The US Senate confirmed Russell Vought on Thursday as the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is involved in a dispute over freezing federal funding for aid programs.
Vought was approved by a vote of 53-47 despite opposition from Democrats. Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer called him “one of the most fringe and hard-right individuals the Senate has seen in a very long time.”
The Thursday night vote followed a marathon effort by Democrats to block the nomination, during which they held the Senate floor with speeches for an entire day and night. They warned that Vought was Trump’s “most dangerous nominee.”
“Confirming the most radical nominee with the most extreme agenda to the most important agency in Washington,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in his floor speech. “A triple-header disaster for hardworking Americans.”
Vought previously held the same position during President Donald Trump’s first term. At that time, he issued a memo banning taxpayer funds from being used for anti-racism training. Trump has continued to support that policy during his second term.
Vought has already been a key figure in Trump’s push to reshape the federal government, serving as one of the architects of Project 2025, a conservative plan for Trump’s second term.
Vought returns to office as debate continues over an OMB order from last week that halted federal loans, grants, and other assistance.
After the order was issued, OMB released a notice saying the freeze had been “rescinded.” However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the order was still in effect and only the budget office’s memo had been withdrawn.
A US district judge temporarily blocked the spending freeze last week and extended the ruling on Monday. The judge said the plaintiffs showed they would suffer “irreparable harm” if the order took effect.
Democrats argue that Trump is overstepping his authority by trying to stop spending that Congress has already approved. Congress controls the US budget.
