Accused MS-13 leader nabbed by Patel’s FBI to remain in custody for now, judge rules
An accused MS-13 leader will remain in federal custody after a judge found probable cause to support the government’s case against him. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter of the Eastern District of Virginia made the ruling Tuesday during a detention hearing for Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national arrested last week in suburban Virginia. The FBI announced Santos’s arrest on March 27 in Woodbridge, just south of Washington, D.C. He has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The government did not announce any new charges against Santos on Tuesday, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel calling him the top MS-13 leader on the East Coast upon his arrest. Santos, who wore a green jumpsuit during the hearing, was represented by Valencia Roberts, a public defender. The defense was not seeking release. TOP MS-13 LEADER ARRESTED IN VIRGINIA Santos spoke through an interpreter during the hearing and told the judge that he understood that his lawyer was not seeking his release. Government lawyer Alexander Blanchard called ICE agent Jason Klepec to the stand to testify about Santos’ arrest, and establish probable cause that Santos committed the offenses he had been charged with. Blanchard showed government exhibits which contained photos of a Taurus 9 mm handgun that the prosecutor said was found in Santos’ bedroom. Another exhibit included pictures of two suppressors, also known as silencers. Santos’ attorney brought into question one of the suppressors, saying it was actually an Airsoft suppressor, or a BB gun accessory. The ICE agent said the suppressor was in ATF’s possession to be correctly identified. MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE CHARGES ICE AGENT WITH CONTEMPT OF COURT It is unclear when Santos will appear in court again. However, Porter said the matter will go before a grand jury in the following days. Santos’ attorney declined to comment further. Santos’ hearing comes shortly after court documents revealed the Trump administration had sent a Salvadoran man with protected legal status to El Salvador by mistake. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was removed from Maryland when the administration sent three planeloads of Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center” on March 15 for alleged gang affiliations. Vice President JD Vance referenced the court documents in a social media post in response to critics, writing, “you apparently didn’t read he was a convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right to be here.” Bondi, Patel, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove were all present during Santos’ arrest at a nearby tactical operations center. “They executed a clean, safe operation, and the bad guy’s in custody. And thanks to the FBI, we got one of the worst of the worst of the MS-13 off the streets this morning. Virginia and the country is a lot safer today,” Bondi told Fox News after the fact. Authorities found a 9mm handgun, three additional firearms, ammunition and two suppressors in Santos’ bedroom, according to court documents. President Donald Trump applauded the leadership on the operation, writing on social media, “Great job by Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!” Patel echoed Trump’s sentiment, saying, “This is what can happen when you put good cops in good places to take on bad guys. And America should be watching this. And we are proud to be here standing with these brave warriors.” Fox News’ David Spunt, Jake Gibson, and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pokes fun at Trump with official ‘South Park’ portrait in April Fools’ Day post
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis poked fun at President Donald Trump with an April Fools’ Day post seemingly aimed at the commander-in-chief’s anger regarding his official portrait at the state Capitol, which was eventually removed. “No one likes an unflattering photo or painting of themselves, which is why I went in a different direction for my official portrait,” Polis said in a post on X that featured an animated image of himself as a character in “South Park” on his official portrait. Polis, a Democrat, said he supports Colorado art and that “this portrait was an exciting opportunity to do exactly that while embedding my image into the fabric of Colorado’s history.” TRUMP PORTRAIT HE CLAIMED WAS ‘PURPOSEFULLY DISTORTED’ TO BE TAKEN DOWN FROM COLORADO CAPITOL South Park, which revolves around four friends, is set in Colorado. Last month, Trump demanded that his portrait be taken down from the state Capitol in Denver after he harshly criticized the painting and its artist. “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. Last week, state House Democrat said the oil painting, painted by artist Sarah Boardman during Trump’s first term, would be taken down at the request of Republican leaders in the state Legislature. Despite Trump’s criticism of Polis, the Democratic governor wasn’t in office when the portrait was commissioned in 2019. On March 16, Polis shared an image of himself in South Park, along with the comedy duo Terrance and Philip, who are also featured in the show, while touting Colorado’s relationship with Canada. “Our relationship with Canada brings vast benefits to Coloradans—from good-paying jobs to robust trade partnerships, tourists, and even prominent fictional characters in Colorado’s famous show, @SouthPark,” he wrote. “Ike Broflovski, Kyle Broflovski’s adopted brother, is from Canada. Don’t forget the comedy duo Terrance and Philip, beloved by our favorite fourth graders, and don’t “blame Canada!”
