Russ Vought and the Office of Management and Budget are a 'key factor' in Trump's agenda
Democrats say Vought is an 'appalling nominee'


Donald Trump's plans to remake American government center on one man and one agency: Russ Vought and the Office of Management and Budget. Vought, Trump's nominee to lead the agency, is "starting to upend Washington," said The Washington Post.
Vought was a key figure in the creation of Project 2025, the conservative policy manual that called for "sweeping transformations of the federal bureaucracy," said The Washington Post. Trump's early actions bear Vought's fingerprints, with the president issuing orders to "freeze some federal funding, block diversity initiatives and make it easier to fire career government employees." Next up: Plans to trigger a "quiet, early exodus of career civil servants" from the government. Vought will perhaps be the "key factor in getting the bureaucracy moving in the same direction" as Trump's desires, said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
What is the Office of Management and Budget?
The Office of Management and Budget, with its approximately 500 employees, is a "small but powerful agency" that acts as the "central nervous system of the federal government," said The Conversation. The OMB oversees all budgetary matters but also coordinates and reviews drafts of agency regulations and executive orders. The agency plays a "critical role" in executing a president's agenda because the agency's staffers have the "combination of authority, expertise and intragovernmental relationships" to turn those ideas into reality.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If confirmed by the Senate, Vought will be well-placed to "implement many of the key aspects of Trump's agenda," said Axios. There will be no learning curve either because Vought has already led the agency once, during Trump's first term.
Vought has since "raised eyebrows" with harsh rhetoric about federal employees when he was out of office. Trumpist conservatives want those employees to "not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains," Vought said in a 2023 speech. Vought "defended the comments" during his confirmation hearing in January, said Axios.
Will Vought be confirmed?
Senate Democrats say stopping Vought's nomination is a "top priority," said Government Executive. Vought is an "appalling nominee," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Democrats are particularly concerned about Vought's willingness to not spend money on programs that have funding already approved by Congress, a process known as "impoundment." Vought has said the Watergate-era federal law that prohibits impoundment by a president and the executive branch is unconstitutional. If Vought is "not willing to follow our laws," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), he "cannot be trusted to implement our laws."
Republicans control the Senate and most want to confirm Vought even though he is "famous for defying Congress," said CNN. "When you win, you get to pick people," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). At least one GOP senator expressed skepticism about Vought's views on impoundment. "The power of the purse is Congress," said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). That won't stop him from backing Vought. There is "no doubt he will be swiftly confirmed," Paul said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Crime: Why murder rates are plummeting
Feature Despite public fears, murder rates have dropped nationwide for the third year in a row
-
Education: America First vs. foreign students
Feature Trump's war on Harvard escalates as he blocks foreign students from enrolling at the university
-
Qatar's power play
Feature The tiny Arab nation is buying friends and influence in Washington. What does it want?
-
Is Trump's LA troop deployment about order or authoritarianism?
Talking Points President: 'We're going to have troops everywhere.'
-
Trump may team with a tech company to create a database of Americans
In the Spotlight A recent report indicated that Trump is partnering with the tech company Palantir
-
Trump's budget bill will increase the deficit. Does it matter?
Today's Big Question Analysts worry a 'tipping point' is coming
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
Hurricane season is here. How will Trump's FEMA respond?
Today's Big Question An internal review says the agency is not ready for big storms