Senate Committee Moves Forward with Trump’s DHS Nominee Kristi Noem and OMB Nominee Russ Vought
The nominees for the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget, selected by President Donald Trump, are now set to proceed for a complete Senate confirmation vote.
On January 20, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to advance two cabinet-level nominees of President Donald Trump: Kristi Noem for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary and Russ Vought for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director.
Noem’s nomination was approved by a 13-2 margin.
Vought’s nomination was moved forward by a narrow 8-7 vote.
Both nominees underwent questioning during their appearance before the Republican-led Senate committee last week.
Following the committee’s favorable votes, Noem and Vought’s nominations will now head to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Noem Key to Trump’s Border Strategy
Noem’s rapid confirmation as DHS secretary could be crucial in pushing forward Trump’s border security objectives, which were a significant aspect of his first term and remain a priority as he resumes his role at the White House.
During her confirmation hearing on January 17, Noem emphasized that an initial focus would be on the removal of illegal immigrants with criminal records from the United States. She stated that approximately 425,000 illegal immigrants should be deported without delay.
Related Stories
Noem mentioned that discussions with Trump have included the potential reinstatement of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) from his first administration. The MPP, commonly known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, mandated that migrants claiming asylum wait in Mexico or a third-party country while their applications were processed.
In its first public statement since Trump returned, the White House unveiled administration priorities, which encompass new border security initiatives. It also indicated plans to mobilize U.S. troops to support these efforts.
Additional plans include designating transnational cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and utilizing the Alien Enemies Act to commence the removal of cartel members from the United States.
Vought Moves Forward on Tight Vote
If confirmed by the Senate, Vought would take on a role he previously held during Trump’s first term.
The OMB director’s position plays a vital part in coordinating executive branch agencies to align their objectives with the president’s economic and political strategies. Vought served in this capacity during the last two years of Trump’s initial term.
In last week’s confirmation hearing, Senate Democrats questioned whether Vought would withhold funding that Congress has allocated for specific programs.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who is the committee’s ranking member, referenced a 2020 Government Accountability Office report stating that Vought violated the 1974 Impoundment Control Act by pausing foreign aid to Ukraine in 2019. This delay in aid formed a key aspect of Trump’s first impeachment case.
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Office of Management and Budget Director, Russel Vought, testifies before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
Vought defended the actions taken by the OMB during the 2019 delay in related assistance to Ukraine.
“We were engaged in a policy process concerning how funding would be allocated to Ukraine,” Vought stated. “We released the funds by the end of the fiscal year.”
Meanwhile, Trump has appointed Matthew Vaeth to be the acting OMB director while awaiting Vought’s Senate confirmation.