HHS downsizing begins amid RFK Jr. ‘Make America Healthy Again’ push: ‘Win-win for taxpayers’
Mass layoffs reportedly began Tuesday in Health and Human Services agencies as part of the department’s “restructuring” to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” as agencies undergo merges and significant downsizing. The restructuring is expected to bring down 82,000 federal health employees to 62,000. The department has been preparing to make major cuts in recent weeks across its health agencies, especially pertaining to administrative costs and DEI-related spending. RFK JR BACKS WV PUSH FOR SNAP WAIVERS, WORK MANDATES UNDER ‘MAHA’ According to the HHS, the layoffs “will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year” and “streamline” functions of the department while ensuring that essential services like Medicare and Medicaid continue without disruption. The announcement of the layoffs came last week. The HHS oversees several major agencies that will likely see some sort of restructuring: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Community Living (ACL), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). “We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer.” HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO The new plan will reduce the number of HHS divisions from 28 to 15. One of the key changes includes the creation of the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), which will combine several agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to “break down artificial divisions between similar programs.” In addition, HHS is reorganizing its regional offices, cutting them down from 10 to 5. Other changes, according to the HHS, include the creation of a new assistant secretary for enforcement to tackle fraud and abuse in federal health programs. Another major focus of the restructuring is addressing America’s growing “epidemic of chronic illness.” The plan focuses on clean food, water, and air, while working to eliminate environmental toxins that contribute to health problems. The CDC will also gain additional authority by absorbing the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which handles national disaster and public health emergencies. “Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants,” Kennedy said. “This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again.” TRUMP ADMIN PLANNING TO CONSOLIDATE HIV PROGRAMS, SLASHING ‘OVERHEAD’ AND DEI: OFFICIAL The Associated Press reported Tuesday morning there were hundreds of federal health employees wrapped around the HHS building in two lines to find out whether they still had a job. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf wrote in a LinkedIn Post Tuesday morning that the “FDA as we’ve known it is finished,” adding that “most of the leaders with institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of product development and safety no longer employed.” “I believe that history will see this a huge mistake. I will be fad if I’m proven wrong, but even then there is no good reason to treat people this way. It will be interesting to hear from the new leadership how they plan to put ‘Humpty Dumpty’ back together again,” Califf wrote.
