Budget trimmer and Schedule F advocate, Russ Vought, secures confirmation for OMB position
Russ Vought, a key figure in implementing President Trump's deregulatory agenda, has been confirmed as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Senate's confirmation came in a party-line vote, with unanimous approval from Senate Republicans, despite concerns about the Trump administration's approach to funding issues.
Vought served as OMB's deputy director early in the first Trump administration, and acted as the OMB head in January 2019. During his tenure, he repeatedly submitted budgets that would have reduced spending for non-defense agencies.
Vought's confirmation, however, was not without controversy. He drew bipartisan criticism for his refusal to confirm he would follow congressional spending laws when distributing funds to agencies. Lawmakers cautioned against Vought's influence in the White House, suggesting he would bring about new attacks on federal workers.
One of Vought's most contentious actions was his role in helping implement a Trump order to remove dei and inclusion efforts from much of the federal government. This move sparked criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, with Senate Democrats holding the floor speaking out against Vought's nomination overnight and throughout the day.
Vought's adversarial tactics with the federal workforce and his openness to subverting federal spending laws have also been a source of controversy. He declined to rule out ignoring congressional appropriations and even violating the 1974 Impoundment Control Act.
After leaving office, Vought helped establish the Center for Renewing America and has consistently criticized the outsized role of federal civil servants. He also played a key role in implementing Trump's deregulatory agenda, which included the reinstatement of his policy known as Schedule F, which could strip tens of thousands of federal employees of their civil service protections.
The Trump administration is currently in the process of removing employees who participated in dei and inclusion efforts. This move, along with Vought's confirmation, has raised concerns about the future of federal dei and inclusion initiatives and the potential for further attacks on federal workers.
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