Russell Vought

Vought was born to Thurlow Bunyea Vought, an electrician and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and Margaret Flowers Vought, an elementary school teacher, and grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut.{{Cite web |title=Thurlow Vought Obituary (2000) |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lohud/name/thurlow-vought-obituary?id=48241723 |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=Legacy.com}}{{Cite web |title=Margaret Vought - 2010 - McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. |url=https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11728193/Margaret-Vought |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=Tribute Archive |archive-date=November 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113010511/https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11728193/Margaret-Vought |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Coppins|first=McKay|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/05/russell-vought-trump-doge/682821/|title=The Visionary of Trump 2.0|work=The Atlantic|date=May 16, 2025|accessdate=May 17, 2025}} He earned a BA from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1998 and a JD from the George Washington University Law School in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://rollcall.com/2004/08/13/rsc-pickup/|title=RSC Pickup|first=Sonny|last=Bunch|date=August 13, 2004|website=Roll Call|access-date=March 7, 2025|archive-date=April 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405202930/https://rollcall.com/2004/08/13/rsc-pickup/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/people/russell-vought/|title=Russell Vought |website=trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov|access-date=March 6, 2025}}

Vought served as vice president of Heritage Action, the lobbying arm of the Heritage Foundation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/russ-vought-omb-trump|title=Who is Russ Vought, Trump's pick for DC's regulatory gatekeeper|first=Ivana|last=Saric|date=February 6, 2025|website=Axios|access-date=March 7, 2025|archive-date=March 3, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303184447/https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/russ-vought-omb-trump|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=July 20, 2020|title=Senate Confirms Russell Vought as Head of White House Budget Office|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-russell-vought-as-head-of-white-house-budget-office-11595285439|access-date=2021-01-01|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909020343/https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-russell-vought-as-head-of-white-house-budget-office-11595285439|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Edwards|first1=Jane|date=April 10, 2017|title=Russell Vought to Be Nominated OMB Deputy Chief|publisher=ExecutiveGov|url=http://www.executivegov.com/2017/04/russell-vought-to-be-nominated-omb-deputy-chief/|access-date=May 17, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925152152/https://www.executivegov.com/2017/04/russell-vought-to-be-nominated-omb-deputy-chief/|url-status=live}} He was the executive director and budget director of the Republican Study Committee, the policy director for the Republican Conference of the United States House of Representatives, and a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm.{{cite news|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/07/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-personnel-key|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts|date=April 7, 2017|access-date=May 17, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408004505/https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/07/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-personnel-key|archive-date=April 8, 2017|publisher=The White House}}{{cite news|last1=Graff|first1=Garrett|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2008/08/13/the-insider-russell-vought/|title=The Insider: Russell Vought|date=August 13, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2017|work=Washingtonian|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027035910/https://www.washingtonian.com/2008/08/13/the-insider-russell-vought/|url-status=live}}

In April 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Vought to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He was confirmed by the Senate on February 28, 2018, in a 50–49 vote. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote.{{cite web|first=Kellie|last=Mejdrich|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/mike-pence-breaks-another-tie-senate-vote|title=Mike Pence Breaks Another Tie Senate Vote|website=Roll Call|date=February 28, 2018|accessdate=March 1, 2018|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301012104/http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/mike-pence-breaks-another-tie-senate-vote|url-status=live}}

