Latest news with #Appropriations
E&E News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Murkowski expresses ‘openness' to becoming independent
Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she has an 'openness' to leaving the Republican Party and becoming independent, under certain circumstances. Asked by journalist Galen Druke if she would ever become an independent and join the Senate's Democratic Caucus, Murkowski left that scenario open. 'There may be that possibility,' she said in an excerpt of an interview Druke posted to X. 'There is some openness to exploring something different than the status quo.' Advertisement Murkowski, a former chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee who has a centrist record on matters like abortion rights, health care and climate change, is promoting her new memoir, 'Far from Home: An Alaskan Senator Faces the Extreme Climate of Washington, D.C.,' which will be released Tuesday. She also chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the Interior Department and EPA.
The Hill
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Hegseth's long week on Capitol Hill
The Big Story Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday closed out his third and final day of hearings on Capitol Hill. © Associated Press The final day was not without its fireworks, with several clashes with lawmakers as he dodged questions on invading Greenland, Ukraine aid, his use of the app Signal, and troop deployment in Los Angeles. Hegseth, in his first appearance before the House Armed Services Committee, was quickly hit with queries from panel Democrats, starting with ranking member Adam Smith (Wash.). Smith pressed the Pentagon chief on whether it is the Defense Department's policy that the U.S. military be prepared to take Greenland or Panama by force. Hegseth would not rule out the possibility of a future military invasion of the Arctic territory and Central American country, suggesting to lawmakers the Pentagon could have such plans and that the U.S. has an interest in protecting both areas from Chinese influence. The Defense Department 'plans for any particular contingency,' he said, adding that 'I think the American people would want the Pentagon to have plans for anything.' The answer caused Smith to scoff, replying: 'I don't think the American people voted for President Trump because they were hoping we would invade Greenland. I'm going to go out on a limb on that one.' Hegseth was later pressed by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who implored him to confirm that 'it is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct? Because I sure as hell hope that it is not that.' Hegseth would only repeat that the 'Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies' and that officials 'look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats.' Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) took his five minutes to supply Hegseth with the most direct questioning he's yet faced on whether he shared classified information on U.S. attack plans in Yemen via the Signal messaging app. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) then lambasted the Defense secretary as an 'embarrassment,' demanding he resign over a range of issues including the Signal group chat, deploying Marines to Los Angeles amid protests and his views on Russia's war in Ukraine. 'I have called for your resignation. I didn't think you were qualified before your confirmation, and you have done nothing to inspire confidence in your ability to lead competently,' Carbajal said. The hearing caps off Hegseth's long week on Capitol Hill, which began on Tuesday with a relatively quiet House Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing. But on Wednesday, Hegseth faced heated questions from the Senate's version of the Appropriations panel, which bombarded Hegseth over the Russia-Ukraine war, the Pentagon's delays in delivering budget information and the administration's focus on Greenland in its Arctic strategy. Read the full report at Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guides to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Rain, thunderstorms forecast for DC military parade Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Saturday in the nation's capital, where a day of festivities and a military parade are scheduled to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th birthday — which happens to coincide with President Trump's 79th birthday. The daylong festivities in Washington will take place mostly on the National Mall, where a fitness event will be held at 9:30 a.m. and a festival will kick off at 11 a.m. The festival … US troops begin detaining migrants on border defense zone U.S. troops at the southern border started detaining migrants last week as part of the 'Deep South Campaign' to prosecute individuals found trespassing in National Defense Areas (NDAs). President Trump has currently designated the U.S.-Mexico stretches between El Paso to Fort Hancock, Texas, as an NDA alongside the land line marking the country's boundaries in New Mexico. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Chad Campbell said three individuals … Newsom says Trump never discussed sending National Guard: 'Stone cold liar' California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a podcast episode Thursday that President Trump did not discuss sending the National Guard to Los Angeles when the two recently spoke to each other before Trump's announcement. 