Multiple groups called on the Senate to reject President Trump’s pick for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director, Russell Vought.
In three separate letters, the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, the Project On Government Oversight and EDF Action, which describes itself as an “Advocacy partner of Environmental Defense Fund,” push senators oppose Vought’s nomination.
One letter says he “has taken actions that highlight his disregard for the role of Congress as an equal branch of government,” while another claims he “has a long history of supporting extreme deregulatory efforts.”
Politico first reported the letters by the groups.
“Russ Vought is not a run-of-the-mill nominee. His previous actions while leading OMB and his well-documented plans in Project 2025 for remaking how the federal government functions demonstrate his intent to chart a reckless path that will impact every area of US policy from reproductive health to the environment, from national security to Medicare and Medicaid,” states the EDF Action-signed letter.
Republicans voted 11-0 on the Senate Budget Committee to report out Vought’s nomination to head up the OMB, prepping it for full consideration by the upper chamber. Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said he’s hopeful Vought’s nomination goes to the full Senate for final approval “soon.”
Senate Democrats boycotted the committee meeting, calling Vought “unfit for office.”
“We oppose Vought for this important position because he has stated that he wants to vastly decrease funding for critical government agencies by defying congressional budget allocations; has articulated a fundamentally misguided view of government employees and experts that breaks with decades of precedent regarding civil service protections; and has pledged to allow President Donald Trump to exert more control over agencies that Congress specifically created to be independent of presidential influence,” states the letter from CSS.
Last week, Democrats pressured Vought on new executive orders from Trump that they have painted as “illegally” targeting funding authorized by former President Biden. When he was testifying in front of the Budget Committee, Democrats pushed him about orders announced that week that “pause the disbursement of funds” appropriated via major parts of the previous president’s agenda.
The Hill has reached out to the White House and the offices of Graham and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
