Republican lawmakers are intensifying their pressure on White House budget director Russ Vought to deliver the full budget request as the fiscal year approaches its end. With less than four months remaining before the next potential government shutdown, Vought has not yet sent critical components of Trump’s budget plan to Congress. During testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, lawmakers expressed frustration with the delay, emphasizing the need to avoid a continuing resolution or shutdown.
While Vought claims the information necessary for drafting funding bills is already available, Republican appropriators remain skeptical, warning that the delay threatens to put them in a difficult position. The situation highlights growing tensions within the GOP over the timing and completeness of the budget proposal. Last week, Vought submitted a 1,200-page appendix to help lawmakers as they draft the annually required funding bills, but key details about the Pentagon’s budget were missing, including specifics on how many ships or aircraft the department plans to acquire and which major weapons systems would be cut.
Additionally, Vought is withholding other essential elements of Trump’s budget, such as projections for deficits and economic growth. This has raised concerns among lawmakers who argue that the lack of detailed information could complicate the legislative process and increase the risk of a government shutdown. The delayed release of the budget is also seen as a potential obstacle to the GOP’s ability to pass a party-line tax and spending package this summer, which Vought has stated is a prerequisite for submitting the full budget request.
Lawmakers like Rep. Steve Womack and Rep. Mark Alford have publicly criticized the delay, with Alford warning that the situation could lead to a continuing resolution, which would keep federal funding on autopilot while Congress works to finalize a long-term spending plan. The tension underscores the broader challenges facing the administration in coordinating with Congress on fiscal policy during a period of political polarization.