Democrats on Wednesday pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director nominee Russell Vought on President Donald Trump's "illegal" executive orders pausing certain funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

"Look, as I said to you at our meeting, Members of Congress — on both sides — must know a deal is a deal," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said to Vought during the hearing on Vought's nomination.

"A deal is a deal when we reach a bipartisan agreement on major legislation. Agreements cannot happen, and Congress cannot function without that level of trust. And 'impound baby impound' is not the answer I am looking for."

Murray then again asked Vought: "Will you, if confirmed as Director, faithfully follow the law, the Impoundment Control Act, yes or no?"

Vought responded: "We will faithfully uphold the law. The president ran on the notion that the impoundment control act is unconstitutional. I agree with that. In response to both questions, I would say with the president has unveiled are not impoundments."

Impoundment law is meant to block presidents from withholding money Congress has previously passed through the Congressional appropriations process.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., the Budget Committee's top Democrat, told Vought he was "deeply disturbed" with his answers.

"Congress makes the law, not the president," said Merkley. "The fact that you continue to advocate for this impoundment strategy, that is completely in violation of our Constitution."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a press release said he could only think "of very few people that would have a more direct and debilitating impact on the lives of American families than Russell Vought. His record was troubling before I met with him, and he did nothing to dispel my deep concerns. In fact, when I asked him what part of Project 2025 he would disagree with, he couldn't point to one."

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