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Trump’s Budget Chief Nominee Faces Scrutiny Over Spending Policies

In a hearing on Wednesday, Russ Vought, the nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President-elect Donald Trump, indicated that he may consider the possibility of withholding funds allocated by Congress. He also defended the necessity of removing civil service protections for certain employees, arguing that such measures are essential for effective governance.

Vought’s comments were met with bipartisan criticism, particularly concerning his ambiguous stance on adherence to congressional spending laws. He referenced Trump’s claim that existing spending restrictions are unconstitutional and affirmed that he would align with the president’s directives. Vought’s history of often taking an adversarial position towards the federal civil service surfaced once again as he reiterated claims that the bureaucracy has been misused, advocating for reforms to address this issue.

Having served as the deputy director of OMB during the initial Trump administration, Vought later assumed the role of acting director in January 2019 and was confirmed for the position in July 2020. Throughout his tenure, he proposed budgets aimed at significantly reducing funding for non-defense agencies and worked towards removing civil service protections from the federal workforce.

His nomination received strong backing from Republican members but raised substantial alarms among Democrats. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) expressed his support, predicting that Vought would collaborate with figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to streamline federal expenditures.

“Mr. Vought has been a consistent advocate for fiscal responsibility and has made numerous proposals to reduce unnecessary spending,” remarked Paul during the hearing.

Vought has played a pivotal role in executing Trump’s deregulatory agenda, notably by limiting agencies’ abilities to issue guidance without following formal rulemaking protocols. He has also come under fire for managing the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and for taking extraordinary measures to keep agencies operating despite the absence of appropriations, a move that was later critiqued by the Government Accountability Office. Toward the end of his directorship, he helped implement an order aimed at diminishing diversity and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies, suggesting punitive measures for employees involved in such efforts.

Since exiting office, Vought has founded the Center for Renewing America and has been vocal against what he perceives as the excessive influence of federal civil servants. He has criticized these workers for delaying the implementation of policies from Trump’s initial term and has called for greater accountability to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Vought frequently labels federal employees as part of “the regime” and “the administrative state,” claiming they possess too much power.

Vought has emerged as a chief proponent for the potential reinstatement of Trump’s Schedule F initiative by the incoming administration in 2025, an order which sought to eliminate merit-based protections for a vast segment of the federal workforce. While the order could not be enacted before the end of Trump’s presidency, Vought sought to classify a significant portion of OMB under Schedule F, which would facilitate politically motivated dismissals. He mentioned in a discussion with Tucker Carlson that the intention was to set a tone for agency leadership, asserting that his interpretation of Schedule F should be viewed expansively.

During his testimony, Vought reiterated his belief in the policy’s soundness, maintaining that discussions with Trump regarding its restoration remain confidential. Nevertheless, he defended the rationale behind Schedule F, stating it was to ensure that individuals in policymaking roles are aligned with the president’s agenda.

Vought also indicated that, following his implementation of Schedule F at OMB, he had not encountered anyone deserving of termination under that authority. In his earlier discussion, he projected that a second Trump term could lead to significant layoffs within certain agencies, a statement he later downplayed in response to questioning from Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.).

Addressing comments on the bureaucratic climate, Vought acknowledged the presence of “weaponized bureaucracies” while noting that there are remarkable public servants within the system. He confirmed that OMB would work closely with Musk and Ramaswamy to ensure increased in-office attendance among federal employees, citing concerns prompted by agencies negotiating collective bargaining agreements that facilitate remote work. Vought expressed intent to scrutinize such contracts thoroughly.

On the Democratic side, Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who leads the panel’s minority, argued that Vought’s previous experience at OMB disqualified him from the role. He highlighted concerns regarding Vought’s past actions and their implications for effective leadership of the office.

Peters raised alarms over Trump’s intention to bypass obstacles obstructing his agenda, referencing the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which limits the executive branch from withholding congressionally appropriated funds for policy reasons. Historical reports have indicated violations of this law during Vought’s tenure, including illegal fund management during a government shutdown and withholding aid to Ukraine, which played a role in Trump’s first impeachment. Vought maintained he had not violated any laws during his time at OMB and suggested that Trump’s election allowed for reconsideration of appropriation policies.

The remarks prompted concerns from both Peters and Paul regarding the constitutional obligations of the office, with Paul remarking on the necessity for appropriated funds to be allocated solely for their intended purposes.

In his responses to requests from various senators regarding commitments to fund specific programs like Ukraine assistance and veterans’ benefits, Vought refrained from making guarantees, stating that he would defer to the policy process following his confirmation. These evasive responses drew critical reactions from committee Democrats, who viewed them as disqualifying.

Vought made it clear that he intends to resume efforts to formulate budgets that significantly reduce agency spending and diminish the federal workforce size, adhering to the priorities established during the previous administration.

“Our previous budgets have consistently targeted non-defense discretionary spending, which is fundamentally where bureaucratic funding occurs annually,” he explained. “This provides an opportunity for senators to identify and address inefficiencies.”

Finally, Vought pledged to continue Trump’s deregulatory agenda, asserting that he would consider his term successful if federal agencies could eliminate regulations instead of imposing continued limitations on the American populace.

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