Budget Committee Ranking Member Merkley: Vought Dangerously Unfit to Lead OMB

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee—released the following statement as Senate Democrats speak on the Senate floor all night in opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

“Russell Vought is dangerously unfit to serve in government. As OMB Director, he would be the chief engineer of the Trump Train that will run over working families and the programs they depend on. To Vought, the President is a king, and the laws Congress passes are merely suggestions. His plans should frighten every American.

“Vought is the architect of Project 2025, and he owns the chaos and confusion rippling across America right now. He drew up the blueprints for President Trump’s illegal executive order that just last week cut funding for the programs families rely on—including health care, preschools, meals for seniors, education, and more. This constitutional crisis showcases how dangerous he already is and makes clear that Vought intends to follow through on the threats he outlined in Project 2025.

“He views federal workers 'as the villains' and seeks to replace non-partisan, professional civil servants with corrupt lackeys valued for their loyalty over their expertise. Vought’s policies are already hurting communities across our country—in red, blue, and purple states— and it’s clear that he’s willing to raid our Treasury to line the pockets to enrich the already richest Americans, leaving working families in the cold.

“This is President Trump’s Great Betrayal of working families at work. While the President and Vought abuse the powers of the executive branch to break our government and harm the communities we serve, I will not bend. This fight to protect our neighbors and defend the Constitution is only just beginning—they may inflict their worst, but it will only awaken our best.”

Ranking Member Merkley’s speech on the Senate floor can be found by clicking here.

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