significant leadership shift is underway at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as White House Budget Director Russell Vought is anticipated to take over operational duties following the expected departure of Elon Musk. This move reflects a broader restructuring of federal priorities as the administration prepares to implement sweeping budget and efficiency reforms.
Vought, who currently leads the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is expected to play a central role in coordinating federal spending reductions, overseeing regulatory changes, and reshaping government employment classifications. These responsibilities align with ongoing directives to streamline government operations and increase fiscal accountability.
A New Phase for DOGE
Vought has worked closely with DOGE since its inception, supporting efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline the federal workforce. One of his primary tasks will be overseeing compliance with a recent executive order aimed at reversing what are described as “unlawful or burdensome” federal regulations. This initiative follows an earlier campaign by the administration to simplify federal rulemaking, with the stated goal of removing unnecessary or outdated policies.
Additionally, DOGE is expected to take a lead role in reviewing and potentially reclassifying thousands of federal employees under a workforce reform policy known as Schedule F. Originally issued during a previous administration, Schedule F allows for the reclassification of certain policy-making positions, making them more flexible and less insulated by traditional federal employment protections. The policy had been suspended in the interim but was reactivated earlier this year.
Budget Reforms and Fiscal Strategy
As director of the OMB, Vought is also tasked with advancing the administration’s 2025 budget proposal, which includes major spending revisions. One of the core elements of the plan is a proposed $9.3 billion rescissions package. This initiative seeks to reclaim unspent federal funds from various agencies, including the State Department, USAID, and publicly funded media organizations.
According to sources familiar with the plan, the budget aims to reduce non-defense discretionary spending by approximately $163 billion, while simultaneously making room for up to $120 billion in additions through the legislative reconciliation process. This approach is designed to fast-track budget changes without requiring a full 60-vote majority in the Senate, thus enabling the administration to enact its fiscal strategy more efficiently.
Tension Over Defense Spending
Not all elements of the proposed budget have been met with enthusiasm, even within the administration’s own ranks. Vought’s approach to limiting year-over-year increases in military spending—preferring instead to channel such increases through the reconciliation process—has sparked concern among some lawmakers and defense officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly indicated earlier in the year that military funding would rise in the upcoming budget, a statement that appears to conflict with the current budget proposal’s framework. As a result, several members of Congress are concerned that relying solely on one-time reconciliation increases could create long-term uncertainty for defense funding.
These concerns are amplified by ongoing negotiations around the principle of “spending parity,” a budgeting concept in which increases in defense spending are matched with proportional increases in domestic program funding. Vought has publicly stated his opposition to this approach, favoring a more restrained and targeted budget that prioritizes national defense within a limited fiscal envelope.
