U.S. President Donald Trump said he will meet with his budget director, Russell Vought, on Thursday to decide which “Democrat Agencies” to cut. The comments came during the second day of the government shutdown, as Trump looked to increase pressure on his political opponents.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity,” Trump wrote on social media.
Trump has already halted federal transit and green-energy funding for Democratic-led states. He has also threatened to fire more federal employees during the shutdown, which began Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a spending deal. Trump aims to reduce the federal workforce by about 300,000 by the end of the year.
Vought is closely tied to Project 2025, a conservative Heritage Foundation plan that calls for downsizing the federal government. Trump’s administration has already advanced parts of that plan, including efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and reduce environmental regulations.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump could fire thousands of federal workers, though she gave no details. Several unions have filed lawsuits to block the layoffs, but courts have allowed them to proceed while litigation continues.
Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, warned that firing employees would not resolve the shutdown. “If the president fires a bunch of people, it’s not because of his shutdown—it’s because HE decided to fire them,” Murray said on social media. She accused Trump of treating workers like “pawns” in political negotiations.
The current government shutdown is the 15th since 1981. It has suspended economic data releases, scientific research, and other federal operations. Social Security payments and other major benefits continue, but about $1.7 trillion in agency funding remains frozen.
So far, pay has been suspended for roughly 2 million federal employees. Around 750,000 are furloughed, while others, including military personnel and Border Patrol agents, are working without pay. If the standoff continues past October 15, many could miss paychecks and face financial strain.
A prolonged shutdown could affect air travel, food assistance, exports, and mortgage applications. Still, economists note that previous shutdowns had limited long-term effects. The longest, under Trump in 2018–2019, lasted 35 days.
The shutdown began when Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a spending bill before the new fiscal year on October 1. Democrats want any budget deal to include extended health subsidies, while Republicans demand the issues be addressed separately.
Congress will not revisit the issue until Friday, when the Senate reconvenes. Although Republicans control both chambers, Senate rules require the support of at least seven Democrats to pass a funding bill.
Trump has signaled he will continue pressuring Democrats by targeting programs they support. Democrats say this amounts to political hostage-taking that harms ordinary Americans and violates Congress’ constitutional power over spending.
Republicans argue the administration has authority to decide how funds are used when Congress fails to pass a budget. “When Congress turns off the funding and the funding runs out, it is up to the commander in chief, the president of the United States, to determine how those resources will be spent,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
