Trump's budget chief nominee mirrors his 'power of the purse' aspirations
The nominee for White House budget director selected by the president-elect reaffirmed that Trump views the law safeguarding Congress' funding authority as unconstitutional.
TroibNews 
During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Russell Vought did not commit to ensuring that the federal government would spend all the funds approved by Congress. He was appearing before lawmakers as he sought a second term as the White House budget director for President-elect Donald Trump.
Vought had previously come under scrutiny for freezing aid to both Ukraine and Puerto Rico during his earlier tenure at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the first Trump administration. Now, with Trump asserting that the so-called "impoundment" law is unconstitutional, senators from both parties were eager for Vought to guarantee that federal funds would be spent in accordance with Congressional intentions.
Instead, Vought reiterated that Trump believes presidents have the authority to spend less than what Congress prescribes. In his initial confirmation hearing, senators questioned Vought about his views on the impoundment law, which protects Congress' "power of the purse."
“As you know, the president has run on that issue,” Vought stated. “He believes it’s unconstitutional. For 200 years, presidents had the ability to spend less than an appropriation if they could do it for less, and we have seen the extent to which this law has contributed to waste, fraud and abuse.”
Throughout the hearing, Vought was reticent to provide specific details on how he would handle the issue if confirmed as head of the budget office.
“I’m giving you my commitment to uphold the law of the land,” he assured senators, adding that Trump’s advisers would be developing their strategy regarding the issue once the administration is in place.
Vought presented himself as a loyal supporter of Trump, emphasizing his dedication to realizing the president-elect's agenda. “I'm here for the president's agenda,” he remarked. “And my view of OMB is that it's a very important office — it touches all aspects of the federal government — and that it is important for the president to have someone in this role that wants to accomplish his agenda and not their own personal agenda. That's what I'm known for, and that's what I'll continue to be, if confirmed.”
He also expressed his disagreement with federal watchdogs who have stated that the first Trump administration violated the law by withholding aid, including freezing assistance to Ukraine. “We followed the law consistently, and we will continue to do so,” Vought maintained.
Sen. Gary Peters raised concerns about the ability to reach "good faith" bipartisan agreements on government funding if the incoming Trump administration disregarded Congressional intentions. “How do we negotiate with somebody who says, ‘I’m just going to do what I want. To hell with the Constitution?’” Peters queried.
Even some Republican senators expressed worries about potential overreach of Congress' authority. “The power of the purse is Congress,” noted Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, during Vought’s confirmation hearing. “I think if we appropriate something for a cause, that's where it's supposed to go,” Paul added. “And that will still be my position.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Vought had previously come under scrutiny for freezing aid to both Ukraine and Puerto Rico during his earlier tenure at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the first Trump administration. Now, with Trump asserting that the so-called "impoundment" law is unconstitutional, senators from both parties were eager for Vought to guarantee that federal funds would be spent in accordance with Congressional intentions.
Instead, Vought reiterated that Trump believes presidents have the authority to spend less than what Congress prescribes. In his initial confirmation hearing, senators questioned Vought about his views on the impoundment law, which protects Congress' "power of the purse."
“As you know, the president has run on that issue,” Vought stated. “He believes it’s unconstitutional. For 200 years, presidents had the ability to spend less than an appropriation if they could do it for less, and we have seen the extent to which this law has contributed to waste, fraud and abuse.”
Throughout the hearing, Vought was reticent to provide specific details on how he would handle the issue if confirmed as head of the budget office.
“I’m giving you my commitment to uphold the law of the land,” he assured senators, adding that Trump’s advisers would be developing their strategy regarding the issue once the administration is in place.
Vought presented himself as a loyal supporter of Trump, emphasizing his dedication to realizing the president-elect's agenda. “I'm here for the president's agenda,” he remarked. “And my view of OMB is that it's a very important office — it touches all aspects of the federal government — and that it is important for the president to have someone in this role that wants to accomplish his agenda and not their own personal agenda. That's what I'm known for, and that's what I'll continue to be, if confirmed.”
He also expressed his disagreement with federal watchdogs who have stated that the first Trump administration violated the law by withholding aid, including freezing assistance to Ukraine. “We followed the law consistently, and we will continue to do so,” Vought maintained.
Sen. Gary Peters raised concerns about the ability to reach "good faith" bipartisan agreements on government funding if the incoming Trump administration disregarded Congressional intentions. “How do we negotiate with somebody who says, ‘I’m just going to do what I want. To hell with the Constitution?’” Peters queried.
Even some Republican senators expressed worries about potential overreach of Congress' authority. “The power of the purse is Congress,” noted Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, during Vought’s confirmation hearing. “I think if we appropriate something for a cause, that's where it's supposed to go,” Paul added. “And that will still be my position.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
