Russell Vought, Project 2025 Contributor, Confirmed as Trump Budget Chief

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FEB 7

Above: Russell Vought testifies before the Senate Budget Committee on Jan. 22, 2025. Image copyright: Saul Loeb/AFP/Contributor via Getty Imagesstory last updated FEB 9

The Facts

The US Senate on Thursday voted along party lines to confirm Pres. Donald Trump's pick for budget chief, returning Russell Vought to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the position he held in Trump's first administration.
This came after Democrats staged an all-night protest into Thursday, during which they slow-walked proceedings by criticizing Vought's vision for slashing federal spending.
Vought also faced criticism for his involvement in creating The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 — accused by critics of being a blueprint for Trump's second administration. Though Trump disavowed the plan during his campaign, there are some similarities to subsequent actions, including essentially shuttering the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and firing prosecutors from the Justice Department (DOJ).

The Spin

Democratic narrative

Vought is not fit to hold this position. His fingerprints are on a range of dangerous actions undertaken by Trump, who is transforming the government from one of checks and balances to one ruled by executive fiat. Now that Vought is confirmed, these actions are only going to get more extreme.

MSNBC

Republican narrative

Trump campaigned on a platform of cutting wasteful spending and making America's government work for the people again. With Vought confirmed, that's exactly what will happen. Democrats should stop being so afraid of a government that's less wasteful and more efficient.

Washington Examiner