Trump Leverages US Shutdown to Make Unilateral Spending Moves

President Donald Trump has in the span of just four days fired thousands of government employees, transferred billions in federal funds and threatened to unilaterally cancel “Democrat programs” — all during a shutdown and without Congress’s approval.

The moves, playing out against the backdrop of a standoff over federal spending now entering its third week, mark an escalation of the administration’s efforts to use the federal budget to centralize power.

Republican congressional leaders have so far largely backed the White House’s expanded power claims, asserting that Trump has wide-ranging authority during a shutdown to pay military personnel and make other ...