Russ Vought, a hard-charging fiscal and social conservative with a passion for downsizing government, became President Donald Trump’s budget director for the second time Thursday when the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed him on a party-line vote.
While the 53-47 outcome was never in real doubt — no Republican ever voiced opposition to him — antipathy toward Vought from Democrats grew into full-throated rage in recent weeks. Democrats said Vought played a key role behind the scenes in efforts including the Trump administration’s funding freeze, penetrating the Treasury’s payment system, and steps toward dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development.
While they had no power to block Vought’s confirmation, Democrats staged an all-night protest on the Senate floor that continued Thursday up until the evening vote, using every minute of the allotted 30 hours for debate.
