Trump's Unprecedented Government Shutdown: A Restructuring Like No Other

Wed Oct 15 2025 03:43:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As President Trump enters the third week of a historic government shutdown, his administration employs radical measures that reshape federal workforce dynamics, igniting controversy and legal challenges.

The current government shutdown, now in its third week, presents a unique challenge as President Trump and his budget chief, Russ Vought, leverage this moment to fundamentally alter federal employment practices. Major layoffs impact thousands in sectors like health and education while military pay remains funded. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, voice concerns over the legality of these actions, vowing to challenge the administration in court. With Congress unable to resolve funding issues, the implications of this shutdown could redefine the scope of the federal government well into the future.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is orchestrating a government shutdown unlike any previously experienced, granting rare authority to his budget office to determine the fate of federal employees. As the shutdown enters its third week, the implications for the federal workforce could be monumental, with discussions of massive layoffs getting underway.

The Office and Management and Budget has announced plans to 'batten down the hatches' with further reductions likely. Trump refers to his budget chief Russ Vought as the 'grim reaper,' who is seizing this shutdown to push the administration's funding priorities, including military pay, while slashing jobs in the health, education, and sciences sectors.

While Congress remains gridlocked — a Republican-led House refusing to negotiate as Democrats insist on preserving healthcare funds — Vought's office fills the void, proceeding with layoffs affecting as many as 750,000 workers.

However, lawmakers criticize these measures as illegal. Senator Chris Van Hollen expressed the belief that Trump and Vought are using this opportunity to 'terrorize' federal employees, stating, 'This is a big fat lie' and pledging to challenge their actions in court.

As the shutdown stretches on, this scenario could be one of the longest in history, hindering essential government functions and igniting fierce public debate over the future of federal employment policies.

The handling of military pay remains a focal point, with Trump directing the Pentagon to utilize undistributed funds to ensure that service personnel can receive their paychecks despite the ongoing shutdown. Additionally, funding from past legislation is being applied to circumvent shutdown impacts.

In a striking move, Vought's OMB has pushed agencies to consider reductions in force, resulting in over 4,000 workers receiving layoff notices as the administration utilizes its authority in unprecedented ways.

This ambitious budget reshaping aligns with the conservative vision outlined in the Project 2025 policy initiative and raises profound questions about the feasibility and legality of altering the federal landscape amidst what has traditionally been an automatic furlough process for non-essential workers.