Senate Democrats stage overnight protest against Vought’s nomination
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Feb 06, 2025, 19:54 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Senate Democrats are vigorously opposing Russell Vought's nomination as head of the OMB with an overnight marathon of speeches. Concerns include Vought's links to Project 2025 and his stance on the 2020 election. Despite the protest, Vought is expected to be confirmed given the Republican Senate majority. The event highlights deep political divisions and the Democrats' persistence.
In a dramatic display of resistance, Senate Democrats have launched an overnight marathon of speeches to protest the nomination of Russell Vought as the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Despite their efforts, Vought is widely expected to be confirmed in a vote scheduled for Thursday evening.
With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, they have had little trouble confirming President Donald Trump’s nominees, as only a simple majority is required. However, Democrats are leveraging procedural tactics to slow down the process and draw attention to their concerns about Vought’s appointment.
Leading the charge against Vought’s nomination are Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the top Democrats on the Senate Budget, Appropriations, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees. Their primary objections center on Vought’s connections to Project 2025 and his continued insistence that the 2020 election was “rigged.” These concerns intensified last week after OMB released a memo freezing federal funding, a move that was later rescinded but nonetheless raised alarm among Democrats regarding how Vought would manage the agency.
The Office of Management and Budget plays a crucial role in executing the president’s policies, making the nomination particularly significant. Democrats argue that Vought’s past actions suggest he would prioritize partisan objectives over responsible governance, posing a risk to the impartial administration of federal resources.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon was the first to take the floor, beginning the marathon speeches at 2:17 p.m. ET. The extended session is expected to continue well into the night, as Democrats use every available opportunity to highlight their opposition and urge reconsideration of the nomination.
While the protest is unlikely to change the outcome, it underscores the deep partisan divisions in Washington and the lengths to which Democrats are willing to go in opposing key appointments. As the vote approaches, all eyes will be on the Senate floor, where political tensions remain high in the battle over Vought’s confirmation.