Trump Selects Russell Vought for the Office of Management and Budget

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Donald Trump selects Russell Vought, co-author of Project 2025, to lead the Office of Management and Budget on Nov. 22.  

According to White House archives, Vought joined the OMB when President Trump first took office in 2017. Before his confirmation as director in 2020, Vought served as deputy and acting director for the OMB.  

According to the White House, the job of the OMB is to help the president meet policy, budget, management and regulatory objectives and fulfill the agency’s statutory responsibilities. According to the New York Times, this position requires senate confirmation.  

President-elect Donald Trump said this in a statement after selecting Vought for OMB.

“Russ has spent many years working in Public Policy in Washington, D.C., and is an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda across all Agencies,” said Trump. “Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government, and he will help us return Self Governance to the People.”

Sara Santiago is a Milwaukee resident concerned about the people that President-elect Donald Trump has selected for his administration. 

“I think any picks that Trump chooses are illegitimate picks just because he is a convicted felon, and he shouldn’t have been able to run for reelection,” said Santiago. 

Santiago mentioned how Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025 in the months leading up to the election, but now he has its co-author leading a powerful position.  

“I do not feel that he’s qualified because I do not feel that he can do that job and be faithful to his oath to the constitution when he is too far right, ideologically,” said Santiago about Vought. “He’s too biased. Way too biased.” 

When asked if she had a different candidate in mind for the OMB, Santiago responded by saying the following. 

“Well, here’s the thing,” said Santiago. “I don’t know who I would pick, and you know what? I shouldn’t know.” 

She explained that before 2016, government jobs appointed by the president-elect were way less publicized than they are now. There are hundreds of jobs that many people don’t know about because it’s not as big of a concern to them as other positions, such as the president. Santiago said she feels she shouldn’t have to waste energy on knowing that. She said she feels we should be able to trust that the people appointed to these positions are faithful to the constitution and to the American people.  

“This is so scandalous that we are literally talking about Trump’s appointment to the office of management and budget,” said Santiago. “That’s how crazy the times are.” 

Santiago expressed more concern for Vought being placed as the head of the OMB. 

“Not only is he going to do whatever Trump tells him to do, he knows what he can get away with and he is going to try and get away with implementing the agenda outlined in Project 2025,” said Santiago. 

Her concern doesn’t stop with Vought. Santiago is worried about President-elect Trump’s picks for high-level intelligence and high-level defense positions. She also called out two other positions by name, stating her worry for Mehmet Oz being appointed to run Medicare and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Being appointed to run the Office of Health and Human Services. 

“But I will say what is concerning is his picks for international relations and diplomacy,” said Santiago. “I don’t know what he’s thinking.”