Russell Vought, President Trump’s top budget official and a leading figure behind the controversial Project 2025 agenda, is set to succeed Elon Musk as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the billionaire tech mogul is stepping down from his government role, making way for Vought, who has already been quietly shaping many of DOGE’s policies from behind the scenes.This transition marks a significant shift in how the federal government is managed under Trump’s second term. Musk, who has overseen the department since January 2025, was tasked with executing deep budget cuts and rolling back federal regulations. His approach drew praise from fiscal conservatives but also sparked mass protests and agency shutdowns. Now, Vought, already director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), will assume full responsibility for pushing those reforms further.According to WSJ, Vought intends to cement Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting legacy, with plans to reclassify federal employees, advance sweeping deregulation efforts, and push Congress to approve President Trump’s \$9.3 billion rescissions package. This package targets agencies like the State Department, USAID, NPR, and PBS institutions long criticised by Trump and his allies.A staunch advocate of shrinking government, Vought is expected to revive and expand Schedule F, an executive order allowing the president to strip job protections from thousands of federal workers. Trump originally signed the order during his first term, only to see it blocked by the Biden administration. The policy was reinstated in February and is now central to Vought’s playbook for overhauling the federal workforce.However, Vought’s rise has alarmed both Democrats and elements within the GOP. His authorship of Project 2025, a right-wing policy manifesto seen as a blueprint for dismantling key federal agencies has made him a divisive figure. The document calls for the abolition of the Department of Homeland Security, cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and massive reductions in federal spending. Trump attempted to distance himself from the document during the 2024 campaign, but his continued reliance on Vought suggests alignment with its core tenets.Vought’s approach to military spending has sparked friction even within Republican ranks. He has insisted that any increases come only through the reconciliation process rather than the annual budget, effectively capping defence funding at its current level of $892.6 billion. As WSJ noted, this has put him at odds with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and congressional Republicans who were counting on larger increases.While the Pentagon maintains that military funding will still rise, the lack of clarity has raised concerns among lawmakers. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi went so far as to accuse Vought’s team of “doing silly math” in their budget proposals. Still, with Trump’s backing, Vought is poised to become one of the most powerful unelected figures in Washington.
Who is Russell Vought?
- Served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget under both Trump terms.
- Co-author of Project 2025, which proposes slashing federal programs and restructuring entire departments.
- Believes in limiting government growth and is a vocal critic of regulatory “bloat”.
- Known for pushing budget reconciliation to manage spending increases, particularly in defence.
- Architect of Schedule F, aimed at replacing long-term federal employees with politically loyal staff.
- Will take over DOGE operations following Elon Musk’s exit, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
