President Trump's threats of mid-shutdown mass firings are contingent on whether Democrats cave amid a government funding standoff, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett suggested Sunday.

The big picture: The shutdown, which Trump has framed as an "unprecedented opportunity" to make cuts to agencies, has seemingly emboldened a White House that's been eager to concentrate the president's power in unprecedented ways. • On Wednesday, Axios' Kate Santaliz reported that Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said the administration would start firing workers in a day or two. • So far, there have been several threats — but no mass layoffs.

Driving the news: Hassett signaled on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that layoffs will start "if the president decides

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