Republican Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) said she “strongly” opposes the White House’s move to fire hundreds of furloughed federal workers, calling the layoffs announced Friday “arbitrary.”
“I strongly oppose [Office of Management and Budget] Director Russ Vought’s attempt to permanently lay off federal workers who have been furloughed due to a completely unnecessary government shutdown caused by Senator Schumer,” Collins said in a statement posted to the Senate Appropriations...
The Hill
What is the controversy over Adelita Grijalva being sworn into Congress?
Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is poised to fill a vacancy in the House left by her father, the late Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva, but her swearing-in has been unexpectedly delayed.
Adelita Grijalva was elected last month during a special election following her father's death.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Grijalva she will be formally sworn in to the 119th Congress once lawmakers in the lower chamber return after being sent home for th...
Thune accuses Schumer of being ‘checked out’ in search for shutdown deal
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Friday accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of being “checked out” in the search for a resolution to end the government shutdown.
Thune made the remark during a press conference where he slammed the Democratic leader for hailing the shutdown as a political-plus for his party that “gets better” daily, indicating he has no plans to meet with him amid the impasse.
“I think Leader Schumer’s checked o...
Gallego: Johnson ‘probably going to lose the Speakership’
Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) said Thursday that Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was likely to lose a chance at another term as House Speaker over his decision not to bring the lower chamber back in session amid the government shutdown.
“Johnson sent his team home, not necessarily just to put pressure on us, but so he doesn‘t get pressure from his own members,” Gallego said during a Thursday appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”
“He‘s barely going to win, and he‘s ...
White House to begin ‘substantial’ shutdown layoffs of federal workers
The White House said Friday it had started laying off federal workers, following through on a threat to carry out reductions in force (RIFs) amid an ongoing government shutdown.
"The RIFs have begun," Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought posted on social platform X.
An OMB spokesperson confirmed the layoffs had started "and they are substantial." But they did not provide information on how many employees or which agencies were im...
Jeffries says handshake deal to address health care is not enough to end shutdown
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Friday that a GOP commitment to address ObamaCare subsidies later in the year is not enough to end the government shutdown.
Jeffries said Republicans have tried for more than a decade to gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including a repeal effort in President Trump’s first term, leaving Democrats distrustful of any health care deals with GOP leaders that aren’t set in stone with legislation.
"Republicans ...
Watch: Thune, Johnson hold joint press conference as government shutdown persists
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) spoke with reporters Friday afternoon as the government shutdown is expected to stretch into next week.
Republicans have largely been united in their pressure on Democrats to pass a "clean" continuing resolution that would fund the government at the previous level through Nov. 21. The Senate has failed to convince enough Democrats to defect in order to pass the stopgap funding bill with seven...
Watch live: Jeffries speaks amid government shutdown stalemate
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will give remarks Friday morning, as Democrats and Republicans have struggled to make any progress on a deal to reopen the government.
Frustrations are high among lawmakers as Democrats refuse to buck on health care demands and Republicans cast the blame for the government shutdown on the left. The stalemate has let to tensions, including sparring between Jeffries and his Republican colleagues after he refused to support a shor...
Senate Democrat: Greene doing better economic messaging job than some Democrats
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) commended Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for sticking up for health insurance premiums on behalf of her constituents, saying the lawmaker is doing a "better" job than some Democrats on economic messaging amid the government shutdown.
“She’s not doing better than me, but she’s definitely doing it better than a lot of Democrats,” Gallego said during a Thursday appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”
“Marjorie Taylor Greene is right,...
Trump loses bid for coveted Nobel Peace Prize
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