Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation to Trump
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump, a senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News. The resignation remains pending and has not been accepted by the White House, the official said. A source familiar with the matter told Fox News that Driscoll had raised concerns with the administration about the Army’s transformation and readiness, including his belief that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had hindered those efforts. “Driscoll brought up concerns with the administration surrounding Army transformation and readiness and Hegseth’s blocking those efforts specifically by firing the Generals who were responsible,” the source said. TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION GETS ANOTHER LIFELINE FROM SCOTUS AMID HEATED LEGAL FIGHT Tensions reportedly intensified as Hegseth removed several senior Army leaders, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. Driscoll addressed George’s departure during an April 16 House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, recalling he was in North Carolina on vacation with his family and drove directly to the general’s home after learning that George had been asked to submit his resignation. HEGSETH UPGRADES ABBEY GATE MARINES’ VALOR AWARDS AFTER 5-YEAR DELAY: ‘THOSE DAYS ARE OVER’ “We walked right in, and we all gave him a hug,” Driscoll said. “There is no person that has more respect for General George and his 42 years of service, his Purple Heart, his wife, Patty, their grandkids, their kids. I adore them, and he was an amazing, transformational leader.” He added, “The design of our system is that they get to pick the leaders that they want, and we execute on those orders.” PROGRESSIVE PRAISE FOR TRUMP AS WARREN BACKS PUSH TO CURB DEFENSE CONTRACTOR CEO PAYOUTS Driscoll is expected to leave the Pentagon in the coming days, according to The Wall Street Journal. Driscoll, a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, attended Yale Law School with Vance after both served in the military. As Army secretary, Driscoll has worked with Silicon Valley companies to expand the Army’s drone capabilities.
Vance unloads on El-Sayed after Usha swipe with brutal warning: ‘Way out of your league’
Vice President JD Vance urged Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed during a rally on Monday to focus on substantive policy issues instead of attacking his wife. “I actually think that the people of Michigan think it’s kind of weird when you talk about another guy’s wife,” Vance said at a metro Detroit rally organized by MAGA Inc., a super PAC aligned with the president. “I think the people of Michigan would like you to talk about the public policy ideas …I think the people of Michigan would like you to talk about how you’re going to protect auto workers when you’re supporting every single policy that has undercut the wages and jobs of Michigan auto workers your entire life in public service.” EL-SAYED UNDER FIRE ONLINE AFTER TAKING AIM AT USHA VANCE, FEMALE TRUMP AIDE IN WEEKEND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS “But whatever you want to talk about, Abdul, keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth because she’s way out of your league,” the vice president added. Vance’s quip was in response to El-Sayed saying “do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no” after the vice president suggested that Sharia law would have been an alien concept to his grandfather. Critics said the post appeared to take aim at Usha Vance’s Indian heritage. El-Sayed later said his point was that Vance seemed to be suggesting some people are “more American” than others because their families have been in the country longer, noting that Vance’s own in-laws are immigrants. “If you’re a rural White American living in Michigan, just remember El-Sayed believes you’re a racist,” conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky said in response to the Democratic hopeful’s statement. SECOND LADY USHA VANCE FIRES BACK AT POINTED JAB FROM DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINEE ABDUL EL-SAYED Earlier in his speech, Vance accused El-Sayed of undercutting his support for working people by taking liberal positions on immigration issues. “We’re here to talk about protecting Michigan truck drivers, but also protecting the safety of every single person who drives on the road with a semi truck, which is all of us,” Vance said. “Here’s the crazy thing. Just a few years ago, Abdul El-Sayed said that we need to make sure that illegal aliens have driver’s licenses in this country. He would love to undercut the wages of American truckers.” Vance said El-Sayed represents a “terrible evil” during his speech, prompting El-Sayed to turn the characterization back on the vice president. “Evil is ripping healthcare away from working people in exchange for tax breaks for billionaires. Evil is making people pay more for groceries and gas while pushing for trade wars and actual war. Evil is dividing people