Dems drill into Russell Vought over DOGE cuts, accuse Trump admin of killing thousands

During a heated Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., accused Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children due to budget cuts overseen by the Trump administration. The proposed budget cuts, known as a rescissions package, have drawn criticism from both Democratic and Republican senators.

Vought faced intense questioning from committee members over the administration’s proposed cuts to foreign aid programs, including USAID and PEPFAR. Democratic senators, as well as some Republicans, expressed frustration with the administration’s budget priorities. The hearing was briefly interrupted by protesters, although the reason for their objections was unclear.

Merkley cited a Boston University School of Public Health study that claimed 246,000 children have died as a result of the cuts to foreign aid programs. He accused Vought of being responsible for the deaths of these children and called the administration’s actions “irresponsible.”

Vought defended the administration’s budget decisions, stating that every administration has the authority to review and make changes to spending priorities. However, Merkley dismissed Vought’s response as “ignorant and callous,” insisting that the administration’s cuts had led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., also challenged Vought on the administration’s budget cuts, accusing the administration of trying to circumvent Congress to make cuts that undermine American interests abroad. She pressed Vought for specific details on which programs would be affected by the cuts, but Vought did not provide a clear answer.

Republican senators, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also voiced concerns about the administration’s proposed cuts to foreign aid. Murkowski raised the issue of cuts to public broadcasting, which she said plays a crucial role in emergency services in her state. McConnell emphasized the importance of foreign aid in projecting American soft power and preserving American influence.

Vought defended the administration’s budget priorities, arguing that foreign aid programs may hide activities that are not in line with American interests. He stressed the need for fiscal responsibility and urged the Senate to support the administration’s efforts to put the American taxpayer first.

In conclusion, the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing highlighted the contentious debate over the administration’s budget cuts and their impact on foreign aid programs. Democratic and Republican senators alike expressed concerns about the consequences of the proposed cuts, with some accusing the administration of endangering lives through its budget decisions. The hearing underscored the challenges of balancing fiscal responsibility with humanitarian considerations in the allocation of federal funds.