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Hal Duncan declines to rule out politically motivated research cuts at confirmation hearing
Summary
Hal Duncan, the nominee for deputy budget director, told senators he believes Joe Biden was "certified" as the winner of the 2020 election but declined to answer whether the outcome was "rigged," and earlier testimony did not rule out canceling research grants for political reasons or using so‑called pocket recisions to rescind congressional funding.
Hal Duncan, the nominee for deputy budget director, declined during his confirmation hearing to rule out canceling research grants for political reasons and said only that "Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election," prompting a senator to say Duncan had not answered whether the 2020 vote was "rigged."
The exchange came amid broader concerns raised during the hearing about Duncan's experience and views on executive authority. A reporter introduced the session by saying Duncan had "refused to rule out canceling research grants based on political reasons," had not committed to following separation-of-powers limits, and would not rule out the use of "illegal pocket recisions" to cancel funding that Congress authorized. The commentator said the role under consideration oversees "billions of dollars in federal spending."
During questioning, a senator asked directly, "Do you believe the 2020 election was rigged?" Duncan replied, "Senator, I appreciate the question. As mentioned, I believe that Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election." The senator pushed back: "He was certified, yes, but do you believe the election outcome was rigged?" and then stated that Duncan had not answered the substantive question.
In a closing statement, the senator said the nominee's answers and "overwhelming lack of experience" made him unfit for the deputy budget director post and announced, "I'll be voting no on Hal Duncan's nomination, and I'll be urging my colleagues to do the same." The senator also argued that, if confirmed, Duncan "would only be working at the bidding of Donald Trump and Russ Vought," and suggested that could result in actions inconsistent with the Constitution and statutory limits.
The transcript provided does not record a committee vote or further procedural steps on the nomination. The record in this excerpt shows the hearing's substantive focus on the nominee's willingness to defend the traditional limits on executive authority over federal spending and on whether political considerations could justify rescinding funds authorized by Congress.
