Trump Targets “Democrat Agencies” as Government Shutdown Enters Day Two
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will meet with budget director Russell Vought on Thursday to decide which “Democrat Agencies” to cut, escalating his strategy during the second day of the federal government shutdown.
In a social media post, Trump wrote: “I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity.”
Trump Pressures Democrats with Shutdown Tactics
The president has already frozen federal transit and green-energy funding in Democratic-leaning states. He has also threatened to fire more federal workers, on top of the layoffs already in motion. Trump is on track to push out as many as 300,000 federal employees by the end of the year.
Vought, who is linked to Project 2025 from the conservative Heritage Foundation, supports shrinking the federal government. The plan includes dismantling the Department of Education and limiting the government’s ability to regulate pollution.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that thousands of workers could be fired. Unions have filed lawsuits to block mass layoffs, but courts have so far allowed them to proceed.
Democratic Opposition
Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, criticized Trump’s approach, saying firings would not resolve the deadlock.
She argued: “People aren’t negotiating tools, and it’s sick that the president is treating federal workers like pawns.”
Democrats say Trump is holding government services hostage, while Republicans argue that the president has the authority to decide how resources are spent during a shutdown.
Shutdown Impact Widens
This is the 15th government shutdown since 1981. It has suspended activities such as scientific research, financial oversight, and the release of key economic data. Programs like Social Security continue, but around 2 million federal workers have had pay suspended.
-
About 750,000 workers are furloughed.
-
Others, such as troops and Border Patrol agents, are working without pay.
If no deal is reached by October 15, when paychecks are due, many workers could face severe hardship.
Economic and Political Fallout
The shutdown has frozen around $1.7 trillion in agency funding, about one-quarter of the federal budget. A prolonged standoff could disrupt air travel, food aid, exports, and mortgage approvals.
While past shutdowns have not caused lasting damage to the economy, the political costs are rising. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days in 2018–2019, also under Trump, during a battle over immigration.
This shutdown began Tuesday at midnight after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a spending bill. Democrats demand an extension of expiring health subsidies, while Republicans insist the issue must be handled separately.
The Senate will not meet again until Friday, leaving the shutdown in place. Although Republicans control both chambers, they still need at least seven Democratic votes in the Senate to pass a funding bill.
