Trump’s bipartisan-backed labor pick clears last hurdle before Cabinet confirmation
President Donald Trump’s Labor secretary nominee, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, advanced past her last procedural vote on Thursday, teeing up a final confirmation vote next week. The nominee easily got past the last hurdle by a 66-30 bipartisan vote. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against the motion, the only Republican to do so. Chavez-DeRemer is now one step closer to becoming the secretary of the Department of Labor, and she will face a final vote on Monday. INSIDE ELON MUSK’S HUDDLE WITH GOP SENATORS: DOGE HEAD TOUTS $4M SAVINGS PER DAY Several Democrats ended up voting to move the Trump nominee forward, including Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Adam Schiff of California and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. She recently managed to get past the key Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) with bipartisan backing. There was initially some uncertainty whether her nomination would be reported out favorably, as Paul had pledged to oppose her. Chavez-DeRemer ultimately received 14 votes to advance from the committee last month, with nine senators opposing. She earned the votes of Hassan, Hickenlooper and Kaine, in addition to nearly all Republicans, except for Paul. In a previous statement announcing her support prior to the committee vote, Hassan said, “The Department of Labor plays an integral role in supporting workers and small businesses alike, and after hearing significant support from constituents, including members of labor unions in New Hampshire, I will support Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination as Secretary of Labor.” EXCLUSIVE: ELON MUSK PAC THANKS TRUMP FOR ‘SAVING THE AMERICAN DREAM’ IN NEW MILLION-DOLLAR AD “Though we may not agree on everything, after meeting with Representative Chavez-DeRemer and listening to her testimony during her confirmation hearing, I believe that she is qualified to serve as the next secretary of labor, and I look forward to working with her to support New Hampshire’s workers and small businesses,” she continued. After attending Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday, Chavez-DeRemer told Fox News Digital she was “grateful” to have gotten some Democratic support in committee. HOUSE GOPERS HOPE TRUMP KEEPS DOOR TO MINERAL DEAL OPEN FOR UKRAINE DESPITE OVAL OFFICE DISPUTE During her hearing, Chavez-DeRemer was questioned over her past support for the controversial Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would effectively kill state-level laws that bar employers and unions from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. Republicans have long opposed overturning such right-to-work laws at the state level. GOP REBELS FIRE WARNING SHOT IN SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: NO DOGE, NO DEAL Trump’s labor pick recently walked back her support for the policy as she was questioned by senators. “Like President Trump, I believe our labor laws need to be updated and modernized to reflect today’s workforce and the business environment,” she said during the hearing. “As a member of Congress, the PRO Act was the bill to have those conversations that mattered deeply to the people of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. I recognize that that bill was imperfect, and I also recognize that I am no longer representing Oregon as a lawmaker.”
Why a Rio Grande Valley hospital is helping to feed its patients
As the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texas’ food deserts.
Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ will need Manhattan Project-scale whole-of-government effort, Space Force general warns
President Donald Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense project will require a whole-of-government effort on par with the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb, according to a Space Force general. “This is on the order of magnitude of Manhattan Project, and it’s going to take concerted effort from the very top of our government. It’s going to take a national will to bring all this together,” Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, told a gathering of defense industry experts on Wednesday. The ‘Golden Dome’ idea stemmed from Israel’s Iron Dome. With the help of the U.S., it employs an invisible boundary that triggers interceptors when short-range missiles are fired toward its territory. But the Golden Dome has proved a more daunting project for guarding the U.S., which is close to 500 times the size of Israel and would likely be threatened more by long-range than short-range missiles. FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S ‘IRON DOME’ PLAN FOR AMERICA Guetlein said the project will require unprecedented cooperation across the defense and intelligence agencies. “We are in full planning mode,” the official said at the National Security Innovation Base Summit hosted by the Ronald Reagan Institute. “We owe an answer back to the White House by the end of the month on what our thoughts are.” The Golden Dome would need to protect the U.S. from a range of threats – including hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, advanced cruise missiles. Early detection would rely on space-based sensors that would trigger rapid-response missile interceptors. “It’s going to be a heavy lift across all the organizations that are going to be participating. And what we’ve got to really push back on are the organizational boundaries and the cultures that are going to try to slow us down or to prevent us from working together,” Guetlein said. