As the U.S. government shutdown enters its second day, the White House is reportedly preparing to announce sweeping federal firings targeting agencies viewed as misaligned with President Donald Trump’s priorities. Two White House officials told CNN that the administration has compiled a list of departments to be affected, with formal announcements expected as early as this weekend.
“We could announce the RIFs (Reductions in Force) tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday,” one official told CNN, noting that some details were still being finalised. The list was primarily assembled by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in coordination with the targeted agencies.
According to the report, Trump met with OMB Director Russell Vought on Thursday to review the proposed cuts. The president previewed the meeting earlier on Truth Social, writing that his administration would determine “which of the many Democrat Agencies” to eliminate, “and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent.”
Targeting agencies over policy alignment
Sources said several agencies came under scrutiny due to their diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes. The White House, however, maintained that the move was based on budget priorities and alignment with the president’s agenda.
“We’re looking at agencies that don’t align with the president’s values,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “And that we feel are a waste of the taxpayer dollar.”
Trump warns of rising political hostility
In a separate interview with One America News, Trump accused Democrats of promoting “dangerous rhetoric” and warned that such tensions could “bounce back on the other side.”
When asked about his campaign plans for 2026, Trump referenced the assassination attempt at a 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying, “Big plans? I want to survive. That’s one of my big plans. You look at what’s going on. It’s crazy. You know, the rhetoric that these crazy Democrats are using is very dangerous. They’ve made politics very dangerous.”
He also endorsed Democratic Senator John Fetterman’s recent appeal to tone down political rhetoric, agreeing that “unchecked extreme rhetoric” risks further violence. “Well, he’s right, and it can bounce back on the other side too,” Trump said. “What they’re doing is very dangerous. It’s very bad. And there probably hasn’t been this kind of intensity, maybe, in a long time in this country.”
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