Mike Johnson weighs in as OMB’s Russell Vought and President Trump consider agency funding cuts during shutdown
As the government shutdown continues, OMB Director Russell Vought — who has warned layoffs could begin "in a day or two" and whose office has flagged roughly $8 billion in green‑energy funding as canceled — is meeting with President Trump as they weigh agency funding cuts and possible mass firings that the White House has framed as an "opportunity" to reshape government. Federal workers and unions are bracing and pursuing legal challenges amid warnings some layoffs could be permanent, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly weighed in on Vought’s work to identify potential cuts.
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🔍 Key Facts
- President Trump posted on Truth Social calling the shutdown an “unprecedented opportunity” to slim down the federal government, labeled some agencies a “political SCAM,” framed potential personnel and program cuts as possibly “irreversible,” and said he was meeting with OMB Director Russell Vought to decide which agencies to target.
- OMB Director Russell Vought has taken concrete steps during the shutdown: he tweeted naming specific states and said roughly $8 billion in green‑energy funding was canceled, OMB circulated a memo preparing agencies for layoffs, and in a private call with House GOP lawmakers said layoffs could begin “in the next day or two.”
- The White House and senior administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, warned that layoffs are imminent and could be permanent; the White House explicitly said some federal workers “will be laid off.”
- Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected not to receive paychecks while the shutdown continues; thousands of employees are reported to be bracing for furloughs or mass layoffs, with immediate operational impacts documented (for example, a SNAP applicant finding an office closed while trying to renew benefits).
- Federal employee unions have filed suit challenging the OMB memo that prepares agencies for layoffs, while media, watchdogs and legal experts raised possible legal concerns (including Hatch Act and other statutes) about administration furlough messaging that blames Democrats — a claim the White House disputes.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly commented on Vought and Trump weighing funding cuts during the shutdown, and CBS published on‑the‑record video of his remarks.
- These developments and directives were reported contemporaneously as the shutdown began (day one), with immediate White House statements, agency communications and media coverage documenting the unfolding decisions and impacts.
📍 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.
📰 Sources (11)
Mike Johnson on Vought and Trump weighing funding cuts during government shutdown
New information:
- House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly commented on OMB Director Russell Vought working through potential cuts across federal agencies during the shutdown.
- CBS News published a video report (reporter: Nikole Killion) documenting Johnson’s on‑the‑record remarks.
Trump meeting with Vought about potential mass firings during government shutdown
New information:
- President Trump said he is meeting with OMB Director Russell Vought specifically to discuss potential cuts and possible mass firings at federal agencies.
- CBS News provided on-camera reporting (Willie James Inman and Kelly O'Grady) confirming the White House statement that the meeting is taking place amid the government shutdown.
Trump sees 'unprecedented opportunity' to cut government during shutdown
New information:
- President Trump posted on Truth Social calling the shutdown an "unprecedented opportunity" to cut 'Democrat Agencies' and said he was meeting with OMB Director Russell Vought to determine which agencies to target.
- Direct presidential language labeling some agencies a 'political SCAM' and asking OMB to recommend whether cuts should be temporary or permanent.
Workers brace for mass layoffs as Trump encourages using government shutdown opportunity
New information:
- CBS reports that 'thousands' of federal workers are explicitly 'bracing' for potential furloughs or mass layoffs (human-impact framing beyond agency memos).
- CBS states that some Republicans — explicitly including President Trump — are publicly encouraging using the shutdown as an opportunity to reduce federal headcount and have argued such moves could 'save billions.'
- The piece is a contemporaneous broadcast report (CBS/Nancy Cordes) documenting workers' immediate reactions and political messaging tied to the shutdown.
Media bashes Trump admin messaging for pinning shutdown on Dems, White House fires back
New information:
- On‑the‑record White House spokeswoman quote rejecting claims that blaming Democrats in official furlough communications breaks federal law
- Specifics from agency communications highlighted: Fox states it obtained a DOJ memo and reproduces banner/pop‑up language on DOJ and HUD sites attributing the lapse to Democrats
- Legal context and pushback: the article summarizes media and watchdog accusations of Anti‑Lobbying Act/Hatch Act exposure and includes a legal expert’s (Andrew Cherkasy) comment about Hatch Act applicability
Pressure on Democrats grows to end shutdown. And, Gaza City receives evacuation orders
New information:
- NPR attributes the $8 billion cancellation directly to OMB Director Russ Vought.
- NPR reports Vice President J.D. Vance publicly warning that federal workforce layoffs will occur if the shutdown continues.
- Anecdotal operational impact: a named SNAP applicant, Carlos Hernandez, found a SNAP office closed while trying to renew benefits.
Furloughs, closures and mass firings threats: What's next in the shutdown fight
New information:
- Vice President J.D. Vance explicitly warned that layoffs could be permanent, not just temporary furloughs.
- Russ Vought’s tweet naming specific states and characterizing roughly $8 billion in green‑energy funding as canceled (tweet language quoted in article).
- Reporting that federal employees' unions have filed suit challenging the OMB memo that prepares agencies for layoffs during a shutdown (legal challenge referenced).
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment
New information:
- Reported detail that OMB Director Russ Vought, in a private call with House GOP lawmakers, said layoffs could begin 'in the next day or two'
- Explicit White House quote and attribution that layoffs are being discussed as 'irreversible' cuts and that Leavitt characterized layoffs as 'imminent'
- Framing by AP that the administration is using the shutdown to 'reshape the federal workforce and punish detractors,' tying personnel actions to political objectives
White House says federal layoffs are "imminent" amid government shutdown
New information:
- CBS reports the White House explicitly saying some federal workers 'will be laid off' amid the shutdown.
- CBS reiterates the commonly cited figure that approximately 750,000 federal workers will not receive a paycheck while the shutdown continues.
- Confirms the timing as day one of the government shutdown (Wednesday) and that the White House made the statement contemporaneously.
Here's what Trump wants to do to reshape the federal government during the shutdown
New information:
- Direct Trump quotes framing the shutdown as an opportunity to make 'irreversible' personnel and program cuts.
- Reporting that the White House is underscoring it did not want the shutdown but sees potential to 'slim down' the federal government.
- Explicit contextualization of the Antideficiency Act as concentrating discretion with the White House and OMB during a funding lapse.