Luján Calls Out OMB Director Nominee on Proposing Cuts to Health Care, Education, and Public Safety

OMB Plays Central Role in Overseeing Federal Budget, Government Functions

Vought Is a Chief Architect of Trump's Project 2025

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of Senate Committee on the Budget, issued the following statement on the nomination hearing for Russell Vought, the nominee to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

"Mr. Vought - a chief architect of Project 2025 - has a long and clear record of proposing drastic cuts to vital programs for pregnant mothers, babies, and early childhood education. The Budget Office is among the most powerful offices in the federal government, and today's hearing failed to alleviate the concerns that I have with his nomination and ability to lead. It's clear that he will prioritize being a rubber stamp for President Trump and not look out for New Mexico families.

"I remain deeply concerned that he refuses to commit to not defunding the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal police that keep our communities safe, just like he cut these programs last time he was in this job. This should raise alarms for every Senator and every American who cares about public safety and security."

Video of Senator Luján's exchange with Russell Vought is available here.

An excerpt of Senator Luján's questioning is available below:

Senator Luján: In the budget from your group, the Center for Renewing America, you include significant cuts to Medicaid-a total of $2.3 trillion of cuts over 10 years. Now Mr. Vought, on April 8, 2024, you tweeted, "Defending life is the most important thing to me." Does that sound correct?

Mr. Vought: Senator, on behalf of the administration, I will be putting in place the President's views on life and abortion.

Senator Luján: Mr. Vought, do you know roughly what percentage of American babies are born with Medicaid health coverage every year? About 41%. Would that surprise you?

Mr. Vought: It would not.

Senator Luján: In your same budget, you call to eliminate the federal matching percentage floor for states. This would eliminate crucial investments that will put the health care of pregnant mothers in jeopardy. Your budget said it would cut over $650 billion from that program alone. Mr. Vought, do you know that Head Start promotes school readiness for children from birth to age five?

Mr. Vought: Yes.

Senator Luján: Do you know how many children were served in FY 2023?

Mr. Vought: Not off the top of my head.

Senator Luján: Over 770,000 children. Your budget proposes a 50% funding reduction for Head Start programs. In your budget, you included a statement that said, "Head Start participants have worse behavior and academic outcomes than children who do not enroll in the program." Two members of this committee are Head Start graduates, including myself. Does that surprise you?

Mr. Vought: No.

Senator Luján: That outcomes from Head Start got a couple of folks to the United States Senate.

Senator Luján: One last question on Native American programs around safety. Mr. Vought, I assume you support making American communities safer?

Mr. Vought: Yes, Sir.

Senator Luján: Does this include Native American communities, surrounding rural, local, and border towns?

Mr. Vought: Yes, Sir.

Senator Luján: Do you plan to defund BIA and Tribal police again, as you did under your first tenure in OMB?

Mr. Vought: We have not begun the budget process, I'm not confirmed, and won't be able to comment on what a future budget or we do not yet have a fiscal goal that the President has agreed to would look like at this point.

Senator Luján: You're not willing to say no today?

Mr. Vought: I am not willing to comment on any programs that have not yet been articulated as part of the budget process.

Senator Luján: Mr. Chariman, I just hope that when we talk about border security and safety in our communities, we've worked on several of these committees to improve law and order, and support for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Native American police officers, and things of that nature. This is an area where there is bipartisan support to protect these programs, and I hope we can continue to do that.

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