for your own gain. Evil is selling out your morals for a little bit of power,” El-Sayed said later Monday in response to Vance’s charge. “Michigan is better than being lectured to by sock puppets from Ohio and Florida. We understand what’s at stake, and Michiganders will show you at the ballot box this November when we send Mike Rogers packing.” TRUMP ADMIN INVESTIGATING 75 TRUCK DRIVER SCHOOLS FOR FRAUD, HELPING NON-CITIZENS GET LICENSES In 2018, El-Sayed expressed support for allowing illegal immigrants to obtain standard driver’s licenses, though he did not specifically push for those in the country illegally to receive the commercial driver’s licenses necessary to operate long-haul trucks. While Vance and El-Sayed differ in their approaches to immigration, the two both agree, in principle, that tariffs should be used to benefit American industry. The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Trump’s White House ballroom construction gets another lifeline from SCOTUS amid heated legal fight
The Supreme Court has again sided with the Trump administration, allowing construction on the White House ballroom project to continue while the case continues to be litigated in the lower courts. The court split 5-4 in granting the emergency request. The decision replaces a temporary order Chief Justice John Roberts issued just hours before a lower-court ruling blocking the work was set to take effect. The underlying litigation will continue in the lower courts, but court documents indicate key parts of the project could be completed within months, potentially outpacing the legal process. Trump quickly celebrated the decision, declaring that the high court had cleared the way for the massive project to move forward “without any further contingency, doubt, or threat.” “We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C.,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM FOES FACE ‘VERY TOUGH ARGUMENT’ AT SUPREME COURT, LEGAL EXPERTS SAY Trump said the “magnificent Ballroom and Military Complex” is expected to be completed in summer 2028 and predicted it will be “something that the entire Country is very proud of.” He also took a swipe at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, blasting its legal challenge as a “baseless lawsuit” and claiming the project is both under budget and ahead of schedule. “The Ballroom is totally funded by Great Patriots and Corporations and, therefore, is a Gift — At no cost to the American Taxpayer,” Trump wrote. The president’s victory lap came as Chief Justice John Roberts issued a strongly worded dissent from the latest order, declaring that construction of the ballroom is “likely unlawful” and warning that allowing the project to proceed risks infringing on Congress’ constitutional powers. “The President ordered the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a new, privately funded state ballroom in its place,” Roberts wrote. “Construction of the ballroom has proceeded apace for the better part of a year.” APPEALS COURT SAYS FEDERAL JUDGE MUST RECONSIDER BLOCKING WH BALLROOM, WEIGH NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS “That construction is likely unlawful,” he wrote. Roberts pointed to federal law that prohibits the construction of any “building or structure” on federal government parkland in Washington, D.C., without express authorization from Congress. The chief justice argued that the ballroom falls squarely within that restriction because it is being built on President’s Park, federal land that encompasses the White House and surrounding grounds. “The ballroom is a building or structure being erected on federal park grounds—President’s Park—in the District of Columbia,” Roberts wrote. “Yet Congress has not passed any law resembling ‘express authority’ for the Executive’s construction of it.” TRUMP SAYS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM RULING JEOPARDIZES LIVES OF FUTURE PRESIDENTS, VOWS SUPREME COURT APPEAL The Supreme Court’s decision allows construction to continue while the underlying legal challenge plays out, but it does not settle the ultimate question of whether the ballroom project is lawful. The case remains in litigation in the lower courts, meaning Roberts’ assertion that the construction is “likely unlawful” represents his view in dissent rather than a final determination by the Supreme Court. DOJ CITES WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOTING IN PUSH TO DROP LAWSUIT AGAINST BALLROOM Roberts also took issue with the court’s treatment of Alison Hoagland, who originally challenged the project, arguing that both the historic nature of the White House and her interest in its preservation deserved greater weight. “The White House is not just any building, and—when it comes to historic preservation—Hoagland is not just any person,” Roberts wrote. REPUBLICANS QUESTION TRUMP’S ‘PRIVATELY FUNDED’ BALLROOM AFTER REPORT POINTS TO TAXPAYER BURDEN “In failing to appreciate as much, the Court misconceives the plaintiff’s injury, allowing the Executive’s likely infringement of the Legislature’s power of the purse and authority to regulate federal property in the District of Columbia to continue,” he wrote. “Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers.” Roberts closed his dissent by invoking former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and issuing a pointed warning about how decisions involving the White House are made. “Winston Churchill once remarked that ‘[w]e shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us,’” Roberts wrote. “All the more reason to ensure that those responsible follow the rules in deciding what to tear down and what to build up at the People’s House.” “I respectfully dissent,” he wrote. In addition to Roberts, Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson also dissented. