Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. House Republicans retreated to Miami this week to work on finalizing their legislative agenda,

Multiple groups called on the Senate to reject President Trump’s pick for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director, Russell Vought. In three separate letters, the Coalition for Sensible

The Trump administration rescinded the explanatory OMB memo Wednesday but made clear that the administration was still withholding potentially hundreds of billions of dollars from states and nonprofits while officials reviewed their compatibility with Trump’s policy preferences.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) sought to keep expectations in check during an afternoon news conference at the Capitol, calling the end of the freeze a “small victory” in a “long war.” At the same time, there was a fresh air of excitement to his remarks.

The big news out of Russell Vought’s second confirmation hearing before the Senate Budget Committee was impoundment.

Vought was OMB director during Trump’s first term. He already had a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Vought, who was believed to be a major player in the controversial "Project 2025" blueprint, wrote "I believe that the 2020 election was rigged.”

Senate Republicans who care about Congress’ spending authority won't oppose Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget as

La, pressed Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on his anti-vaccine views, particularly debunked claims that vaccines cause autism, and said he was “struggling” to support him.

Despite the boycott, Russell Vought's nomination advanced and moves to the Senate for an upcoming confirmation hearing.

FILE PHOTO: Russell Vought, U.S. President Trump's nominee to be director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), testifies before a Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 22, 2025. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File photo