Who is Russ Vought? What role will he play in the US shutdown

On the first day of the U.S. government shutdown, Russ Vought met with House Republicans to warn that mass layoffs of federal workers could begin in “a day or two.”

Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, stood alongside Vice President JD Vance and GOP leaders at the White House as they briefed reporters about failed last-minute talks with the president and Democratic leaders to stop the shutdown.

President Donald Trump praised Vought on Oct. 2 for helping decide what programs would be cut during the shutdown and whether those cuts would become permanent.

Vought, who co-wrote the policy plan Project 2025, is now at the center of major decisions—such as whether federal employees face mass layoffs instead of furloughs and which funds will be stopped or allowed.

Trump and Shutdown Plans

On Sept. 30, Trump described the shutdown as a chance to take “irreversible” steps like benefit cuts, “cutting programs that [Democrats] like” and “trimming the budget to a level that you couldn’t do any other way.” He added, “a lot of good can come from shutdowns.”

Republican Senator Mike Lee supported Vought, saying on Fox News:
“Russ Vought has a plan, and that plan is going to succeed in further empowering Trump. This is going to be the Democrats’ worst nightmare, and it’s of their own making.”

Who is Russ Vought?

Vought also led the budget office during Trump’s first term. He oversees the president’s budget, regulations, and funding priorities. After leaving government, he founded the Center for Renewing America to advance Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.

He was the chief author of Project 2025, focusing on expanding executive power. During Senate hearings, Vought refused to commit to following Congress’ spending rules, saying the president should have the power to decide.

Layoffs and Funding Cuts

According to Politico, Vought directed agencies to prepare layoff plans for employees whose work “is not consistent with the President’s priorities.” Normally, such employees are furloughed rather than permanently laid off.

Right after the Senate failed to prevent the shutdown, Vought wrote to agencies that “affected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded:
“We will not be intimidated by Russ Vought, who’s completely and totally out of control… As a negotiating tactic, our response to Russ Vought is simple: Get lost.”

Vought quickly announced funding cuts for Democratic-led states. On Oct. 1, he froze $18 million in New York transportation projects and later canceled $8 billion in green energy programs across 16 Democratic states.

Senator Patty Murray criticized the move as “mafioso tactics,” saying:
“We’re less than a day into this shutdown, and Trump & Vought are illegally punishing Democrat-led states.”

The Bigger Picture

Experts say it remains uncertain whether Trump and Vought can make permanent changes. Matthew Spalding, a professor at Hillsdale College, noted that in a constitutional system, no president or Congress can bind future governments.

On Oct. 2, Trump wrote on social media that he would meet with Vought, “he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent.”

Trump added:
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity.”