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. 'I know nothing about Project 2025,' Trump wrote in July 2024. 'I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they're saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.' Now, however, Trump is using the conservative blueprint as a threat to get Democrats to agree to his budgetary demands. And he is holding up Vought, who authored a chapter on the use of executive power, as a kind of budgetary angel of death, ready to take a scythe to government programmes near and dear to Democrats.
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.
In case that particular metaphor wasn't clear, Trump’s threatening rhetoric coupled with Vought’s financial expertise signals a transformative, yet aggressive stance toward federal budgeting amid the shutdown, raising concerns on both sides of the aisle about the long-term implications of such cuts.
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. 'I know nothing about Project 2025,' Trump wrote in July 2024. 'I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they're saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.' Now, however, Trump is using the conservative blueprint as a threat to get Democrats to agree to his budgetary demands. And he is holding up Vought, who authored a chapter on the use of executive power, as a kind of budgetary angel of death, ready to take a scythe to government programmes near and dear to Democrats.
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.
In case that particular metaphor wasn't clear, Trump’s threatening rhetoric coupled with Vought’s financial expertise signals a transformative, yet aggressive stance toward federal budgeting amid the shutdown, raising concerns on both sides of the aisle about the long-term implications of such cuts.
