WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump today renewed his threat to punish Democrats during the government shutdown, promising that on Friday, he would release a list of “Democrat programs” slated for permanent cuts.

The comments marked the latest escalation in Trump’s attempts to weaponize the lapse in federal funding, two weeks into the fiscal stalemate. His administration has already moved to lay off thousands of federal workers and block billions of dollars in aid, all in a bid to harm Democrats.

Trump did not detail the agencies or programs he had in mind, or say whether he would look to cull staff or slash spending. But he appeared to delight in the opportunity afforded by the shutdown to achieve a set of budget cuts that he has long sought but that have not yet been ratified by Congr

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