During the confirmation hearings, Senator Bernie Sanders questioned Vought about a statement that "Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned."{{cite web|date=January 17, 2016|title=Wheaton College and the Preservation of Theological Clarity|url=http://theresurgent.com/wheaton-college-and-the-preservation-of-theological-clarity/|access-date=June 10, 2017|website=The Resurgent|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014053136/http://theresurgent.com/wheaton-college-and-the-preservation-of-theological-clarity/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first=Camila|last=Domonoske|date=June 9, 2017|title=Is It Hateful To Believe In Hell? Bernie Sanders' Questions Prompt Backlash|website=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/09/532116365/is-it-hateful-to-believe-in-hell-bernie-sanders-questions-prompt-backlash/|access-date=June 10, 2017|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217231124/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/09/532116365/is-it-hateful-to-believe-in-hell-bernie-sanders-questions-prompt-backlash|url-status=live}} Various Christian organizations denounced Sanders's questioning as a violation of the No Religious Test Clause, and Emma Green of The Atlantic wrote that Sanders' questioning "flirted with the boundaries" of the No Religious Test Clause.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/bernie-sanders-chris-van-hollen-russell-vought/529614/|title=Bernie Sanders's Religious Test for Christians in Public Office|last=Green|first=Emma|date=June 8, 2017|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=January 30, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326070411/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/bernie-sanders-chris-van-hollen-russell-vought/529614/|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Vought was one of nine government officials who defied a subpoena to testify before Congress in relation to the Trump–Ukraine scandal and the administration's decision to freeze military aid to Ukraine. The decision to freeze aid to Ukraine had led Democrats to launch the first impeachment of Donald Trump.{{Cite web|last=Emma|first=Caitlin|title=Senate confirms Russ Vought to be White House budget chief|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/senate-confirms-russ-vought-to-be-white-house-budget-chief-373589|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Politico|date=July 20, 2020|language=en|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121150421/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/senate-confirms-russ-vought-to-be-white-house-budget-chief-373589|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=2020-07-20|title=Senate Confirms Russell Vought as Head of White House Budget Office|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-russell-vought-as-head-of-white-house-budget-office-11595285439|access-date=2020-09-17|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909020343/https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-russell-vought-as-head-of-white-house-budget-office-11595285439|url-status=live}}

File:Russell Vought swearing in.jpg

On January 2, 2019, when OMB director Mick Mulvaney became acting White House chief of staff, Vought became the acting OMB director, though Mulvaney continued to hold the director position.{{cite web |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Colin |title=Former Heritage Action executive Russell Vought to act as Trump administration budget chief |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/former-heritage-action-executive-russell-vought-to-act-as-trump-administration-budget-chief |date=December 14, 2018 |work=Washington Examiner |access-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231204823/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/former-heritage-action-executive-russell-vought-to-act-as-trump-administration-budget-chief |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |last2=Colvin |first2=Jill |last3=Lucey |first3=Catherine |title=Budget Head Mulvaney Picked as Trump's Acting Chief of Staff |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/12/15/budget_head_mulvaney_picked_as_trumps_acting_chief_of_staff_138939.html |date=December 15, 2018 |website=RealClearPolitics |access-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404142016/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/12/15/budget_head_mulvaney_picked_as_trumps_acting_chief_of_staff_138939.html |url-status=live }} On March 18, 2020, Trump announced his intent to nominate him to be OMB Director.{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-33/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts|language=en-US|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2020-03-18|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120202103/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-33/|url-status=live}} Vought was confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 2020, by a vote of 51–45,{{Cite news |last=Kiernan |first=Paul |date=July 20, 2020 |title=Senate Confirms Russell Vought as Head of White House Budget Office |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-russell-vought-as-head-of-white-house-budget-office-11595285439 |access-date=July 20, 2020 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909020343/https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-russell-vought-as-head-of-white-house-budget-office-11595285439 |url-status=live }} and was sworn in two days later.{{Cite tweet |number=1286384905279209478 |user=RussVought45 |title=Being sworn in as OMB Director by @realDonaldTrump & @VP was a moment I'll never forget. It's the honor of a lifetime to serve this great country & the American people under their leadership. I also want to thank my family for being at my side & their unwavering love & support. |first=Russell |last=Vought |date=July 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724152350/https://twitter.com/RussVought45/status/1286384905279209478 |archive-date=July 24, 2020}}

In May 2020, Vought broke the OMB's long-standing practice of publishing updated economic forecasts, citing disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