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is “really good at protection of the homeland from an ICBM,” according to Guetlein, but they need the Space Force to build space capabilities, and the Air Force and Army to manage counter-drone systems. ‘STAR TREK SHIELD’ TECHNOLOGY GETS $250M BOOST TO KNOCK DRONE SWARMS FROM THE SKY WITH HIGH-POWERED MICROWAVE The National Reconnaissance Office, which operates the U.S.’s spy satellites, also has space capabilities needed for homeland protection. Guetlein said the nation would have to “break down the barriers” between Title 10 and Title 50 of the United States Code, the federal laws that govern the nation’s defense and clandestine operations. “Without a doubt, our biggest challenge is going to be organizational behavior and culture to bring all the pieces together,” Guetlein said. The Golden Dome would be a major step up from the current Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system, which relies on missile interceptors stationed in Alaska and California designed to protect the homeland from a small number of ballistic missiles that could be fired from North Korea. Guetlein said Iran has provided a “real life example” in the Middle East, where U.S. forces helped thwart a barrage of missiles targeting Israel last year. Trump said during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday that he would be asking lawmakers to appropriate funds for the project. “My focus is on building the most powerful military of the future,” Trump said. “As a first step, I’m asking Congress to fund a state-of-the-art, ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense shield to protect our homeland – all made in the USA.” The president claimed that Ronald Reagan had wanted to build such a system, but it wasn’t possible given the technology of the time. “Israel has it, other places have it, and the United States should have it, too,” he said. “This is a very dangerous world. We should have it. We want to be protected. And we’re going to protect our citizens like never before.”
Newsom calls biological men in women’s sports ‘deeply unfair’ in podcast with conservative activist
California Gov. Gavin Newsom found common ground with Turning Point USA founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk when the liberal governor – who has been rumored to be eyeing a 2028 presidential run – agreed that biological men in women’s sports is “deeply unfair.” “The young man who’s about to win the state championship in the long jump in female sports, that shouldn’t happen,” Kirk said on Newsom’s debut episode on his new podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” on Thursday. “You, as the governor, should step out and say no. Would you do something like that? Would you say no men in female sports?” “Well, I think it’s an issue of fairness,” Newsom replied. “I completely agree with you on that. It’s deeply unfair.” GAVIN NEWSOM ASKS CHARLIE KIRK TO GIVE HIS PARTY ‘ADVICE’ IN ONE-ON-ONE PODCAST INTERVIEW Kirk further pressed Newsom on whether he would condemn the recent victory of a transgender track athlete with a more than 40-foot jump at Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California. Newsom didn’t directly address the win, but said “it’s a fairness issue.” “So that’s easy to call out the unfairness of that,” Newsom, the Democratic Party’s torchbearer, said. “There’s also a humility and a grace… these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression, and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.” “So both things I can hold in my hand,” the governor continued. “How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think you know is inherent in you, but not always expressed on the issue?” KAROLINE LEAVITT ADDRESSES DEMOCRATS DEFYING TRANS ATHLETE BAN DEMAND: ‘CAN’T SAY YOU ARE THE PARTY OF WOMEN’ Transgender athletes in California have long been protected prior to Newsom’s administration under AB 1266, also known as the School Success and Opportunity Act. The law was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, in August 2013. However, Senate Bill 132, also known as the Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act, allows inmates to request cells and searches that align with their gender identity, which Newsom signed in September 2020. Newsom agreed that trans issues are something his party is “getting crushed on,” which Kirk said he should express “compassion” about while calling out cases like the recent incident in Jurupa Valley High School as “not fair.” The portion of the conversation came up after Kirk told Newsom to “get better ideas” if Democrats want to make a comeback among the younger generation. The student, AB Hernandez, won an invitational meet on Feb. 22, booting out a female runner-up who had jumped just over 32 feet in their competition category. Hernandez also took first place in two other events at the meet. The wins come as all Senate Democrats voted against a bill that would ban transgender women from women’s sports nationwide last month. The bill failed to meet the 60-vote threshold needed in the upper chamber, with lawmakers voting along party lines 51-45. TRUMP ADMIN PROBING SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL EVEN AFTER CHANGING POLICY TO FOLLOW EXEC ORDER President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” in February, which said transgender athletes in women sports is “demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls.” The order requires institutions receiving federal funding to abide by Title IX and follow the definitions of biological sex.
