Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) slammed Project 2025 architect Russell Vought on Wednesday as he tried to steer away from the senator’s questions about massive reductions to the federal workforce under President Donald Trump.
During a Senate appropriations hearing, Ossoff focused on the administration’s efforts to slash the budget of the Georgia-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by about 50% as well as the agency losing about one-quarter of its workforce.
Vought, now director of the Office of Management and Budget, tried to dodge talk about the Trump cuts by claiming there were proposals to “reform” the CDC under Joe Biden.
“The Biden administration —,” began Vought before Ossoff interjected.
“I don’t want to hear about the Biden administration; you’re here on behalf of the Trump administration,” Ossoff shot back before several seconds of silence filled the air.
Vought was testifying on Trump’s request to slash about $9.4 billion in funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, part of a package that looks to codify cuts proposed by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
Ossoff used the hearing to ask Vought about the administration’s “mistakes” such as attempts to rehire employees fired from their federal government jobs.
Vought — who looked to dodge Ossoff’s questions by suggesting he contact federal agency heads instead — was later pressed about the cuts at the CDC, an agency he described as “incompetent” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ossoff went on to urge Vought to visit the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta, a proposal to which he swiftly agreed.
Ossoff responded, “Good, we’ll make that happen, because you are destroying this institution and whatever criticism you have about their past performance, they are essential to public health and epidemiological defense in the United States.”
He continued, “You’re crushing morale, you’re crushing capability, and you’re destroying my constituents’ lives.”