On September 4, 2020, Vought, at Trump's direction, published an OMB memo instructing federal agencies to stop all training on "critical race theory" or "white privilege", along with "any other training or propaganda effort that teaches or suggests either (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil". The memo further directed that agencies begin to identify legal avenues to cancel contracts or otherwise divert the "millions of taxpayer dollars" being spent on such training, which it said "engenders division and resentment within the federal workforce."{{Cite web |title=Trump to Feds: Stop 'Anti-American' Training on 'Critical Race Theory' {{!}} RealClearPolitics |author=Philip Wegmann |work=Real Clear Politics |date=2020-09-04 |access-date=2024-12-02 |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/09/04/trump_to_feds_stop_anti-american_training_on_white_privilege_144145.html |language=English |archive-date=December 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207014510/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/09/04/trump_to_feds_stop_anti-american_training_on_white_privilege_144145.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/M-20-34.pdf|title=M-20-34 Training in the Federal Government (September 4, 2020)|language=en-US|via=National Archives|access-date=2021-06-18|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120220345/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/M-20-34.pdf|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Dawsey|first1=Josh|last2=Stein|first2=Jeff|title=White House directs federal agencies to cancel race-related training sessions it calls 'un-American propaganda'|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/04/white-house-racial-sensitivity-training/|date=September 4, 2020|access-date=2021-07-17|archive-date=September 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911211815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/04/white-house-racial-sensitivity-training/|url-status=live}}

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Trump alleged that the election had been stolen, Biden's transition team accused Vought of hindering the presidential transition by refusing to allow incoming Biden officials to meet with OMB staff. Typically, career OMB staff would provide an incoming administration with cost estimates and details on existing programs.{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=Nancy |date=December 31, 2020 |title=Trump Budget Chief Hampers Biden Transition With Ban on Meetings |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-31/trump-budget-chief-hampers-biden-transition-with-ban-on-meetings |access-date=2021-04-05 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203054710/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-31/trump-budget-chief-hampers-biden-transition-with-ban-on-meetings |url-status=live }} Vought defended his actions, stating that OMB had provided funding for the transition and that there had been more than 45 meetings with Biden officials but that "OMB staff are working on this administration's policies and will do so until this administration's final day in office".{{Cite web|first=Kevin|last=Liptak|title=Trump budget director accuses Biden team of 'false statements' in latest transition spat|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/31/politics/trump-biden-transition-budget-director/index.html|access-date=January 1, 2021|publisher=CNN|date=December 31, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429130421/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/31/politics/trump-biden-transition-budget-director/index.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=December 31, 2020 |title=Trump budget chief refuses to direct staff to help with Biden spending plans |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/31/trump-budget-chief-refuses-to-direct-staff-to-help-with-biden-spending-plans.html |access-date=April 5, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119011543/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/31/trump-budget-chief-refuses-to-direct-staff-to-help-with-biden-spending-plans.html |url-status=live }}

In December 2020, Donald Trump appointed Vought to the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. Joe Biden fired Vought and ten other Trump political appointees to the boards of service academies and other oversight bodies in September 2021. Vought and Sean Spicer (appointed by Trump to the Naval board in 2019 and likewise fired by Biden) sued to prevent their removal, arguing that their appointments were to three-year terms.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Ellen |date=September 8, 2021 |title=Trump budget chief refuses to resign from Naval Academy board |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/571323-trump-budget-chief-refuses-to-resign-from-naval-academy-board/ |work=The Hill}} In July 2022 federal judge Dabney Friedrich dismissed the suit.{{Cite news |last=Chatterjee |first=Mohar |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Sean Spicer and Russell Vought lose lawsuit against Biden administration over Naval Board dismissal |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/12/sean-spicer-russell-vought-lawsuit-biden-00045335 |publisher=Politico}}

