ProPublica investigation revealed that Trump’s budget director Russell Vought controls federal funding and employment decisions to systematically dismantle agencies and purge staff deemed insufficiently loyal. Vought, a self-described Christian nationalist, wields unchecked power over the …
Russell VoughtDonald TrumpElon MuskOMBcorruptioninstitutional-capturepower-consolidationauthoritarianismunelected-influence
Budget chief Russell Vought is systematically using government shutdown authority to cancel contracts, freeze billions in congressionally approved funds, and secretly withhold ‘$5 billion in foreign aid through pocket rescissions,’ completely bypassing Congressional oversight. This …
Russell VoughtOffice of Management and BudgetCongressinstitutional-captureexecutive-overreachconstitutional-crisiscongressional-authority-subversion
ProPublica exposed Russell Vought, Trump’s OMB director and Project 2025 architect, as operating as a ‘shadow president’ or ‘second commander-in-chief’ orchestrating the systematic dismantling of federal agencies and expansion of presidential power. Vought led Project …
Russell VoughtDonald TrumpOMBProject 2025institutional-captureauthoritarianismproject-2025executive-powergovernment-dismantling
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint revealing that the Office of Management and Budget under Russell Vought is hiding conditions for billions in federal funds through undisclosed ‘A’ footnotes in apportionment documents. Between March 21 and …
Russell VoughtOMBCREWinstitutional-capturetransparency-violationcongressional-oversightbudget-manipulationimpoundment
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought inserted political conditions into over 100 budget accounts, blocking billions in congressionally appropriated funds from being spent according to legislative intent. Vought’s OMB added requirements such as ideological loyalty tests, …
Russell VoughtOffice of Management and BudgetTrumpCongressexecutive-overreachconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powerscongressional-authoritybudget-manipulation
OMB Director Russell Vought blocked billions in congressionally-approved public funding, including over $5 billion in SNAP benefits for hungry families, claiming unilateral power to withhold spending despite the Impoundment Control Act prohibiting such actions. Vought confirmed considering …
Russell VoughtOffice of Management and BudgetDonald Trumpinstitutional-capturesystematic-corruptionconstitutional-crisis
Cara Petersen, acting enforcement director of the CFPB, resigned after criticizing the Trump administration’s systematic dismantling of the agency. She highlighted dramatic staff cuts from 1,750 to potentially 200 employees, dismissal of over 20 enforcement cases, and the elimination of key …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationCara PetersenRussell VoughtMark Paolettaregulatory-capturetrump-administrationcfpbinstitutional-capture
Over 275,000 federal civil service layoffs announced by Trump/DOGE, not including contractors. CNN tracked 128,709 workers laid off/targeted by June 26. NYT tracked 58,500 confirmed cuts, 76,000 buyouts, 149,000 planned reductions (12% of 2.4M civilian workers). Government paying 154,000+ employees …
The federal workforce was reduced by 59,000 employees in the first five months of 2025, with an additional 154,000 federal workers accepting the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), marking the largest single-year exodus of civil servants in nearly 80 years. This reduction aligns with the Trump …
Donald TrumpRussell VoughtKevin RobertsHeritage Foundationworkforce-reductionfederal-employeesgovernment-shrinkageadministrative-exodusproject-2025
Federal workforce reduced by 59,000 positions with additional 154,000 employees on paid administrative leave through deferred resignation program designed to accelerate exodus of career officials, implementing Project 2025’s government reduction goals. OMB Director Russell Vought explicitly …
Federal WorkforceTrump AdministrationRussell VoughtOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)Office of Personnel Management (OPM)workforce-reductionfederal-employeesgovernment-shrinkageadministrative-exodusproject-2025+2 more
DOGE operative Chris Young worked to undermine the CFPB, which has jurisdiction over Tesla and X, while simultaneously earning between $100,001 and $1 million annually as a political adviser to Elon Musk, raising significant conflict of interest concerns
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationChris YoungElon MuskRussell Voughtregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsconflict-of-interestdepartment-of-government-efficiency
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) underwent a massive restructuring under the Trump administration, with approximately 90% of its workforce (1,482 employees) laid off, reducing staff to around 200. A federal appeals court ruled in favor of these workforce reductions, despite challenges …
Donald TrumpElon MuskRussell VoughtNational Treasury Employees UnionMark Paoletta+2 moremedia-controlregulatory-capturegovernment-downsizingfinancial-oversightlegal-challenges
The Trump administration effectively paralyzed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in March 2025, freezing hundreds of millions in consumer protection payouts and halting dozens of ongoing corporate investigations. Under Acting Director Russell Vought, the agency’s headquarters was …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationRussell Voughtregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsconsumer-protectionfinancial-regulation
An in-depth analysis reveals that over 70% of Trump’s cabinet members have direct connections to the Project 2025 blueprint, with more than 50 high-level officials from the project strategically placed in key government roles. Notable appointees include Brendan Carr (FCC Chairman), Tom Homan …
A comprehensive analysis reveals that over 70% of Trump’s cabinet has direct connections to Project 2025, with at least 31 individuals from the Heritage Foundation-backed initiative securing high-level government positions. Key appointments include Russell Vought (OMB Director), Tom Homan …
Brendan CarrTom HomanLinda McMahonKaroline LeavittRussell Vought+2 moreproject-2025-networkcabinet-appointmentsheritage-pipelinegovernment-captureheritage-foundation+1 more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), under acting director Russell Vought, abruptly dropped five significant lawsuits, including a $2 billion case against Capital One. The dismissals, which came during Jonathan McKernan’s Senate confirmation hearing, represent an unprecedented …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationRussell VoughtJonathan McKernanCapital One+4 moreregulatory-capturejustice-weaponizationfinancial-captureproject-2025
The Trump administration, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), began a comprehensive dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Key actions included firing most of its 1,700 employees, closing its Washington headquarters, and effectively …
Donald TrumpElon MuskLinda YaccarinoRussell VoughtElizabeth Warren+4 moreregulatory-capturetech-monopolyconsumer-protectionx-platformfinancial-services+1 more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under the Trump administration permanently dismissed its enforcement action against Solo Funds, a fintech platform providing small-dollar loans. The lawsuit, originally filed in May 2024, alleged deceptive lending practices with loans potentially …
Donald TrumpRussell VoughtTravis HolowayLauren Saundersregulatory-capturejustice-weaponizationfinancial-predationcfpb-transformation
Russell Vought, acting CFPB director and Project 2025 author, orders CFPB offices to close and notifies staff they ‘cannot perform any work tasks,’ effectively shutting down agency that oversees consumer financial protections.