'He lied, he lied. On my mother and dad's grave. I don't mess around, when I say this, he lied. Stone cold liar,' Newsom said on The New York Times's 'The Daily.' Host Michael Barbaro had said the … On Our Radar Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Senate Democrats calls for Noem to resign Multiple Senate Democrats on Thursday called for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign after Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was forcibly removed and later handcuffed for interrupting a press conference Noem held in Los Angeles. 'Kristi Noem should resign in disgrace,' Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) … On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets: Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Republicans lay groundwork for 'total tax cliff' at end of Trump's term Congressional Republicans are laying the groundwork for a tax cliff at the end of President Trump's term in office. While the conference is pushing … Read more Trump on 'No Kings' protests during military parade: 'I don't feel like a king' President Trump was asked Thursday to respond to planned counterprotests that will coincide with a military parade in the nation's capital to … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor Department suspends Job Corps centers operations, drawing bipartisan pushback
The Department of Labor (DOL) announced this week it will pause operations at Job Corps centers nationwide, a move that has already gotten pushback from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. The department said Thursday it will begin a 'phased pause' initiating 'an orderly transition for students, staff, and local communities.' The pause will occur by June 30, the office said. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the program has been found to no longer achieve 'the intended outcomes that students deserve,' citing what she described as 'a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis.' 'We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program's possibilities.' Job Corps, established as part of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, is a free residential education and job training program for low-income people between 16 and 24 years of age. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) defended the program in a statement expressing strong opposition to the DOL's move to pause operations. 'Serving nearly 500 students in Maine, the Loring Job Corps Center and the Penobscot Job Corps Center have become important pillars of support for some of our most disadvantaged young adults,' Collins said in a statement. 'That's why at an Appropriations hearing just last week, I urged Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to resume enrollment at Maine's two Job Corps centers and to reverse the Department's proposed elimination of the Job Corps program,' she continued, adding that, while atop the funding committee, she will 'continue to work to support this valuable program.' Sen. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees annual DOL funding, also called the step by the Trump administration one 'in the wrong direction, exacerbating our state's workforce shortage, locking students out of good-paying jobs, and hurting our Made in Wisconsin economy and businesses who rely on skilled workers to compete and grow.' 'Congress appropriated funding for Job Corps, and the Trump Administration can't just decide to not spend it because they want to make room for tax cuts for billionaires,' she said in a statement on Friday. The department noted its decision to suspend operations aligns with President Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal and pointed to what it called 'significant financial challenges' faced by the program. It's the latest instance of the administration drawing criticism from top appropriators in Congress as it continues a sweeping operation aimed at cutting costs and shrinking the size of government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iranian official talks nuclear deal and RFK Jr. pressed on vaccines: Morning Rundown
Trump offers "an olive branch" and threats to Iran over potential nuclear deal. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearings get heated when lawmakers question him on vaccines. And a mountain climber survives a 200-foot fall in Washington state — without breaking a bone. Here's what to know today. A top Iranian official said the country is ready to sign a nuclear deal with the U.S. in exchange for lifting economic sanctions after President Donald Trump offered Iran 'an olive branch,' as well as threats should the country not accept an agreement. In an interview with NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons and get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, along with other concessions. In exchange, Shamkhani said Iran would want an immediate lifting of all economic Trump's tone in a speech yesterday, in which he threatened crippling economic sanctions if Iran didn't accept an agreement to limit its nuclear program, left leaders on edge. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Trump in comments broadcast on state television. Shamkhani said, 'He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It's all barbed wire.' The U.S. and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran's nuclear program for weeks, with Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling the last round of talks 'encouraging.' Trump's trip this week to the Middle East includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Yesterday, he met with Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa, after lifting longstanding sanctions on the country. Today, he's scheduled to give remarks to troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Read the full story here. Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa marks an effort to forge a new relationship with the country. But experts say it's too soon to know if al-Sharaa, who U.S. leaders once called an Al Qaeda terrorist, will fulfill his pledges. Trump has praised the warming Qatar-Saudi Arabia relationship and showered flattery on his hosts. As the Trump Organization's footprint in the Middle East grows, so do the ethical concerns. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearings with the House Appropriations and Senate Education, Labor and Pensions committees were heated at times as Democratic lawmakers pressed him on past statements about vaccines and actions to reduce funding. 💉 During the House Appropriations hearing, Kennedy told Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan that he would 'probably' vaccinate his children against the measles today, but added, 'I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me.' 💉 And during the Senate hearing, Kennedy seemed to suggest that the measles vaccine was unsafe in a heated back-and-forth with Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy. When asked about whether he would recommend the measles vaccine, Kennedy said, 'I am not going to just tell people everything is safe and effective if I know that there are issues. I need to respect people's intelligence.' 💰 Actually, the purpose of the hearings was to discuss next year's budget for HHS and the recent mass layoffs Kennedy has overseen, but some lawmakers were displeased with him for appearing to be unaware of basic details. For example, Kennedy said they didn't intend to get rid of the childhood lead poisoning department, though those workers were fired. However, he did confirm that 328 DHS employees who faced terminations were reinstated, including those involved in screening for 'black lung' disease in coal miners and for health issues in 9/11 first responders. Read the full story here. Beyond measles and layoffs, facets of Kennedy's 'Make America Health Again' agenda — including food regulation efforts that could raise costs for farmers and his anti-fluoride push — are making some Republicans so nervous that they're conducting polling to see what impact he could have on midterm elections. The Supreme Court today weighs whether to allow Trump's reinterpretation of the Constitution's guarantee of birthright citizenship to go into effect, at least in part, while litigation continues. The Department of Veterans Affairs incorrectly gave veterans about $5 billion more in disability compensation and pension payments than it should have in the last four fiscal years. In an oversight hearing, lawmakers pressed VA officials on how it would address the problem. House Republicans' ongoing standoff over how to tackle 'SALT' tax deductions in Trump's agenda bill have reached a boiling point. A House Democrat backed off his threat to force a vote on a resolution to impeach Trump after leaders in his party objected to the effort. Badar Khan Suri, the postdoctoral scholar and professor at Georgetown University, was released from ICE custody after a judge ruled that his detention was in violation of the First Amendment, the right to free speech, and the Fifth Amendment, the right to due process. Khan Suri had been targeted for deportation by the Trump administration and accused by the Department of Homeland Security of 'actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.' But Eastern District of Virginia Judge Practicia Giles said in her ruling that the government had failed to provide evidence of its claims or proof that he would be a national security risk. After his release from the Prairieland Detention Center, where he has been since March, Khan Suri spoke out. 'There was no charge, there was nothing,' he said. 'They made a sub human out of me.' He also decried the conditions inside the Texas detention center where he had been held since March. Read the full story here. Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard scientist who was arrested at Boston's airport in February, was charged this week with smuggling biological material into the U.S. The escalation in the case comes after a federal judge questioned the legality of Customs and Border Patrol officers revoking her visa. The drummer of Texas rock band Lord Buffalo was 'forcibly' removed from a flight headed to Europe and detained by immigration officials, the band said. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired two top intelligence officials who oversaw a recent assessment that contradicted Trump's assertions about the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and undermined his rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected gang members. FBI field offices around the country have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to immigration enforcement. Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer and model who dated Sean 'Diddy' Combs off-and-on for 10 years, returned to the witness stand yesterday in the hip-hop mogul's federal trial, going into excruciating detail about her relationship with Combs and his alleged pattern of violence and sexual abuse. She's expected to be back on the stand today for cross-examination. In Wednesday's testimony, Ventura alleged Combs raped her on her living room floor in 2018, echoing allegations she made in a 2023 civil lawsuit, which she said settled for $20 million — the first time the settlement amount has been publicly revealed. She also recounted the aftermath of Combs' attack on her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016, which was recorded by a security camera and has been played multiple times this week. Ventura also went into more detail about Combs' alleged 'freak offs,' which she said happened so often that she would get sores on her tongue. Ventura