Makeover in store for Congress with flood of lawmakers headed for the exits
At least 13% of Congress is turning over — the highest rate in more than three decades — as dozens of lawmakers retire or seek other offices ahead of the 2026 elections.
Jennifer Shutt
Articles by Jennifer Shutt
Trump budget seeks 43% boost in defense spending, cuts in many domestic programs
The Trump administration's fiscal 2027 budget request proposes raising Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion while cutting the EPA by 52%, HHS by 12.5%, and the Small Business Administration by 67%, setting up another contentious fight on Capitol Hill.
Homeland Security shutdown drags on, but Trump says he’ll sign order to pay all employees
The U.S. Senate approved a Department of Homeland Security funding bill Thursday — for the second time in a week — but the House declined to act during a brief session, extending the DHS shutdown as members remain on a two-week spring break until April 14.
Trump order to block NPR, PBS funding was unlawful, judge rules
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Trump's executive order directing agencies to cut all funding to NPR and PBS is unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment — though Congress has separately moved to eliminate $1.1 billion in public broadcasting funding.
US Senate turns down photo ID requirement for voting, slammed by Dems as ‘theatrics’
The U.S. Senate rejected Ohio Sen. Jon Husted's amendment to require photo ID for federal elections in a 53-47 procedural vote, as Democrats warned the measure would burden mail-in voters.
Lawmakers spar over Homeland Security funding deal as shutdown strains airport security
Senate Republicans offered Democrats a deal to reopen DHS — shut down since mid-February — while floating reconciliation to fund immigration enforcement and elements of Trump's voter ID bill. Democrats insist on ICE reforms before any agreement.
Congress could soon be asked by Trump to come up with $200 billion for his Iran war
Trump may seek up to $200 billion for the Iran war, drawing sharp Democratic opposition and facing major hurdles in a divided Congress.
Six more US troops killed in Iran war, in crash of refueling aircraft
The U.S. death toll in the Iran war reached 13 after a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, as the Pentagon acknowledged an ongoing investigation into a U.S. missile strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed at least 168 people.
Dems demand swift Pentagon investigation into deadly air strike on girls’ school in Iran
Nearly every Senate Democrat has signed a letter demanding the Pentagon swiftly release findings from its investigation into a U.S. military strike that killed at least 168 people at a girls' elementary school in Iran.
What’s the cost of Trump’s war in Iran? US House Dem asks budget agency to add it up
House Budget Committee ranking member Brendan Boyle has asked the Congressional Budget Office to estimate the cost of the U.S. war against Iran, including scenarios involving ground troops and a conflict lasting longer than four to five weeks.
Republicans stand by Trump’s war against Iran, reject war powers role for Congress
Republican lawmakers say they won’t restrict President Trump’s military operations in Iran as Democrats push for a War Powers vote requiring congressional approval.
Death toll for US service members in Iran war at 4 as Trump projects weeks of conflict
President Trump says the U.S. war with Iran will continue without a set timeline as troop deployments increase, casualties rise and Congress prepares war powers votes.
