Senators advanced the nomination of Russell Vought, who was tapped to be President Trump’s next budget chief, on Monday, as Republicans are ramping up efforts to confirm the president’s nominees.
The GOP-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-7 to advance his nomination to serve as the next head of Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
“Throughout the confirmation process, Russell Vought has demonstrated he knows the challenge ahead of him and President Trump and will not be distracted by partisan attacks or distortions of President Trump’s agenda,” Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said in a statement.
“I commend the Committee for advancing his nomination to the Senate floor, and I am confident that he will be confirmed quickly,” he added.
Democrats grilled Vought for his ties to Project 2025 and the powers of the executive branch as the panel weighed his nomination last week.
He previously served as head of the OMB under Trump during his first term and has recently garnered attention as a co-author behind a blueprint produced by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation that was often the target of Democratic attacks during the 2024 presidential election cycle.
The Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on his nomination on Wednesday.
