Pool Reports of July 17, 2025

Pool note #1: OMB Director Russell Vought takes questions

Good morning,

OMB Director Russell Vought took questions around 10:18 a.m. at the Stakeout Location.

Otter link: https://otter.ai/u/BwJPXKscW2RCIHhDCPfhcQ7zjMk?utm_source=copy_url

Summary of his remarks:

• "The Fed has been mismanaged for a number of years. they're no longer providing profit that comes back to Treasury in the form of remittances"
• Having the IG conduct the investigation into the project to renovate the Fed's offices in D.C. is "not enough" so "we want to have a sit down with those that are in charge of the project and get a brief from them and see where we're at"
• Denied that the admin's push for an investigation is a pretext for firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
• "We want to know why" the project has been so expensive. "It has implications for the country's fiscal situation"
• [Q: How is this different from the renovation happening at HUD?] "Have you been to HUD? Ever? You would not want to work at HUD." The building is falling apart
• Buildings periodically need work done on them. "That's not the same thing as a $700 million overrun"
• [Q: Something about the Grand Canyon, I couldn't hear] "We'll take a very close look at it and go through our normal FEMA process"
• [Q: Do you have evidence of Powell overseeing fraud or directing lavish spending?] The cost has been overrun by $700 M. "We want to get a sense for the difference between his statements and the plans that were submitted to the National Planning Commission" We're trying to get a site visit with National Planning Commission members and senators who are concerned
• [Exchange about terrace gardens and VIP dining room for Fed renovations]
• [Q: FHFA's letter to DOJ alleging misconduct by Sen. Adam Schiff - will that "be giving the president access to information on his political adversary's mortgages?] "I'll refer you to Bill. He's doing a great job. He's been very out front on this issue and helping expose it."
• [Q: senators' exemption of HIV/AIDS/PEPFAR funding from spending cuts] "With regard to rescissions, we wanted to see how this vote was going to go. It was really important for it to be successful. We're on the one yard line in the House. We need to get across that one yard line, the critical votes in the Senate. We are very, very pleased with the passage of the Senate Bill, our enthusiasm, the President's enthusiasm, to send additional packages we were watching closely about that first vote, and I think it's likely you'll see an additional package. We're not there. We're not here to announce anything in this front but in terms of seeing whether this was a useful effort, that was not a waste of time, it certainly has satisfied that threshold, and we'll see where we go from here. All right, thank you."

Pool note #2: Lunch lid until 12:30

The White House has called a lunch lid until 12:30 p.m.

Pool note #3: two-minute warning for briefing

The WH called a two-minute warning at 1:38 p.m.

Pool note #4: briefing ends

Today's press briefing ended at 2:24 p.m.

Pool note #5: EO signing is still closed-press

Hi folks,

I just spoke with lower press and was told the EO signing today remains closed-press.

Pool note #6: Travel photo lid

The WH called a lid at 6:13 p.m.

Have a great night, everyone!