Russell Vought, the Office of Management and Budget director was under fire during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, June 25, 2025. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) took the opportunity to interrogate Vought, scrutinizing the Trump administration’s consequential cuts to the federal workforce.
Throughout the hearing, Ossoff persistently attempted to corner Vought, a central planner behind Project 2025. The issue at hand was the plan constructed under the Trump administration to minimize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) workforce by approximately 25%, and to shrink its 2026 fiscal year budget by nearly 50%.
In response to a barrage of questions regarding the drastic budget cuts, Vought deftly sidestepped the issue, blaming the Biden administration’s call for ‘reform.’ ‘Senator, the Biden administration suggested reform’, Vought stated, interrupting Ossoff’s tirade: ‘Don’t delve into the actions of the Biden administration. You are representing the Trump administration here.’
It was clear that Vought was attempting to defend the administration’s appeal to slash $9.4 billion from global health, foreign aid programs, and public broadcasting. This reduction sought to solidify the cuts suggested formerly by the Department of Government Efficiency, a department previously under the stewardship of technology magnate Elon Musk.
Ossoff concentrated his line of questioning on what he labeled as ‘errors’ in the CDC management, including rehiring employees earlier this month who had previously been laid off. ‘Have you made a first-hand visit to the CDC, Mr. Vought?’ Ossoff queried.
‘I have not,’ Vought confessed. Ossoff seized the opportunity to paint the CDC as an essential organization, ‘It is a foremost public health and epidemiology agency at a national and global level’. Vought reiterated that the Biden administration had already recognized a need for reform, quickly deflecting Ossoff’s queries concerning the shrinking workforce and diluted budget.
Post-COVID, the Biden administration turned its focus to several initiatives to restructure and modernize the CDC’s existing data systems, a misguided move in Vought’s books. ‘Senator, are you implying the CDC was commendable in handling the previous pandemic?’ Vought retorted.
Ossoff, thrown off balance, shot back, asking if Vought had initiated the termination of a quarter of the CDC workforce. Vought revealed that he couldn’t provide a definitive answer as he lacked the pertinent ‘facts’, suggesting the future CDC director, Susan Monarez, might be a better source for such data.
Ossoff seemed relentless in pursuing an answer from Vought, continuously urging him to ‘Answer the question.’ And answer he did. ‘They failed to adequately respond to the last pandemic,’ Vought sternly stated, affirming the resolution to ‘reduce the CDC’s size and scope’.
Ossoff advised Vought to familiarize himself with the workings of the agency by visiting the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, admonishing that Vought was ‘wrecking this institution,’ to which Vought nonchalantly responded, ‘I’d be happy to.’
Ossoff aggressively pointed out the potential damage caused by Vought and his directives, alleging that he had ‘fired or tried to fire nearly a quarter of the CDC workforce.’ He further held Vought accountable for the drastic FY26 budget request that ‘would slash the CDC budget by over 50%.’
Despite acknowledging past performance issues, Ossoff argued for the fundamental role of the CDC in public health and epidemiological defense in the United States, hinting at a discordance with the Biden administration’s weak reform efforts.
Ossoff tormented Vought with accusations of burdensome performance pressures leading to a ‘demoralizing,’ ‘dismantling’ effect on the capability, and livelihood of his constituents. Gratefully noting Vought’s commitment to visit the CDC in Georgia, he expressed hope for potential changes in policy.
‘You have, without a doubt, injured the morale and capabilities of the CDC, in turn impacting the lives of those residing in my jurisdiction,’ Ossoff continued, recognizing Vought’s agreement to examine the CDC’s operations in Georgia up-close.