During a government shutdown, the Trump administration significantly expanded presidential power by exerting control over the federal budget and the government workforce. OMB Director Russ Vought's strategy involved directing funds, such as military payroll, from unauthorized accounts like the Pentagon's R&D, violating the Anti-Deficiency Act. This indicated the administration's belief it could spend money from any budget account for any purpose and refuse to spend appropriated funds. Concurrently, the administration initiated widespread reductions in force, firing thousands of employees from agencies like HHS, the Department of Education, and the IRS, specifically targeting departments identified for executive branch transformation. These actions effectively seized budgetary and operational control, removing traditional checks on presidential authority.
Read more: https://www.govexec.com/management/2025/10/how-president-expanded-his-power-without-government/408949/