Election Day in Wisconsin, Florida: What to watch as conservatives face a statewide electoral test
Voters in two states are casting general election ballots for the first time since November, when they sent President Donald Trump back to the White House. Wisconsin will choose a new justice on the state Supreme Court, which has a 4-3 liberal-leaning majority. Florida is holding special elections in two deep-red districts last held by Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz. At stake: court decisions over abortion, unions and voting rights in Wisconsin, and the size of the Republican majority in the U.S. House. Democrats have been counting down to this moment. Off-year and special elections are typically low-turnout affairs, which, in the Trump era, has often given Democratic-leaning voters a louder voice. FIRST MAJOR SWING STATE ELECTION OF 2025 TURNS INTO REFRENDUM ON TRUMP, MUSK That could deliver liberals a win and an ongoing majority in Wisconsin, and/or a strong performance in the Florida races. Even so, Republicans are favored to win those two Florida races, and a cash injection from Elon Musk has kept the Wisconsin race competitive. Whatever happens, it is too early to draw conclusions about either party’s long-term prospects. The electorates that decide the midterms and beyond look different and won’t cast ballots for more than a year and a half. WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT REJECTS DEMOCRAT AG’S ATTEMPT TO BLOCK ELON MUSK’S $1M GIVEAWAY TO VOTERS Key race In the state Supreme Court race, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel look to replace outgoing Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, the court’s longest-serving member, who announced last April that she would not seek a fourth 10-year term. Wisconsin Supreme Court seats are officially nonpartisan, but voters as well as the state’s party establishments routinely rally behind certain candidates based on their judicial philosophies and records. Crawford has the backing of Democrats and progressives, including an endorsement this week from former President Barack Obama. Schimel has support from Republicans and conservatives, including Trump and Elon Musk. Why it matters This will be the first indication of the state’s political climate since Trump recaptured the White House. Liberal-leaning justices gained a 4-3 majority on the court in 2023 for the first time in 15 years after Justice Janet Protasiewicz won a seat previously held by a conservative jurist. Bradley’s retirement gives conservatives an opportunity to retake the majority ahead of high-profile cases on abortion, unions and voting rights. Turnout and early voting As of March 1, there were more than 3.8 million active registered voters in Wisconsin. Voters in the state do not register by party. About 1.8 million votes were cast in the 2023 spring election for state Supreme Court. That was 51% of registered voters and roughly 40% of the voting age population at the time. About 25% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day. As of Monday, more than 674,000 ballots had been cast before Election Day. Counties to watch In any statewide election in Wisconsin, Democrats tend to win by large margins in the populous counties of Milwaukee and Dane (home of Madison), while Republicans win by wide margins in the smaller, more rural counties that stretch across most of the state. Republican candidates also tend to rely on strong showings in the WOW counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington in suburban Milwaukee, which help counter Democratic advantages in urban areas. Results Expect first reported results shortly after 9 p.m. ET, when polls close. Election night tabulation ended at 2:30 a.m. ET in the 2023 spring election and at 5:47 a.m. ET in the November general election, both with more than 98% of the total vote counted. Recounts Recounts are not automatic in Wisconsin, but a trailing candidate may request one if the winning vote margin is less than a percentage point. Key races 6th Congressional District The 6th Congressional District sits on the Atlantic Coast and includes Daytona Beach. Republican presidential candidates have carried all six counties in the district for the last four presidential elections. In GOP Rep. Michael Waltz’s old district, the candidates are Republican state Sen. Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil, a public school educator in Osceola County. Fine represents a Brevard County-based state Senate district located outside the boundaries of the Palm Coast-area U.S. House seat he hopes to fill. He won a three-way primary on Jan. 28 with Trump’s endorsement. Trump carried the district in 2024 with 65% of the vote. Waltz received about 67% of the vote in his final House re-election bid. 1st Congressional District The 1st Congressional District borders Alabama on the Gulf Coast in the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle. It is home to both Naval Air Station Pensacola and Eglin Air Force Base. The district is among the most reliably Republican areas of the state. Republican Jimmy Patronis and Democrat Gay Valimont are running to replace Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from the House last year. Patronis is the state’s chief financial officer. He received Trump’s endorsement in a crowded primary. Valimont is a gun control activist. Trump received about 68% of the district vote in 2024, slightly outperforming the 66% Gaetz received in his re-election bid. Why they matter Control of the U.S. House is not at stake, but the outcome of the special elections could give congressional Republicans some breathing room in the narrowly divided chamber. Republicans hold 218 seats, the minimum needed for a majority in a fully seated House. Democrats hold 213 seats, with two additional vacant seats most recently held by Democratic lawmakers. Meanwhile, Democrats hope that strong fundraising in both districts is an indicator the races will be more competitive than they were in the last election just five months ago. Turnout and early voting Voter participation tends to be much higher in presidential general elections than in elections held at other times. As of today, about 205,000 ballots had been cast across the two districts, about 53% from Republicans and about 33% from Democrats. Counties to watch 6th Congressional District Trump and Waltz performed best in Putnam County,
Trump agenda upended after GOP rebellion shuts down House floor
A normally sleepy procedural vote ended in drama for the House of Representatives after a rebellion by Republicans against their own party forced chamber proceedings to grind to a halt. It puts the future in question for two key bills backed by the Trump administration that were slated to get a vote this week. A mechanism known as a “rule vote,” which traditionally falls along party lines and is not an expression of support or opposition to specific legislation, failed on Tuesday when nine Republicans joined Democrats in an extraordinary rebuke of GOP leaders. It comes amid a weekslong battle over the ability to vote remotely for new parents in Congress. It’s an embarrassing setback for House Republican leadership, who put on a full court press for bills that would have limited district judges’ ability to levy nationwide injunctions and would have mandated proof of citizenship to register to vote, respectively. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has been leading a bipartisan push on legislation that would allow new parents in the House to vote remotely for 12 weeks surrounding their child’s birth. She attempted to force the bill onto the floor via a mechanism called a “discharge petition,” which would effectively end-run leaders to hold a House-wide vote on legislation, provided the petition gets support from a simple majority of the House. Lawmakers rarely, if ever, lead discharge petitions against their own party. This story is breaking and will be updated.
