Overview

• OMB froze about $18 billion for New York infrastructure projects and roughly $8 billion for clean‑energy initiatives across 16 states, with officials citing the shutdown and administration priorities.
• Trump said he will meet budget director Russell Vought today to decide which Democratic‑aligned agencies to cut and whether those cuts will be temporary or permanent.
• Vought told House Republicans layoffs could begin in a day or two, and the White House said job cuts are imminent if the funding lapse continues.
• Republican senators including Kevin Cramer and Susan Collins criticized the aggressive approach, warning it could squander the party’s advantage and harm critical projects like the Hudson Tunnel.
• Democrats and unions are preparing or pursuing lawsuits to block freezes and firings, while essential benefits continue as other programs and projects face immediate disruption.