Trump's Mob Tactics in the Government Shutdown Fight

While Russ Vought threatens more mass firings, SCOTUS blesses his de facto impoundment.

Oct 04, 2025

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*President Donald J. Trump listens to the Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russ Vought on Oct. 9, 2019, in the White House. | Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead via Flickr.*

Nice government you’ve got there. Shame if anything were to happen to it. Maybe some more federal employees disappear. I don’t want to do it. You are forcin…

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A guest post by

Don Moynihan

Professor of Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan. Immigrant. Researches and teaches about government, administrative burdens, and politicization.