1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

Russell Vought should not be confirmed as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. As Acting Director and Director from 2019-2021, Vought was a central figure in attempting to dismantle the merit-based civil service system through the proposed "Schedule F" executive order. This order would reclassify thousands of career civil servants as "at will" employees, making it easier to fire them and replace them with political appointees. Dismantling the non-partisan civil service in favor of political loyalists would jeopardize government functions, invite corruption, and undermine faith in public institutions. Furthermore, Vought has openly vilified career civil servants, stating he wants to put them "in trauma" and have them not want to go to work due to being "viewed as the villains." He has called for "an army of investigators" to prosecute officials who held the previous administration accountable. This disturbing rhetoric demonstrates Vought cannot be trusted to lead an agency overseeing the federal workforce. Vought also supports subverting congressional oversight by allowing presidents to withhold appropriated funds in violation of the Impoundment Control Act. He backs circumventing Senate advice and consent through recess appointments. Alarmingly, he even endorses using emergency powers to deploy the military against the public. Confirming Vought risks institutionalizing unqualified partisan hires, violating checks and balances, and undermining core democratic principles of an independent civil service and civilian control of the military. Prioritizing loyalty over expertise would degrade government competence and integrity. For the sake of preserving ethical, professional governance, Vought must not be confirmed as OMB Director.