Trump management, budget nominee weathers hearings

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, on Wednesday appeared for his second senate confirmation hearing. He said the government should work for working-class people. Nearly 80% of Americans did not believe their children would enjoy the same quality of life they had enjoyed, he said. Vought said he wanted to change that. Ranking Member Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on Wednesday tore into Vought over his record during the first Trump administration.

Democrats like Rep. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania have accused Vought of encouraging Trump to ignore Congress’ constitutional authority over federal spending.

What else happened at Wednesday’s hearing? Meanwhile, Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., interrogated Vought over his ideas about taxes, the purpose of the federal government, the energy sector, the United States’ presence abroad, and artificial intelligence regulation. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked Vought about whether he would treat whistleblowers well and how he would ensure bureaucrats didn’t liberally reinterpret Congressional law.

Why two hearings? Last week, Vought appeared before the Senate Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. On Wednesday, he appeared again, this time before the Senate Budget Committee.

Who is Vought? A former WORLD columnist, he worked in Washington for about 20 years for Congress as well as grassroots and public policy organizations. He is the president and founder of the Center for Renewing America and Citizens for Renewing America.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about Trump’s recent executive orders, and what they say about what’s to come in the next four years.