Vought Launches Federal Workforce Cuts, Sparking Congressional Backlash

uss Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced on Friday that his office has begun issuing Reduction in Force notices to an unspecified number of furloughed federal workers. According to AOL reports, this move marks the Trump administration's start to axing positions amid ongoing efforts to shrink government operations. In related developments, Vought announced the dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a key federal climate center. AOL noted reactions from figures like historian Larry Schweikart, who praised the decision as a step forward. Congress pushed back strongly. Balanced Weather reports that the House Rules Committee released a draft explanatory statement for the fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science budget on Monday. This document rejects the administration's plan to eliminate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic Research and directs the National Science Foundation to maintain all facilities, limiting any directorate funding cuts to no more than five percent below fiscal year 2024 levels. It also requires agencies to seek congressional approval for any deviations, aiming to curb OMB's influence over spending. Legal battles continue. A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals order filed January fifth denied the government's mandamus petition in a case challenging Executive Order 14210, which directs large-scale federal reductions in force. The ruling, involving Vought and other officials, upheld a district court's push for agency reorganization plans amid disputes over deliberative process privileges and separation of powers. Additionally, Vought is set to attend a closed-door Senate Republican lunch on Tuesday to discuss proposed rescissions, including cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and foreign aid, as LAist reports. The administration eyes more packages soon, tying into broader Department of Government Efficiency goals. These actions highlight Vought's central role in reshaping federal spending and structure. Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out Quiet Please dot ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.