Youngkin walks political tightrope, balancing support for DOGE workforce cuts with mega-job fair
Virginia officials hosted a virtual statewide hiring event Wednesday, showcasing at least 10,000 job openings, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin continues to support President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agenda while offering empathy for people in his state who are affected. “Virginia is open for business and ready to help you succeed: offering opportunities for anyone navigating a career transition,” Youngkin said of the initiative. “Your experience is invaluable, your skills are transferable, and you have access to a broad range of job opportunities in America’s Top State for Business. With our resources and support, we’re here to help you thrive in Virginia’s robust job market.” Youngkin has long touted Virginia’s improved business environment over the three years since Democratic predecessor Ralph Northam left office. YOUNGKIN INVITES NEW TRUMP ADMIN TO SETTLE IN VA OVER MD, DC; TOUTING OLD DOMINION’S BIGGEST DRAWS Another recent initiative entailed openly inviting all of Trump’s aides and new hires to settle in Virginia versus the District of Columbia or Maryland due to their higher-ranking schools and overall tax environment. VirginiaWorks, which doubles as the Virginia Department of Workforce Development, said the fair featured virtual “booths” to meet with prospective employers, job search resources and live video interview opportunities. Major participants included CACI, a California-founded information technology company now based in Reston, Virginia – as well as Newport News shipbuilders at the other end of the state. Virginia’s efforts to recruit workers both affected by DOGE’s job cuts and from throughout the other parts of the Old Dominion will continue in earnest, a source familiar told Fox News Digital. Youngkin said last week he has “extraordinary empathy for the fact that there are many workers in Virginia from our federal workforce who are experiencing real concerns.” CLIMATE PROTESTERS INTERRUPT YOUNGKIN’S 9/11 SPEECH With at least 140,000 federal employees in his state, Youngkin said there are a quarter million openings across the Potomac in Virginia, and 100,000 in the DC Metro region of the commonwealth. Defending DOGE last week in McLean, Youngkin said we “have a federal government that is inefficient, and we have an administration that is taking on that challenge of rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse.” Youngkin hails from neighboring Falls Church, where he previously worked as a business executive for the Carlyle Group and has influenced his work in Richmond with his experience in the private sector. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Youngkin’s virtual hiring event and position toward hiring ousted bureaucrats does have its vocal critics, including former top Jeb Bush aide Tim Miller. Miller, a frequent Trump critic who is largely dissociated from today’s GOP, said on a podcast Wednesday that Youngkin’s move made him “break out in hives,” and scoffed at the governor’s “response to many of his constituents getting capriciously fired by 23-year-old vape-ers.” Virginia Democratic Party chairwoman Susan Swecker added in a statement that Youngkin’s support for DOGE shows a “gross misunderstanding of what it means to be jobless and without a paycheck, but he is shamelessly trying to play both sides by pretending to support federal workers while kissing the rings of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.”
Top Trump agency flips script on Biden admin awarding illegals with taxpayer benefits: ‘Record invasion’
FIRST ON FOX: The Small Business Administration announced a series of reforms on Thursday aimed at ensuring illegal immigrants don’t receive taxpayer benefits and removing offices from sanctuary cities. The SBA, led by administrator Kelly Loeffler, said in a press release that it will “put American citizens first by ending taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens.” The agency says that in the coming days it will implement a new policy that requires SBA loan applicants to include citizenship verification provision that will ensure only legal citizens are accessing its programs. The press release explains that lenders will also need to confirm that businesses are not owned in “whole or in part by an illegal alien” in order to be consistent with President Trump’s executive order that prohibits “taxpayer subsidization of open borders.” Six regional offices located in sanctuary cities will also be relocated, according to the press release. GOP FIGHTS BACK AGAINST ‘TRUMP-PROOF’ SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS Those offices include locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle. The agency says that the new locations will be less costly, more accessible, and in areas that “better serve the small business community and that comply with federal immigration law.” “Over the last four years, the record invasion of illegal aliens has jeopardized both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of American small business owners, who have each become victims of Joe Biden’s migrant crime spree,” Loeffler said. BOSTON MAYOR FACES HEAT OVER SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES AS PATRIOTS OWNER’S SON GOES ON OFFENSIVE “Under President Trump, the SBA is committed to putting American citizens first again – starting by ensuring that zero taxpayer dollars go to fund illegal aliens.” Loeffler continued, “Today, I am pleased to announce that this agency will cut off access to loans for illegal aliens and relocate our regional offices out of sanctuary cities that reward criminal behavior. We will return our focus to empowering legal, eligible business owners across the United States – in partnership with the municipalities who share this Administration’s commitment to secure borders and safe communities.” The announcement comes shortly after four Democrat mayors were grilled by Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill over their sanctuary city policies.
