Appointee Update: January 29, 2025, Russell Vought
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Project 2025 co-architect Russell Vought was given the nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Vought held this position during the first Trump Administration, as well as a platform policy director for the Republican National Committee. The president-elect referred to Vought as “an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator…across all Agencies” indicating that Vought is expected to help the president-elect to exert more executive power than previously. His goals include allowing Trump to gut spending programs without Congress, cutting protections for federal workers, and plant political appointees to federal positions. Additionally, Vought stated that he believes “the whole notion of an independent agency should be thrown out,” and that non-politically-appointed civil servants should be loyal to the president rather than the agency for which they work.
Impact on federal spending & regulation and PA
The Office of Management and Budget authors the president’s annual budget proposals and approves the spending decisions of the various federal agencies. The OMB also oversees the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews and implements executive branch regulations. Vought, if confirmed by the Senate, might attempt to prolong the process of moving the federal budget if the president-elect’s agenda is not achieved. Additionally, Pennsylvania farmers, small business owners, veterans, and any other citizens receiving government assistance are at risk of losing aid. If Vought is able to help the president-elect work around Congress to slash federal dollars that go to states, state governments will be left alone to find funding themselves.
Contributors:
Julie Platt & Brooke Wilford