White House budget director Russ Vought said that the money was “put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”

The vice-president said the administration would be forced to resort to layoffs if the shutdown lasts more than a few days. Key US politics stories from Wednesday 1 October at a…

The move came on the third day of the federal government shutdown, which President Donald Trump has blamed on Democrats in Congress.

White House budget director Russ Vought said that the money was “put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”

Trump administration withholds $2.1 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects, targeting Democratic areas during government shutdown.

Losing the money would be a significant setback for Chicago’s transportation plans.