Walkinshaw Calls on Comer to Compel Vought to Testify Before Oversight Committee

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, called on Chairman James Comer, to immediately hold a hearing with OMB Director Russ Vought on his threats to carry out mass firings at federal agencies during the Republican shutdown. 

“I urge you to schedule a hearing at the earliest possible opportunity and, if necessary, compel Director Vought’s testimony before our Committee,” Walkinshaw wrote.  “It is a dereliction of duty that Republicans chose to be absent this week while these threats continue unchecked during the shutdown. Director Vought must testify as soon as Congress returns. Every day of delay increases the risk of irreparable harm to our government and to the millions of Americans who rely on it.”

“Director Vought has already unleashed significant disruption across the federal government through his role in orchestrating the DOGE chaos, his deferred resignation scheme, and the implementation of unnecessary reductions in force. Now, he has escalated further by illegally threatening mass firings of federal employees, actions that would directly violate the Antideficiency Act and undermine the continuity of government operations,” Walkinshaw added. 

Earlier this week, Walkinshaw authored an op-ed for MSNBC, titled, “Russ Vought’s directive to fire federal workers during a shutdown is illegal.” 

Full text of the Walkinshaw letter to Comer is here. 

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