Trump Embraces Project 2025, Says He Will Meet With Russ Vought to Identify Agency Cuts
President Trump said on Truth Social he will meet with OMB Director Russell Vought—who co‑authored the Heritage Foundation–linked Project 2025 blueprint—to decide which agencies to cut and whether those cuts will be temporary or permanent. The White House, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt, says layoffs are “likely… in the thousands,” OMB is actively “gaming out” reductions that Vought has called imminent, and officials could use lapsed‑appropriations rules to issue reductions in force, drawing criticism from Democratic-aligned figures.
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🔍 Key Facts
- On Oct. 3, 2025, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he will meet with OMB Director Russell Vought, "he of PROJECT 2025 Fame," to decide which federal agencies to cut and whether the cuts will be temporary or permanent.
- Russell Vought is a co‑author of Project 2025 (a roughly 900‑plus‑page Heritage Foundation blueprint) and wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the executive office of the president; Trump had previously distanced himself from the project but has since invoked it.
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is actively "gaming out" layoffs, and Vought told Republicans federal layoffs could begin in "a day or two."
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said layoffs are "likely... in the thousands," while the administration has signaled it will use "all manner of authorities" to pursue its agenda, including reducing the size and scope of government.
- Legal analysts (including Richard Stern of the Heritage Foundation) explain that a lapse in appropriations can remove statutory "payroll floors," enabling the administration to issue RIF (reduction‑in‑force) notices and reduce staff even while statutory program requirements remain.
- Reporting describes the mechanism as one in which funding‑floor constraints tied to appropriations lapse during a shutdown, giving the administration discretion to cut staff while still attempting to meet legally required services.
- PBS reported there were no signs of progress between lawmakers, meaning the government remained shut down another day; the coverage framed the president as "digging in" and warning of far‑reaching consequences tied to the shutdown stalemate.
- The White House response to criticism included spokesperson Abigail Jackson; named critics reacting to the reversal include Shalanda Young and Ammar Moussa.
📍 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 (6)
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).