Lindsey McPherson

RFK Jr. clears major hurdle before full Senate vote

The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services after Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a swing vote, joined other Republicans in backing him.

February 4, 2025

GOP holdouts threaten to sink nominations of RFK Jr., Gabbard with committee votes

Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. head into key committee votes on Tuesday with separate holdout GOP senators mum on their plans.

February 3, 2025

Chris Wright confirmed to lead the Energy Department

The Senate on Wednesday evening confirmed Christopher Wright, a self-described "science geek turned energy nerd turned lifelong energy entrepreneur," to run the Energy Department.

February 3, 2025

Democrats draft legislation to remove DOGE access to Treasury payment system

Congressional Democrats are planning to introduce legislation to restrict access to the Treasury's payment system, which houses Americans' data used to send out tax refunds, Social Security and Medicare benefits, grants, loans and other government payments.

February 3, 2025

Trudeau: Trump granted 30-day reprieve on tariffs in exchange for border, fentanyl measures

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said President Trump agreed to delay a 25% tariff on Canada's goods by one month in exchange for stiffer border enforcement and the appointment of a "fentanyl czar" to combat the flow of deadly drugs into the U.S.

February 3, 2025

‘Political corruption’: Speaker Johnson rips New York Democrats’ bid to delay replacing Stefanik

House Speaker Mike Johnson said an effort by New York Democrats to delay a special election to replace Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is tantamount to "political corruption."

February 3, 2025

Jeffries details plans for Democrats to push back on Trump, GOP actions

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries sent a letter to his caucus on Monday detailing the party's strategy for combating President Trump's executive actions and other GOP policies, including using the upcoming government funding negotiations as leverage.

February 3, 2025

New House committee chair devising strategy to pass child online safety bill

Newly installed House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie told The Washington Times he wants to pass legislation to protect children online this Congress after a bipartisan effort sputtered out last session.

February 3, 2025

Senate confirming Trump nominees faster than in his first term, but slower than GOP’s goal

President Trump already has twice the number of Cabinet secretaries confirmed than he did at this point in his first term, but Senate Republicans are poised to fall short of their goal of meeting the confirmation pace set under President Obama.

January 31, 2025

Senate confirms Doug Burgum to head Interior Department

The Senate on Thursday evening confirmed President Trump's primary rival-turned-ally Doug Burgum to serve as interior secretary.

January 30, 2025

Jeffries accuses Trump, GOP of ‘peddling lies’ in claiming DEI contributed to plane crash

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans Thursday of "peddling lies" about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for hiring air traffic controllers contributing to the deadly plane crash in Washington.

January 30, 2025

Kansas senator questions why passenger jet, military helicopter could not directly communicate

Sen. Roger Marshall, Kansas Republican, wants to know why a military helicopter that crashed into a commercial jet carrying passengers from his state was allowed to occupy the same airspace without the ability to directly communicate with the civilian airplanes.

January 30, 2025

Schumer slams Trump for spewing ‘conspiracy theories’ over D.C. plane crash

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said his stomach turned while watching President Trump "spew up conspiracy theories" over the deadly collision of a military helicopter and commercial plane near Washington's Reagan National Airport.

January 30, 2025

White House budget director nominee Vought advances despite Democratic protest

The Senate Budget Committee on Thursday advanced Russell Vought's nomination as Office of Management and Budget director, despite the panel's 10 Democrats skipping the vote in protest.

January 30, 2025

Senate panel advances Stefanik’s nomination as U.N. ambassador

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday advanced Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to serve as ambassador of the United Nations with bipartisan support, with some Democrats objecting to her policies and protesting a foreign aid freeze.

January 30, 2025

Senate confirms Lee Zeldin to lead EPA

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

January 29, 2025

RFK Jr. vows to protect vaccine access, says U.S. faces ruin if it doesn’t get healthier

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified Wednesday he is not a conspiracy theorist and that vaccines are a critical component of health care, using a high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing to defend his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda and accuse Democrats of misconstruing his views or turning on him for partisan reasons.

January 29, 2025

Kennedy says he won’t commit to not suing drug companies as Warren presses him on financial conflict

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday prodded Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to promise not to enrich himself from lawsuits against drug companies if he is confirmed as health secretary, but he declined.

January 29, 2025

RFK Jr. admits he disagrees with Trump on climate change

Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said under questioning during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he and President Trump have different opinions on climate change.

January 29, 2025

Sen. Sanders uses ‘unvaxed, unafraid’ and ‘no vax, no problem’ onesies to press RFK Jr. on vaccines

Sen. Bernard Sanders signaled he does not believe Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s about-face on vaccines as he pressed the health secretary nominee on anti-vaccine onesies the nonprofit he founded is selling.

January 29, 2025