In January 2021, Vought founded an organization called the Center for Renewing America (CRA), which is focused on combating critical race theory. CRA has an affiliated issue advocacy group, American Restoration Action.{{Cite news |title=Republicans, spurred by an unlikely figure, see political promise in critical race theory |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/19/critical-race-theory-rufo-republicans/ |access-date=2021-06-19 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=June 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621090847/https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/19/critical-race-theory-rufo-republicans/ |url-status=live }} The mission of the groups is to "renew a consensus of America as a nation under God".{{Cite news |date=3 January 2025 |title=Russ Vought: Donald Trump's holy warrior |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/01/03/russ-vought-donald-trumps-holy-warrior |access-date=2025-01-05 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=January 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105102151/https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/01/03/russ-vought-donald-trumps-holy-warrior |url-status=live }} According to Axios, the groups "will provide the ideological ammunition to sustain Trump's political movement after his departure from the White House."{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Hans |last2=Markay |first2=Lachlan |title=Scoop: Former OMB director to set up Pro-Trump think tanks |url=https://www.axios.com/former-omb-director-to-set-up-pro-trump-think-tanks-3b297535-23e6-427f-8723-763c6bbe358e.html |date=January 26, 2021 |work=Axios |access-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818191023/https://www.axios.com/former-omb-director-to-set-up-pro-trump-think-tanks-3b297535-23e6-427f-8723-763c6bbe358e.html |url-status=live }}

In April 2021, The Washington Post fact-checker rated Vought's statement that only 5 to 7 percent of the Biden administration's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan would go to "actual roads and bridges and ports and things that you and I would say is real infrastructure" as inaccurate to the degree of "Three Pinocchios" out of four.{{Cite news|last=Rizzo|first=Salvador|title=Analysis {{!}} The GOP claim that only 5 to 7 percent of Biden's plan is for 'real infrastructure'|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/05/gop-claim-that-only-5-7-percent-bidens-plan-is-real-infrastructure/|access-date=2021-04-05|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617135214/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/05/gop-claim-that-only-5-7-percent-bidens-plan-is-real-infrastructure/|url-status=live}}

On June 8, 2021, Citizens for Renewing America, the advocacy arm of Center for Renewing America, released a guide to "combatting critical race theory."{{Cite web|title=Combatting Critical Race Theory in Your Community: An A to Z Guide On How To Stop Critical Race Theory And Reclaim Your Local School Board|url=https://citizensrenewingamerica.com/issues/combatting-critical-race-theory-in-your-community/|language=en|access-date=2021-06-18|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709020001/https://citizensrenewingamerica.com/issues/combatting-critical-race-theory-in-your-community/|url-status=live}} Vought told Fox News the 33-page handbook is "a crash course in CRT, a 'one-stop shopping' for parents trying to hold their school board members accountable."{{Cite news|last=Leach|first=Matt|title=Conservative think tank creates 'A to Z guide' for stopping critical race theory in schools|language=en-US|publisher=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/critical-race-theory-guide-conservative-think-tank|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2021|archive-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911041152/https://www.foxnews.com/us/critical-race-theory-guide-conservative-think-tank|url-status=live}}

On June 22, 2022, Vought confirmed that federal agents conducted a search of the home of his organization's director of litigation, Jeffrey Clark, a former U.S. Department of Justice official who participated in efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.{{Cite news |title=Home of Jeffrey Clark, Trump DOJ official, searched by federal agents |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/06/23/jeffrey-clark-house-search/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625003855/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/06/23/jeffrey-clark-house-search/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2024, ProPublica reported on speeches Vought had made at Center for Renewing America events. According to the report, Vought's proposals included plans to reshape government by using military force against protesters if deemed necessary, to defund agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of reducing federal influence, and to cast civil servants as obstructive to conservative agendas.{{Cite web |last1=Redden |first1=Molly |last2=Kroll |first2=Andy |last3=Surgey |first3=Nick |date=2024-10-28 |title="Put Them in Trauma": Inside a Key MAGA Leader's Plans for a New Trump Agenda |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/video-donald-trump-russ-vought-center-renewing-america-maga |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}

