WASHINGTON – The US Senate voted Thursday to confirm Russ’s Vocant as Director of the Office of Management and Budget to help one of the architects of Project 2025 and anyone who wants to erode Congressional control over government spending I gave it.

Vought, who worked as OMB director during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, was confirmed in a subsequent 53-47 partisan vote. Democrats maintain the Chamber of Commerce during overnight sessions To emphasize their opposition.

The objection to Vought focused on his goal of giving the President more power over federal spending decisions. Democrats have said it is a violation of the separation of power in the constitution.

“Congress is not the president, it’s going to make laws and allocate funds,” said New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan. “It’s not legal technology that’s in crisis. What’s in crisis is the concept of autonomy, which Vought appears to be a light-hearted.”

Democrat Hassan referenced the Trump administration in late January, halting funding for Congress-approved grants and loan programs.

“The grant was never something the president would cut, freeze or restore. It doesn’t belong to him or Mr Vert, it belongs to the Americans,” Hassan said.

She also pointed out the government’s accountability department. OMB has discovered that it has “violated” federal law It is known as the Water Storage Control Act when it withheld $224 million in security assistance in Ukraine during the first Trump administration.

“Five years ago this week we discussed President Trump’s attempt to illegally exempt funds from the body intended for Ukraine,” Hassan said. first of Two bullets each. “An attempt to store water supported and supervised by Mr. Vert.”

A hugely influential, obscure office

The Office of Management and Budget, also known as the White House Budget Office, is responsible for submitting the President’s annual budget request to Congress, but also has federal regulations and sweep rights to federal agencies.

Acting OMB Director Matthew J. Verse caused quite a bit of confusion when he released it in late January Two-page notes It has spread across departments and agencies in search of a halt of the trillions in federal funding for grants and loan programs.

The memo, which was later revoked, led to two separate lawsuits, Two federal judges issuing temporary restraining orders The Trump administration blocked implementation of the proposed funding freeze.

Senate majority leader John Tune, Rs.D. said on Wednesday that Vought is eligible to become an OMB Director, as he is already an OMB Director.

“There’s no doubt he can run to the ground,” Thune said. “As Director of OMB, Vought has the opportunity to address two important economic issues: reducing government regulations and tackling excessive spending.”

Thune said the US is on a “dangerous expenditure trajectory” and that the government should find “how to control spending and target government waste.”

“And I’m sure Vought will help lead that accusation,” Thune said.

Quick confirmation of Trump candidates

Vought’s confirmation marked the 13th Trump candidate receiving Senate confirmation in three weeks that he is in an oval office.

“This is almost twice as fast as the candidates were confirmed at the start of the two previous administrations,” Thune said. “The Senate will continue to hold an active pace next week to attract additional candidates and introduce a full presidential team as soon as possible.”

The Senate candidates include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Central Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Peter Hegses, Homeland Security Secretary Christa Noem, Treasury Secretary Scott Becent, Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy, and Environmental Protection. Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Douglas Dugrassa Secretary Douglas Burgham, Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, Attorney General Pam Bondy and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Eric Turner.

The “reservoir” Struggle

Vought has led the past four years of Renewing America, the think tank he launched after his first tenure in the Trump administration.

The organization has repeatedly made announcements about the 1974 Water Storage Management Act and the water storage authorities, claiming that the president should be able to block funding approved by Congress.

The US Constitution gives the legislative sector the power of the so-called wallets and places authority over how federal dollars are being used in lawmakers’ hands.

Congress passed the Water Storage Control Act more than 50 years ago. That was after then-President Richard Nixon stopped billions of dollars with funds approved by the body.

The law gives the president two ways to require Congress to cancel funds already allocated. This allows the President to hold the money for 45 days or through postponements sent via special messages.

“The President, OMB, or department or agent or employee may postpone budgetary authorities as specifically provided by contingency, savings impact, or by law.” Report From the Non-Participation Congress Research Service. “No US officers or employees may postpone budgetary authorities for any other purpose.”

Between him Confirmation hearing Before the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Vought testified that he believes the president retains the ability to save money approved by Congress. Vought has also repeatedly said he believes the 1974 law is unconstitutional.

“The president has a problem with water storage issues and reminded the country that the 200-year president is using this power,” Vought said at the hearing. “And once his administration takes office, we’ll develop an approach to this issue and strategy.”

Democrats are wary of the president who could hold water storage authorities, saying it would be extremely difficult for lawmakers to negotiate bipartisan agreements on dozens of annual government fundraising bills. It’s.

Democrats say the president simply ignores some of his spending contracts, which will lead to more distrust and shaking within Congress.

Project 2025

Vought also wrote part of The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. This is a 922-page document outlining the conservative organization’s goals for the second Trump administration.

in 26-page chapter on the President’s Executive OfficeVought wrote to the director of OMB, “must be appointed in the ability to challenge respected but creative and fearless legal precedents, in the ability to challenge the status quo.” .

Vought wrote that Trump should “use any possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline to the federal government.”

“Everything else would constitute a terrible failure,” Vought argued.

Vought also writes about the management aspects of OMB’s portfolio, pushing political appointees to have more authority and influence than career staff.

“It’s not a careerist, but the director and his political staff will not pursue these offices to pursue the president’s actual priorities and set their own agendas based on the aspirations of a vast “good government” management community. It is important. Government,” Vought wrote. “Many directors do not prioritize their management portfolios properly and leave it to their management agents, but such disregard creates an aimless bureaucracy that hinders the president’s agenda.

Last updated at 6:37pm, February 6th, 2025