U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing slashing ¡°thousands¡± of federal jobs ahead of a meeting with his budget director, Russell Vought, as the White House looks to ratchet up pressure on Democrats to end a government shutdown that has entered its second day.

¡°It¡¯s likely going to be in the thousands,¡± White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday, saying that the ¡°entire team at the White House¡± was working to identify possible cuts.

¡°We¡¯re going to look at agencies that don¡¯t align with the administration¡¯s values, that we feel are a waste of the taxpayer dollar,¡± she added.