All articles tagged with #gop senators
Ten Republican senators are urging the Trump administration to release over $6 billion in federal education funds that were paused during a review, emphasizing the importance of local control and congressional approval, amid ongoing debates over education policy and administration efforts to dismantle the Education Department.
President Trump is engaging with GOP senators to garner support for his domestic policy bill, which faces challenges from within his party over issues like Medicaid benefits, spending cuts, and energy tax credits, with negotiations ongoing to pass the legislation before July 4.
President-elect Trump is not actively supporting Pete Hegseth, his nominee for the Department of Defense, as Hegseth faces skepticism from GOP senators. This marks the potential loss of a third nominee for Trump in two weeks. Hegseth's nomination is troubled by his controversial views on women in combat and allegations of sexual misconduct. Despite Hegseth's efforts to gain support, including promises of sobriety and seeking endorsements from House Republicans, his chances remain uncertain as more senators express doubts.
Pete Hegseth's nomination for Defense Secretary is in jeopardy as key GOP senators express doubts about his suitability, amid allegations of misconduct, including a 2017 sexual assault claim. While no Republicans have outright opposed him, several are undecided, raising concerns about his confirmation. Trump's team is considering alternatives like Joni Ernst and Ron DeSantis. Hegseth's upcoming meetings with influential senators, including Ernst, are critical to his nomination's survival.
GOP senators have expressed strong support for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, following a private meeting, despite allegations of financial and sexual misconduct against him. Senators Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, and Cynthia Lummis praised Hegseth's vision for military reforms and dismissed the allegations as distractions. Hegseth's confirmation could be jeopardized if four moderate Republicans oppose him, and he may need some Democratic support if Republican votes waver.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, leading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aim to cut $2 trillion in federal spending by targeting several agencies, including the Pentagon, Department of Education, and IRS. They propose reducing bureaucracy and unauthorized spending, but face challenges as such cuts require Congressional approval. GOP senators, forming a 'DOGE caucus,' support these efforts, though none are on the Senate Appropriations Committee. The initiative may lead to significant layoffs and restructuring within federal agencies.
A group of top Senate Republican leaders, led by Sen. Dan Sullivan, is urging President Biden to block oil sanctions relief for Venezuela, arguing that the authoritarian regime has failed to meet key requirements related to ensuring fair elections. The lawmakers warned that appeasing dictators does not work and called on Biden to reinstate and fully enforce all U.S. sanctions on the Maduro regime. They expressed concern that lifting U.S. sanctions would embolden authoritarian aggressors such as China, Iran, and Russia. The Biden administration is expected to issue a decision on sanctions relief for the Venezuelan oil sector this week.
Republican senators successfully convinced House Speaker Mike Johnson to delay the delivery of two impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, fearing that Senate Democrats would swiftly dismiss them once a trial begins. The delay allows more time for debate and prevents the trial from being tabled ahead of the weekend, with GOP senators also discussing plans to halt legislative business if Democrats table the trial. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not indicated what Democrats will do, but Republican senators believe their caucus will seek a strategic procedural maneuver.
Ten GOP senators are demanding Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to release files on why Venezuelan migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, accused of killing Laken Riley, was granted immigration parole into the U.S. The senators are seeking answers on the humanitarian reasons or public benefit justifying the decision and have requested Ibarra's case file by March 8. Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, is charged with multiple offenses including malice murder and false imprisonment. Fox News reported that Ibarra was fired from his job at the University of Georgia after presenting a fake green card.
Several GOP senators are breaking with former President Trump as Congress moves closer to passing a bipartisan foreign aid package, signaling a shift in the party's stance on international assistance. The legislation, which includes funding for global health programs and humanitarian aid, has garnered support from both Democrats and Republicans, highlighting a departure from Trump's "America First" approach to foreign policy.
The Oregon Supreme Court upheld the disqualification of 10 Republican state senators from seeking reelection due to their record-long walkout last year, which paralyzed the legislative session. The decision, based on Measure 113, amended the state constitution to bar lawmakers from reelection if they have more than 10 unexcused absences. The senators' lawsuit against the secretary of state's decision was dismissed, and despite the significant turnover of Republican senators, the Senate minority leader expressed support for future walkouts based on principles.
The Oregon Supreme Court upheld the decision to disqualify 10 Republican state senators from seeking reelection after they staged a record-long walkout last year to stall bills on abortion, transgender health care, and gun rights. The court's decision aligns with a voter-approved measure, Measure 113, which amended the state constitution to bar lawmakers from reelection if they have more than 10 unexcused absences. The senators had sued over the secretary of state's decision, but the court ruled against them, stating that the intent of Measure 113 was to prevent truant lawmakers from holding office in the next term.
Conservative GOP senators are expressing concerns about a bipartisan plan that ties together border programs and aid to Ukraine, fearing it would not effectively address migration issues and could give President Joe Biden a victory on a hot-button campaign issue. Former President Donald Trump has also pressured congressional Republicans to reject the deal, leading to delicate negotiations and political challenges. The debate is not only about policy but also influenced by election year politics, with some senators worried about the impact on the 2024 GOP frontrunner.
Senate GOP lawmakers are criticizing the $1.66 trillion budget agreement between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, arguing that it neglects Republican suggestions for budget cuts and exceeds promised spending levels. With looming deadlines to fund federal agencies and avert a government shutdown, GOP senators are pushing for better fiscal responsibility and expressing concerns about the budget's impact on national debt and inflation. Despite potential opposition, the budget is expected to reach the 60 votes needed to pass, with negotiations ongoing to address conservative policy additions and potential confrontations.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and Josh Hawley for their treatment of President Joe Biden's judicial nominee Adeel Mangi during his confirmation hearing. The senators berated and interrupted Mangi, who is Muslim, with irrelevant and hostile questions about the Israeli-Hamas conflict and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. CAIR called the line of questioning Islamophobic and urged senators to assess Muslim American judicial nominees based on their expertise and qualifications. The Republican senators' questioning was seen as either terrible optics or plainly Islamophobic, and Mangi repeatedly denounced terrorism and antisemitism during the hearing.