By Bradley Shahenza
President Donald Trump has said he and his budget director will work out with “Democrat Agencies” to cut as the US government shutdown approached its third day.
He suggested Republicans should seize the opportunity to “clear out dead wood” and gave no hint of concessions to Democratic demands that legislation funding the government should include healthcare insurance subsidies.
Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, continued to blame each other for failing to keep federal agencies open.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are staying home, while others worked without pay. Some federal attractions closed to visitors while others, including the Statue of Liberty, stayed open.
Analysts don’t expect either side to budge without pressure from everyday Americans, most of whom have yet to feel direct impacts on their lives.
It was unclear exactly what Trump could decide in Thursday’s meeting with Russell Vought, director of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
When Congress fails to keep the US government open, the OMB director works with the president to pick which government activities should stop and which are essential.
It then gives directions to federal agencies about which employees to place on furlough, which means unpaid leave.Â
