When it comes to managing the nation’s budget, tough decisions are always on the table. Russell Vought, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for White House budget director, found himself in the hot seat during his confirmation hearing, facing questions about military aid, spending cuts, and the rising national debt.
Vought, who served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, was asked about his past actions, including his role in withholding $214 million in military aid for Ukraine in 2019. This was a key moment that led to Trump’s first impeachment, and Sen. Gary Peters from Michigan didn’t let him off the hook. However, Vought stuck to his stance, saying, “I will always commit to upholding the law.”
But when it came to approving additional aid for Ukraine—$3.8 billion to support its ongoing war with Russia—Vought’s answer was a little more cautious. He said he wouldn’t jump ahead of the new administration’s policy. “I’m not going to get ahead of the policy response,” he explained, which didn’t sit well with some senators. Sen. Richard Blumenthal was particularly taken aback, criticizing Vought’s stance by saying, “I am astonished and aghast that someone in this responsible position would, in effect, say that the president is above the law.”
On the flip side, when Republican senators asked about his budget plans, Vought was ready with ideas. With the national debt soaring above $28 trillion, he acknowledged that spending cuts would be needed to address the ongoing budget deficits. His concern? That future generations could be weighed down by debt as more tax dollars go toward repayment.
Vought, who founded a conservative think tank called the Center for Renewing America, pointed out that addressing inflation and ensuring fiscal accountability were major goals. He even suggested that some social programs could face cuts, and more jobs could help save money in the long run.
A recent analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget looked at the debt growth under both Trump and President Joe Biden. It showed that Trump’s policies added $8.4 trillion to the debt, while Biden’s added $4.3 trillion, mainly due to the coronavirus pandemic response.
Vought’s confirmation hearing may not have answered all the tough questions, but it sure raised some important ones about the future of America’s fiscal policies. Only time will tell how his approach will shape the country’s budget moving forward.
