WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has embraced the federal closure as an “unprecedented opportunity.” Slash expenditure It will reduce government, but a new round of targeted spending cuts from the White House, aimed at democratic states and priorities, raises concerns that there may be a risk of giving away political advantage among Republicans.
Congressional Republicans believe they have the edge in the four-day stalemate, like Democrats Vote against Measures to keep the government open as the government wants to attach additional policy measures. but, Sweep cut The Home State Project and the threat of massive federal shootings have some people in the GOP worried that the White House is going too far, giving Democrats a way out of their tight space.
“This is certainly the moment that most moral highland Republicans can remember at moments like this, and when you have such highlands, I don’t like wasting that political capital,” North Dakota Sen. Kevin Kramer told reporters this week.
As Hope faded on Friday To quickly end the shutdown – The White House shows that more layoffs and agency cuts could continue as Democrats hold the company in key Senate votes. Trump shared a video Thursday night depicting budget director Russ Vaut as a tough reaper. Cutt raises fresh questions about whether voters want a government that uses discretion to punish their political opponents, and whether Republicans could face election outcomes against White House actions.
“There are political consequences that can cause backlash,” Cramer said in another interview. “It makes everything going forward even more difficult for us.”
Since the closure began, Trump has now cancelled $7.6 billion in clean energy grants in 16 states. All of these voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election. On Friday, the administration announced the addition 2 billion dollar cutThis time we’re heading to Chicago’s major public transport projects. Spokesperson Caroline Leavitt said the administration is also reviewing funding for Portland, Oregon.
“He literally took out the map and pointed to all the blue states,” Democrat Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden told The Associated Press.
Democrats seized closures and cuts as evidence of Trump’s overreach. There could be a short-term fallout, including the governor’s race next month. New Jersey and Virginia. Democrat candidates from both countries have criticized GOP’s enemies for not standing up to Trump’s policy and facing his latest moves.
In New Jersey, Democrat Mikier Cheryl said he would blow up Republican Jack Ciataleri about Trump’s move to block funding for a long-standing rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey, hurting commuters and putting the jobs of thousands of good unions at risk.
“What’s wrong with this guy?” Sheryl said Friday.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger noted that the state is already under attack Work hard at work Reductions made by Trump’s government efficiency. She said Republican Lieutenant Colonel Win Wynn Sears “refusing to stand up to our workforce and the economy.”
Earl Sars said Democrats were blamed on the closure, and Spanberger said he didn’t do anything to encourage state Democrats to stop it.
The targeting of the Blue State administration is already beginning to ripple over states like California. Hydrogen hub It has been discarded. Democrats’ government’s Gavin Newsom said it would threaten more than 200,000 jobs.
Harris got California affordable in 2024, but the state includes several competitive residential districts that can determine the chamber’s control in 2026. Similar districts exist in other states affected by the cuts, such as New York and New Hampshire.
The democratic group moved quickly to link local Republicans to fallout. The 21st Century of Democrats, the American Bridge, highlights swingdistrix Republicans in the states where the cut occurred, accusing them of “sitting and letting them come.”
“The cruelty they may use the pretense of closure to unleash everyday Americans is just a fight against them,” House Democrat leader Haquem Jeffries said in an interview with the Associated Press and other Capitol outlets.
The cuts also complicate Senate negotiations and extend closures that could cause thousands of federal workers to suspend major programs without paying wages. “There’s no doubt,” said Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, who was trying to shake up Republicans.
“If you’re trying to bring people together and find a common ground, that’s the absolute wrong way to do that,” Peters said.
Main independent Sen. Angus King broke down from Democrats earlier this week in support of the GOP fundraising bill. He called the cut “almost hilariously partisan.”
“I think Republicans are also struggling if they’re completely capable of it,” King said.
Many Senate Republicans have not directly approved Vought’s approach, instead rejecting fundraising requests and denies Democrats for opening the door to a more aggressive White House move.
“That’s why Republicans continued to support the continuance,” said Minecround, GOP Sen. of South Dakota. “If you notice, Republicans have firmly supported this short-term, continuous solution because they don’t want to see this.”
“We didn’t promote it,” Round said. “We’ve done everything we can now to try and avoid that.”
–
Associated Press Reporter Lisa Mascaro from Washington contributed to the report.
