Trump Raises Stakes for GOP With Shutdown Entering Second Day

The US government shutdown entered its second day with the Trump administration having raised the stakes in its showdown with Democrats, first by punishing the home city of its two leading antagonists and then by signaling a willingness to fire thousands of federal workers, despite some Republicans’ concerns that the strategy could backfire.

Hours into the shutdown that began Wednesday, Trump’s budget chief, Russell Vought, abruptly announced in a social media post that the administration would halt $18 billion in infrastructure funding, including payments it owes under existing contracts for the construction of the Second Avenue subway extension and ...