Russ Vought, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), survived a lengthy process and was confirmed as the White House budget chief in a 53–47 Senate vote on Feb. 6.
Heading into the confirmation vote, Senate Democrats held an all-night session to voice opposition to Vought’s confirmation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced his party’s plan on Feb. 5, and through the night, more than a dozen Senate Democrats lambasted Vought.
“His confirmation would be a disaster for working families, and a godsend to billionaires who don’t pay their fair share in taxes,” Schumer said.
Senate Majority John Thune (R-N.D.) came out in defense of Vought, saying he is qualified for the position after serving in the role during President Trump’s first term.
“Vought will have the chance to address two key economic issues – cutting burdensome government regulations and addressing excessive spending,” Thune said on Feb. 5.
In November 2024, the president touted Vought’s experience as “an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda across all Agencies.”
A Culmination of Events
Following a closed-door meeting on Jan. 30, the Republican-led Senate Budget Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Vought, with a vote of 11–0, to advance his confirmation to the Senate floor.Panel Democrats boycotted the vote, demanding Vought return to the committee for another hearing.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the Budget Committee’s ranking member, said Vought is unfit to serve at the OMB.
“This nomination is so troubling that certainly the discussion between the public, between members of the committee should be held in public, and we should benefit from each other’s concerns and perspectives before a vote is held,” Merkley said at a press conference.
Critics have lambasted Vought over his views on the power of the purse.
Last month, Vought appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and stated that the Impoundment Control Act—a 1974 law that imposed guardrails to prevent presidents from withholding funds that Congress had appropriated—was unconstitutional.
“No, I don’t believe it’s constitutional,” Vought told Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “The president ran on that view. That’s his view, and I agree.”
On Jan. 27, Matthew Vaeth, the acting OMB director, released a memo requiring a freeze on all federal programs and grants to give agencies enough time to determine whether they comply with President Trump’s agenda.
Two days later, the OMB rescinded the memo but not the decision to freeze federal funding.
The current administration’s freeze on federal funding returned to a Washington courtroom as nonprofit organizations say the president’s actions are illegal and threaten their freedom of speech.
“The Executive’s action unilaterally suspends the payment of federal funds to the States and others simply by choosing to do so,” the judge wrote. “The Executive cites no legal authority allowing it to do so; indeed, no federal law would authorize the Executive’s unilateral action here.”
