Senate Democrats pulled a uncommon all-night session to oppose Vought’s affirmation.
Russ Vought, President Donald Trump’s decide to go the Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB), survived a prolonged course of and was confirmed because the White Home price range chief in a 53–47 Senate vote on Feb. 6.
Heading into the affirmation vote, Senate Democrats held an all-night session to voice opposition to Vought’s affirmation.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced his social gathering’s plan on Feb. 5, and thru the night time, greater than a dozen Senate Democrats lambasted Vought.
“His affirmation can be a catastrophe for working households, and a godsend to billionaires who don’t pay their justifiable share in taxes,” Schumer mentioned.
Senate Majority John Thune (R-N.D.) got here out in protection of Vought, saying he’s certified for the place after serving within the position throughout President Trump’s first time period.
“Vought may have the possibility to deal with two key financial points – reducing burdensome authorities laws and addressing extreme spending,” Thune mentioned on Feb. 5.
In November 2024, the president touted Vought’s expertise as “an aggressive value cutter and deregulator who will assist us implement our America First Agenda throughout all Businesses.”
A Fruits of Occasions
Following a closed-door assembly on Jan. 30, the Republican-led Senate Price range Committee unanimously permitted the nomination of Vought, with a vote of 11–0, to advance his affirmation to the Senate flooring.
Panel Democrats boycotted the vote, demanding Vought return to the committee for one more listening to.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the Price range Committee’s rating member, mentioned Vought is unfit to serve on the OMB.
“This nomination is so troubling that definitely the dialogue between the general public, between members of the committee ought to be held in public, and we should always profit from one another’s issues and views earlier than a vote is held,” Merkley mentioned at a press convention.
Critics have lambasted Vought over his views on the facility of the purse.
Final month, Vought appeared earlier than the Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee and said that the Impoundment Management Act—a 1974 regulation that imposed guardrails to stop presidents from withholding funds that Congress had appropriated—was unconstitutional.
“No, I don’t imagine it’s constitutional,” Vought instructed Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “The president ran on that view. That’s his view, and I agree.”
On Jan. 27, Matthew Vaeth, the appearing OMB director, launched a memo requiring a freeze on all federal packages and grants to present businesses sufficient time to find out whether or not they adjust to President Trump’s agenda.
Two days later, the OMB rescinded the memo however not the choice to freeze federal funding.
The present administration’s freeze on federal funding returned to a Washington courtroom as nonprofit organizations say the president’s actions are unlawful and threaten their freedom of speech.
“The Govt’s motion unilaterally suspends the cost of federal funds to the States and others just by selecting to take action,” the decide wrote. “The Govt cites no authorized authority permitting it to take action; certainly, no federal regulation would authorize the Govt’s unilateral motion right here.”