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump’s Canada tariff fight reaches critical point as House GOP summons trade chief
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s top trade advisor will huddle with House Republicans on Wednesday as the commander in chief’s tariff strategy is quickly becoming a flashpoint on the campaign trail. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is attending the Republican Study Committee’s weekly lunch this week, a source familiar with planning told Fox News Digital. Two additional sources told Fox News Digital they expect lawmakers to raise the issue of Trump’s trade war with Canada. VANCE SAYS CANADA FRIENDLIER TO CHINA ON TRADE THAN TO US: ‘INSANITY’ It comes as tensions escalate between the U.S. and its northern ally. Trump accused Ontario of ripping off American businesses in a post on Truth Social Sunday, claiming Canada wants “to be treated like a state, but they aren’t one.” ‘CAPTAIN CANADA’ FIREBRAND UNLOADS ON TRUMP WITH PROFANE ONE-LINER AS TRADE WAR ESCALATES “They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop,” Trump wrote. The U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on a range of Canadian goods in late July, with the duties going into effect earlier this month. Canada responded with its own tariffs of up to 50% on U.S. imports. TRUMP JUST EXPANDED HIS TARIFF PLAYBOOK WITH A POWERFUL TRADE WEAPON NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER USED Trump also escalated tensions with the country this month by signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” It’s not clear when the meeting between Greer and RSC was planned, nor is it clear if Fox News Digital’s sources expect questions or outright opposition to the trade war. But Trump’s tariffs have been a political lightning rod for much of his second term. The House passed a bill in February aimed at reversing Trump’s earlier Canada tariffs, with six Republicans voting in support. Just one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, voted against it.
DSA leader’s working-class image takes hit as public records pile up contradictions
The contradictions are piling up around New York City Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Gustavo Gordillo, whose claims about his working-class credentials — from being a “union electrician” to his housing and family story — have increasingly collided with public records and other evidence. Gordillo has repeatedly invoked his family’s immigrant success story while explaining his support for socialism. “My parents came here, they had nothing,” Gordillo told the New York Times in a profile piece earlier this month. “Their first jobs were in fast food and cleaning houses. They built success in this country. And they’re absolutely the exception.” According to Gordillo, he advances the cause of socialism because he believes it can “build a world” where his parents’ success story is “not exceptional.” LUXURY TRAVEL, SHOPPING, SIX-FIGURE INCOME: BATTLEGROUND DEMS RIPPED FOR ‘PHONY’ WORKING-CLASS NARRATIVE A 2021 obituary for Gordillo’s paternal grandfather, however, raises questions about the family history behind that account, the New York Post reported Saturday. Manuel Gordillo, Gordillo’s grandfather, emigrated from Peru to the United States to practice medicine in 1958. After settling in the United States, Manuel met his future wife in St. Louis, and the couple later had Gordillo’s father, Gustavo, per the obituary. The obituary also notes that Gordillo’s grandfather built a successful life as a psychiatrist in Ohio, at one point serving as the president of the Ohio Psychiatric Association, casting doubt on the socialist’s claim that his parents grew up in poverty. “My dad, his first job in the United States was working at Wendy’s, my mom’s first job was a house cleaner, and they did make a living for themselves, and they had success,” Gordillo told Fox News in July. The elder Gordillo’s obituary portrays him as a loving and active father, noting that he raised his “children in Lakewood, Ohio” and that “his most cherished role was as a husband, father, grandfather, and uncle/tio.” “Gustavo and his parents were born in Peru and immigrated to the US,” a New York City Democratic Socialists of America spokesperson told Fox News Digital following publication. “Gustavo’s