{"id":2402551,"date":"2025-02-14T06:28:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T11:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/freedom-caucus-gets-white-house-bully-pulpit-with-russ-vought-appointment-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-14T06:28:43","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T11:28:43","slug":"freedom-caucus-gets-white-house-bully-pulpit-with-russ-vought-appointment-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/freedom-caucus-gets-white-house-bully-pulpit-with-russ-vought-appointment-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Freedom Caucus gets White House bully pulpit with Russ Vought appointment &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffreedom-caucus-gets-white-house-bully-pulpit-with-russ-vought-appointment-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2402551&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The\u200c article discusses the recent appointment of Russ Vought as the White House budget\u200b director, signaling \u200ban \u2064expansion\u2062 of the Freedom Caucus&#8217;s influence\u2062 beyond Congress. Vought, known for his conservative stance and strong ties to the Freedom \u2063Caucus, has\u200c a history\u200d of challenging House\u200c leadership. His role at the\u200c White House allows the Caucus to exert pressure on Speaker Mike Johnson and \u200binfluence policy decisions. Vought&#8217;s confirmatory position not only aligns him with the caucus but also brings in former member Dan Bishop as his deputy, strengthening their collective agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Vought has been actively involved in advising the Freedom Caucus on budget negotiations, advocating for\u2063 important cuts, and urging speedy \u2062action on border\u200c funding. Despite potential conflicts between the Caucus&#8217;s conservative demands\u2063 and President Trump&#8217;s\u2064 generally flexible\u2063 approach \u200btowards spending, Vought&#8217;s past experience in Congress equips him to navigate the complex dynamics of budget \u200ddiscussions.<\/p>\n<p>His return to \u200dthe White House reflects a shift in \u2064power dynamics within the Republican Party, especially\u200d following Trump&#8217;s political \u2064resurgence. Vought\u2063 and the Freedom Caucus\u200d are poised to \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thousands-of-africans-flying-to-central-america-before-crossing-illegally-into-united-states\/\" title=\"Many Africans fly to Central America before illegally crossing into the United States\">play pivotal roles<\/a>\u200c in shaping \u200clegislative priorities amid the ongoing negotiations on spending and governmental funding.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Freedom Caucus gets White House bully pulpit with Russ Vought appointment<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1993543\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/freedom-caucus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Freedom Caucus&rsquo;s<\/a> power is expanding beyond the halls of Congress with the appointment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russell-vought\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Russ Vought<\/a> as White House budget director.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Vought, a conservative whose brass-knuckled approach to politics naturally aligns him with the Freedom Caucus, has spent years antagonizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">House leadership<\/a> from the outside.<\/p>\n<p>As a think tank wonk, he helped the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">hard-liners exercise unheard-<\/a>of influence under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, fostering a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/us-policy\/2023\/02\/19\/russ-vought-republican-debt-ceiling-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">rebellion<\/a> that won them policy concessions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-mccarthy-negotiations-gop-landed-on-most-significant-win-for-conservatives-in-a-decade\/\" title=\"In McCarthy Negotiations, GOP Landed On \u2018Most Significant Win For Conservatives In A Decade\u2019\">plum committee assignments<\/a>. Nine months later, he <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\/status\/1708150931424989253\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">egged on<\/a> McCarthy&rsquo;s historic ouster.<\/p>\n<p>Vought has stayed involved in House politics as the Freedom Caucus pushes for steep cuts under new leadership, counseling members on how to negotiate with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Many of us have open communication with him, and we certainly respect the wisdom and insight that he has to offer,&rdquo; Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said of Vought. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a fantastic ally.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But Vought&rsquo;s confirmation has also given them a de facto outpost in the White House. Not only is Vought aligned with the caucus, but his right hand will be a former Freedom Caucus member: Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113631080729035683\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">tapped<\/a> ex-Rep. Dan Bishop to serve as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.<\/p>\n<p>Vought has a needle to thread as he carries out Trump&rsquo;s priorities. He will sometimes be in conflict with the Freedom Caucus given the president&rsquo;s ideological flexibility on spending.<\/p>\n<p>In December, Trump demanded a no-strings-attached hike in the federal debt ceiling, only to be rebuffed by House conservatives.<\/p>\n<p>But Vought also has a unique opportunity to use his newfound perch to steer House policy, applying pressure on Johnson as one of Trump&rsquo;s most senior officials.<\/p>\n<p>Within days of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3307527\/senate-confirms-russ-vought-omb-trump-white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">confirmation<\/a> last week, Vought attended a Senate GOP lunch in which he urged lawmakers to move quickly on border funding as Johnson ties that money up in a difficult-to-negotiate tax bill.<\/p>\n<p>He has not outright said he opposes Johnson&rsquo;s approach, but the plea was viewed as tacit alignment with the Freedom Caucus, which released a border-first budget resolution this week.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He supports getting the money now,&rdquo; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the Senate Budget Committee chairman, said of Vought. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think he cares how we do it, but he said I need it yesterday.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Graham advanced his own resolution this week providing $175 billion in border security funding.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; Acting OMB Director Russel Vought speaks during a press briefing at the White House, March 11, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/ Evan Vucci, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Vought&rsquo;s return to the White House &mdash; he also served as budget director in Trump&rsquo;s first term &mdash; reflects a seismic shift in power for the new Right. Emboldened by Elon Musk&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3319050\/trump-shares-spotlight-second-term\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">cost-cutting department<\/a>, Vought has embarked on a scorched-earth campaign to slash the size of the federal government.<\/p>\n<p>In one of his first acts, Vought <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3315317\/vought-closing-cfpb-building-for-a-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">shut down<\/a> the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau&rsquo;s operations, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\/status\/1888625239703110013\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">declaring<\/a> the regulator a &ldquo;woke &amp; weaponized agency against disfavored industries and individuals.