Russell VoughtCFPBTrump Administrationcfpbagency-eliminationconsumer-protectionregulatory-captureproject-2025
Russell Vought, as part of the Trump administration, ordered a complete work stoppage at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), effectively suspending all ongoing investigations, rule-making, and consumer protection activities. The order closed CFPB headquarters and directed employees to …
Donald TrumpRussell VoughtElizabeth Warrenregulatory-capturejustice-weaponizationfinancial-regulationconsumer-protection
Russell Vought (OMB Director/Acting CFPB Director) ordered CFPB headquarters shuttered Feb 9-10, told 1,700 staff to stay home and “cannot perform any work tasks.” Ordered stop to proposed rules, investigations. Plans 95% workforce reduction (1,700 to 200). August appeals court lifted …
Russell VoughtCFPBRohit Chopra (fired director)consumer-protectionagency-shutdownproject-2025financial-regulation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employees were ordered to “stand down from performing any work task” as headquarters was shuttered through February 14. Acting Director Russell Vought and chief legal officer Mark Paoletta halted all CFPB operations unless specifically cleared, …
Russell VoughtMark PaolettaGavin KligerDOGECFPBcfpbconsumer-protectionagency-shutdowndogemass-layoffs
Russell Vought, who authored Project 2025’s chapter on restructuring Executive Office and expanding presidential power, was confirmed as OMB Director on February 6, 2025 by a 53-47 Senate vote. He now implements the exact recommendations he wrote, including using the budget agency to withhold …
Russell VoughtOMBTrump Administrationombproject-2025executive-powerpersonnel-appointmentsblueprint-implementation
Trump administration implements Project 2025’s Schedule F recommendation, rebranded as ‘Schedule Policy/Career,’ identifying approximately 50,000 federal positions for reclassification from career civil servants to political appointees screened for ideological loyalty. This move …
Donald TrumpRussell VoughtRussell PekalaHeritage Foundationschedule-fcivil-servicepolitical-loyaltyadministrative-stateproject-2025+1 more
Trump administration implements Project 2025’s Schedule F recommendation, rebranded as “Schedule Policy/Career,” identifying 50,000 federal positions for reclassification from career civil servants to political appointees screened for ideological loyalty.
Donald TrumpRussell VoughtFederal Workforceschedule-fcivil-servicepolitical-loyaltyadministrative-state
Russell Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, is confirmed by the Senate on February 6, 2025, in a 53-47 party-line vote to serve as OMB Director under President Donald Trump. Vought’s confirmation represents a critical step in executing Project 2025’s blueprint for federal agency …
Russell VoughtDonald TrumpOffice of Management and BudgetU.S. SenateChuck Schumerrussell-voughtproject-2025-authorsomb-directorexecutive-powerfederal-bureaucracy+2 more
On Inauguration Day, the Trump administration signed 37 executive orders implementing core Project 2025 priorities, systematically transforming federal governance. Orders targeted climate policy, international organizations, federal workforce, diversity programs, and national emergency declarations, …
Donald TrumpRussell VoughtProject 2025 authorsTom HomanJohn Ratcliffe+2 moreproject-2025-implementationexecutive-ordersday-one-actionsblueprint-executionadministrative-capture+1 more
The Trump administration systematically dismantled federal civil service protections through Schedule F, an executive order enabling mass reclassification and termination of career civil servants. By October 2025, approximately 4,200 federal workers across at least 7 agencies received reduction in …
Trump AdministrationHeritage FoundationOffice of Personnel ManagementFederal Employee UnionsProject 2025 Coalition+3 moreregulatory-captureinstitutional-corruptionindustry-influencesystematic-coordinationcivil-service-reform+3 more
Paul Dans departed as Project 2025 director on July 30, 2024, amid Trump campaign pressure to distance from the Heritage Foundation blueprint. The departure followed campaign concerns about the project becoming a political liability, though Russell Vought later claimed Trump privately supports the …
Paul DansKevin RobertsHeritage FoundationDonald TrumpRussell Voughtproject-2025heritage-foundationcampaign-strategypolitical-distancing