father grew up in Peru, not in the United States, and the family had limited contact with Gustavo’s grandfather, who is the subject of the Post’s recent reporting.” The New York City Democratic Socialists of America later told Fox News Digital that their co-chair’s father was a product of Gordillo’s first marriage. The questions surrounding Gordillo’s account of his family history come after discrepancies emerged over how he has described his occupation and living arrangements. DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST HEADED FOR $142K LEGISLATURE SALARY BEGS FOR RENT HANDOUT, DELETES POST AFTER BACKLASH The 38-year-old socialist, for example, told the New York Times that he was renting a modest apartment in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn only for it to be revealed that he was actually living in a $1.4 million townhouse owned by his father in a trendier part of the borough. “Not only did DSA co-chair Gustavo Gordillo’s parents buy him this rowhouse, they converted it from a two family and renovated it into a luxury single-family home for him,” New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said on X. “Exactly the kind of ‘greed’ the DSA rails against on a daily basis, and reducing valuable housing inventory by one more unit, which is supposedly something the DSA cares very deeply about.” FRUSTRATED BLUE-COLLAR UNION BOSSES RIP SOCIALIST POLITICIANS, WARN OF LABOR EXODUS FROM DEM PARTY Also undercutting Gordillo’s working-class image is his continued self-identification as a “union electrician” despite the fact that he hasn’t been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers since March, when he was fired for not showing up to his apprenticeship. “After learning of Mr. Gordillo’s prolonged absence from and failure to participate in required work and classes, the trustees of the Joint Apprentice Training Committee terminated Mr. Gordillo from the program,” the IBEW said in a statement. Even with the IBEW publicly stating that Gordillo is not a member of their organization, the socialist leader still identifies himself as a “union electrician” on social media.
Trump admin revives ‘Apprentice’-era energy with $1M business battle in DC
FIRST ON FOX: The Small Business Administration is bringing a celebrity panel to Washington next month to judge five entrepreneurs competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool, Fox News Digital has exclusively learned. “As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, the SBA is celebrating America’s legacy of free enterprise through the Million Dollar Pitch Competition—a historic live event showcasing the essential contributions of America’s small businesses,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler told Fox News Digital. Entrepreneurs from across the nation submitted their ideas earlier this year, leaving five finalists to participate in a live pitch competition in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18. Rapper Nicki Minaj, entrepreneur and private equity fund manager Grant Cardone, co-founder of Airbnb and U.S. Chief Design Office Joe Gebbia will judge the final competition. Award-winning actor Dean Cain will host the event, Fox News Digital has exclusively learned. REP ROGER WILLIAMS: 250 YEARS OF HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR MAIN STREET BUSINESSES The competition is another example of the Trump administration’s efforts to spotlight American ingenuity and partner with the private sector to support innovation and small-business growth, Fox News Digital learned. “Their participation brings invaluable real-world perspective as our five exceptional finalists compete for a share of $1 million in growth capital. I look forward to joining them next month as we recognize the innovators and job creators who power American strength,” Loeffler added. The participants were evaluated based on categories of strengthening American competitiveness, examples of small businesses “punching above its weight,” economic impact and quality jobs and business fundamentals and execution readiness. AMAZON EXPLORES ‘THE APPRENTICE’ REBOOT WITH TRUMP JR SET FOR PROMOTION: REPORT The five finalists are defense technology company Compotech, Inc. in Brewer, ME, metalworking machinery manufacturer Winton Machine in Suwanee, GA, plastic mold manufacturing company Plas-Tech Tooling in Garner, IA, pressure vessel manufacturer Red River in Gillette, WY, and machinery manufacturing firm VetPowered LLC in San Diego, CA. No finalist will go empty-handed with the first-place winner scoring $400,000, second place winning $250,000, third place gets $150,000 and fourth place will take home $125,000, leaving fifth place with $75,000. The competition also echoes the format of Trump’s hit early-2000s reality show, “The Apprentice,” which put aspiring business leaders through a series of challenges for a chance to work for his company. ‘SHARK TANK’ STAR DAYMOND JOHN SAYS ‘YOU’LL BE SCREWED’ IF YOU DO THIS WHEN STARTING A BUSINESS The successful show aired for 14 seasons with Trump as host.
