Russell Vought’s nomination to be White House budget director will advance to the Senate floor despite a last-minute move by Senate Democrats to boycott his committee vote. Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee voted unanimously to advance Vought’s nomination as Democrats protest a now-rescinded funding freeze by the Trump administration.

The Senate Budget Committee on Thursday advanced Russell Vought’s nomination as Office of Management and Budget director, despite the panel’s 10 Democrats skipping the vote in protest.

FILE PHOTO: Russell Vought, U.S. President Trump's nominee to be director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), testifies before a Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 22, 2025. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File photo

Russell Vought has signaled he hopes to slash spending — and push the limits of presidential power to achieve Trump’s agenda.

Vought, a co-author of Project 2025 who served as budget director in Donald Trump's first term, has signaled he will take a more aggressive approach to helping the president-elect carry out his agenda of shrinking the federal government.

Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget, promised to help American taxpayers while undergoing a contentious confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

Senate Budget Committee Republicans approved Russ Vought’s nomination to serve as President Donald Trump’s budget director on Thursday, overcoming the absence of Democrats on the panel who boycotted the markup.