added that she developed 'an addiction to opiates' that would help her feel 'numb' after marathon sex sessions with male escorts. Read more about Ventura's second day of testimony.A New Jersey 18-year-old's mother and stepfather have been charged after the teen escaped captivity and told authorities she was abused over a seven-year span and forced to live in a dog crate. Streaming service Max changed its name back to HBO Max. Here's what's behind the surprise reversal. The strongest solar flare so far this year hurled streams of plasma and charged particles into the cosmos and caused communications blackouts on five continents. Hackers that did damage to large U.K. retailers are now setting their sights on American brands, Google's chief analyst warned. Let me start by saying this story is devastating. Three mountain climbers in Washington state died after an apparent anchor failure that sent the group plunging 200 feet onto jagged rock, and then they slid uncontrollably another 200 feet down a chute. But there were four climbers in the group — meaning one survived, somehow, without broken bones, though he did have internal injuries and head trauma. Nonetheless, the lone survivor, a 38-year-old man from Seattle, found his way to his car and drove to safety. His story, as one county official put it, 'is miraculous to say the least.' — newsletter editor NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz tested out the Oura ring 4 for a few months. In his review, he shares what he likes and doesn't like about the popular smart ring. Plus, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a newbie with a green thumb, here are some of the best weeding tools available. newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
NBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Iranian official talks nuclear deal and RFK Jr. pressed on vaccines: Morning Rundown
Trump offers "an olive branch" and threats to Iran over potential nuclear deal. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearings get heated when lawmakers question him on vaccines. And a mountain climber survives a 200-foot fall in Washington state — without breaking a bone. Here's what to know today. Top official claims Iran is ready to sign a nuclear deal with Trump A top Iranian official said the country is ready to sign a nuclear deal with the U.S. in exchange for lifting economic sanctions after President Donald Trump offered Iran 'an olive branch,' as well as threats should the country not accept an agreement. In an interview with NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons and get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, along with other concessions. In exchange, Shamkhani said Iran would want an immediate lifting of all economic sanctions. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. But Trump's tone in a speech yesterday, in which he threatened crippling economic sanctions if Iran didn't accept an agreement to limit its nuclear program, left leaders on edge. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Trump in comments broadcast on state television. Shamkhani said, 'He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It's all barbed wire.' The U.S. and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran's nuclear program for weeks, with Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling the last round of talks 'encouraging.' Trump's trip this week to the Middle East includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Yesterday, he met with Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa, after lifting longstanding sanctions on the country. Today, he's scheduled to give remarks to troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa marks an effort to forge a new relationship with the country. But experts say it's too soon to know if al-Sharaa, who U.S. leaders once called an Al Qaeda terrorist, will fulfill his pledges. Trump has praised the warming Qatar-Saudi Arabia relationship and showered flattery on his hosts. As the Trump Organization's footprint in the Middle East grows, so do the ethical concerns. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s contentious congressional hearing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearings with the House Appropriations and Senate Education, Labor and Pensions committees were heated at times as Democratic lawmakers pressed him on past statements about vaccines and actions to reduce funding. 💉 During the House Appropriations hearing, Kennedy told Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan that he would 'probably' vaccinate his children against the measles today, but added, 'I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me.' 💉 And during the Senate hearing, Kennedy seemed to suggest that the measles vaccine was unsafe in a heated back-and-forth with Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy. When asked about whether he would recommend the measles vaccine, Kennedy said, 'I am not going to just tell people everything is safe and effective if I know that there are issues. I need to respect people's intelligence.' 