Over the objections of Democrats, Senate Republicans are moving ahead on a vote for President Trump's pick for budget director, Russell Vought.

A Trump loyalist and supporter of the president's sweeping overhaul of the federal government, Vought served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the end of Trump's first term. Democrats have made it clear that thwarting Vought's confirmation is a top priority as they stoke outrage over Trump's sweeping pause on federal financial assistance.

Republicans move on vote

The White House rescinded the funding freeze Wednesday, but the underlying executive orders associated with it, such as those targeting DEI, "remain in full force."

The Office of Management and Budget's directive Monday paused $3 trillion in federal financial assistance in order to identify and root out spending on woke initiatives and ensure spending is aligned with Trump's agenda. Programs that provide direct financial assistance, such as food stamps and Medicaid, were held exempt.

Nevertheless, the freeze gave Democrats, rattled by Trump's shock-and-awe blitz of executive orders, a talking point to rally behind as they accused Trump of putting poor and vulnerable people at risk with an overly broad action that stepped on Congress' power of the purse.

Top Senate Democrats issued demands Tuesday to delay a Budget Committee vote for Vought to head the Office of Management and Budget, but Republicans, perhaps emboldened by the president, ignored the request and insisted they will move ahead Thursday.

"The Senate Budget Committee will proceed with Mr. Vought’s nomination as scheduled," the spokesperson for the budget committee's Republican chairman, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) said in a statement.

Democrats target Vought

Democrats held a press conference to attack Vought days ago, painting him as a radical figure who "exudes hate" for federal workers.

Vought has said he believes a 1974 law restricting the president's ability to rescind spending, the Impoundment Control Act, is unconstitutional.

"Russell Vought refused to answer many questions about his plan, particularly to say he would not use the illegal impoundment strategy," Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the top Democrat on the budget committee, said.

A handful of Republican defections could sink Vought's nomination, and a few Republican senators have been giving Trump trouble with his Cabinet, namely Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), and Mitch McConnell (KY). Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, had expressed concern about the execution and impact of Trump's spending freeze.

"There certainly is justification to take a hard look at some programs, but this is far too sweeping and will cause disruption in the administration of a lot of important programs and services,” Collins said Tuesday.

Unlike some of Trump's more unconventional Cabinet nominees, Vought already served in the job he is gunning for, so nobody can claim he isn't qualified.

If confirmed to the role of OMB director again, Vought would occupy one of the most influential policy roles in the new administration. Whether Democrats can convince Republicans to torpedo him or not, it's clear that they see Vought as a threat.

"This man is an appalling nominee,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “I hope our Republicans on the other side will just see what this guy is all about and decide they can do better.”