“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,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“We don’t want it to shut down,” Trump said at the White House before the midnight deadline, but he was unable to strike a deal.

The number of federal employees has been trimmed by thousands since President Trump took office, according to contingency plans drawn up by federal agencies.