John Thune News

Trump has named two entrepreneurs to a task force that aims for a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. government, which spent $6.8 trillion in the most recent fiscal year. Musk has set a target of $2 trillion in savings, though he has not said whether that would come in a single year or over a longer period. The two chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency have called for firing thousands of federal workers, slashing regulations and eliminating programs whose authorization has expired, such as veterans' healthcare.

Senate Republicans plugged away overnight and into early Saturday morning to approve their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts framework, hurling past a hard line of Democratic opposition toward what President Donald Trump calls the «big, beautiful bill» that's central to his agenda. The vote, 51-48, fell along mostly party lines. It could not have come at a more difficult political moment. The U.S. economy is churning after Trump's vast tariff scheme sent stocks plummeting, and experts are warning of soaring costs for consumers at home and threats of a potential recession. Even some Republicans have expressed concerns. But with a nod from Trump GOP leaders held determined to march ahead. Approval paves the way for Republicans, in the months ahead, to try to power a tax cut bill through both chambers of Congress over the objections of Democrats, just as they did in Trump's first term with unified party control in Washington. «Let the voting begin,» Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday night. The evening kicked off what's called vote-a-rama as Democrats were intent on making the effort as politically painful as possible, with votes on some two dozen amendments to the package that GOP senators will have to defend before next year's midterm elections.

Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general Tuesday evening, putting a longtime ally of Donald Trump at the helm of a Justice Department that has already been rattled by the firings of career employees seen as disloyal to the Republican president.

Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation's defense secretary Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.

Senate has failed to pass legislation to create a national right to in vitro fertilisation (IVF), with Republicans blocking the effort for a second time this year. The vote was 51-44, falling short of the 60 votes needed. Only two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, supported the bill. Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the Senate's decision, saying Republicans have shown they will not protect access to fertility treatments. President Joe Biden also expressed his disappointment, calling the situation «outrageous and unacceptable.» Democrats, led by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, accused Republicans of hypocrisy. Duckworth pointed out that many Republicans claim to support IVF but refuse to vote for legislation guaranteeing its availability. “They say they support IVF—here you go, vote on this," Duckworth said.

By David Morgan

By Makini Brice and Ted Hesson

By David Shepardson

It would be ideal for the industry for Congress to weigh in on its fate rather than leaving it to unelected regulators at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To that end, representatives from both sides of the aisle have introduced bills designed to offer “regulatory clarity.” The moderate position seems to favor placing crypto mostly under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).