House Dem Gets In Heated Battle With Trump Official Over Following the Law: 'The Answer to that is No'

Source: MEDIAite

Jun 30th, 2026, 3:44 pm


Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro had terse words for White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on Tuesday as the pair sparred over the Trump administration’s cuts to grant approvals and foreign aid. DeLauro also accused Vought and OMB of ignoring constitutional powers held by Congress.

Vought was brought before Congress to discuss Trump’s proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which includes a 40% increase in defense funding—and a 10% cut in non-defense spending.

The proposed budget will also “subject virtually all federal funding to the whims of the President’s policy priorities,” DeLauro told Vought before she requested a 45-day extension of the comment period, the time in which the public and/or interested and impacted organizations can review the lengthy document. “No, but I will say this,” Vought answered. “The number of comments that is that are coming in that we have to respond to is going to take us some time. The answer is no.”

DeLauro moved on. “I think one of the striking aspects of the proposal is attempts to put the OMB director at the center of all decision-making here,” she continued. “And why are you a better judge of an NIH clinical trial than a panel of medical doctors and researchers? How will you ensure the grants will be based on merit and individuals and communities served by the federal grants will receive the highest level of service possible?”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/rep-delauro-battles-omb-director-federal-grant-approvals/