Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is behind the scenes of the Trump administration's response to the ongoing government shutdown.

Why it matters: Vought was a co-architect of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, widely seen as a roadmap for President Trump's policies. Also having led the OMB during Trump's first term, Vought has openly criticized the federal government and its workforce.

Driving the news: Vought said Monday, as the funding gap began, that the Trump administration would begin firing federal workers within days. • He had previously threatened mass layoffs if a shutdown began. • Vought called the shutdown deadline a "very critical juncture" on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast last month.

The big picture: In the Trump White House, Vought stands

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