WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump is using the government shutdown as leverage to potentially cut federal programs and jobs.

Trump said on the second day of the government shutdown that he would meet with his budget director and co-author of Project 2025, Russ Vought, to discuss potential cuts to "Democrat agencies" and whether these cuts would be temporary or permanent.

Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said of layoffs, "It's likely going to be in the thousands. It's a very good question, and that's something that the Office of Management and Budget and the entire team at the White House here again, is unfortunately having to work on today."

In an interview with One America News, the president said, “There could be firings and that’s their fault,” referring to Demo

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