Budget trimmer and Schedule F backer, Russ Vought, secures approval for OMB position
Russ Vought, a prominent figure in conservative governance, has been confirmed as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by the Senate. Born in 1976, Vought is an American government official and Christian nationalist, known for his role in championing conservative policies and stricter executive authority.
Vought's confirmation, however, was not without controversy. His adversarial tactics with the federal workforce and his openness to subverting federal spending laws have been met with criticism. During his confirmation hearing, he declined to rule out violating the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, a law that prohibits the executive branch from withholding congressionally appropriated funds for policy reasons.
Vought's statements about federal employees have also been a point of contention. He has been criticized for wanting them to be "put in trauma" and "viewed as the villains." This sentiment was evident in his role in implementing a Trump order to rid much of the federal government of diversity and inclusion efforts, and in his threats to discipline employees who participated in such initiatives.
Despite these controversies, Vought won approval in a party-line vote, with Senate Democrats speaking against him throughout the day and overnight. He won unanimous approval from Senate Republicans, despite some concerns about the Trump administration's approach to funding issues.
Vought served as OMB's deputy director from early in the first Trump administration until he took over as acting OMB head in January 2019. During his tenure, he repeatedly submitted budgets that would have gutted non-defense agencies. He also played a key role in implementing Trump's deregulatory agenda.
One of Vought's most contentious actions was using a rarely invoked budget tool called a "pocket rescission" to cancel nearly five billion dollars in congressionally approved foreign aid, sparking bipartisan criticism for allegedly violating congressional intent. This action, he defended as consistent with the Trump administration's "America First" policies.
In addition, Vought was one of the lead architects of Schedule F, a policy reinstated by Trump, which could strip tens of thousands of federal employees of their civil service protections. The Trump administration is currently in the process of removing those employees from government.
Vought has pledged to work with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency this time around to slash federal spending. His confirmation as OMB director comes at a time when the administration is facing increased scrutiny over its handling of the federal budget and the treatment of federal employees.
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