OMB Director Russ Vought is leading the Trump administration’s effort to slash federal spending, acting as President Donald Trump’s hatchet man in seeking to cut down the “deep state.”
But when Vought testifies before a House Appropriations subcommittee this afternoon, he’ll come armed with a budget that’s pushing a funding boost for at least one agency – his own.
The Trump administration’s FY2026 budget calls for a 13% funding increase for OMB to $146 million. This comes even as the White House wants to cut more than $160 billion from non-defense discretionary spending across other departments and agencies.
OMB says the request for more funds is needed as it’s working on a major deregulatory effort.
The spending boost for the White House budget office will be one small part of what’s expected to be a tense hearing. Vought is at the center of the Trump administration’s controversial overhaul of the federal workforce, spearheading mass firings and total eliminations of some agencies.
This is also the first time Vought will publicly face both GOP and Democratic appropriators since the onslaught of his whirlwind spending freezes. Vought will appear before the Financial Services and General Government subcommittee starting at 2 p.m. today.
The White House released a $9.4 billion rescissions package on Tuesday as well. Vought is seeking to slash U.S. foreign aid by billions of dollars. The White House also wants to cut more than $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund PBS and NPR.
Even Republicans believe that the White House is pushing hard on this issue, with more rescissions packages expected in the coming months.
“This is a very aggressive rescissions package,” acknowledged Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who oversees funding for the State Department and foreign aid.
Dems on attack: Democrats plan to aggressively question Vought about his proposed budget cuts. Democrats also argue that spending freezes already instituted by the White House violate a 1974 law that requires agencies to spend funds appropriated by Congress.
Here’s some of what House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) plans to say to Vought:
“The Constitution, courts, the Government Accountability Office, and American history tell us you are breaking the law. Through the OMB funding freeze, which touched communities nationwide, you have attempted to seize control of the government and impound funds far beyond what is permitted by law.”
For years, Vought has been making the argument that the 1974 Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional and should be overturned by the Supreme Court, which is where a lot of these issues are likely to be ultimately decided.
Cardinal’s focus: Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), the chair of the Appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing, plans to note how OMB is in a unique position as an agency created by Congress yet is responsible for fulfilling the president’s priorities.
“But as appropriators of the federal government, we need to work with OMB to ensure that funds are being used as Congress intended,” Joyce says in his planned opening statement.