File:2025 Mandate for Leadership SVG Cover.svg|quote=But for this election, after conservatives and Mr. Trump himself decried what they viewed as terrible staffing decisions made during his administration, more than 50 conservative groups have temporarily set aside rivalries to team up with Heritage on the project, set to start Friday.}}]]

{{main|Project 2025}}

Vought played a major role in the creation of Project 2025, a collection of conservative and right-wing policy proposals from The Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power,{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link=Maggie Haberman |last2=Savage |first2=Charlie |author-link2=Charlie Savage (author) |last3=Swan |first3=Jonathan |date=July 17, 2023 |title=Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113042523/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last1=Mascaro |first1=Lisa |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Conservatives are on a mission to dismantle the US government and replace it with Trump's vision |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 |publisher=Associated Press |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922112031/https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 |url-status=live }} and the Center for Renewing America that Vought founded is a member of the Project 2025 advisory board.{{Cite web |title=Advisory Board |date=February 2, 2023 |url=https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119034220/https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/ |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |publisher=The Heritage Foundation}} Project 2025 includes proposals to reclassify tens of thousands of merit-based federal civil service workers as political appointees in order to replace them with Trump loyalists.{{Cite news |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Conservative Groups Draw Up Plan to Dismantle the US Government and Replace It with Trump's Vision |publisher=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922112031/https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=September 21, 2023 }}{{cite news |last1=Gomez Licon |first1=Adrianna |title=Biden assails Project 2025, a plan to transform government, and Trump's claim to be unaware of it |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-biden-9d372469033d23e1e3aef5cf0470a2e6 |publisher=Associated Press |date=July 6, 2024 |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706163811/https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-biden-9d372469033d23e1e3aef5cf0470a2e6 |url-status=live }}

A 920-page Mandate for Project 2025 was published in April 2023.{{Cite news |last=Waldman |first=Scott |date=July 28, 2023 |title=Conservatives Have Already Written a Climate Plan for Trump's Second Term |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/28/far-right-climate-plans-00107498 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110135235/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/28/far-right-climate-plans-00107498 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Politico}}

Dark money contributions from a network of fundraising groups were received by nearly half of the organizations collaborating in the project.{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Katherine |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Donations Have Surged to Groups Linked to Conservative Project 2025 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/donations-surged-groups-linked-conservative-project-2025-rcna125638 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118071504/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/donations-surged-groups-linked-conservative-project-2025-rcna125638 |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=NBC News}} The project seeks to infuse the government and society with Christian values.{{Cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Alexander |last2=Przybyla |first2=Heidi |date=February 20, 2024 |title=Trump Allies Prepare to Infuse 'Christian Nationalism' in Second Administration |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/20/donald-trump-allies-christian-nationalism-00142086 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224064541/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/20/donald-trump-allies-christian-nationalism-00142086 |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |access-date=February 24, 2024 |work=Politico}}{{cite news |last1=Swenson |first1=Ali |title=A conservative leading the pro-Trump Project 2025 suggests there will be a new American Revolution |url=https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-american-revolution-6e02a297fb91b55de01ba7e86615bb08 |publisher=Associated Press |date=July 3, 2024 |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712191629/https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-american-revolution-6e02a297fb91b55de01ba7e86615bb08 |url-status=live }}

In August 2024, CNN reported on a lengthy conversation between Vought and two journalists who falsely claimed to be relatives of a potential donor. The conversation, which occurred in July 2024, was videotaped by the journalists without Vought's knowledge. The video shows Vought describing his secretive efforts to prepare executive orders for a potential second Trump administration, as well as his "expansive views on presidential power, his plans to restrict pornography and immigration, and his complaints that the GOP was too focused on 'religious liberty'". During the conversation, Vought summed up his core political ideology as "Christian nationism".{{Cite web| author1 = Curt Devine| author2 = Casey Tolan| author3 = Audrey Ash| author4 = Kyung Lah| title = In secretly recorded video, Project 2025 co-author says he's drafted hundreds of executive orders for Trump| work = CNN| access-date = 2025-02-10| date = 2024-08-15| url = https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/15/politics/russ-vought-project-2025-trump-secret-recording-invs/index.html| quote = I want to make sure that we can say we are a Christian nation [...] And my viewpoint is mostly that I would probably be Christian nation-ism. That’s pretty close to Christian nationalism because I also believe in nationalism.| archive-date = August 15, 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240815183424/https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/15/politics/russ-vought-project-2025-trump-secret-recording-invs/index.html| url-status = live}}

