Senate Approves Project 2025 Co-Author as Trump’s Budget Chief

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Senate Approves Project 2025 Co-Author as Trump’s Budget Chief
Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's candidate to run the White House budget office, has been confirmed by the US Senate, hours after Democrats protested with an all-night hearing.

Vought's nomination to oversee the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has sparked debate due to his involvement as an author of Project 2025, a "wish list" of conservative demands for Trump's second term.

Democrats took the floor overnight into Thursday, criticizing Vought's role in Trump's plans to reduce the federal government.

But, with Democrats in the minority, Republican votes for Vought were enough to confirm him to the new position 53-47.

The Heritage Foundation, one of Washington's most renowned right-wing think tanks, launched Project 2025, which argues for direct presidential control over the entire federal bureaucracy, including independent agencies such as the Department of Justice.

It also argues for the elimination of employment protections for thousands of government employees, who would subsequently be replaced with political appointees, as well as a nationwide abortion ban.

Vought produced a crucial chapter in the text about the president's executive office and was the Republican National Committee's 2024 platform policy director.

He will oversee the $6.75 trillion (£5.44 trillion) federal budget. He held the same position during Trump's first term.

Democrats have already been outraged by Trump's budget decisions since his return to the White House, including the move to cut funding for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), reportedly granting Elon Musk access to sensitive Treasury payroll documents, and his attempts to reduce the federal workforce through a buyout program.

Faced with the rapid speed of Trump's executive orders, Democrats united around financing and the federal budget in their midnight session, attempting to make an example of Vought to sink his confirmation.

Democrats characterized Vought as Trump's "most dangerous nominee" because of his power over funding appropriated by Congress.

Chuck Schumer, Democratic minority Senate leader, branded Vought as "the most radical nominee with the most extreme agenda".

"We want Americans every hour, whether it's 8 pm or 3 am, to hear how bad Russell Vought is and the danger he poses to them daily," he told the Senate's floor.

Even before he was confirmed, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said Vought was making dramatic reforms to the administration.

"Russ Vought was the puppet master behind the funding shutdown that threw this country into chaos," Warren added, alluding to last week's funding freeze on numerous federal projects.

Republicans possess a 53-47 majority in the chamber, making it impossible for Democrats to defeat Vought's confirmation without Republican objections.

Vought received support from all Republicans, including Utah Senator Mike Lee, who took X to greet him.

"If you like what you've been seeing from President Trump and DOGE, get ready because Russ Vought is going to be a lean, mean, budget-cutting machine leading OMB," Lee told reporters.