Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought met with some House Republicans Monday night, where he offered “full-throated support” for the seven-month funding patch, according to House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, who was in the meeting.
“He was very supportive of the [continuing resolution], went through it, explained what’s in it and talked about why it is critical that we pass this and it would open up the reconciliation down the road. We need to get this off the table,” the Oklahoma Republican said.
Cole described working “hand in glove” with OMB and the White House on the stopgap spending bill, which would avert a shutdown on Saturday and needs to pass the House with near-unanimous Republican support. And Vought’s appearance isn’t the only way the Trump administration is exerting pressure — Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), one of the holdouts on the bill, said White House chief of staff Susie Wiles called him Monday.
“I haven’t had a chance to return the call. I was in a SCIF meeting,” Mills said in a brief interview.
Trump has also called members, in addition to publicly calling on Republicans to back the bill. And Vice President JD Vance is expected to attend the closed-door House Republican conference meeting Tuesday morning, according to two Republicans who were granted anonymity to discuss private plans.
Cole said later Monday night that he was not sure if Vought had met with any of the Republican members who have not yet said if they plan on backing the spending bill on the floor on Tuesday.
“I know a couple of members are still struggling with this, but you know, if you’re a Republican member, do you really want to shut down the Republican government?” Cole asked.
Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
