President Trump’s push to expand and consolidate power is ramping up on multiple fronts, even as the government shutdown holds center stage on Capitol Hill. Trump’s actions are sharpening critics’ fears about creeping authoritarianism.

The shutdown and Trump’s expansive use of power are interlinked in some respects. Trump has sought new ways to ratchet up pressure on Democrats, who say they won’t accede to Republican demands to reopen the government in the absence of changes in health care policy.

On Friday, Trump’s budget director, Russell Vought, announced that $2.1 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects in Chicago would be withheld.

This came soon after $18 billion was paused in similar circumstances for New York City.

The measures were ostensibly related to the use

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