Trump, Vought to decide which "Democrat Agencies" to cut during shutdown "opportunity"

• Trump is signaling the administration will begin to lay off "a lot" of federal workers, despite a union lawsuit arguing such actions are "contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious."

Driving the news: Trump said in a Truth Social post he and Vought will decide "which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent."

• He added, he "can't believe the Radical Left Democrats" gave him the "unprecedented opportunity" to do so.

Yes, but: The president doesn't have the authority to unilaterally eliminate agencies created by Congress.

The intrigue: In his post, Trump referenced Vought's ties to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation blueprint to reshape life for millions of Americans and expand executive power.

• Trump repeatedly distanced himself from the plan, which became a centerpiece of Democrats' 2024 opposition.
• But on Wednesday, he recognized his OMB director's long-reported ties to the playbook as a key co-author.

Catch up quick: Ahead of the shutdown, Vought instructed agencies to prepare "Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees" in programs that are "not consistent with the president's priorities."

• Democrats largely downplayed the threat, but it seems the White House is barreling forward with its drive to further hollow out agencies already pummeled by DOGE cuts. The shutdown could see approximately 750,000 federal employees furloughed each day.
• The labor unions who sued the administration argued that "carrying out RIFs is plainly not a permitted (or 'excepted') function that can lawfully continue during a shutdown."

Go deeper: Thune says mass shutdown firings don't "have to happen"