Even before he takes the reins at the White House budget office, Russell Vought has started trying ... s capital and shaped some of President Donald Trump’s earliest policy directives ...

Speaker Mike Johnson said he doesn't "question" Trump's decision to pardon more than thousand people convicted in connection to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including some violent offenders. "The president's made his decision, I don't second guess those," Johnson said at a news conference alongside House Republican leadership.

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This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

Russell Vought, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, poses for a photo with Cabinet picks, other nominees and appointments, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

"And yes, you know, it's kind of my ethos, my worldview, we believe in redemption, we believe in second chances," Johnson said. "If you could -- would argue that those people didn't pay a heavy penalty having been incarcerated and all of that, that's up to you."

President Donald Trump's pick for the Office of Management and Budget director was condemned Thursday by Democratic Senate leadership, whereas his Interior and Energy secretary nominees got approval recommendations from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee.

Russell Vought, Project 2025 mastermind and Trump’s nominee for the Office of Management and Budget, had quite a testy confirmation hearing.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top Trump ally, says the White House pardoning rioters who fought with police while storming the U.S. is “sending the wrong signal.”

President Donald Trump’s pick for budget director faced another series of questions over presidential power to withhold government funding.

This is the practice of presidents refusing to spend funds that Congress has appropriated, shifting power to the White House. To take a current example, Mr Trump has issued an executive order putting an “immediate pause” on billions of dollars appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2021 and a climate law from 2022.