Trump Labels OMB's Vought Grim Reaper as Federal Layoff Plans Loom

President Trump has posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought as the "grim reaper," symbolizing his central role in recommending cuts and layoffs during the ongoing government shutdown. The video features Vought walking past portraits of prominent Democratic leaders, underscoring the administration's stance that many federal agencies aligned with Democrats are wasteful and targeted for cuts. The administration, embracing the shutdown, is preparing to lay off thousands of federal employees and pause funding for projects, including infrastructure and green energy initiatives. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the layoffs could number in the thousands, focusing on agencies that do not align with the administration's values. However, some Republicans warn that these layoffs might backfire politically by shifting public anger to the GOP. The Senate is expected to vote on stopgap funding bills, but the shutdown is anticipated to continue for at least another week.