Russell Vought, director of the Workplace of Administration and Funds (OMB) nominee for US President Donald Trump, throughout a Senate Funds Committee affirmation listening to in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
The Republican-led U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee Russell Vought as price range director on Thursday, putting the reins of presidency funding within the palms of hardline conservative who has advocated for decreasing Congress’s energy over taxpayer {dollars}.
The Senate voted 53-47 to verify Vought after a marathon in a single day session throughout which Democrats denounced him as harmful far-right ideologue and blasted Republicans for rubber-stamping Trump’s nomination.
Vought, who additionally headed the Workplace of Administration and Funds throughout Trump’s first presidential time period, raised considerations amongst members of each events by criticizing a 1974 legislation stopping presidents from unilaterally blocking congressionally accepted funding, a apply referred to as “impoundment”.
In his two affirmation hearings, Vought repeatedly stated he believed a 1974 legislation was unconstitutional, a place that even the Republican committee chairmen stated they didn’t totally help.
Final week, the White Home Funds Workplace issued a memo freezing tons of of billions of {dollars} in federal grants and loans. The White Home stated the freeze was crucial to make sure support applications have been aligned with Trump’s priorities together with his govt orders to finish variety, fairness and inclusion efforts.
The White Home rescinded the memo and a federal choose briefly blocked the freeze, however not earlier than the motion raised widespread fears concerning the future vital government-funded companies and considerations that Trump may take unilateral motion in opposition to different authorities funding.
Democrats sought to hyperlink Vought’s function within the hard-right Challenge 2025 coverage initiative to a spread of administration actions, together with the Trump administration’s unilateral actions to primarily shutter the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth and fireplace prosecutors on the Justice Division.
“Whether or not it is with federal staff, whether or not it is at USAID, whether or not it is hurting Justice Division prosecutors, all of that’s Russell Vought at work,” Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer stated on a flooring speech.
“He is working to harm you, Mr. and Mrs. America.”
Republicans championed Vought’s expertise as price range director and the function they count on him to play in chopping wasteful authorities spending.
“Figuring out methods to rein in our spending – and to focus on authorities waste – must be a precedence. And I am assured that Mr. Vought will assist lead that cost,” Senate Majority Chief John Thune stated this week. “There isn’t a query that he’ll be capable to hit the bottom working.”