Democrats Attempt To Weaponize Funding Freeze To Halt Trump Nominee Russell Vought’s Hearing

Democrats tried to use the Trump administration’s freezing of certain federal funding to push Republicans to halt a Thursday confirmation vote for Russell Vought, the president’s pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

This move came after the Trump administration issued a memo Monday freezing large amounts of government spending. The memo directed federal agencies to pause financial assistance while a review is conducted to ensure spending is in line with the administration’s objectives. A federal judge issued an injunction against the freeze Tuesday.

Spectrum News has obtained a copy of the memo released last night that explains President Trump is pausing most federal loans and grants beginning at 5pm ET.

It was sent by Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Matthew Vaeth.

Could impact trillions of dollars. pic.twitter.com/kVRdBjo0r3

— Taylor Popielarz (@TaylorPopielarz) January 28, 2025

Senate Democrats said the memo infringed upon congressional funding authority, according to The Hill. They insisted that Senate Republicans contain Vought in the committee stage until Trump reverses the attempt to freeze federal funding.

“Trump’s actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities everywhere. This is funding that communities are expecting, and this memo is creating chaos and confusion,” said Democratic Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat posted to the Appropriations Committee.

She called on Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham to block the confirmation. “Republicans should not advance that nomination out of committee until the Trump administration follows the law,” Murray added.

“In an instant, Donald Trump has shut off billions, perhaps trillions of dollars that directly support states, cities, towns, schools, hospitals, small businesses and most of all American families,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, comparing the move to the Jan. 6 pardons and labelling it “lawless” and “cruel.”

Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James will file a lawsuit in New York’s Southern District against the move, Schumer added. (RELATED: Letitia James Vows To Continue Lawfare Against Trump)

The memo indicates Social Security and Medicare benefits should not be impacted. Assistance provided directly to individuals, such as those who benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also should not be affected.

President Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was asked about the measure in a press briefing Tuesday.

🚨 Press secretary Karoline Leavitt just had her first mainstream media takedown just 10 minutes into the first WH press briefing.

LEAVITT: [Temporary funding freeze] is a responsible measure. Biden’s administration spent money like a drunken sailor.

REPORTER: Why impose the… pic.twitter.com/GarHO6cNll

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 28, 2025

“The past four years, we’ve seen the Biden administration, spend money like drunken sailors. It’s a big reason we’ve had an inflation crisis in this country, and it’s incumbent upon this administration to make sure again that every penny is being accounted for honestly,” she told the press.

“There’s also a freeze on hiring, as you know, a regulatory freeze, and there’s also a freeze on foreign aid. And this is again, incredibly important to ensure that this administration is taking into consideration how hard the American people are working, and their tax dollars actually matter to this administration,” Leavitt added.

She also claimed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) discovered mass amounts of waste in government spending already.

“You know, just during this pause, DOGE and OMB have actually found that there was $37 million that was about to go out the door to the World Health Organization (WHO),” Leavitt said. Trump withdrew from the WHO on Jan. 20 via an executive order.

“DOGE also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza,” Leavitt continued.

The goal of DOGE is to “dismantle” federal bureaucracy, cut excess regulations and wasteful expenses and make federal agencies more efficient, Trump said in a statement in November.