Democrats on Wednesday slammed Office of Management and Budget nominee Russell Vought over President Trump's recent executive order, which they say “unlawfully” targets funds authorized by former President Joe Biden.
As Vought testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Democrats plan to “spend money” allocated through the Inflation Control Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, two of Biden's main agenda items announced earlier this week. Pressured him about his order to suspend the operation.
Democrats are wary of the order, saying it could lead to the illegal seizure of federal funds.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, R-Ore., the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, raised the issue Wednesday morning at the beginning of a hearing on Vought's nomination, calling on the nominee to “send a message of withdrawal to Congress.” ” or “send a message of withdrawal to Congress” or “exercise the right of use.” It's a strategy of illegal confinement. ”
Vought defended the executive order, saying it was a “pause” to “ensure the consistency of the funding being implemented and to ensure that it is aligned with the president's policies.”
Merkley argued that Vought is pursuing a “confinement strategy” that he claims is unconstitutional.
Other Democrats also took up the issue Wednesday, including Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, who said she would hold on to Vought if confirmed. asked whether they would “faithfully follow” the ICA.
The law, enacted during the Nixon administration, put guardrails on the president's power to cut funding authorized by Congress.
Republican lawmakers have increasingly cited the provision in recent months as conservatives have increasingly called for its repeal. Republican critics say the measure is unconstitutional and that reversing it would lead to President Trump pursuing further government spending cuts, while Democrats criticize it as a threat of executive overreach.
Vought said the administration “will faithfully uphold the law,” but added, “The president acted on the belief that the Seize Control Act is unconstitutional, and I agree with that.”
He also claimed that President Trump's recent moves were not “foreclosures” but “planned delays,” adding that the president would consider “the substance of the law regarding foreclosure control.”
“He hasn't developed and published a strategy on how he's going to approach it,” he said. “There is a bill proposed by members of this committee.”
Murray then referenced the funding process by which lawmakers create the annual government spending bill, saying, “If the president gets to have a say in whoever the president is in the future, how do they think they're going to do it in the future?” “Can we hope to reach an agreement?” he asked. “No, don't worry, I won't pay for this part.”
“We need a consensus. This is the law of the land and I have to say your answer to this embarrasses every member of this committee,” she added.
Democrats also highlighted Vought's ties to Project 2025 and his past work as founder of the Center for American Renewal think tank. Vought sought to distance the study from his nomination during the hearing.
When Vought founded the center, he said his purpose was to “continue to work on policies based on the principles of President Trump's first term,” but he said he was not here “on behalf of the center.” He said it was not. Instead, he is testifying “on behalf of the President's policies as he has implemented them.”
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R.S.C., who is also a member of the Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday that the committee will hold a markup hearing on Vought's nomination at a later date, during which he will also discuss the ICA. He said he plans to speak. .
“I have concerns and I'll share them with you on the ground,” Graham said.