El-Sayed torched online after brushing off questions about Hasan Piker campaign ties: ‘What a pal’
Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing a wave of online blowback after dodging questions about his ties to far-left streamer Hasan Piker, a frequent presence on the campaign trail in Michigan. When asked about Piker’s influence on his campaign, El-Sayed told reporters the race is about Michigan and that he is “not interested in a conversation about a social media person in California.” “But I don’t want to have a conversation about a Twitch streamer in California,” El-Sayed said. “This is not a serious conversation.” Fox News Digital then pressed El-Sayed on why he brought Piker to Michigan if that was the case, which he waved off before doubling down and calling Piker “a single streamer from California” when another reporter asked if he would condemn him. ABDUL EL-SAYED PLAYS DOWN HASAN PIKER TIES AFTER STREAMER’S VIRAL ANTISEMITISM FIRESTORM The clip exploded across social media and drew widespread ridicule as El-Sayed scrambles to distance himself from the streamer, who has roughly 10 million social media followers. In a post on X, writer and political commentator Stephen L. Miller wrote, “Amazing. They are so terrified of him that she literally jumps in one question deep.” “Who is the candidate here?” Miller wrote in another post. “This keeps getting worse,” Republican political strategist Kyle Martinsen posted on X. “I’m interested in it so there’s a problem here,” Townhall senior columnist Kurt Schlichter posted on X. In another post on X, “The Charlie Kirk Show” executive producer Andrew Kolvet wrote, “It’s very clear Abul El Sayed is panicking. He went from doing a half dozen campaign stops with Hasan Piker and taking glamor shots with him, to refusing to say his name. Now he’s just ‘some media person in California.’ What a pal.” HASAN PIKER INSISTS ABDUL EL-SAYED ASKED HIM TO ‘STUMP’ FOR MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN AMID BACKLASH “He might be worse than Kamala…,” Fox News contributor Joe Concha posted on X. Pro-Israel activist and philanthropist Adam Milstein also wrote in a post on X, “El Sayed again refuses to condemn Hasan Piker — who himself recently confirmed it was El Sayed that asked him to campaign for him, not the reverse.” Piker has emerged as a growing flashpoint within the Democratic Party over his past controversial remarks, including his claim that “America deserved 9/11.” Last week, El-Sayed responded to outrage over his association with Piker after the streamer’s comments on a viral audio clip involving Jewish Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss, the Democratic nominee in the state’s 11th Congressional District, sparked outrage. “I want to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople,” El-Sayed said in a statement. EL-SAYED PALS AROUND WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER THE DAY BEFORE CRUCIAL MICHIGAN SENATE ELECTION Despite El-Sayed’s attempts to distance himself from Piker, the streamer has spoken openly about his invitation to join the campaign, saying at an April rally with El-Sayed, “The reason why, when Abdul asked for me to come on this journey with him, I said yes, absolutely.” In a Friday interview with Semafor columnist David Weigel, Piker said El-Sayed also asked him to “stump” for his campaign. El-Sayed will face Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers for retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ seat in a race that could determine control of the Senate. Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed’s campaign for comment.
