DeLauro Readies for the Return of Lawless Vought

WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Russ Vought to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

“In the run up to the election, Donald Trump claimed to be unfamiliar with Project 2025. That was a lie. Project 2025’s architects, including Russ Vought, are taking positions within Trump’s inner circle to carry out their agenda of demolition. To the detriment of our nation’s health, safety, economy, and national security, the Senate has regrettably confirmed Russ Vought to retake the helm of the Office of Management and Budget. In confirming Vought, Republicans have put their stamp of approval on ending American democracy—built on three co-equal branches of government—and on creating a government of billionaires, by billionaires.  

“Our nation is facing an extraordinary crisis. Donald Trump is attempting to claim absolute power for the presidency. The chaos, confusion, and flagrantly unconstitutional actions of the early days of this Administration, are largely of Vought’s design and doing. With Vought’s encouragement, the Administration has taken the groundless position—and demonstrated—that they believe the White House has the absolute power to determine spending, and that they can choose to simply not fund programs and services that Congress has promised to the American people. This could not be further from the truth. 

“The Constitution empowers Congress, not the President, with the power of the purse. When the President signs an appropriations bill, it becomes law—not a ‘directive of Congress’—just like any other bill. And the White House is responsible for seeing that provisions of that law are carried out. The President is not a king who can pick and choose which laws to follow and which laws to ignore. But the President is relying on the guidance and counsel of Russ Vought to do just that.”

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