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Trump unveils his lineup for FDA, CDC and surgeon general
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced his choices to lead two of the country’s top public health agencies late Friday, as well as his pick for surgeon general. Former Florida Congressman Dave Weldon will be tapped to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Marty Makary will be nominated for commissioner of the […]
For Housing and Urban Development, Trump taps Texan Scott Turner
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump late Friday announced his intent to nominate former NFL player and Texas state lawmaker Scott Turner to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Scott will work alongside me to Make America Great Again for EVERY American,” Trump said in a statement. Turner, if confirmed by the Senate, […]
Former Florida AG Pam Bondi gets Trump’s latest nod for attorney general
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday evening he plans to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his newest pick for U.S. attorney general. Trump’s announcement came just hours after another Floridian, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew as Trump’s expected nominee for the country’s top law enforcement job. Gaetz was tapped to be nominated […]
Michigan Dem senator slams DHS, FBI chiefs for refusing to publicly testify before Congress
WASHINGTON — Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Gary Peters criticized the leaders of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security for refusing to publicly testify in a scheduled Thursday hearing about worldwide threats to the nation, a departure from norms that could set a precedent for the incoming Trump administration. FBI Director Christopher […]
Matt Gaetz bows out as Trump’s pick for attorney general
WASHINGTON — Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he’s withdrawing as President-elect Donald Trump’s planned nominee for attorney general days after securing the appointment. Gaetz’s path to Senate confirmation was highly unlikely following years of investigations about alleged drug usage and payments for sex, including with an underage girl. He submitted his resignation to […]
U.S. House Dem quartet calls for Biden to spare lives of federal death row inmates
WASHINGTON — House Democrats and anti-death penalty advocates pressed Wednesday for President Joe Biden to save the lives of federal death row inmates before his term expires in January. The push comes as President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. The former president expedited 13 executions of people on federal death […]
How will Republicans handle 7 key issues with their trifecta control of Washington?
WASHINGTON — Republicans in the Nov. 5 election took over the White House, the U.S. Senate and as of late Wednesday, the House, after calls were made in enough races to project a majority. They are expressing high hopes for unified control of government. But before they’ll be able to celebrate enacting sweeping changes to […]
South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune elected as next majority leader for Republicans
WASHINGTON — Republicans on Wednesday elected their leadership teams for the next Congress, opting for a new slate in the Senate while reelecting many of the same lawmakers in the House. South Dakota Sen. John Thune will become that chamber’s next majority leader, marking the first time since 2007 that Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell hasn’t […]
Trump readies for mass deportations with reported pick of Noem as Homeland Security chief
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday night he will nominate South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which will carry out Trump’s plan to conduct mass deportations of millions of people in the country without proper legal status. “Kristi has been very strong on Border Security,” Trump […]
For EPA chief, Trump picks former Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump Monday said he will nominate former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to serve as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin, also a former GOP candidate for New York governor, said on social media that it would be an honor to be appointed to Trump’s Cabinet. The Senate, […]
Trump taps former acting ICE director as his new ‘border czar’
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump late Sunday announced he will appoint Tom Homan as “border czar” in his administration as Trump seeks to carry out his campaign commitment of mass deportations of immigrants who lack permanent legal status. Homan is the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the previous Trump administration who […]
Federal judge rejects Biden policy shielding immigrant spouses, children from deportation
WASHINGTON — A federal judge late Thursday struck down a White House policy that created a pathway to citizenship for people in the country lacking permanent status who were married to a U.S. citizen. Eastern District of Texas Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority and the program “stretches legal interpretation […]