1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

We urge you to oppose the nomination of Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As the OMB director during the previous administration, Vought was a key architect of "Schedule F," a plan to dismantle the nonpartisan, performance-based federal civil service by allowing any president to purge agencies of experts and fill them with partisan loyalists. This policy poses a grave threat to our constitutional principles and undermines the ability of federal employees to serve the public interest without fear of retaliation for their beliefs or whistleblowing. Moreover, Vought has expressed alarming views that are antithetical to democratic norms, such as claiming "we are living in a post-Constitutional time" and supporting the president's ability to deploy military force against protesters. His hostility toward civil servants, including advocating for targeting their jobs and salaries, is disqualifying for someone seeking to lead OMB. Vought's record demonstrates a disregard for the rule of law, checks and balances, and the vital role of an apolitical civil service in upholding our democracy. Confirming him as OMB director would enable the further erosion of democratic safeguards and the independence of the federal workforce. We strongly urge you to reject this nomination to protect our constitutional system of government.