President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to appoint conservative loyalist Russell Vought as the director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to two sources familiar with his transition efforts. If confirmed, Vought would lead a critical agency that plays a central role in shaping the president’s policy priorities and determining how to fund them.
Vought, who served as OMB director during Trump’s first term, would be instrumental in advancing the president’s agenda to roll back government regulations and establish budgetary priorities. One of his key responsibilities could include implementing the controversial Schedule F policy, which aims to remove civil service protections from thousands of federal employees, allowing the administration to more easily remove them for political reasons.
As a key architect of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term developed by a coalition of right-wing groups, Vought has been a proponent of restructuring the government to place more power in the hands of political appointees, sidelining career civil servants in key decision-making roles.
Though Vought is the leading candidate, sources say there were other contenders for the OMB position just days ago, and Trump could still change his mind about the appointment.
Neither the Trump transition team nor Vought responded immediately to requests for comment.
Despite previously distancing himself from Project 2025 during his presidential campaign, Trump’s connections to the initiative are evident, as many of its authors, including Vought, served in his first administration.
If appointed, Vought will work alongside X CEO Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who were both tapped by Trump to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency. This department, which Trump has said will operate outside traditional governmental constraints, is intended to further his promises to cut government spending and regulations.
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