Trump to shift away from DEI visa policy that ‘surged’ under Biden, expert says
President Donald Trump will likely extend his battle against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies into changes of an often overlooked visa program. “Clearly, we are in a paradigm shift; the manner in which ‘national interest’ is defined, is dynamic and evolving,” Joshua Bratter, one of country’s leading authorities on immigration, told Fox News Digital. The comments come as Trump has continued to fight against DEI policies across the federal government, a battle that is likely to extend into Trump’s revamp of U.S. immigration policies. DEMOCRATS UNIMPRESSED BY TRUMP’S GESTURE TO FAMILY OF YOUNG GIRL KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Bratter believes part of that shift will be seen in how potential migrants are vetted under the EB-2 Visa National Interest Waiver category, a type of visa that Bratter said “surged” during the Biden administration. “This category was designed originally for a highly skilled engineer who was building infrastructure in the United States, and it was for an architect and designer of bridges. So you look back to the legislative intent, and it was to provide a category that was expedited and free of the traditional job offers based on advancing a U.S. national interest,” Bratter said. What exactly defines the national interest is likely to change from administration to administration, Bratter noted, arguing that Trump is likely to shift away from the DEI and climate focus of the previous administration. TRUMP HONORS LIVES OF LAKEN RILEY, JOCELYN NUNGARAY WHILE CELEBRATING STRIDES ON SECURING BORDER “This administration, as they had in their prior term, reflected interest in areas like space exploration, military defense, military exploration, space exploration, emerging technologies, use of artificial intelligence for the purposes of optimization and efficiency in the workplace,” Bratter said. That is a shift away from Biden, who focused more on “sustainable energy, renewable energy, areas of climate.” “These are areas that this administration has indicated do not reflect U.S. national interests. And national interest is a very niche, specialized area that focuses on a unique class of individuals,” Bratter said. Bratter also pointed to the Trump administration’s interest in cryptocurrency and its broader move toward overall efficiency in government overall with the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “When you have an administration that has included in issues like DOGE and efficiency and emerging technology and the idea of potentially a crypto reserve within the dialog of their goals, you begin to see that the national interest may begin to shift to reflect goals that are consistent with those objectives,” Bratter said.
SCOOP: Dems who derailed Al Green censure could be stripped of House committee roles
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., has filed a resolution to punish the Democrats who derailed House floor proceedings as Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was censured on Thursday. “We have a country to run. The failed policies of Joe Biden is why they lost the House, why they lost the Senate, why they lost the presidency. They can lick their wounds all day, but they still have to behave on the House floor,” Ogles told Fox News Digital in a brief interview. “We can disagree on issues and politics, but we’re gonna respect one another, and I’m tired of this crap.” Ogles’ resolution is aimed at stripping committee assignments from the Democratic lawmakers who temporarily plunged the House into chaos on Thursday. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CONCLUDES REMARKS AFTER DECLARING ‘AMERICA’S MOMENTUM IS BACK’ He told Fox News Digital that he intends to deem the resolution “privileged,” meaning House leaders will have two legislative days to take the measure up. It could be voted on as early as next week, when Ogles is planning on broaching the matter with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. All but 12 House Democrats voted against censuring Green for disrupting President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. Ten Democrats voted with Republicans to reprimand Green, while two, including the Texas lawmaker himself, voted “present.” Before the formal censure could be read out to Green, however, Democrats upended House floor proceedings by gathering with the Texas Democrat and singing “We Shall Overcome.” Johnson was forced to call the House into a recess after failing multiple times to quell the protest. The House floor briefly descended into chaos as a small group of Republicans and Democrats continued confronting each other, with one Republican heard calling Democrats “embarrassing” for their behavior. Ogles’ resolution, first obtained by Fox News Digital, directs the House Sergeant-at-Arms to “provide a determination” of “which members ignored the speaker’s directive to leave the well of the House.” “Upon submission of that list to the speaker,” they would be “removed from any standing committee on which they currently serve for the remainder of the 119th Congress,” the text said. Ogles first posted his intent to file his resolution on X. “The speaker, he’s a good man, he’s a Christian man. He has a kind heart. With grace gave them the opportunity to stop and they refuse to do so,” Ogles told Fox News Digital. “So, look, if you wanna act like a petulant child on the House floor and you’re giving a warning and a reprimand, and you choose not to stop, then actions need to be taken.” Green was removed from Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night after repeatedly disrupting the beginning of the president’s speech. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS He shouted, “You have no mandate!” at Trump as he touted Republican victories in the House, Senate and White House. Johnson had Green removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms. The 77-year-old Democrat was unrepentant when given the chance to speak out in his defense on Wednesday. “I heard the speaker when he said that I should cease. I did not, and I did not with intentionality. It was not done out of a burst of emotion,” Green said. “I think that on some questions, questions of conscience, you have to be willing to suffer the consequences. And I have said I will. I will suffer whatever the consequences are, because I don’t believe that in the richest country in the world, people should be without good healthcare.”
