Want to know how controversial it was for Russell Vought to be confirmed by the Senate as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget? Just ask Wheaton College, where Vought earned a bachelor’s degree.
On Friday, Feb. 7, the Christian college posted a note on its Facebook page with Vought’s photo saying, “Wheaton College congratulates and prays for 1998 graduate Russell Vought regarding his senatorial confirmation to serve as the White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget!”
Original Facebook post
Then the alumni base of the Illinois school began to vent their disdain for Vought and their disbelief that their alma mater would highlight someone responsible for creating Project 2025 and saying he wants to make federal employees so miserable they all quit — among other things.
By Saturday morning, the post was removed from Facebook and replaced with this note:
On Friday, Wheaton College posted a congratulations and a call to prayer for an alumnus who received confirmation to a White House post. The recognition and prayer is something we would typically do for any graduate who reached that level of government. However, the political situation surrounding the appointment led to a significant concern expressed online. It was not our intention to embroil the College in a political discussion or dispute. Our institutional and theological commitments are clear that the College, as a non-profit institution, does not make political endorsements. Wheaton College’s focus is on Christ and His Kingdom.
The second post also linked to the school’s “Institutional Commitments,” which include this statement, with bold-face as represented:
With respect to electoral politics, Wheaton College is a deliberately non-partisan institution. This is both for missional purposes and legal reasons. Within the evangelical community — both domestically and internationally — we encompass a spectrum of political perspectives. The College’s moral commitments on the sanctity of life, human sexuality, ethnic diversity, racial unity, justice, poverty, and stewardship intersect with politics complexly, not simplistically, especially in a two-party system. We invite our campus community to examine diverse perspectives in the light of Scripture, to listen well to others, and to discuss political views with Christian charity.”
Within a universe of controversial cabinet nominees by Donald Trump, Vought ranks high on the list of the most controversial because he is perceived as a true believer in slashing the federal government and creating a Christian theocracy as outlined in Project 2025.
Here’s a sample of the alumni comments on the now-deleted post:
“I can assure you many of us Alumni wish this Project 2025 fascist the worst. Completely anti-Christian in his approach to politics — which consists of targeting the least of these.”
“What!? Give me a break! What about all the amazing young graduates who are working for USAID and World Relief and are now out of a job because of this Christian Nationalist administration? This is a ridiculous partisan post. This appointment should not be celebrated.”
“As a graduate of Wheaton College and as a former employee who worked there for almost 15 years, this is not an occasion to celebrate. Rather, it is a time to lament.”
“Russell Vought said in a speech, ‘I want federal employees to be traumatized. I want to put them in trauma. I want them to come to work — to not want to come to work — because they know that they are increasingly viewed as the villain.’ This does not exemplify the values I heard from my teachers when I was a student at Wheaton College in the class of 1964. Nor does it represent the faculty I knew when I taught philosophy at Wheaton College in the mid 2010s. It is deplorable that a Wheaton College graduate should make such a statement.”
“I’m ashamed and embarrassed that my alma mater would endorse someone whose words and beliefs go so far against the words and beliefs of Jesus.”
“Here is an idea. Maybe Wheaton College should highlight Matthew Soerens’ remarkable work over the years with World Relief, showcasing him as an exemplary model of the college’s values in defending the marginalized and welcoming strangers.”
“As an alumna, I’m ashamed and embarrassed that my alma mater would endorse someone whose words and beliefs go so far against the words and beliefs of Jesus. Do better Wheaton, and remove this post. This is not someone you should be celebrating (especially as a ‘politically non-affiliated institution’).”
“Celebrating an apostate war mongering traitor to Christ is not a good look, Wheaton. He’s in obvious mortal sin, courting Trump and other nationalists in the name of Christ. Celebrating the public disgracing of Christ’s name means you share his sin. Disgraceful.”
“I thought the motto of the school and the sentiment instilled in students was ‘For Christ and His Kingdom.’ What sort of message does this show to The Church, who sees the evil that this man promotes, the hatred that this man supports, and the cowardice to bow to a fascist administration that is set on everything antithetical to the message of the Gospel, when you decide to rejoice and celebrate his promotion towards hatred? Shame doesn’t begin to describe what I feel regarding this school.”
While the overwhelming majority of comments were disparaging of Vought and his stated agenda, a few were supportive, including this one: “WOW Glad I went to Wheaton before it became a woke leftist LGBTQ+ Gomorrah institution! Congrats Mr. Vought, represent real Christianity, and the true Wheatie Spirit, and ignore the haters. Make Wheaton Great Again!”
Related articles:
21 groups urge senators not to confirm Russell Vought
Russell Vought: The gung-ho Christian nationalist who helps Trump be Trump
On secretly recorded video, leader of Project 2025 says Trump is still in on the plan