U.S. government shutdowns began as a way to enforce federal law. Trump is using it to take more power

The shutdown has become a political weapon Trump is using to expand presidential power and punish opponents.

Federal employees haven’t received full paychecks in nearly a month, and nutrition aid faces a potential funding cliff on Nov. 1.

The Trump administration is weaponizing the shutdown differently than predecessors, targeting Democratic priorities through selective layoffs and budget manipulation.

WASHINGTON — The government shutdown, already the second-longest in history, with no end in sight, is quickly becoming an additional way for President Trump to exercise new command over the government.

It wasn’t always this way. In fact, it all started with an attempt to tighten Washington’s observance of federal law.

The modern phenomena of the U.S. government closing down services b