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump named Vought acting director of the agency one day after he was confirmed by the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>The step reflects Vought&rsquo;s willingness to challenge congressional authority. He was a controversial nominee in part for his desire to &ldquo;impound,&rdquo; or leave unspent, money that lawmakers had appropriated.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Democrats delivered a parade of floor speeches the night before his confirmation to denounce him as &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.murray.senate.gov\/senator-murray-joins-colleagues-in-holding-senate-floor-all-night-to-send-stark-warning-against-confirming-russ-vought-to-lead-omb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">lawless<\/a>&rdquo; and extreme.<\/p>\n<p>But Vought also has a deep understanding of how to work within the confines of Congress, where he served as a staffer for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govexec.com\/management\/2017\/04\/omb-staffs-trump-team-preps-agencies-budget-cuts\/136887\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">more than a decade<\/a>. He was at one point executive director of the Republican Study Committee, a forerunner of the Freedom Caucus (formed in 2015).<\/p>\n<p>Later, he served as Vice President Mike Pence&rsquo;s policy director when he was a member of House leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The Freedom Caucus is relying on that experience as it games out how to handle reconciliation, the legislative process that Congress will use to pass Trump&rsquo;s agenda. Its members <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/02\/13\/congress\/house-gop-budget-markup-00204041\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">essentially forced<\/a> Johnson to accept $2 trillion in spending cuts ahead of a House Budget Committee markup on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Russ Vought is one of the biggest treasures of any of the nominations. He is a class above,&rdquo; said Ralph Norman (R-SC).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He knows the numbers back and forward. He&rsquo;s straight up,&rdquo; added Norman. &ldquo;People who have the, I guess, base knowledge, plus know the political side &mdash; he&rsquo;s invaluable. We couldn&rsquo;t do it without him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vought has a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\/status\/1717174983443570832\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">long-standing relationship<\/a> with Johnson, too. Both are devout Christians who came up through the conservative movement, Johnson as a religious freedom litigator and Vought as a think tank intellectual.<\/p>\n<p>But Vought began to sour on Johnson with the rest of his Freedom Caucus colleagues soon after his surprise ascension to the speakership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As Johnson cut deals to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\/status\/1780058679967965363\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">fund the war in Ukraine<\/a> or extend a controversial surveillance program, Vought warned that he <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/russvought\/status\/1780590253025132591\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">deserved<\/a> a brewing ouster attempt that Trump helped tamp down last year.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), one of Vought&rsquo;s closest Freedom Caucus allies, downplayed the tensions between the two men.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I mean, I think Russ and Mike get along well, they&rsquo;ve known each other a long time,&rdquo; Roy said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There are always points where we may disagree,&rdquo; added Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA), another Freedom Caucus member. &ldquo;But we work through them because we are all on the same side of greater fiscal responsibility and accountability in government.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Vought did not respond to an interview request.<\/p>\n<p>Vought continues to advise&nbsp;the caucus on what one member called House &ldquo;strategery.&rdquo; That includes the standoff over reconciliation but also a looming March 14 deadline to fund the government.<\/p>\n<p>He has discussed with members areas for budget cuts and how to reach a compromise that can get 218 votes, a bare majority, in the House.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have a pretty close relationship with him, obviously, from the first term, when he was in the first Trump administration,&rdquo; said Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), the Freedom Caucus chairman. &ldquo;So, yeah. I mean, we do contact him about some of these things. I mean, it would be only natural.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vought&rsquo;s guidance is relatively informal and does not represent coordination with the entire caucus, according to conversations with 10 members.<\/p>\n<p>But the Freedom Caucus sees his ascension to the White House as a sign of its growing stature within the party. That influence grew when Republicans assumed a wafer-thin House majority in 2022 and has only been cemented by Trump&rsquo;s political comeback.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t treat any policy discussion as an informal call,&rdquo; said Boebert, the Freedom Caucus&rsquo;s communications chairwoman. &ldquo;Every conversation that we have is formal and serious, and we are working on the best path forward to make sure that we take action and deliver.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, Vought will be tasked with carrying out Trump&rsquo;s agenda, meaning he may get overruled in budget talks. The president has shown an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/31\/congress\/trump-love-and-cherish-medicaid-00201893\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">aversion to deep cuts<\/a> to entitlement programs, like the Medicaid changes the Freedom Caucus is demanding.<\/p>\n<p>But Trump also has little interest in the nitty-gritty of how bills are passed, giving Vought some latitude to steer the agenda.<\/p>\n<p>He is joined by Stephen Miller, Trump&rsquo;s domestic policy adviser, and Tom Homan, his immigration czar, in the push for fast border money.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our message today is speed. Our message today is action,&rdquo; Vought <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/video\/6368668362112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> Fox News&rsquo;s Larry Kudlow on Tuesday after he met with Senate Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our hope is that they move forward and that we get to the point where we can actually vote on bills, vote on the president&rsquo;s proposals,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;And get to the point where he can sign into law his agenda as soon as possible.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1993543\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1993543\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Freedom Caucus gains influence with Russ Vought as budget director<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2402552,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/russ-vought-white-house-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32976,45550,32127],"class_list":["post-2402551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-freedom-caucus","tag-russ-vought","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/russ-vought-white-house-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2402551"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2402555,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402551\/revisions\/2402555"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2402552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2402551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2402551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2402551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}