illegal. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, defended OMB's right to reallocate funds and welcomed any legal challenges. The shutdown continues due to a congressional standstill, with Democrats demanding a deal to preserve expiring health care funds, and Republicans refusing to negotiate until the government is reopened.