Tesla owner confronts Pennsylvania man accused of scratching swastika on SUV
An individual accused of defacing a Tesla with a swastika is facing charges and has reportedly apologized for the “misguided” behavior. Video footage shows the Tesla owner confronting the vandal, according to reports. In the video, the man says he used a crayon, not a key, and apologizes. “I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you,” he said. “Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk.” EXCLUSIVE: GOP FIREBRAND DARES DEMS TO CONDEMN ATTACKS ON ELON MUSK’S TESLA The man described his behavior “misguided.” Reports indicate the suspect is Chadd Ritenbaugh. “My client is a proud father, long-time resident, and is currently undergoing cancer treatment,” Ritenbaugh’s attorney Paul Lang said in a statement. “We will reserve further comment pending the outcome of the case.” In a post on bucks.crimewatchpa.com, the Central Bucks Regional Police Department indicated that after visiting the gym, the “Victim noticed fresh damage to their Tesla that appeared to be scratches in the shape of a swastika, when they arrived home.” TESLA OWNER IN DALLAS SUES VANDAL AFTER MODEL X SLASHED IN AIRPORT PARKING LOT The alleged vandalism was captured by the Tesla. The victim checked the recording and found someone scratching “into the side of the Tesla using an unknown object,” the police department’s post noted. Gym staff identified the suspect with his membership, according to authorities. “The video camera at 0924 hours on March 24, 2025, shows the suspect walking into Planet Fitness wearing the same clothes and carrying the same bag from the Tesla video camera footage. He scans his membership card with front desk staff and proceeds into the gym. Suspect was identified by both his gym membership identification card, and his Pennsylvania Driver’s License photo,” the post states. He faces charges of criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct, according to the department. Fox News Digital reached out to the police department on Tuesday, but no comment had been provided by the time of publication. TESLA CYBERTRUCK MENACE CHARGED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT CRIME CAUGHT ON CAMERA: POLICE CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The incident comes as a rash of Tesla facilities and vehicles have been targeted amid left-wing outrage over Elon Musk’s work to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.
