On Wednesday afternoon Senate Democrats began what they insist will be an all-night marathon of speeches protesting Director of the Office of Management and Budget nominee Russell Vought.
While many of Trump’s nominees have come under intense scrutiny during confirmation hearings the past month, none have drawn the ire of Democrats like Vought, whose association with Project 2025 and past statement on the 2020 election have some calling him Trump’s “most dangerous nominee.”
Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii said most of the Senate Democrats will take the floor to voice their opposition. “We’re going to have more than 35 United States senators on the Democratic side, opposing Russ Vought’s nomination,” he said. “We’re going to take the floor for 30 hours,” he said, referring to time allowed for debate under Senate rules, before going on to describe Vought as the “architect of the dismantling of our federal government.”
Last week Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee voted 11-0 to advanced Vought for a confirmation vote this week. Democrats boycotted the panel’s vote with Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. calling him “dangerously unfit for office.” Merkley kicked off the Democrats marathon session just after 2pm ET on Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Vought will be opposed by “all 47 Democrats” which includes the two independent senators who caucus with the party. “And we will take the floor early this afternoon and spend the whole night discussing how bad this nomination is and how it badly affects working families,” he said.
“And of all the harmful nominees, of all the extremists that Donald Trump has elevated, of all the hard-right ideologues who have come before the Senate, none of them hold a candle to Russell Vought. He is far and away the most dangerous to the American people, Schumer said in his remarks.
