Trump Escalates Shutdown Strategy, Threatens Cuts to “Democrat Programs” as Impasse Continues
WASHINGTON D.C. – President Donald Trump intensified his strategy in the ongoing government shutdown, publicly threatening to permanently eliminate programs favored by Democrats as the stalemate entered its fifteenth day. The President indicated potential cuts could be announced as early as Friday, asserting that these programs “were opposed to” by his administration and “are never going to come back in many cases.”
“The Democrats are getting killed on the shutdown because we’re closing up programmes that are Democrat programmes,” Trump told reporters Tuesday, as reported by ABC News. He further stated that “Republican programmes” would be shielded from reductions.
This escalation follows Trump’s earlier actions during the shutdown, which have already resulted in the pausing or cutting of approximately $28 billion in federal funding for infrastructure and energy projects, disproportionately impacting Democrat-leaning states including California, Illinois, and New York.
The White House has also initiated workforce reductions, issuing “reduction-in-force notices” to roughly 4,200 employees across eight federal departments and agencies last friday, according to CNBC. Meaningful cuts have been implemented at the Treasury Department, the Health and Human Services Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Notably, some programs targeted for cuts have historically received bipartisan support, including the entire staff of the Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which supports low-income communities.
The shutdown impacts a vast federal workforce. The Congressional Budget Office estimates there are 2.25 million civilian federal employees, with approximately 60% working within the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. Currently, around 750,000 federal employees are furloughed, while those deemed “essential” continue to work without pay, pending resolution of the shutdown.
In an unusual move, the White House announced it will reallocate $8 billion in existing funds to continue paying military and Coast Guard personnel throughout the shutdown, despite the ancient precedent of these personnel also working without pay during such periods.
The Senate remains locked in a deadlock over a government spending bill. A Republican-backed bill to extend funding until November 21 failed to pass on Monday, falling short with a vote of 49-45.Democrats are blocking the bill, seeking negotiations on healthcare subsidies as a condition for ending the shutdown. Sixty votes are required for passage.
Context: The current shutdown began December 22,2018,stemming from a dispute over funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The President has repeatedly demanded $5.7 billion for the project, a request Democrats have consistently rejected. Government shutdowns occur when Congress fails to pass funding legislation, leading to the temporary closure of non-essential government services and furloughing of federal employees. Thay have become increasingly frequent in recent decades, often tied to partisan disagreements over budget priorities.
