Trump's budget director nominee gets pushback from Sen. Luján

President Donald Trump’s pick for the Office of Management and Budget director was condemned Thursday by Democratic Senate leadership, whereas his Interior and Energy secretary nominees got approval recommendations from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee.

Trump’s OMB director nominee, Project 2025 coauthor Russell Vought, garnered pushback from Democrats on the Senate Appropriations and Budget committees, including Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.

“Just make no mistake about all of my brothers and sisters who have claimed that Project 2025 didn’t exist ... because Mr. Vought is proof that it exists, and now he’s being nominated as the head person to put these budgets together,” Luján said during a news conference with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Project 2025 is a policy agenda created by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which includes recommendations like eliminating Head Start. The Office of Management and Budget administers the federal budget and oversees federal agencies’ performance. In his Senate confirmation hearing testimony, Vought said he believes the law that gives Congress authority to dictate federal spending is unconstitutional.

Fossil fuel executive Chris Wright and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum got approval recommendations from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, moving the Energy and Interior secretary nominees to a full Senate vote.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., disagrees with Wright on some issues but said in a statement that Wright has committed to upholding the law and working with Congress “to continue investing in our national labs in New Mexico and across the country, accelerating transmission infrastructure to meet our nation’s skyrocketing demand for clean power.” The committee voted 15-5 to recommend Wright.

Heinrich also disagrees with Burgum on some issues but voted for confirmation “because I have found that a healthy relationship with the Secretary of Interior is critical to securing the best outcomes for the State of New Mexico,” he said in a statement. The committee voted 18-2 to recommend Burgum.

The Interior Department maintains national parks and monuments, manages public lands and oversees many tribal programs. Former New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland served as Interior secretary under President Joe Biden, making history as the first Native American Cabinet secretary.

The Energy Department oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal, cleanup of nuclear waste and U.S. energy supply. It is also in charge of the 17 national laboratories, including Sandia and Los Alamos.