Former Romney adviser bankrolled by left-wing groups ripped for leading anti-DOGE charge: ‘Paid puppet’
A well-known economist who was believed to be trying to influence the Trump administration’s economic policies in the lead-up to the inauguration is facing criticism for his opposition to President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts in line with the resistance from some of his group’s top donors. “Elon Musk is not actually a popular person, and the frame of politics that the DOGE crew is pushing is not an effective brand of politics,” American Compass founder and chief economist Oren Cass told Politico in February. Also in February, Cass wrote a piece for UnHerd, titled “Why DOGE will fail: There isn’t an easy button for everything,” where he argued that “DOGE is haphazardly cutting expenditures without even knowing what they are.” Cass has a long history of criticizing Musk, including last year when he took shots at Musk’s personal character and said in a post on X that Musk’s values are not aligned with the interests of the American people after the tech billionaire opened a factory in China. DEMOCRATS IN PANIC MODE AS ELON MUSK AND DOGE GO PUBLIC In March 2024, Cass posted that Musk has “already committed to upholding core socialist values” to placate the Chinese Communist Party for financial gain. Fox News Digital previously reported on Cass positioning himself as an ally of the Trump administration and that a significant chunk of American Compass’ funding comes from a handful of foundations tied to liberal causes, including almost $2 million from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Omidyar Network, which is led by a founder described as “notable for funding liberal-in-conservative clothing groups that target former president Donald Trump and his supporters.” The Hewlett Foundation gave nearly $2 million, 44.1% of total funding, to American Compass from 2020-2023, including a startup grant, while Pierre Omidyar, of the Omidyar Network, gave $550,000, 11.3% of total funding, from 2020-2023. Both the Hewlett Foundation and Omidyar Network have resisted the Trump administration. TOP FINANCIAL OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM ON ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DOGE PROTEST VIOLENCE: LETTER Hewlett Foundation Director Of Economic And Society Initiative Jennifer Harris has been critical of Musk and DOGE’s efforts on X, including riposting a criticism doubting that DOGE cuts would result in actual savings and sharing a post that said, “The Air Crashes Of The Past Two Days Show Us The Obvious: The Man In Charge Of @DOGE Runs Companies That No One Would Miss If They Disappeared Tomorrow. If Good Government Disappears, People Die.” The Atlantic posted a piece in February with the headline, “DOGE Is Failing on Its Own Terms.” The bottom of that article stated, “Support for this project was provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.” The Omidyar Network has been active behind the scenes pushing resistance against Musk and the Trump administration, the Washington Examiner reported in November, and has opposed Musk in various forms and previously backed corporate boycotts against Musk, the Washington Free Beacon reported. Along with his criticism of DOGE, Cass has been a vocal opponent of another one of the Trump administration’s top priorities, tax cuts. Despite Cass offering some praise of Trump, he has been a longtime critic of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, calling them an “expensive failure” and saying Trumpism is facing an “inevitable expiration” and adding in September 2020 that Trump is “building no intellectual foundation, no institutional infrastructure and no policy agenda.” “Oren Cass is a former Romney staffer upset that Trump is cutting taxes and cutting government spending, DOGE shouldn’t care about the political assessment of a man who just lost a local school board election,” Mike Palicz, director of Americans for Tax Reform, told Fox News Digital. David McIntosh, Club for Growth president, told Fox News Digital in a statement, “So American Compass opposes the Trump tax cuts, and now Elon Musk’s work to cut federal government waste, it’s almost like he’s just a paid-puppet of the left – oh wait, he is.” After Trump’s 2024 election victory, Cass continued to signal opposition to Trump’s tax policy. “Well, I think we have today a politics where both candidates go around talking about how they`re just going to cut everybody`s taxes,” Cass told PBS on Nov. 10. “And, of course, everybody likes a tax cut. But I don`t think those are the things that are going to turn our economy in a much better direction.” During another interview earlier this year, Cass said one of the things he thought was “most encouraging” was that there are no “mini Trumps” and that he is “extremely encouraged” by the post-Trump-era Republican leaders he is seeing. “American Compass advocates for limited government and a commitment to paying for the government that we have rather than leaving the bill to our children,” Cass told Fox News Digital in November. “Anti-tax zealots can lobby for larger deficits if they want, but conservatives are under no obligation to follow them into the fiscal ditch.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Hewlett Foundation spokesperson said, “The Hewlett Foundation funds grantees across the ideological spectrum, including American Compass—specifically for its efforts to prioritize American prosperity and American workers.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Omidyar Network and American Compass for comment.
