1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought for any position in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Based on his record as both Acting Director and Director of the OMB during the final two years of the previous administration, I am deeply concerned about the impact his leadership could have on our nation's federal workforce, civil liberties, and democratic institutions. While serving as Director, Mr. Vought spearheaded efforts to strip protections from 88% of the OMB’s workforce and encouraged other agencies to follow suit. This initiative was a key part of his advocacy for “Schedule F,” a plan that sought to dismantle the nonpartisan and merit-based federal civil service. Schedule F would allow any administration to involuntarily transfer federal employees into new roles stripped of due process protections, effectively making them fireable at will. Such measures threaten to politicize the civil service, undermining its foundational principle of impartiality and expertise. Moreover, Mr. Vought supports policies that endanger democratic norms and civil liberties. He has endorsed the use of the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces domestically, including to suppress civil society protests. His views on using the military to target demonstrations, as he argued following the protests after George Floyd’s murder in 2020, are particularly alarming. Additionally, he has worked to create new justifications for military action at the southern border, framing migration as an "invasion." These positions are not only extreme but also undermine the rights and freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. The role of the OMB requires a leader who prioritizes fairness, impartiality, and respect for democratic governance. Mr. Vought’s track record suggests that his leadership would erode trust in federal institutions, jeopardize the independence of the civil service, and harm vulnerable communities. I urge you to vote against Russell Vought’s nomination and advocate for a nominee who will uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and nonpartisanship. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to hearing your stance on this nomination.