Collins to back OMB nominee Russell Vought, paving way for confirmation

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) told The Hill Tuesday that she plans to vote for Russell Vought, President Trump’s pick to head the White House budget office, paving the way for Vought’s likely confirmation later this week.

“Yes, I’m going to support it,” she said of Vought’s nomination to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Collins believes that senators should give presidents deference to pick senior executive branch officials as long as they are qualified for the job, according to a source familiar with her views.

Vought served as OMB director from 2019 to 2020, during Trump’s first term

He has come under criticism from Democrats for supporting the view that the president has the constitutional authority to impound funds appropriated for Congress, but he acknowledged during his confirmation hearing that courts have upheld the Impoundment Control Act, which Congress passed to stop president’s from holding up congressionally authorized funds.

Vought has also been criticized for contributing to Project 2025, the conservative blueprint for reforming the federal government, which has aligned with Trump’s executive actions to freeze and evaluate spending during his first two and a half weeks in office.

His nomination passed out of the Budget Committee last week on an 11-0 vote after Democrats boycotted the meeting to protest a freeze the OMB placed on federal grants and loans.