{"id":2493967,"date":"2025-10-02T17:15:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T21:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vought-has-dreamed-of-shutdown-since-puberty-mike-lee-says\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T17:17:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T21:17:21","slug":"vought-has-dreamed-of-shutdown-since-puberty-mike-lee-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vought-has-dreamed-of-shutdown-since-puberty-mike-lee-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Vought has dreamed of shutdown \u2018since puberty,\u2019 Mike Lee says"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvought-has-dreamed-of-shutdown-since-puberty-mike-lee-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2493967&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports on Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) criticizing Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), saying that Vought has &#8220;dreamed&#8221; of a government shutdown &#8220;since puberty.&#8221; Lee made these comments during a Fox News interview and on social media, describing Vought&#8217;s preparation for what he calls the &#8220;Schumer Shutdown.&#8221; Vought, a key figure in the Trump governance, has been managing the federal government&#8217;s response to the shutdown, which includes standard procedures like furloughs as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abc-worried-twitter-censorship-will-decline-with-elon-musk-at-helm\/\" title=\"ABC Worried Twitter Censorship Will Decline With Elon Musk at Helm\">potential mass layoffs<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Hours before the shutdown,Vought instructed government agencies to prepare for furloughs and layoffs.White House press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that layoffs were imminent. Vought also met with former President Donald Trump to discuss temporary or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >permanent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/speaker-pelosis-new-house-rules-package-silences-the-voice-of-republican-minority\/\" title=\"Speaker Pelosi\u2019s new House rules package silences the voice of Republican minority\">spending cuts<\/a> targeting<\/a> so-called &#8220;Democrat agencies,&#8221; with the intention of weakening Democrats politically.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans view this shutdown and these actions as a strategic move to pressure Democrats, while Democrats have criticized Vought, accusing him of breaking the law and unfairly targeting funding. senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has condemned Vought&#8217;s actions and questioned his fitness to serve. During the shutdown, Vought announced cuts amounting to $8 billion, including funding related to climate initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes uncertainty about when the shutdown will end, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicating that votes to reopen the government are unlikely over the weekend if not resolved by Friday. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Vought has dreamed of shutdown &lsquo;since puberty,&rsquo; Mike Lee says<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2362860\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT) said Office of Management and Budget head <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russ-vought\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russell Vought<\/a> has been dreaming of a government shutdown &ldquo;since puberty.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Lee first made the comments in an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/1973561613673439436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interview<\/a> on Fox News.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3834171\/taxpayers-pay-400-million-dollars-750000-furloughed-workers-government-shutdown-cbo\/\">Taxpayers pay $400 million per day for 750,000 furloughed federal workers during shutdown: CBO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3834087\/brendan-carr-senate-hearing-jimmy-kimmel-comments\/\">Brendan Carr to testify before Senate committee after drawing criticism for Jimmy Kimmel comments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3833916\/byron-york-democrats-will-lose-government-shutdown\/\">Byron York predicts Democratic Party will be the one that &lsquo;loses in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-total-dumpster-fire-conservatives-furious-as-gop-leadership-strikes-deal-on-massive-spending-bill\/\" title=\"&#039;A Total Dumpster Fire&#039;: Conservatives Furious as GOP Leadership Strikes Deal on Massive Spending Bill\">government shutdown&#038;rsquo<\/a>;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;OMB Director <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@russvought<\/a> has been dreaming about&mdash;and meticulously preparing for&mdash;the Schumer Shutdown since puberty,&rdquo; Lee posted on X. &ldquo;This is going to empower Trump&mdash;and the American people This is going to be the Democrats&rsquo; worst nightmare.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">OMB Director <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/russvought?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@russvought<\/a> has been dreaming about&mdash;and meticulously preparing for&mdash;the Schumer Shutdown&trade;&#65039; since puberty<\/p>\n<p>This is going to empower Trump&mdash;and the American people<\/p>\n<p>This is going to be the Democrats&rsquo; worst nightmare <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PW23nYlrM6\">pic.twitter.com\/PW23nYlrM6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/1973561613673439436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>The 49-year-old Vought has spearheaded the Trump administration&rsquo;s response to the alleged &ldquo;Schumer shutdown.&rdquo; That response appears to include mass firings across the government in addition to standard government shutdown procedures.<\/p>\n<p>Vought sent out a notice to all government agencies hours before the shutdown to start preparing to execute their standard procedures. He also warned them not only to furlough some personnel but also to prepare to lay off employees.<\/p>\n<p>White House press secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karoline-leavitt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Karoline Leavitt<\/a> said Wednesday that layoffs were &ldquo;imminent.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vought met with President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss &ldquo;temporary or permanent&rdquo; spending cuts that could hurt Democrats regardless of whether they cooperate with Republicans and reopen the government.<\/p>\n<p>Trump detailed his meeting with Vought on Thursday morning, saying he was to speak with him about which &ldquo;Democrat agencies&rdquo; should be cut.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent. I can&rsquo;t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly,&rdquo; he posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115304455138824245\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Truth Social.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Vought said on Steve Bannon&rsquo;s <em>War Room<\/em> podcast last month that the shutdown deadline is &ldquo;a very critical juncture&rdquo; and that Republicans have Democrats &ldquo;in a very good position, where they should be with us to fund the government.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have targeted Vought at a critical time for the OMB director.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What a surprise: Russ Vought is breaking the law, and for what? To bend the knee to Trump and his billionaire buddies. Ripping funding away from only blue states will raise utility bills for EVERYONE. It&rsquo;s not rocket science. Vought is unfit to serve in this or any administration,&rdquo; Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenJeffMerkley\/status\/1973536171260088440\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">posted on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3832991\/mike-lee-federal-lands-bill-illegal-immigration-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MIKE LEE TO INTRODUCE BILL TO ADDRESS DAMAGES TO PUBLIC LANDS BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Merkley was reacting to some of the<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\/status\/1973450301236715838\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> first cuts enacted<\/a> by Vought during the shutdown. The OMB director announced Wednesday that &ldquo;$8 billion in Green New Scam funding&rdquo; would be canceled.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s unclear when the government shutdown will end. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said weekend votes are unlikely if the Senate doesn&rsquo;t vote to open the government on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vought has wanted a shutdown &#8220;since puberty,&#8221; says Lee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2493968,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/RV.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[50410,35410,5894,5123,51073],"class_list":["post-2493967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-controversy-2","tag-mike-lee","tag-politics","tag-shutdown","tag-vought-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/RV.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2493967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2493967"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2493967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2493971,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2493967\/revisions\/2493971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2493968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2493967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2493967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2493967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}