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1h ago

Trump Publicly Embraces Project 2025, Taps Vought to Map Cuts During Shutdown

The public reversal coincides with an OMB push to leverage the shutdown for agency cuts, funding freezes, staffing reductions.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House on July 8.
President Donald Trump speaks on stage at the Al Udeid Air Base, in Doha, Qatar, on May 15.
A copy of Project 2025 is held during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on August 21, 2024.
President Donald Trump departs after addressing senior military officers gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, on September 30.

Overview

  • In a Truth Social post, the president said he would meet with OMB Director Russ Vought, whom he called "of Project 2025 fame," to recommend which "Democrat Agencies" to cut and whether cuts should be temporary or permanent.
  • OMB has told agencies to prepare for layoffs rather than typical furloughs during shutdowns, and Vought told House Republicans that firings would begin within a day or two, according to reporting on a private call.
  • The administration has paused or canceled Democratic-backed projects, including $8 billion in green energy initiatives and $18 billion for New York City transit, and it put $2.1 billion in Chicago rail funding on hold pending a DEI-related review, officials said.
  • The White House declined to label Project 2025 its blueprint, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying Cabinet secretaries are identifying waste, fraud and abuse as they consider layoffs and program reductions.
  • Democrats blasted the shift and unions sued to block reductions in force, while reporters say some Republicans are privately frustrated that highlighting Project 2025 complicates efforts to blame the shutdown on Democrats.