Warnock calls Trump's pick to lead OMB, Russell Vought, 'radical' and 'extreme'

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Sen. Raphael Warnock addresses the Senate ahead of the vote on Russell Vought's nomination to head the Office of Management and Budget on Feb. 5, 2025. (Supplied)

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats, led by Georgia's Raphael Warnock, spent Wednesday filibustering to delay a vote on President Donald Trump's nomination of Russell Vought for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

Warnock, who did not mince words in his opposition, called Vought one of the architects of Project 2025.

Warnock blasts Russell Vought's nomination to OMB

What they're saying:

Warnock called the Trump agenda "radical," "extreme," and "undemocratic."

He said that Georgians did not vote for this, calling attention to Project 2025.

"This is exactly what they said they were going to do, some didn't believe them, even after they attempted to gaslight the American people into thinking otherwise, here we are in no time flat," Warnock said.

Invoking the words of German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller, who wrote a poem about the dangers of societal complacency during the rise of Nazism. In his poem, Niemöller wrote: 

"First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Communist.

"Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Socialist.

"Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

"Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

"Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

"When they come for one of us, they come for us all," Warnock said, summing up the poem. "Dr. King said, ‘We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’"

The senator from Georgia posted a live feed of his speech on the Senate floor to his X account, formerly Twitter.

Who is Russell Vought?

The backstory:

Russell Vought was nominated to serve again as the Director of the OMB in the second Trump administration. He previously held the position from July 2020 to January 2021, after serving as Deputy Director and Acting Director. In 2021, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, an organization opposing critical race theory and advocating for America as a "nation under God." He has also played a significant role in Project 2025, an initiative by the Heritage Foundation aimed at advancing conservative policies and reshaping the federal government.

Why Trump picked Vought

The other side:

During his Senate confirmation hearings in January 2025, Vought faced scrutiny over his views on federal spending and presidential authority. He declined to commit to spending all funds appropriated by Congress, aligning with President Trump's belief that certain impoundment laws are unconstitutional. Vought stated, "For 200 years, presidents had the ability to spend less than an appropriation if they could do it for less," emphasizing his dedication to advancing Trump's agenda and upholding the law.

President Trump praised Vought as "an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda across all Agencies," adding, "Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government, and he will help us return Self Governance to the People."

What is the OMB?

Why you should care:

The OMB plays a pivotal role in the U.S. government, serving as a key component of the Executive Office of the President. Its primary functions include preparing the federal budget and overseeing its implementation across executive branch agencies. This involves evaluating the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures to ensure alignment with the President's priorities.

In addition to budgetary responsibilities, the OMB is tasked with reviewing and coordinating significant federal regulations, ensuring they reflect the administration's policies. The office also focuses on improving administrative management, developing performance measures, and coordinating inter-agency initiatives.

The OMB plays a crucial role in legislative processes as well, reviewing proposed legislation to ensure consistency with the President's budget and policy objectives. It coordinates the administration's legislative program to align with these goals.

Furthermore, the OMB sets policies for federal information and statistical activities, maintaining the quality and integrity of federal data. Through these diverse responsibilities, the OMB shapes the fiscal and regulatory landscape of the federal government, striving for efficient and effective policy implementation.