Vought was named policy director of the Republican National Committee platform committee in May 2024.{{cite news |last1=Dixon |first1=Matt |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Trump team moves behind the scenes to shift the GOP platform on abortion and marriage |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-team-shift-rnc-gop-platform-abortion-marriage-rcna152677 |publisher=NBC News |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |access-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613152932/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-team-shift-rnc-gop-platform-abortion-marriage-rcna152677 |url-status=live }}

On November 23, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would renominate Vought as director of the OMB for his second term as president.{{cite web |last=Lim |first=Clarissa-Jan |date=2024-11-23 |title=Trump picks Russell Vought, a key figure behind Project 2025, as OMB director |url=https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-russell-vought-project-2025-office-management-budget-rcna181469 |access-date=2024-11-27 |work=MSNBC |archive-date=February 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217181237/https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-russell-vought-project-2025-office-management-budget-rcna181469 |url-status=live }} Vought appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on January 15, 2025. During the hearing, Vought did not commit to spend all the money assigned by the Congress to the federal government.{{Cite web |last=Scholtes |first=Jennifer |date=2025-01-15 |title=Trump's pick for budget chief echoes his 'power of the purse' dreams |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/15/trumps-pick-for-budget-chief-echoes-his-power-of-the-purse-dreams-00198510 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117120413/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/15/trumps-pick-for-budget-chief-echoes-his-power-of-the-purse-dreams-00198510 |url-status=live }} The committee advanced his nomination in an 8–7 vote on January 20.{{cite web |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/01/vought-noem-nominations-greenlit-by-senate-homeland-committee-00199514 |title=Vought, Noem nominations green-lighted by Senate Homeland Committee |work=Politico |date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-02-01 |first=Katherine |last=Tully-McManus |archive-date=February 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216151319/https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/01/vought-noem-nominations-greenlit-by-senate-homeland-committee-00199514 |url-status=live }} He later appeared before the Senate Budget Committee on January 22.{{cite web |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/01/russ-vought-takeaways-omb-00200116 |title=Takeaways from Russell Vought's confirmation hearing |work=Politico |date=2025-01-22 |access-date=2025-02-01 |first=Katherine |last=Tully-McManus |archive-date=January 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124092821/https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/01/russ-vought-takeaways-omb-00200116 |url-status=live }} The committee approved his nomination in an 11–0 vote, with all 9 Democrats and 1 Independent boycotting the vote due to the recent federal spending freeze.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/30/trump-russell-vought-budget-vote |title=Democrats refuse to vote on Trump budget pick: 'So clearly unfit for office' |work=The Guardian |date=2025-01-30 |access-date=2025-02-01 |first=Alice |last=Herman }} The U.S. Senate voted 53–47 on February 6 to approve his nomination.{{cite web | url = https://apnews.com/article/trump-russell-vought-confirmation-budget-project-2025-7d1c476694176876256e95cecbd49231 | title = Senate confirms Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead powerful White House budget office | work = Associated Press | date = 2025-02-07 | access-date = 2025-02-07 | first = Stephen | last = Groves | archive-date = February 7, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250207104322/https://apnews.com/article/trump-russell-vought-confirmation-budget-project-2025-7d1c476694176876256e95cecbd49231 | url-status = live }}