New federal grand jury subpoena issued to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: sources
FIRST ON FOX: A federal grand jury issued a subpoena to former FBI Director James Comey’s longtime friend and advisor on Monday as part of a new investigation into Comey allegedly leaking classified information to the media, multiple law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital. The subpoena targets former Comey adviser Daniel Richman and indicates that the Justice Department has launched a fresh investigation into the leak of classified information to the New York Times. The issue was also investigated under President Donald Trump’s first term, but was cut off when former President Joe Biden entered office. The new investigation is in addition to the one centered on Comey’s alleged threats against Trump. TRUMP DOJ WITHDRAWS SUBPOENAS TARGETING NEW YORK TIMES JOURNALISTS AMID LEAK PROBE Richman, a law professor and former attorney for Comey, played a central role in the initial investigation into the leak in 2018. He also later filed a lawsuit arguing that prosecutors violated his Fourth Amendment rights by seizing material from his electronic devices during investigations in 2019 and 2020. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled in his favor in that case in December of last year. HEGSETH ANNOUNCES JOINT TASK FORCE WITH DOJ TO PROSECUTE LEAKS TO JOURNALISTS ‘WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW’ Prosecutors had relied on the files to indict Comey on charges of making false statements and obstructing Congress in connection with his 2020 testimony on FBI officials anonymously giving information to news outlets. The indictment accused Richman, previously a special FBI employee, of communicating with reporters about investigations into 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in that year’s election loss to President Donald Trump. COMEY LEARNS FATE OF BID TO DELAY TRIAL OVER ‘86 47’ SEASHELL POST AT CENTER OF TRUMP THREAT CASE The new case comes as Comey is also facing litigation over his “86 47” Instagram post, which prosecutors argue constituted a threat against Trump. Comey is facing two federal charges and up to 10 years in prison in that case, though the original prosecutor in the case resigned in early June. BLANCHE TURNS THE TABLES ON COMEY INDICTMENT CRITICS: ‘REST ASSURED’ CASE GOES BEYOND INSTAGRAM POST “Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an April 28 statement at the time the two-count indictment for threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce was announced. “The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials,” he added. “The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable.”
FIRST ON FOX: Texas becomes testing ground for new defense against attacks on America’s water systems
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration is launching “Project Watershed 250” Monday, Fox News Digital exclusively learned, deploying American artificial intelligence and cybersecurity tools to protect Texas water systems from cyberattacks in a pilot the administration plans to scale nationwide. “Project Watershed 250 is another example of President Trump putting American families and communities first. President Trump is relentless in his work to secure our critical infrastructure against our most determined adversaries,” National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross told Fox News Digital. “President Trump has cemented America’s leadership in AI security and innovation and is now bringing those exquisite tools to local communities and utilities in Texas and ultimately, across the nation through the launch of Project Watershed 250 – a scalable cyber water pilot program.” The Trump administration is bringing federal, state and private-sector cyber defenses together in a six-month Texas pilot aimed at finding vulnerabilities in water systems before adversaries can exploit them — while testing whether the model can be expanded across the country. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE IRANIAN HACKERS ARE LIKELY BEHIND CYBERATTACK ON MINNESOTA WATER SYSTEMS: REPORT The program will connect Texas water utilities with U.S. cybersecurity companies to test their existing defenses and strengthen vulnerable systems using private-sector cyber and artificial intelligence tools, a White House official told Fox News Digital. The program will use “red-teaming” to stress-test water utilities’ networks, identify weaknesses hackers could exploit and then strengthen those systems with cybersecurity tools, according to a White House official. TRUMP LAUNCHES GOLD EAGLE TO HUNT CYBER FLAWS WITH AI Dragos CEO Robert Lee said that U.S. water infrastructure faces active, documented threats, particularly at small utilities that often lack strong cybersecurity defenses. Lee said Watershed 250 will help get technology, training and support to those vulnerable systems before an attack occurs. “There is nothing more important to Texans than clean, reliable drinking water. Project Watershed 250 puts federal, state, and private-sector cyber defenses behind our utilities at no cost. The White House, the Texas Cyber Command, and industry now work from the same playbook,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. A White House official, however, said the program is not in response to recent cyberattacks that targeted more than 30 Minnesota water systems, though the incidents underscored vulnerabilities in local infrastructure. “However, these recent attacks have reiterated the need for this modernization and focus on water systems,” said the White House official. “Critical Infrastructure protection has long been a priority for ONCD and President Trump and this effort has been in the works since last year.” IRANIAN HACKERS ATTACKED OUR WATER SYSTEMS. HERE ARE 5 THINGS OUR LEADERS NEED TO DO NOW The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will serve as federal partners in the effort, while Texas Cyber Command will work alongside the White House with local governments and tech companies such as Microsoft, Reflection AI, Palo Alto Networks and Dragos Inc. “Few things matter more than the safety of the water Americans drink, and this is a powerful example of how open-weight AI models, built in the U.S. and running on a utility’s own systems, can help keep communities safe,” said Becky Sosnov, Reflection AI head of corporate affairs. ANTHROPIC’S MYTHOS AI FOUND OVER 2,000 UNKNOWN SOFTWARE VULNERABILITIES IN JUST SEVEN WEEKS OF TESTING CHINA-LINKED HACKERS INFILTRATED US GOVERNMENT NETWORKS BEFORE FBI TAKEDOWN “Microsoft applauds the administration’s leadership in strengthening the cybersecurity of America’s water infrastructure and is proud to support the Project Watershed 250 effort in partnership with the Office of the National Cyber Director, the State of Texas, and Texas Cyber Command,” said Microsoft US Public Sector president Chris Barry. “By bringing together Microsoft’s cybersecurity expertise, threat intelligence, and AI-powered security capabilities, we aim to help water utilities strengthen their resilience against evolving cyber threats and develop scalable approaches that can enhance the security of water systems nationwide.” The push comes as the Trump administration races to build out U.S. data centers to fuel the AI boom, putting more attention on the water and power needed to keep them running. The pilot program builds on Trump’s June executive order on Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security and his Cyber Strategy for America released in March.
Vulnerable Dem’s own audit admits Medicaid oversight failure amid massive statewide fraud scandal
Maine’s Democratic state auditor, Matt Dunlap, who is now pursuing a bid to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, released a report earlier this year sounding the alarm that the state’s internal watchdog for its MaineCare program had a serious gap in utilization control. “[The Program Integrity Unit] could not provide documentation of the methodology used to identify projects and post-payment reviews performed in relation to surveillance of all Medicaid services provided under the State plan,” the report reads, referring to the “PIU,” the program’s watchdog. The report’s release, which comes after revelations of healthcare fraud in Maine from federal investigators and a local whistleblower, puts renewed focus on Dunlap’s tenure as auditor and raises questions about Maine’s past systems to detect fraud amid one of the country’s most competitive congressional races. VANCE TURNS UP HEAT ON STATES WITH FEDERAL CASH THREAT OVER MEDICAID FRAUD CRACKDOWN In order to ensure that state programs are complying with federal requirements, the PIU, the watchdog, selects a set number of cases for review, picking those cases based on “data analytics.” The report didn’t expand on those analytics — but noted a key weakness. In addition to being unable to provide documentation of why those cases had been chosen for review, the process also didn’t take into account possible misuse — by patients or by the companies that bill MaineCare. In the report’s words, the PIU, the watchdog group, “does not document consideration of misutilization practices of beneficiaries or providers … [and] may not provide adequate monitoring of all Medicaid services, resulting in potential noncompliance