The Senate on Monday voted 51-46 to take up the nomination of Russell Vought to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget, signaling he is likely to be confirmed.
Senators also confirmed Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy by a bipartisan 59-38 vote. Despite increasing Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump’s initiatives, Wright’s support among Democrats held.
Vought is one of the architects of Trump’s spending and rule-cutting plans, and a defender of withholding money approved by Congress. That did not sway any Republicans to vote against him at this point in the process.
Monday’s procedural vote would not have been necessary without a Democratic blockade against Vought. They didn’t agree to Majority Leader John Thune’s (R-S.D.) move to wind down debate.
