Donald Trump (R) announced on Nov. 22, 2024, that he had selected Russell Vought as his nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This position requires Senate confirmation. In a statement, Trump said, “Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government, and he will help us return Self Governance to the People. We will restore fiscal sanity to our Nation, and unleash the American People to new levels of Prosperity and Ingenuity.”
Vought is the founder and president of the Center for Renewing America, an organization that seeks to, “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God with unique interests worthy of defending.” Vought formerly served as deputy OMB director from 2017 to 2019, and then as OMB director from 2020 to 2021. Before his time in the Trump administration, Vought’s professional experience included working for Heritage Action, the U.S. House Republican Study Committee, and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas).
Vought was Trump’s 18th announced Cabinet nominee. Trump made the announcement 17 days after election day, the fastest announcement for an OMB director nominee across the last four presidential transitions. In 2016, Trump announced his pick for the position 39 days after election day. President Joe Biden (D) announced his OMB director pick 27 days after the 2020 election, and former President Barack Obama (D) announced his OMB director pick 21 days after election day.
As of Nov. 24, 2024, 19 days after election day, Trump has announced 21 Cabinet-level nominees so far. At this point after election day, Biden had announced one Cabinet-level position in 2020, Trump had announced five in 2016, and Obama had announced one in 2008.
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