Upon taking office as OMB Director, Vought was also installed as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.{{Cite news |last=Cowley |first=Stacy |date=2025-02-09 |title=36 Hours After Russell Vought Took Over Consumer Bureau, He Shut Its Operations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/vought-cfpb-musk-trump.html |access-date=2025-02-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211234912/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/vought-cfpb-musk-trump.html |url-status=live }} In his first month at the CFPB, the CFPB dropped at least a half dozen cases brought by Vought's predecessor, Rohit Chopra.{{Cite web |last=Son |first=Hugh |date=2025-03-04 |title=CFPB drops lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo over Zelle fraud |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/04/cfpb-drops-jpmorgan-bank-of-america-wells-fargo-lawsuit.html |website=CNBC |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2025 |archive-date=March 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304203029/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/04/cfpb-drops-jpmorgan-bank-of-america-wells-fargo-lawsuit.html |url-status=live }} In May 2025, the CFPB rescinded a rule that limited the ability of data brokers to sell sensitive information, such as financial data, credit history, and Social Security numbers.{{Cite magazine |last=Cameron |first=Dell |date=2025 |title=CFPB Quietly Kills Rule to Shield Americans From Data Brokers |url=https://www.wired.com/story/cfpb-quietly-kills-rule-to-shield-americans-from-data-brokers/ |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}

Vought graduated from the evangelical Christian Wheaton College and describes himself as a Christian nationalist. He seeks to infuse the government and society with elements of Christianity, saying he has "a commitment to an institutional separation between church and state, but not the separation of Christianity from its influence on government and society", according to The Washington Post. In a secretly recorded meeting in 2024, Vought said that conservatives should discuss whether to prioritize Christian immigrants over those of other religions. Vought supports a total ban on abortion. He has called the Democratic Party "increasingly evil" for supporting secularism.

Since 2022,{{Cite web |last=Russell Vought |date=2022-09-29 |title=Renewing American Purpose |url=https://americanmind.org/salvo/renewing-american-purpose/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The American Mind |language=en-US |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213194552/https://americanmind.org/salvo/renewing-american-purpose/ |url-status=live }} Vought has advocated for what he calls "radical constitutionalism" to reverse what he calls a current "post-Constitutional time"; he asserts this has been the result of a century of corruption of laws and institutions by the political left. He characterizes the federal bureaucracy as "woke and weaponized" and advocates replacing it with "radical constitutionalists". Vought proposes to "gut the FBI" and end the tradition of political independence of the U.S. Justice Department.{{cite news |last1=Reinhard |first1=Beth |date=June 8, 2024 |title=Trump loyalist pushes 'post-Constitutional' vision for second term |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/08/russ-vought-trump-second-term-radical-constitutional/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=July 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711031937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/08/russ-vought-trump-second-term-radical-constitutional/ |url-status=live }}

Vought was formerly married to Mary Grace Vought, with whom he shares two daughters. Mary filed for divorce on August 4, 2023 and the divorce was finalized on August 30 in Arlington County, Virginia.{{cite news |last1=Brinkman |first1=Bennett |last2=Savage |first2=Tres |title=Domino scenarios: Sen. Markwayne Mullin Cabinet rumor spurs speculation |url=https://nondoc.com/2024/11/12/markwayne-mullin-cabinet-rumor-spurs-speculation/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=NonDoc |date=12 November 2024 |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206165631/https://nondoc.com/2024/11/12/markwayne-mullin-cabinet-rumor-spurs-speculation/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Vought, Mary Grace Vs Vought, Russell Thurlow Court Records {{!}} Trellis.Law |url=https://trellis.law/case/51013/cl23003105-00/vought-mary-grace-vs-vought-russell-thurlow |access-date=2025-04-16 |archive-date=February 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211200041/https://trellis.law/case/51013/cl23003105-00/vought-mary-grace-vs-vought-russell-thurlow |url-status=bot: unknown }}

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Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:Christian nationalists

Category:Deputy Directors for Management of the Office of Management and Budget

Category:Directors of the Office of Management and Budget

Category:George Washington University Law School alumni

Category:People from New York (state)

Category:People of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Category:Second Trump administration cabinet members

Category:The Heritage Foundation people

Category:First Trump administration cabinet members

Category:Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni

Category:Department of Government Efficiency people