Anna Paulina Luna forces House leadership’s hand on proxy voting as GOP war escalates
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is forcing a vote on legislation to enable new parents serving in Congress to vote remotely in the weeks surrounding the birth of their child. Luna introduced the measure as a “privileged resolution” on Tuesday, which gives House leaders two legislative days to take up the measure. It’s the latest in an increasingly high-stakes fight between Luna and House GOP leaders, who have teamed up with some of Luna’s now-former House Freedom Caucus colleagues to ensure she cannot force a vote on the legislation. Luna’s initial plan to fast-track her bill despite opposition from House GOP leaders involved a discharge petition, a mechanism for getting a bill onto the House floor if it gets a majority of lawmakers’ signatures – which Luna’s resolution did. EXPERT TURNS TABLES ON DEM CRITICS AFTER MUSK ACCUSES SOCIAL SECURITY OF BEING ‘PONZI SCHEME’ But Republican leaders had language inserted into an unrelated package of bills in the House Rules Committee on Tuesday morning that would have neutered Luna’s effort in a move that rankled GOP supporters of proxy voting. Even some Republicans on the House Rules Committee, which did ultimately advance the measure, were frustrated by what they saw as a last-minute play by leadership that was done without briefing those GOP lawmakers, Fox News Digital was told. House GOP leaders will likely opt for a procedural vote to “table” the resolution or to refer it to the relevant committee for consideration via the traditional route – both moves that would all but kill the bill. If that fails, however, the legislation could very well pass with support from all Democrats and just a few House Republicans, given the GOP’s slim majority. Luna accused conservatives of holding Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., “hostage” on the matter in a letter to fellow House Republicans on Monday night. She also announced she was leaving the House Freedom Caucus, citing a small group of conservatives who have pressed leaders to kill her measure. Luna’s bill, which is co-led by Rep. Brittney Pettersen, D-Colo., would give new moms and dads serving in Congress the ability to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks surrounding the birth of their child. In her letter she shared praise for House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., whose conduct she called “gentlemanly,” but added, “With a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Freedom Caucus.” APPEALS COURT RULES DOGE CAN CONTINUE OPERATING AT USAID IN ANOTHER WIN FOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION “I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people,” Luna wrote. Johnson said he believed proxy voting was “unconstitutional” in remarks after House Republicans’ regular closed-door meeting last week, and spoke out on the issue again this week. “We addressed this in conference this morning. A couple of our, a handful of our colleagues, have gotten behind the effort, and, look, I’m a father. I’m pro-family,” the speaker said last week. “Here’s the problem. If you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and, the fathers in those situations, then where is the limiting principle?”
Trump Labor Department secures eye-popping sum to return to taxpayers amid DOGE push
U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced on Monday that her department will return over $1 billion in unused COVID-era funding back to the taxpayer amid the Trump administration’s push for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. In a press release, the Labor Department said $1.4 billion of unspent COVID funding will be “returned to taxpayers through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s General Fund” and added that “action” is “being taken to recover the remaining $2.9 billion.” “The roughly $4.3 billion was intended for states to use for temporary unemployment insurance during the pandemic,” the press release states. “Instead, several states continued spending millions of dollars despite no longer meeting necessary requirements, which was uncovered in a 2023 audit conducted by the department’s Office of Inspector General.” The department explained in the press release that the funding originated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in March 2020 and that the program was meant to provide expanded unemployment insurance for Americans who were not able to work during the pandemic. EXPERT TURNS TABLES ON DEM CRITICS AFTER MUSK ACCUSES SOCIAL SECURITY OF BEING ‘PONZI SCHEME’ The program was closed in 2021, the department said, but the 2023 audit “found four states were allowed to access the funding ‘despite not meeting program requirements,’ totaling over $100 million in spending.” “There’s no reason leftover COVID unemployment funds should still be collecting dust,” DeRemer told Fox News Digital in a statement. “I promised to look out for Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars, and we are delivering at the Department of Labor.” “Any money still sitting around