WASHINGTON — As the Trump administration weighs which federal programs and agencies continue to operate during the government shutdown, decisions rest largely with budget director Russell Vought, a longtime aide President Donald Trump has likened to the grim reaper.

Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, is an avid proponent of drastically reducing the size of the federal workforce and has moved quickly over the past three days to pause federal funding for projects in Democrat-led states, while continuing to raise the prospect of widespread layoffs.

"There are all manner of authorities to be able to keep this administration's policy agenda moving forward, and that includes reducing the size and scope of the government, and we will be looking for opportunitie

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