Up First from NPR White House Shutdown Cuts, Government Services Interrupted, Gaza City Evacuation
196 snips
Oct 2, 2025 The podcast reveals how the White House is leveraging a government shutdown to propose massive budget cuts and potentially lay off federal workers. Experts discuss the legal ramifications of such actions. Key federal services are experiencing interruptions, affecting vulnerable programs like SNAP and WIC. Meanwhile, Israel's evacuation order for Gaza City highlights the escalating humanitarian crisis, with severe implications for civilians and ongoing diplomatic challenges. The discussion offers a deep dive into the political maneuvers and their real-world impacts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
White House Uses Shutdown To Push Cuts
- White House budget director Russ Vought is using shutdown powers to cancel projects and threaten large-scale federal layoffs.
- His actions reflect an administration push for permanent spending cuts beyond typical temporary shutdown measures.
Budget Director Holds De Facto Power
- Russ Vought has significant influence because he controls the executive branch's budget levers during the shutdown.
- His Project 2025 background signals a broader agenda to overhaul the federal workforce and spending.
Shutdown Doesn’t Automatically Allow Firings
- Legal experts and unions argue the shutdown does not grant the White House extra authority to permanently fire workers.
- The distinction between temporary lapses in appropriations and permanent layoffs remains contested in court.