President Donald Trump said he would meet with White House Budget Director Russell Vought to discuss potential cuts to the federal workforce, heightening pressure on Democrats to end the government shutdown, which has entered its second day.

Trump on social media said the Thursday meeting would “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.”

The president’s comments escalate a threat from Republicans to use the shutdown to slash the federal bureaucracy. The White House had threatened to announce job cuts as soon as Thursday.

Vought has also begun withholding spending for New York City transit projects and clean energy programs in states that voted for Democrat Kama

See Full Page