Congress

The special counsel who supervised the dismissed federal criminal cases against President Donald Trump is set for a confrontation with the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Even the title of the hearing — “Oversight of Jack Smith’s Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters” — gives a hint of the tone […]

The Trump administration announced plans Friday night to cancel $810 million in funding for health, education and other programs just days before the end of the current fiscal year, triggering another fight with Congress over the power of the purse. The so-called pocket rescission claws back money already appropriated by Congress, with little time for […]

A pair of Democratic lawmakers is calling for hearings after the Navy disclosed that there were eight suicide attempts during the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group’s record-long time at sea. “That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable,” […]

The Senate will return next week to wrap up business before the November midterm elections, seeking to take action on an affordability issue and score a political win for an endangered Republican incumbent. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Thursday that a wide array of bills could potentially come to the floor next […]

With China’s leader Xi Jinping visiting Washington a few blocks away, a bipartisan duo took to the Senate floor Thursday with a push to block imports of certain vehicles and parts originating in that country, calling them a national security risk that puts domestic rivals at a disadvantage. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said he’d try to […]

As the Senate tries to navigate its final business before the midterms, Republicans are facing another question — who will steer the ship once they’re done? So far, they’re not straying far from their current captain, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, with no viable rival emerging as yet.  “The assumption is yes,” the South Dakota […]

Senate Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said Thursday that the process of papering, selling and voting on a potential deal to take up legislation overhauling the federal permitting system will likely push consideration to the lame-duck session in November. Speaking at a news conference, Whitehouse said that negotiators are “over the […]

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved the nomination of Chris Klomp to serve as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, which would make him second in command to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a 15-12 vote.  Klomp has risen through the ranks of the Trump administration, most recently serving as chief counselor […]

Senate Democrats are using Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s high-profile state visit to Washington this week to press Republicans for votes on export control legislation restricting Beijing’s access to advanced chips used in artificial intelligence technology. The bills in question have bipartisan support, and Republicans agreed to include them in a giant manager’s amendment to the […]

At least one Senate Republican is calling for an investigation of wedding after-party celebrations for President Donald Trump’s eldest son, which were financed by a Russian businessman with ties to the Kremlin. The topic created waves on Capitol Hill on Tuesday thanks to a letter sent by Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, to Senate Judiciary Committee […]