US President Donald Trump has described the ongoing government shutdown as an “unprecedented opportunity” to fire federal workers, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats who accused his administration of pushing job cuts under the cover of political deadlock.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he is meeting with Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and a key figure in Project 2025, to discuss which federal agencies could face cuts. He hinted that many agencies were “political scams” and should be either temporarily or permanently reduced.
The shutdown, which began after budget talks stalled in Congress, has already left about 750,000 federal workers furloughed while others continue without pay. Essential services including border protection, law enforcement and air-traffic control remain functional, but concerns are mounting over food assistance, national parks, and preschool programmes.
The White House confirmed that layoffs are now imminent. “Unfortunately, because the Democrats shut down the government, the President has directed his cabinet, and the Office of Management and Budget is working with agencies across the board to identify where cuts can be made,” a spokesperson said.
Vice President J.D. Vance also backed Trump’s stance, warning that prolonged shutdown could trigger widespread layoffs. “If this drags on for another few weeks, we are going to have to save money in some places so the essential services don’t get turned off,” he stated.
Democrats, however, countered Trump’s position, calling it a politically motivated attempt to slash jobs. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the administration as a “job-killing government” that has pursued mass layoffs since January.
The immediate dispute stems from Republican claims that Democrats are pushing healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants. Democrats have rejected this as misinformation, arguing that they are instead seeking to reverse healthcare cuts for American citizens introduced in an earlier spending bill.
The shutdown is the first in seven years and the second under Trump, who presided over the longest shutdown in US history in 2018-19, which stretched for 35 days. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress but still eight votes short of the 60 needed in the Senate to pass a funding bill, prospects for a quick resolution remain slim.
If extended further, the current shutdown could disrupt air travel as unpaid aviation staff may stop reporting for duty, while food inspections and aid services could also be severely affected.
The crisis underscores how political deadlock in Washington is again spilling into everyday life for federal workers and citizens, with Trump framing the standoff as a chance to reset government employment, while Democrats warn of widespread economic fallout.
