While the US government shutdown extended into its second day, the nation's leader on the fourth day of the week described the budget interruption as an “historic chance” to further his effort of firing federal workers and downsizing departments.
The president declared on online platforms that he would meet with the director of the Office of Management and Budget, an architect of the mass firings and buyouts of federal workers.
“I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, known for PROJECT 2025 renown, to decide which of the many agencies associated with Democrats, many of which are a partisan scheme, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those reductions will be short-term or permanent,” the leader wrote on his social media platform. “It's astonishing the progressive Democrats provided me with this unprecedented opportunity.”
President Sees 'Unprecedented Opportunity' to Target Political Rivals as Shutdown Enters Its Second Day
The federal closure began on Wednesday at midnight, after the opposing party refused to support a Republican plan to continue funding unless it included a series of health-related compromises. The budget chief has warned to use the shutdown to carry out further staff reductions of government employees, and on the previous day announced the termination of billions of dollars in government money for initiatives associated with political opponents.
Other Updates from the Administration
- Narcotics Organizations operating in the region have been declared “unlawful combatants” and the nation is now in a “internal armed struggle”, according to a administration document.
- The Palestinian group is expected to provisionally accept a ceasefire proposal in the near future – but only if significant revisions are made to some of its key elements.
- The state of California has pledged to “immediately” withdraw financial support to universities that sign a proposed “Agreement on Education” that includes conditions such as closing university programs seen as targeting conservative ideas, capping foreign students to fifteen percent, and prohibiting consideration of race or sex in hiring and admissions.
- A judicial official has denied a request for asylum from a man who was erroneously removed earlier this year, though he has 30 days to challenge the ruling.
Additional Notable Happenings
- A well-known entrepreneur has recently trained his attention on encouraging people to cancel their subscriptions to a streaming service in objection to its incorporation of diverse representations.
- The White House recently issued a statement with links to research papers to back up a claim about a common medication and pregnancy, but physicians stated the evidence was “limited” and “inconclusive”.
