[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2919-S2920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Nomination of Eric Matthew Ueland

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to Eric 
Ueland's nomination to be Deputy Director for Management at the Office 
of Management and Budget.
  Congress charged the Deputy Director for Management with improving 
the performance, integrity, accountability, and transparency of the 
whole of government. This role is responsible for managing the 
personnel who work for the government, what the Federal Government 
purchases, and how the Federal Government manages its money.
  Given his record and views, I have serious concerns about how Eric 
Ueland will carry out these responsibilities.
  First, I am concerned by his willingness to break the law, especially 
when it comes to Congress's power of the purse. He supports the 
administration's efforts to illegally withhold funding that Congress 
has passed into law.
  Mr. Ueland currently serves as the Acting Chief of Staff at the 
Office of Management and Budget, and he has helped freeze Federal funds 
and grants and loans across the government--illegal actions that shut 
off resources for police departments, hospitals, and workforce 
development agencies.
  Like all of my colleagues in Congress, I swore an oath to uphold and 
follow the law set forth in our Constitution, which affirms that 
Congress--and Congress alone--is responsible for deciding how Federal 
funds are spent, not the President or members of his administration.
  Eric Ueland has also been a staunch supporter of recklessly and 
indiscriminately shutting down Agencies and laying off employees, with 
no regard for how these actions might harm the government's ability to 
protect our national security or provide vital services to the American 
people. He refused to commit to even analyzing the impact that mass 
firings have had on the effectiveness of the Federal workforce, let 
alone acknowledging the harm government services will experience as a 
result of these actions.
  Finally, Eric Ueland has made it clear that he will ignore conflicts 
of interest in the government's policy and contracting decisions, 
letting those in charge of government use it as a tool to enrich 
themselves.

[[Page S2920]]

  As Elon Musk is pushing Agencies to purchase services that his own 
companies provide and shutting down Agencies that are investigating his 
companies, Eric Ueland told me that he was unable to see any conflicts 
of interest raised by Elon Musk's influence on government decisions.
  Government should make decisions in the interests of the people and 
not in the interests of conflicted billionaire donors to the President 
like Elon Musk.
  If Eric Ueland is confirmed, I am concerned that he will defy our 
duly passed laws and our Constitution to continue President Trump and 
Elon Musk's assault on the Federal Government. Because of this, I 
oppose Eric Ueland's nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote start 
immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.