Trump Embraces Government Shutdown with Bold Cuts: Meet the Grim Reaper of Federal Spending

Tue Oct 21 2025 01:43:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Trump uses the government shutdown to threaten budget cuts, he elevates Russell Vought as the enforcer of conservative policies, leaving Democrats on edge.

In light of the ongoing government shutdown, Donald Trump warns Democrats of major budget cuts targeting 'Democrat agencies.' Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and a key figure in Trump's Plan 2025, is being positioned as the architect of these drastic cuts, using the shutdown as leverage for his agenda. With Vought's history in cutting federal programs, Trump is casting him as the 'grim reaper' of government spending, promising deep reductions during a time of legal ambiguity in budgetary restrictions. Despite Republican concerns over the political fallout, Vought is poised to make significant changes.

Donald Trump had a warning to Democrats. Soon he will decide what Democrat agencies he would cut and whether those reductions would be temporary or permanent. He said the government shutdown, which began on Tuesday, had afforded him an unprecedented opportunity.

I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, he posted on his Truth Social website on Thursday morning.

Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, may not be a household name. But Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for governing put together primarily by former Trump officials like Vought when the Republicans were out of power, featured prominently during last year's presidential campaign.

The 900-page policy document contained proposals for dramatic reductions in the size of federal government, expanded presidential authority, rigorous immigration enforcement, a nationwide abortion ban, and other elements of an ultra-conservative social agenda.

It was frequently touted by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, as Trump's dangerous plan for the future if he was to win. At the time, seeking to reassure undecided voters, Trump tried to distance himself from the policy document.

Now, however, Trump is using the conservative blueprint as a threat to get Democrats to agree to his budgetary demands.

In case that particular metaphor wasn't clear, on Thursday night Trump shared an AI-generated parody music video on Truth Social with Vought portrayed as the grim reaper, set to altered lyrics of Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper.

On Capitol Hill, Republican leaders have echoed Trump's characterization of Vought as the White House heavy. We don't control what he's going to do, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said. This is the risk of shutting down the government and handing the keys to Russ Vought.

Vought already has announced major infrastructure projects in New York City and Chicago are on hold, citing the need for a review of potentially illegal racial hiring practices - a review that he said can't take place during the shutdown.

While permanent layoffs would still have to abide by a 60-day notice, Vought could start that clock ticking whenever he, and Trump, so choose. Democrats and federal worker unions have promised to fight these reductions in court, claiming that Trump is making largely empty threats to try to pressure them into abandoning the fight.

Republicans have been warning of the dire consequences of the shutdown on government services. However, some in Congress are concerned that the apparent glee with which Trump is touting Vought-ordered cuts could turn public opinion against them if the shutdown stretches on.