Vance flexes his influence during spending fight

Vice President-elect JD Vance is flexing his influence on Capitol Hill, underscoring his role as a critical and often behind the scenes player in President-elect Trump’s orbit while other prominent figures steal the headlines.

With talks over government spending faltering this week, it was Vance who was at the Capitol meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other top Republicans late Wednesday night to negotiate a path forward after an initial agreement was spiked, initially criticized publicly by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Some allies took notice when a statement from the Trump transition opposing the initial deal brokered by congressional leaders was issued jointly from both Trump and Vance and was posted first on Vance’s X account.

While Musk has garnered much of the attention over the past month for his near-constant presence alongside President-elect Trump and involvement with the transition, those close to both Trump and Vance said the incoming vice president has been a central and influential figure.

“JD’s been in every single pertinent transition meeting,” said one source who knows both Trump and Vance. “He did four months straight of non-stop media appearances. He’s not as active on media stuff, but you can expect that to change once you get closer to Inauguration Day.”

Allies credited Vance with rallying support behind Pete Hegseth when his nomination to lead the Pentagon was teetering. He cast a critical vote in the Senate to block a Biden administration labor nominee. And he’s spent significant time at Mar-a-Lago in meetings with Trump to discuss both policy and personnel for the incoming administration.

Vance came to the forefront this week after other Trump allies, including Musk and Ramaswamy, took to social media to torpedo a government spending bill that would have included numerous other add-ons.

As the spending deal increasingly appeared doomed, Vance was on Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers. After Trump and Vance formally came out against the negotiated compromise bill, the vice president-elect huddled with Johnson and other House GOP leaders in the Speaker’s office, where they held what attendees described as “productive” conversations.

Trump on Thursday came out in support of an alternative spending proposal crafted by House Republicans to fund the government and suspend the debt ceiling until early 2027.

Trump allies said the president-elect would always ultimately drive the debate over the spending deal and was the one who could exert pressure on lawmakers to act one way or another. But Vance served a key purpose as a conduit with experience at the Capitol.

“His job is to basically be a translator, an envoy for Donald Trump to Capitol Hill,” said one Republican strategist close to Trump’s orbit, who added that Vance has “grown into the role” rapidly since he was tapped in July as Trump’s running mate.

Prior to this week, Vance had largely operated behind the scenes and without fanfare. It was a noticeable shift from his four months as a candidate on the GOP ticket, when he was on television almost daily and fielding questions from reporters regularly during campaign stops in battleground states.

He was a crucial player in efforts to get Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon back on track after it appeared to be in jeopardy over allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking in previous jobs.

Vance spoke with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who had expressed ambivalence about Hegseth’s nomination, and with other senators to urge them to give Hegseth a fair hearing and to push back on the prospect of media reports tanking a nominee.

“JD I think has a good reputation with his colleagues,” a Trump ally told The Hill. “He’s putting that to use for Trump's nominees to help them get through.” 

Vance also played a critical and somewhat overlooked role in sinking a Biden White House nominee to serve on the National Labor Relations Board until mid-2026. Vance had faced criticism from some conservatives over his lack of attendance at Senate votes in recent weeks as the chamber confirmed judges nominated by President Biden.

But Vance was at the Capitol last week to vote against Lauren McFerran. His vote, combined with opposition from independent Sens. Joe Manchin (W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), was enough to make the vote 49-50. Had Vance been absent, Vice President Harris could have broken the tie to confirm McFerran.

Vance’s exact portfolio in the incoming administration is still undefined. Vice President’s are often given a few policy issues to focus on, though those assignments are typically more reactive to whatever issues emerge as priorities.

Then-Vice President Mike Pence was tasked with leading the coronavirus response task force. Vice President Harris took on efforts to slow migration from Central America to the southern border and reproductive rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

A source familiar with the matter stressed that Vance and Trump are aligned on policy issues and have developed a strong personal relationship, and that the vice president-elect will focus on wherever he is needed.

Vance’s ability to navigate whatever he’s tasked with, while remaining loyal to the president-elect without soaking up too much of the spotlight, could determine whether he cements his status as the front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2028 and heir apparent to Trump.

“If he winds up being the translator, the envoy, the guy who works behind the scenes, guess what? Trump is gonna say you’re fit to be president,” said the Republican strategist.