Trump’s Pick for Budget Chief Grilled by Senate Democrats Over Power of the Purse

Senate Democrats questioned Russ Vought, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a second time, regarding his views on the power of the purse. Vought, who succeeded Trump’s first OMB director, Mick Mulvaney, in 2019, appeared before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing. Lawmakers repeatedly asked Vought if he would uphold the law and refrain from withholding funding for programs Congress has appropriated. “Given your record, I have serious questions about whether you can be trusted to carry out the laws that Congress has passed under the Constitution,” said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Ind.)....