(DCNF)—Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said Wednesday that the Trump administration plans to eliminate more than 10,000 federal positions during the ongoing government shutdown.
Vought, long branded by Trump as the “Grim Reaper,” spent years crafting a sweeping blueprint to dismantle large parts of the federal bureaucracy, a plan allies say should terrify Democrats. Appearing on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” Vought said the administration plans to be “very aggressive” in shuttering government agencies.
“We want to be very aggressive where we can be in shuttering the bureaucracy, not just the funding but the bureaucracy, [so] that we now have an opportunity to do that, and that’s where we’re going to be looking for our opportunities,” Vought said.
Vought said several agencies could face reductions or closures, including environmental programs linked to the Green New Deal at the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice initiatives, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
“We’re gonna keep those rips rolling throughout this shutdown because we think it’s important to stay on offense for the American taxpayer and the American people in getting a government that, if there’s an opportunity to have less bureaucracy,” Vought said.
“Think of Green New Deal programs at the Department of Energy. Think [of] the minority business development agency at Commerce that divvies up business grants on the basis of race. Think environmental justice at EPA. Think about CISA. CISA was an area that we riffed which was participating in censorship [of] the American people.”
Hours after Vought’s remarks, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from proceeding with layoffs, saying the firings appeared to violate federal law.
“It’s very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a human cost,” Illston said, as reported by The Associated Press. “It’s a human cost that cannot be tolerated.”
The White House had already issued reduction-in-force notices to roughly 4,200 federal workers, with Vought predicting that number would rise.
“It could grow higher,” Vought said. “I think we’ll probably end up being north of 10,000.”
The layoffs come as the shutdown enters its third week, with thousands of government employees furloughed or working without pay. President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use remaining congressional funds to continue paying active-duty military personnel.
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Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.