Donald Trump threatens ‘irreversible’ cuts during US government shutdown

The post was notable in its explicit embrace of Project 2025, a controversial policy blueprint drafted by the Heritage Foundation

Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, has been criticised (Evan Vucci/AP)

President Donald Trump has seized on the government shutdown as an opportunity to reshape the federal workforce and punish detractors, meeting with budget director Russ Vought to talk through “temporary or permanent” spending cuts.

He announced the meeting on social media on Thursday morning, saying he and Mr Vought would determine “which of the many Democrat Agencies” would be cut — continuing their efforts to slash federal spending by threatening mass firings of workers and suggesting “irreversible” cuts to Democratic priorities.