WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement on his committee vote to oppose the nomination of Russell Vought to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
“During his previous tenure leading the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought regularly flouted the laws passed by Congress to direct how federal resources should be spent – including by withholding vital security assistance for Ukraine and critical disaster relief funds in the wake of a hurricane.
“Mr. Vought has also sought to vilify hardworking civil servants who deliver reliable government services to the American people on a daily basis and replace nonpartisan experts – including those in key national security agencies – with political appointees whose only qualifications are their partisan loyalties.
“Throughout his confirmation hearing, Mr. Vought doubled down on his intention to continue disregarding the rule of law if he is confirmed again. As a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, and again as a member of the U.S. Senate, I swore an oath to uphold and follow our Constitution and the laws of our land. I voted against the nomination of Russell Vought because it is clear that he intends to take illegal actions that violate the very checks and balances on which our democracy is founded.”
###