Senate Democrats are intensifying efforts to block the Trump-era $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund amid legal challenges and concerns over taxpayer payouts. A new bill seeks to shut down the fund and bar payments linked to lawsuits by the president or vice president.
Posts tagged as “Capitol Hill”
Spirit Airlines may shut down as soon as Saturday after bailout talks stall. The Trump administration offered a $500 million aid package, but opposition from bondholders and officials has left the airline facing liquidation amid soaring fuel costs.
Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resign from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations, avoiding expulsion votes. Their departures end House Ethics investigations but legal probes continue.
The U.S. Senate is close to reaching a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end a six-week partial government shutdown, with Republicans optimistic after meeting President Trump and planning to fund most DHS agencies except ICE deportation operations through separate budget reconciliation. The shutdown began over disputes about ICE funding and election reform tied to the SAVE America Act, which Trump initially demanded be linked to DHS funding but faces Democratic opposition. Separately, despite publicly denouncing mail-in voting, President Trump cast a mail-in ballot in a Florida special election, highlighting his inconsistent stance on the issue amid ongoing debates over voter ID laws.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is considering a boycott against El Salvador in response to President Nayib Bukele's cooperation with the Trump administration, which allegedly violated the due process rights of a deported Maryland resident. To exert pressure on El Salvador, Pritzker has directed state pension funds and procurement agencies to identify and potentially divest from any investments or contracts with the country. This action reflects a broader trend of state-level involvement in foreign policy, particularly concerning human rights issues, and highlights the complexities of international relations influenced by domestic politics.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the administration is complying with court orders regarding the deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported despite being married to a U.S. citizen. Leavitt asserted that Garcia's deportation was justified due to his alleged affiliations, underscoring the administration's firm stance on his removal. This case exemplifies the broader scrutiny and challenges faced by President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies, highlighting the complexities of immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration has taken significant actions against major law firms, such as Perkins Coie, Paul, Weiss, and Covington & Burling, by revoking their attorneys' security clearances and restricting their participation in federal matters. This move, part of a broader directive, has sparked criticism for potentially limiting legal challenges to the administration's policies and raising concerns about its impact on the legal community and justice system. Additionally, an accidental inclusion of a journalist in a sensitive discussion about U.S. military plans has further scrutinized the administration's handling of sensitive information, reflecting ongoing tensions in the political landscape.
The United States Senate unanimously passed a bill to address a provision in recent government funding legislation that threatened to cut Washington, D.C.'s budget by approximately $1 billion. This bipartisan bill, introduced by Senators Susan Collins and Chris Van Hollen, allows the District to maintain its current level of local fund spending, countering the House Republican continuing resolution that had initially included the budget cuts. The swift passage of the bill highlights the urgency and bipartisan support to protect D.C.'s financial interests, ensuring the well-being of its residents amid ongoing budget negotiations.