Russell Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is at the heart of a controversial attempt to block government money for humanitarian programs, was confirmed by the US Senate on Thursday.
Democrats fiercely opposed him, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called him “one of the most fringe and hard-right individuals the Senate has seen in a very long time.” Nevertheless, he was confirmed by a vote of 53-47.
Vought held the same position during President Donald Trump’s first administration, during which he issued a memo barring the use of taxpayer funds for anti-racism training — a move the US president has doubled down on during his second term.
Vought will take office again amid a nationwide uproar over an OMB order issued last week that halted trillions of dollars in federal loans, grants and other assistance.
OMB subsequently issued a terse notification saying the freezing of aid order had been “rescinded,” but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced soon afterward that it remained in place — and only the memo from the budget office was taken back.
After blocking the spending freeze last week, a US district judge extended it on Monday, stating that plaintiffs in the case had demonstrated that they would suffer “irreparable harm” if it went into effect.
Trump’s attempt to halt government spending that has already been authorized by Congress, which controls the US budget, has drawn accusations of constitutional overreach from Democrats.
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