Who is Russ Vought, Trump's pick for DC's regulatory gatekeeper
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Russ Vought during a CPAC panel discussion in Orlando, Florida, in Feb. 2021. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Senate will vote Thursday evening to confirm Russ Vought as the head of the White House budget office, cementing his appointment despite Democratic opposition.
Why it matters: If confirmed as the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Vought would have the power to implement many of the key aspects of Trump's agenda.
- The OMB is the government's central regulatory gatekeeper and exerts significant influence over the executive branch's agenda. Vought has faced increased scrutiny as the Trump administration rolls out plans to radically reshape the federal government.
Where did Vought work before?
Vought is no stranger to the OMB, having led the department during Trump's first term.
- Before joining the first Trump administration, Vought was the vice president of Heritage Action for America, a sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, which produced the now-infamous Project 2025.
- Vought was one of the co-authors of Project 2025, writing a section on the Executive Office.
- After leaving government in 2021, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank.
Why is Vought under fire?
Vought's nomination to again lead the OMB has raised eyebrows due to his controversial views of the federal government and its workforce.
- Just as Trump hopes to slash government spending this time, Vought advocated for large budget cuts to Medicaid, the Education Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) when previously leading the OMB, per the Washington Post.
- In private speeches since leaving the government, Vought has highlighted his conservative views on several issues, including calling Jan. 6 rioters "political prisoners" and railing against the "transgender sewage that's being pumped into our schools and institutions," ProPublica reported.
Zoom in: In a speech to his think tank in 2023, Vought assailed "the woke and weaponized bureaucracy" of the government and said he wants to put federal bureaucrats "in trauma," per ProPublica.
- "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains," Vought said in the speech.
- Vought defended the comments during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
Where does his confirmation process stand?
Senate Democrats have opposed Vought's prospective return to OMB, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warning Vought would use the position to implement Project 2025.
- However, their opposition kicked into high gear after the OMB issued a memo last week directing federal agencies to freeze federal grant, loan and financial assistance programs.
- Senate Democrats subsequently demanded that a committee confirmation vote be postponed until the Trump administration reversed the freeze, which a federal judge temporarily blocked last week.
- However, Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) office pledged to proceed with the committee vote as scheduled, with Vought ultimately sailing through.
The latest: Senate Democrats attempted to slow walk Vought's advancement Wednesday by dragging out Senate debate on his nomination for 30 hours, into early Thursday morning.
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