Trump and budget chief Vought are making this a government shutdown unlike any other

"President Donald Trump is making this government shutdown unlike any the country has ever seen, enabling his budget office a rare authority to pick winners and losers who gets paid or fired in an unprecedented restructuring across the federal workforce. As the shutdown enters its third week, the Office and Management and Budget said Tuesday it's preparing to batten down the hatches with more reductions in force to come."

"The president calls budget chief Russ Vought the grim reaper who's seized on the opportunity to fund Trump's priorities, paying the military while slashing employees in health, education, the sciences and other areas with actions that have been criticized as illegal and are facing court challenges. Pay the troops, pay law enforcement, continue the RIFs, and wait, OMB said in a social media post."

The Office of Management and Budget has been granted rare authority during the government shutdown to decide who is paid, furloughed or fired, enabling a broad restructuring of the federal workforce. OMB announced it is preparing additional reductions in force as the shutdown enters a third week. Budget Director Russell Vought is prioritizing military and law enforcement pay while cutting positions in health, education, sciences and other areas. Those moves have provoked criticisms of illegality and face court challenges. With the House and Senate deadlocked, the White House budget office has filled the operational void on personnel decisions.

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