with Federal regulations.” Dunlap’s 2026 report also acknowledged that this particular reporting issue hadn’t been caught before, noting that it had a “prior year findings: none” designation. When asked about the weakness and whether this was really the first time it had surfaced in an audit, Dunlap’s campaign stressed that the report only narrowly applied to that particular weakness and that Dunlap had received praise — even from local Republicans — on his work identifying other liabilities. “As Auditor, Matt Dunlap has flagged many issues that date back to the LePage administration. He has been praised by local press and Republican leaders alike for his work to recommend ways to safeguard taxpayer dollars. Paul LePage should answer why his team didn’t implement the recommendations of his own Auditors from when he was governor,” Harry Burke, a spokesperson for the Dunlap campaign said in a comment to Fox News Digital, referring to the Republican nominee in the race, a former governor of Maine who served from 2011 to 2019. The campaign also observed that Dunlap himself, as an auditor, has little power to implement changes he flags as problematic. Decisions to remedy issues within Maine’s programs lie within the departments themselves, although auditors can recommend specific changes. “The auditor’s job is to be a fire alarm: identify the problems so that state agencies can act. For example, last year, his recommendations led to the arrest and prosecution of a procurement fraudster saving taxpayer dollars,” Burke added. Despite his campaign’s pushback, Dunlap has received backlash from Republicans for failing to stop fraud schemes that have caught national attention. TRUMP TASK FORCE IS TACKLING $250 BILLION IN GOVERNMENT FRAUD. IT’S JUST GETTING STARTED Dunlap first came into the role in 2021 despite lacking the credentials to become an auditor. After being installed, he had to resign after twice failing the needed tests to become a certified auditor. Even so, Dunlap returned to the role in November 2022 after passing the requisite exams. That track record has become a focal point for Republicans in the congressional race after the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General revealed in January that the state had paid out at least $45.6 million in improper Medicaid payments for autism services. The findings only furthered concerns raised by a whistleblower in December. Christopher Bernardini, a former employee of Gateway Community Services, said his company had been defrauding Maine’s Medicaid program. According to Bernardini, the health services contractor had routinely filed false records about client visits, billing the state for services that Gateway had never provided. The compounding stories of fraud have captured the attention of figures like Vice President JD Vance, who highlighted them in a visit to the state on Monday. “How did Maine become one of the main capitals of defrauding the American taxpayer?’” Vance asked at a campaign event. “One of the answers is somehow you guys hired an auditor who is not actually an auditor and failed the auditor exam. Well, call it old-fashioned common sense, but if you want somebody managing your money, maybe they ought to actually meet the constitutional requirements to do the job,” Vance said. Vance argued Dunlap’s track record should be disqualifying. “And for Matt Dunlap, if you’ve got a guy who cannot protect your tax dollars from fraudsters, who has turned your state into one of the fraud capitals of the United States of America, maybe you should be saying to Matt Dunlap, ‘You’re fired, not promoted to the United States Congress,’” Vance said. Previous years of reporting before Dunlap’s time as auditor also cast doubt on the office’s aggressiveness in uncovering fraud, hinting that the office’s zeal has declined under his watch. Notably, in the six years before Dunlap took over the reins in 2022, the state had identified that it had almost too many active fraud investigations. “Cases opened because of potential fraud, abuse, or questionable practices need improved supervisory review,” several reports state. Audits going back to 2016 noted that the office had routinely taken on more cases than its resources and its staffing would allow for, leading to a lack of monitoring of individual cases. DR. OZ NAMES 5 STATES IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN AS TRUMP ADMIN TARGETS MEDICAID ABUSE Since Dunlap returned to the role in 2022, the auditor’s office has not resurfaced that concern. Having secured his party’s nomination in the state’s primaries earlier this year, Dunlap heads to the general election on Nov. 3, where he faces off against the Republican