WASHINGTON — Democrats as well as Maine’s Angus King held the Senate floor overnight Wednesday and into Thursday to protest the nomination of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
Cloture was invoked Wednesday afternoon on a 53-47 party-line vote, limiting debate on the Vought nomination to 30 hours. Democrats scheduled speakers to keep the floor occupied through the night. If all the time is used, Vought will likely be confirmed around 7 p.m. Thursday.
The argument from Democrats on the Senate floor revolved around billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s budget-slashing government efficiency effort. His work reached a climax earlier this week, when the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development was closed after Musk said that Trump allowed him to effectively shutter the agency.
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Both King and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have criticized Musk for overstepping the law in his new role. Collins told the Portland Press Herald on Wednesday that she will support Vought, calling him qualified after serving in the same role during the last administration.
King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, held the floor on Thursday afternoon, saying it was the right of Republicans to confirm Vought but that Musk’s role amounted to “shredding the constitutional structure” by interfering with congressionally approved programs.
“Shouldn’t this be an easy red line?” he said.
During the daytime debate Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, highlighted Vought’s qualifications — including having held the same role during Trump’s first term.
“Identifying ways to rein in our spending and to target government waste has to be a priority,” Thune said. “And I’m confident that Mr. Vought will help lead that charge.”
Story by Niels Lesniewski of CQ-Roll Call. BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.