Trump’s plan to house migrants at Guantanamo Bay facing major hurdles
The U.S. military is having trouble carrying out President Donald Trump’s order to hold 30,000 migrants in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. defense officials tell Fox News. None of the 195 tents set up at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantánamo Bay have been used to house migrants, because they do not meet ICE standards, two U.S. defense officials said. During his second week in office, Trump ordered the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a migrant detention facility to house 30,000 migrants at Guantánamo Bay. “We have 30,000 beds in Guantánamo to detain the worst criminal aliens threatening the American people,” Trump said. Since that announcement, 256 total illegal migrants have passed through the base, according to U.S. Southern Command. Many of these migrants were labeled as the “worst of the worst” and a threat to the U.S. population, according to the Trump administration. Most of those migrants have been sent back to their home countries. TRUMP MOVES TO PREPARE GUANTANAMO BAY FOR 30,000 ‘CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS’ As of Wednesday, only 20 migrants were being held at the base. Sixteen “high threat illegal aliens” are being held at the detention facility part of the base, also known as Camp 6, and four migrants are being held at a back-up facility due to the inadequacy of the tents. DHS and ICE have not responded to inquiries regarding what criteria is used to evaluate if a migrant is high threat. The U.S. military was told to set up the tents without clear guidance on what the standards for holding migrants are, two U.S. officials said. The U.S. military has not received specific guidelines on what the tents need to be certified to hold the migrants. The operation to build more tents was halted in February, just several weeks after it started. “The Department of Defense, in close coordination with our Department of Homeland Security partners, is continuing to prepare the facilities for use. The Department of Defense is committed to ensuring that all individuals housed in these temporary facilities are treated in accordance with DHS/ICE standards,” a U.S. defense official said in a statement to Fox News. U.S. military aircraft have not been used to transport migrants since March 1, and there are currently no flights on U.S. military aircraft scheduled to Guantánamo. However, several migrants were scheduled to arrive in an ICE-chartered aircraft Wednesday night, two U.S. defense officials said. U.S. Transportation Command has C-17’s and C-130’s ready to support the migrant mission, but has not been asked to conduct any flights in recent days, a U.S. defense official tells Fox News. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TOUTS 969 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS IN ONE DAY: ‘HERE ARE SOME OF THE WORST’ “Military airlift is only one option available to DHS to relocate illegal aliens and the DoD stands ready to continue support with additional fights if they are requested,” one U.S. defense official said in a statement to Fox News. Fox’s Laura Ingraham had an exclusive interview with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Maj. Gen. Phil Ryan, the commanding general for the operation at Guantánamo Bay on Feb. 25. While Ingraham was reporting, a C-130 flight arrived from Fort Bliss, Texas, carrying nine “high value” detainees from Guatemala, Honduras, Guinea, Venezuela and Vietnam. When Ingraham asked why the U.S. military was using such a big plane for nine migrants, Ryan explained there is at least one ICE officer for each migrant, as well as a medical team on board. Hegseth assured, “we have had groups with more than that.” One reason the use of military aircraft has slowed could be due to high cost. A C-17 costs about $28,500 to fly per hour, according to U.S. transportation command. An ICE aircraft costs about $8,500 per flight, per hour, according to a government website. Notably, a day after Ingraham’s interview, on Feb. 26, nine migrants were sent back to the U.S. Both DHS and ICE have not responded as to why these migrants were sent back or if these were the same migrants that had arrived the day prior.
South Texas immigration detention center with capacity for 2,400 people to reopen
The Biden administration shuttered the Dilley facility last year because of high operating costs. It’s expected to hold immigrant families under the Trump administration.