Trump Targets ‘Democrat Agencies’ for Major Cuts Amid Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON — As the U.S. federal government entered its second day of shutdown on Thursday, former President Donald Trump announced plans to use the crisis as an opportunity to cut funding and jobs from what he terms “Democrat Agencies,” signaling a politically charged approach to the shutdown and its consequences.
Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he would meet with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought, known for his role in the conservative blueprint Project 2025, to determine which agencies aligned with the Democratic Party would face cuts and whether those cuts would be permanent or temporary.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity,” Trump wrote, emphasizing his intent to leverage the shutdown for broader federal downsizing.
Background and Political Context
The current government shutdown began due to a partisan impasse in Congress, involving disagreements primarily between Democrats and Republicans on budget priorities. Amid the stalemate, Trump has already taken steps that include freezing federal transit and green-energy funding directed toward Democratic-leaning states.
With tens of thousands of federal employees already furloughed, Trump’s administration is reportedly planning substantial layoffs, potentially pushing out up to 300,000 workers by the end of the year, according to White House statements and associated reporting. These moves have ignited fierce opposition and legal action from federal employee unions, who have filed lawsuits to block mass firings, calling them unlawful, arbitrary, and capricious.
Project 2025: The Strategic Framework
Central to the shutdown’s strategic use is Project 2025, a plan developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation that outlines a radical downsizing of the federal government and a restructuring that expands executive powers. Russ Vought, the OMB director, is a key architect of this agenda and has communicated directives for agencies to prepare Reduction in Force (RIF) plans, signaling readiness for significant workforce reduction.
The plan has fueled rhetoric about dismantling or severely cutting back agencies such as the Department of Education and those related to environmental regulations, which Trump’s administration views as politically oppositional or ineffective.
Political and Legal Implications
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt affirmed the potential for thousands of federal workers to be laid off during the shutdown, although specific agencies and numbers remain undisclosed. The administration’s aggressive approach marks a new level of politicizing government shutdowns by using them as a tool not just to protest budget impasses but to enforce a conservative governmental overhaul.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson defended the president’s authority in this context, stating, “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. This responsibility was given to him by the Democrats in the Senate. They can’t complain about it.”
However, legal experts caution that the president does not have unilateral authority to abolish federal agencies created by Congress without legislative action, highlighting potential constitutional and procedural conflicts ahead.
Outlook Amid Continuing Shutdown
The shutdown continues to impact essential government operations, with federal workers facing furloughs and the public experiencing disruptions. The standoff remains unresolved as negotiations stall, with deep partisan divides and Trump’s administration pressing forward on its agenda to reshape the federal government’s structure and workforce, irrespective of the shutdown’s immediate political fallout.
As the situation evolves, federal courts are weighing union challenges against the administration’s moves, underscoring the unfolding legal and political battles tied to this hardline shutdown approach.
Reporting by Andy Sullivan, Doina Chiacu, David Morgan and Brendan O’Brien; editing by Scott Malone, Nick Zieminski and Alistair Bell.