Overview
- Members of the House Appropriations subcommittee, including Republicans and Democrats, challenged Vought over the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers and the freezing of congressionally approved grants.
- Vought rejected accusations of unconstitutional impoundment under the Impoundment Control Act, arguing the administration is using legal pauses to curb waste and realign spending.
- Lawmakers pressed for a complete FY2026 budget after the White House released only a “skinny” budget document, warning that gaps could delay the appropriations process.
- Despite proposing steep cuts to numerous federal programs, Vought defended his request for a 13% increase in funding and staffing for the Office of Management and Budget.
- He faced scrutiny over leadership changes at the Department of Government Efficiency and defended proposed reductions to foreign aid programs, including PEPFAR.