The Daily The ‘Grim Reaper’ of the Government Shutdown
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Oct 6, 2025 
Coral Davenport, a Washington correspondent for The New York Times, provides an insider's look at Russell Vought, the White House budget director known as the 'grim reaper' during the government shutdown. They delve into Vought's rise to power, his strategies for diminishing federal authority, and his push for aggressive budget cuts. Davenport reveals Vought's long-term plans, his confrontational tactics, and the potential risks of his radical approach to governance. The discussion highlights the implications of Vought’s influence on the future of federal agencies and policy.
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OMB As An Agenda-Setter
- Russell Vought has transformed the OMB from a behind-the-scenes shop into an active agenda setter pushing to shrink government.
- He aims to shift power from Congress to the presidency to control spending and agencies.
Humble Roots, Big Ideology
- Vought is a meticulous policy nerd who grew up in a blue-collar, religious family and named his dog after Milton Friedman.
- His background and faith shaped a lifelong commitment to fiscal austerity and smaller government.
Past Precedents Shaped His Playbook
- Vought previously used the budget office to block and redirect funds, from freezing Ukraine aid to repurposing defense money for a border wall.
- Those aggressive moves established his belief that presidents can refuse to execute congressional spending.
