On Wednesday afternoon Senate Democrats began what they insist will be an all-night marathon of speeches protesting Director of the Office of Management and Budget nominee Russell Vought.
While many of Trump’s nominees have come under intense scrutiny during confirmation hearings the past month, none have drawn the ire of Democrats like Vought, whose association with Project 2025 and past statement on the 2020 election have some calling him Trump’s “most dangerous nominee.”
Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii said most of the Senate Democrats will take the floor to voice their opposition. “We’re going to have more than 35 United States senators on the Democratic side, opposing Russ Vought’s nomination,” he said.“We’re going to take the floor for 30 hours,” he said, referring to time allowed for debate under Senate rules, before going on to describe Vought as the “architect of the dismantling of our federal government.”
Last week Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee voted 11-0 to advanced Vought for a confirmation vote this week. Democrats boycotted the panel’s vote with Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. calling him “dangerously unfit for office.” Merkley kicked off the Democrats marathon session just after 2pm ET on Wednesday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Vought will be opposed by “all 47 Democrats” which includes the two independent senators who caucus with the party. “And we will take the floor early this afternoon and spend the whole night discussing how bad this nomination is and how it badly affects working families,” he said.
“And of all the harmful nominees, of all the extremists that Donald Trump has elevated, of all the hard-right ideologues who have come before the Senate, none of them hold a candle to Russell Vought. He is far and away the most dangerous to the American people, Schumer said in his remarks.
One of the deepest points of contention with Vought is his claim that the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional, a 1974 law that requires the president to submit a request to Congress to withhold funds. Last week Trump ordered a temporary pause on federal grant, loan and financial assistance programs with the White House saying the freeze is to ensure "every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken."
In November, Trump nominated Vought with the intention of cutting spending and regulations in his second term. “Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the deep state and end weaponized government, and he will help us return self governance to the people. We will restore fiscal sanity to our nation, and unleash the American people to new levels of prosperity and ingenuity,” Trump said.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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