White House Pressed on Project 2025 as Administration Pauses $2.1B in Chicago Projects
Amid a government shutdown and warnings that federal layoffs could number “in the thousands,” President Trump has invoked Project 2025 and said he will meet with OMB Director Russell Vought — a co‑author of the Heritage‑linked Project 2025 blueprint — to decide which agencies to cut and whether reductions will be temporary or permanent. At the same time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration has paused roughly $2.1 billion in Chicago transit projects (the Red Line extension and Red & Purple modernization) citing concerns about race‑based/DEI contracting.
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Politics
Economy
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🔍 Key Facts
- The White House has paused roughly $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago projects — specifically the Red Line extension and Red & Purple modernization — citing concerns about race‑based/DEI contracting.
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned federal layoffs are “likely… in the thousands,” saying decisions on cuts are being made by the president, his team and Cabinet secretaries, and referenced a public tweet from OMB Director Russell Vought about paused projects.
- OMB is reportedly “gaming out” layoffs; Director Russell Vought will meet with President Trump to decide which agencies may face cuts and whether they will be temporary or permanent, and Vought told Republicans layoffs could begin “in a day or two.”
- President Trump has invoked Project 2025 publicly (calling Vought “of PROJECT 2025 Fame” on Truth Social) and said he will meet with Vought to determine agency cuts — a reversal from his July 2024 denials of involvement with the plan.
- Project 2025 is a roughly 900‑plus‑page Heritage Foundation blueprint; CBS reported that Russ Vought is a co‑author and wrote the chapter on the executive office of the president.
- Policy analysts explained how a lapse in appropriations can legally remove payroll‑floor constraints, enabling the administration to issue RIF (reduction‑in‑force) notices and reduce staff while still meeting certain statutory program requirements.
- Media reports say there were no signs of progress in Congress to end the shutdown, with the president “digging in” and warning of far‑reaching consequences; PBS and other outlets noted named critics (including Shalanda Young and Ammar Moussa) and that White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded to criticism over the reversal on Project 2025.
📍 Contextual Background
- Russell Vought served as the Director (chief) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- OMB is the abbreviation for the Office of Management and Budget, an office within the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for assisting the President in preparing the federal budget and supervising its administration in executive agencies.
📰 Sources (7)
White House pressed about Trump seemingly changing his tune on Project 2025
New information:
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing that funds for the Chicago Red Line extension and Red & Purple modernization (about $2.1 billion) were paused due to concerns about race‑based/DEI contracting.
- Leavitt emphasized that decisions on layoffs and cuts are made by the president, his team and Cabinet secretaries, and referenced a public tweet from OMB Director Russell Vought about paused projects.
- The article republishes prior on‑the‑record context: Trump’s July 2024 denial of knowledge about Project 2025 and his recent Truth Social post calling Vought 'PROJECT 2025 Fame.'
Amid shutdown fight, Trump no longer distancing himself from Project 2025
New information:
- Trump posted on Truth Social on Oct. 3, 2025 saying he will meet with OMB Director Russ Vought, 'he of PROJECT 2025 Fame,' to determine which agencies to cut and whether cuts will be temporary or permanent.
- The article quotes White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responding to criticism and names Shalanda Young and Ammar Moussa as specific critics reacting to the reversal.
- The piece reiterates that Project 2025 is a ~900-plus-page Heritage Foundation blueprint and contrasts Trump's prior 2024 denials of involvement with the project.
Trump threatens mass firings as shutdown continues with no signs of potential deal
New information:
- The article reports President Trump invoked the name 'Project 2025' in connection with his warnings about mass firings.
- PBS notes there were 'no signs of progress between lawmakers on Thursday,' ensuring the government would remain shut down another day.
- The report frames the president as 'digging in' and warning of far-reaching consequences tied to the shutdown stalemate.
The agency staff Vought might recommend cutting and whether the cuts will be permanent
New information:
- Quotes and wording from President Trump's Truth Social post saying he will meet with Russell Vought to decide which agencies to cut and whether cuts will be temporary or permanent.
- A named policy analyst (Richard Stern of the Heritage Foundation) explaining legally how a lapse in appropriations removes 'payroll floors' and enables the administration to issue RIF (reduction in force) notices to cut staff.
- Explicit description in the article of the mechanism: that statutory program requirements remain but funding-floor constraints tied to appropriations lapse, allowing the administration discretion to reduce staff while still meeting legally required services.
Who is Russ Vought? What to know about Trump's OMB director ahead of shutdown layoffs
New information:
- Profile details on Russ Vought: CBS reports Vought is a co‑author of Project 2025 and authored the Heritage‑linked chapter on the executive office of the president.
- Direct reporting that Vought told Republicans federal layoffs would begin in 'a day or two.'
- Quoted Vought line to Fox Business: administration will use 'all manner of authorities' to pursue agenda, including reducing government size and scope (reiterated in CBS piece).
White House says federal layoffs could hit 'thousands' ahead of Trump, Vought meeting
New information:
- Direct quote from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying layoffs are 'likely... in the thousands.'
- Confirmation that OMB is actively 'gaming out' layoffs and that OMB Director Russell Vought will meet with President Trump to discuss which agencies may face cuts and whether they are temporary or permanent.
- Contextual political quote/claim from Leavitt accusing Democrats of blocking funding to keep the government open and alleging they support taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants (political framing included in the report).