Lindsey McPherson

CIA Director nominee John Ratcliffe clears Senate hurdle, set for confirmation later Thursday

The Senate advanced John Ratcliffe's nomination for Central Intelligence Agency director in a key test vote, effectively guaranteeing he will be confirmed in a final vote later Thursday.

January 23, 2025

Senate Finance Committee schedules Kennedy’s confirmation hearing for health secretary

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a confirmation hearing next Wednesday on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to serve as Health and Human Services secretary.

January 22, 2025

Democrats kill Born-Alive legislation as senators spar over abortion policy

Senate Democrats derailed a bill Wednesday that would have required medical providers to perform life-saving care for babies born alive after a failed abortion.

January 22, 2025

Tax hearing highlights GOP divisions over SALT deduction, child tax credit

House lawmakers testified Wednesday before the Ways and Means Committee on their tax priorities, highlighting a shared goal to prevent massive tax increases set to hit at the end of the year but exposing divisions on the more nuanced details.

January 22, 2025

Hegseth’s former sister-in-law goes public with allegations of alcohol, spousal abuse

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law submitted an affidavit to the Senate Armed Services Committee saying she believes he "has an alcohol abuse problem and was abusive to his ex-wife Samantha."

January 21, 2025

House GOP eyes birthright citizenship bill to back Trump’s executive order

Rep. Brian Babin announced a bill Tuesday to deny birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants, moving to add some legislative heft to President Trump's new crusade.

January 21, 2025

Senate confirms Rubio as secretary of state; committees approve other national security nominees

The Senate on Monday evening unanimously confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, providing President Trump the first member of his Cabinet on Inauguration Day.

January 20, 2025

Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves Rubio nomination for secretary of state

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee late Monday afternoon approved Marco Rubio's nomination to serve as secretary of state, and a floor vote on his confirmation is expected later in the night.

January 20, 2025

Trump attends traditional Capitol Hill luncheon after swearing-in

President Trump attended his inaugural luncheon in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol after taking the official oath of office, continuing an afternoon of celebrations.

January 20, 2025

Rubio likely to be confirmed on Inauguration Day when Senate begins voting on Trump picks

The Senate will begin voting on President-elect Donald Trump's top nominees in the coming week, with Republicans hoping Democrats will cooperate to confirm at least one on Inauguration Day.

January 17, 2025

Republicans eye big defense spending boost in party-line bill

Congressional Republicans, sick of the annual push-pull with Democrats over defense and domestic spending priorities, are planning to include a significant defense spending boost in their party-line budget reconciliation bill.

January 16, 2025

Trump budget nominee, lawmakers spar over spending powers

Congress is gearing up for a potential separation of powers fight with the incoming Trump administration over who has the final pull of the purse strings.

January 15, 2025

Trump administration will get federal workers back in offices, budget director nominee says

The incoming Trump administration will try to get federal workers back into offices and reduce telework, the nominee to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget said Wednesday.

January 15, 2025

Trump budget director nominee says he wants to avoid government shutdowns

Russell Vought, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to run the White House Office of Management and Budget, said at his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he would not push to shut down the government over funding fights.

January 15, 2025

Joni Ernst announces support for Pete Hegseth after Defense Dept. nominee’s confirmation hearing

Pete Hegseth's nomination for secretary of the Defense Department has enough Republican support needed to clear the Senate Armed Services Committee after he picked up a key endorsement after his confirmation hearing.

January 14, 2025

Pete Hegseth still on track to lead Defense Department after confirmation hearing

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department, survived his confirmation hearing Tuesday without drawing any GOP opposition or new lines of attack from Democrats.

January 14, 2025

Sen. Markwayne Mullin accuses senators of hypocrisy during Hegseth hearing

Sen. Markwayne Mullin electrified a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday by accusing fellow senators of carousing and voting while drunk even as they accused defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth of unseemly behavior.

January 14, 2025

Democrats prod Hegseth over expertise to lead Pentagon

Senate Armed Services Democrats questioned Pete Hegseth about his qualifications to lead the Defense Department, given his limited management experience.

January 14, 2025

Ernst secures pledges from Hegseth on DOD audit, combating sexual assault in military

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, one of the Republican senators who has yet to say whether she will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, secured key commitments from the nominee during his confirmation hearing Tuesday.

January 14, 2025

Hegseth questioned on past comments that women should not serve in combat roles

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth defended his past comments about women serving in combat, saying he is focused on standards that have eroded for such roles, not the gender of the service member.

January 14, 2025