Trump Makes Major Move as Government Shutdown Enters Second Week

As the government shutdown stretches into its second week, tensions in Washington are boiling over — and the Trump administration’s latest actions have sparked outrage among federal employee unions.

Several unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have filed lawsuits accusing the administration of using the shutdown as an excuse to conduct sweeping layoffs they claim are illegal. The unions argue that these firings target thousands of federal workers who provide essential public services, from safety inspections to health and welfare programs.

AFGE National President Everett Kelley called the move “disgraceful” and a violation of employee rights. “This administration is breaking the law and punishing hardworking Americans for political leverage,” Kelley said, vowing to fight the layoffs in court.

The AFGE, representing more than 800,000 federal employees, is now leading the charge against what it views as an unprecedented overreach of executive power.

Inside the administration, Russ Vought, a key budget official and long-time advocate of reducing the federal workforce, has been driving the cost-cutting agenda. Since Trump’s second term began, Vought has pushed for aggressive spending reductions aimed at “streamlining” government operations — a move critics say is simply code for gutting vital programs.

The shutdown began after the Senate failed to pass a bipartisan spending bill. Despite repeated attempts by Senate Majority Leader John Thune to reach an agreement, Democrats have refused to back the proposal, citing deep concerns over what they see as inadequate funding for essential priorities.

At the heart of the stalemate is the Democrats’ demand for $1.5 trillion in new funding for progressive initiatives and a measure limiting the president’s power to retract previously approved spending. Republicans have flatly rejected both, dismissing the proposal as “dead on arrival.”

President Donald Trump has made no secret of his intent to target Democrat-backed programs with his budget cuts. In a recent Cabinet meeting, he stated plainly that reductions would “only affect the programs they support,” underscoring the deep partisan divide fueling the ongoing standoff.

With each passing day, the shutdown’s toll grows heavier — on federal workers, government operations, and public trust. The legal and political battles now unfolding could determine not only the outcome of this shutdown but also the balance of power over how America’s government spends its money in the years ahead.