The government shutdown is entering a third week, and Democrats say they're not intimidated by President Donald Trump's efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come. In fact, Democrats appear emboldened. And they're showing no signs of caving as they return to Washington from their home states. Senate Democrats, in votes Tuesday and Wednesday, again rejected a Republican bill to open the government. Republicans are now planning additional votes on individual spending bills, starting Thursday with the defense legislation that would fund salaries for the military. It's unclear whether Democrats will support it.

President Donald Trump is making this government shutdown unlike any the country has ever seen. The White House budget office headed by Russ Vought is deciding who gets paid or fired in an unprecedented restructuring across the federal workforce. As the shutdown enters its third week, the Office and Management and Budget said Tuesday it's preparing to "batten down the hatches" with more reductions in force to come. The president calls budget chief Vought the "grim reaper" who's seized on the opportunity to fund Trump's priorities, paying the military while slashing employees in health, education, the sciences and other areas. The actions have been criticized as illegal and are facing court challenges.

Mass firings of federal workers have begun. That was the announcement Friday from the White House as Republicans worked to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers to end the government shutdown. A spokesperson for the White House budget office says the layoffs are "substantial" but did not offer more details. Federal health workers, the Education Department and others were being hit Friday. Democrats blasted the move as unions for federal workers quicklyy took the matter to court. At least one Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said she strongly opposes the layoffs as harmful for her state and the country.

President Donald Trump's administration is warning of no guaranteed back pay for federal workers during a shutdown. That would be a reversal of what's been long-standing policy for some 750,000 furloughed employees. Trump said some people "don't deserve" to be taken care of during an event at the White House. A memo being circulated by the White House on Tuesday says legislation the Republican president signed into law in 2019 does not require back pay. The memo says it's up to Congress to provide the funds. The move was widely seen as a negotiating tactic. But Democratic Sen. Patty Murray calls it a "scare" tactic since the law is clear that workers will be paid.

President Donald Trump has used the government shutdown to reshape the federal workforce and target detractors. The president says he'll be meeting Thursday with budget director Russ Vought to discuss potential spending cuts. Trump has already suggested slashing Democratic priorities and mass firings of federal workers. Vought has already withheld funds for projects in New York and canceled green energy projects in Democratic states. Congress remains at a standstill on legislation to end the shutdown, with Democrats demanding concessions on health care. Congress has no action scheduled Thursday in observance of the Jewish holy day, virtually guaranteeing the shutdown will last into Friday.

A chief architect of Project 2025, the controversial conservative blueprint to remake the federal government, Russell Vought is likely to be appointed to a high-ranking post in a second Trump administration. Vought is among the small cadre of Trump advisers who has a mechanic's understanding of how Washington operates. He's advised influential conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill and a few years ago established his own pro-Trump think tank. Now, he's being mentioned as a candidate to be Trump's White House chief of staff, one of the most powerful positions in government.