💰 Actually, the purpose of the hearings was to discuss next year's budget for HHS and the recent mass layoffs Kennedy has overseen, but some lawmakers were displeased with him for appearing to be unaware of basic details. For example, Kennedy said they didn't intend to get rid of the childhood lead poisoning department, though those workers were fired. However, he did confirm that 328 DHS employees who faced terminations were reinstated, including those involved in screening for 'black lung' disease in coal miners and for health issues in 9/11 first responders. Read the full story here. Beyond measles and layoffs, facets of Kennedy's 'Make America Health Again' agenda — including food regulation efforts that could raise costs for farmers and his anti-fluoride push — are making some Republicans so nervous that they're conducting polling to see what impact he could have on midterm elections. The Supreme Court today weighs whether to allow Trump's reinterpretation of the Constitution's guarantee of birthright citizenship to go into effect, at least in part, while litigation continues. The Department of Veterans Affairs incorrectly gave veterans about $5 billion more in disability compensation and pension payments than it should have in the last four fiscal years. In an oversight hearing, lawmakers pressed VA officials on how it would address the problem. House Republicans' ongoing standoff over how to tackle 'SALT' tax deductions in Trump's agenda bill have reached a boiling point. A House Democrat backed off his threat to force a vote on a resolution to impeach Trump after leaders in his party objected to the effort. Georgetown scholar released from ICE detention Badar Khan Suri, the postdoctoral scholar and professor at Georgetown University, was released from ICE custody after a judge ruled that his detention was in violation of the First Amendment, the right to free speech, and the Fifth Amendment, the right to due process. Khan Suri had been targeted for deportation by the Trump administration and accused by the Department of Homeland Security of 'actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.' But Eastern District of Virginia Judge Practicia Giles said in her ruling that the government had failed to provide evidence of its claims or proof that he would be a national security risk. After his release from the Prairieland Detention Center, where he has been since March, Khan Suri spoke out. 'There was no charge, there was nothing,' he said. 'They made a sub human out of me.' He also decried the conditions inside the Texas detention center where he had been held since March. Read the full story here. More immigration news: Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard scientist who was arrested at Boston's airport in February, was charged this week with smuggling biological material into the U.S. The escalation in the case comes after a federal judge questioned the legality of Customs and Border Patrol officers revoking her visa. The drummer of Texas rock band Lord Buffalo was 'forcibly' removed from a flight headed to Europe and detained by immigration officials, the band said. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired two top intelligence officials who oversaw a recent assessment that contradicted Trump's assertions about the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and undermined his rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected gang members. FBI field offices around the country have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to immigration enforcement. Cassie recounts terror and trauma in Diddy trial testimony Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer and model who dated Sean 'Diddy' Combs off-and-on for 10 years, returned to the witness stand yesterday in the hip-hop mogul's federal trial, going into excruciating detail about her relationship with Combs and his alleged pattern of violence and sexual abuse. She's expected to be back on the stand today for cross-examination. In Wednesday's testimony, Ventura alleged Combs raped her on her living room floor in 2018, echoing allegations she made in a 2023 civil lawsuit, which she said settled for $20 million — the first time the settlement amount has been publicly revealed. She also recounted the aftermath of Combs' attack on her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016, which was recorded by a security camera and has been played multiple times this week. Ventura also went into more detail about Combs' alleged 'freak offs,' which she said happened so often that she would get sores on her tongue. Ventura added that she developed 'an addiction to opiates' that would help her feel 'numb' after marathon sex sessions with male escorts. Read more about Ventura's second day of testimony. Read All About It A New Jersey 18-year-old's mother and stepfather have been charged after the teen escaped captivity and told authorities she was abused over a seven-year span and forced to live in a dog crate. Streaming service Max changed its name back to HBO Max. Here's what's behind the surprise reversal. The strongest solar flare so far this year hurled streams of plasma and charged particles into the cosmos and caused communications blackouts on five continents. Hackers that did damage to large U.K. retailers are now setting their sights on American brands, Google's chief analyst warned. Staff Pick: A climber's 'miraculous' story of survival Let me start by saying this story is devastating. Three mountain climbers in Washington state died after an apparent anchor failure that sent the group plunging 200 feet onto jagged rock, and then they slid uncontrollably another 200 feet down a chute. But there were four climbers in the group — meaning one survived, somehow, without broken bones, though he did have internal injuries and head trauma. Nonetheless, the lone survivor, a 38-year-old man from Seattle, found his way to his car and drove to safety. His story, as one county official put it, 'is miraculous to say the least.' — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz tested out the Oura ring 4 for a few months. In his review, he shares what he likes and doesn't like about the popular smart ring. Plus, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a newbie with a green thumb, here are some of the best weeding tools available.