for pandemic-era unemployment funds is a clear misuse of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars,” Chavez-DeRemer said in the press release, adding that she is “rooting out waste to ensure American Workers always come First.” LABOR SECRETARY CHAVEZ-DEREMER’S FIRST MEMO CALLS ON STAFF TO COMPLY WITH TRUMP POLICIES: ‘LET’S GET TO WORK’ Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said in a statement, “It’s unacceptable that billions of dollars went unchecked in a program that ended several years ago. “In a huge win for the American taxpayer, we’ve clawed back these unused funds and will keep working to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.” The announcement comes after DeRemer said in her first memo to the department after taking over last month that she plans to comply with Trump’s executive orders and work with DOGE to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. “Under the leadership of President Trump, our focus remains on promoting job creation, enhancing workforce development, and ensuring safe working conditions, wages, and pensions so that every American has the opportunity to succeed,” DeRemer said to employees in the memo. “I challenge each of you to actively engage with your teams to identify innovative solutions that can help us achieve our goals.” Chavez-DeRemer said that the Labor Department must align with the priorities of the Trump administration and “must focus on practicing fiscal responsibility, reducing unnecessary spending, and optimizing our resources to ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively.” Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report
Cory Booker staffer arrested for allegedly carrying pistol without license at Capitol
A congressional staffer was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license after being escorted into the U.S. Capitol by a member of Congress, police said Tuesday. The United States Capitol Police said in a statement, “Yesterday afternoon, a Member of Congress led an ID’ed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building. “Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member — who is a retired law enforcement officer — told our officers he was armed. HAWLEY OFFICIALLY A YES ON DR. OZ AFTER SECURING COMMITMENTS ON TRANSGENDER, ABORTION ISSUES “The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License. All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even if you are a retired law enforcement officer, or have a permit to carry in another state or the District of Columbia,” the statement continued. Batts is listed as a “special assistant” to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Legistorm, a research entity that routinely updates salaries and information about lawmakers and their staffs. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Booker spokesperson Jeff Giertz said, “Sen. Booker’s office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events. We are working to better understand the circumstances around this.” ‘BLINDSIDED’: HOW STEFANIK’S TRUMP NOMINATION AS UN AMBASSADOR IMPLODED In 2016, Booker shared a video of Batts on social media, identifying Batts as a former detective in Newark. At the time, Batts said he had worked for either the city of Newark or Booker’s office for 28 years. “Kevin Batts has been a friend and team member since 2006 when I became mayor and even before,” the senator wrote on Instagram. “I so deeply appreciate his steadfast friendship, incredible dedication to Newark and now his service to the state. Kevin was raised in Columbus Homes projects in Newark, then spent 6 years in the United States army reserves and then joined the Newark Police Department and became a detective in 2004. “In 2006, he joined my security detail as a member of Newark’s executive protection unit. In 2013 he joined my Senate staff. I am truly blessed by his friendship and loyal hard work.” HOW TRUMP-BLOCKING JUDGES MANAGED TO GET PAST SENATE JUDICIARY HAWKS Booker also mentioned Batts in a 2017 commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania. “And as I told my driver, an incredible officer named Kevin Batts, retired from the Newark Police Department, joined my staff because of our friendship and our bond, I said to him, “Kev, we’re almost home but do you mind? We have to swing through the drive-thru,” he said. Batts’ arrest comes as Booker continues to break records for one of the longest floor speeches in American Senate history. The senator, who began speaking Monday night, now holds the fourth-longest Senate floor speeches, recently surpassing Sen. Robert La Follette, R-Wis., who spoke for 18 hours and 23 minutes in 1908. JOSH HAWLEY BELIEVES HIS BILL CAN STOP ‘RESISTANCE’ JUDGES FROM ‘PROVOKING A CRISIS’ Next up is the record held by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, whose speech against Obamacare in 2013 went on for 21 hours and 19 minutes. The record holder is Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against a civil rights bill in 1957. If Booker continues to speak, he will break Thurmond’s record around 7:19 pm Eastern time on Tuesday night.