FBI closed DEI office in December, agency says
EXCLUSIVE: The FBI has closed its DEI office, Fox News can confirm. “In recent weeks, the FBI took steps to close the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), effective by December 2024,” the agency told Fox News Digital on Thursday. The agency didn’t specify why it had closed the office, although many Republicans have been critical of it prioritizing DEI, saying that had overshadowed national security. Earlier this month, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray claiming that “radical” DEI practices had “endangered” Americans following the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. IS DEI DYING? HERE’S THE LIST OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE ROLLED BACK THE ‘WOKE’ POLICIES “I am deeply concerned that—under your leadership—the Bureau has prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives over its core mission of protecting the American people,” Balckburn wrote in the Jan. 3 letter after referencing the attack. The FBI page on diversity and inclusion – that was still on its website as of Thursday – says the agency is “committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce. In 2015, the FBI added diversity as one of the organization’s core values. It continued: “We believe that differences in thought and belief, in race and religion, in orientation, and in ability contribute to more effective decision making, drive innovation, and enhance the employee experience. We know that a more diverse workforce allows us to connect with and maintain the trust of the American people. We also understand we have work to do. We stand committed, as today’s FBI, to fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity.” Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker told Fox News Digital: “I appreciate all forms of diversity. Make no mistake of that. What I do not appreciate is when there is a constant push for social justice weaponization at the FBI whose top priorities are to protect the American people and uphold the constitution.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This is President Biden’s last week in office. President-elect Trump will take office on Monday.
Hirono ripped for ‘deranged’ opening confirmation hearing question to Burgum: ‘This lady has issues’
Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii faced mockery on social media on Thursday over her opening questions to Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum during his confirmation hearing. “As part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees on which I sit, I ask the following two initial questions,” Hirono said to Burgum on Thursday. “First is, since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?” “No, senator, I have not,” Burgum responded. “Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?” Hirono then asked. BONDI CLAPS BACK AT HIRONO AMID QUESTIONS ABOUT POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS: ‘REFUSED TO MEET WITH ME’ “I have not,” Burgum said. Hirono, who has asked similar opening questions to several other nominees in the past, including Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, was widely panned by conservatives on social media over the line of questioning. “This lady has issues.” conservative commentator Chad Prather posted on X. DEM SENATOR WHO BASHED HEGSETH’S QUALIFICATIONS STANDS BY DOD SEC WHO OVERSAW BOTCHED AFGHAN WITHDRAWAL “No, this is not AI…,” conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted on X. “What is wrong with Dems??” American Majority president Ned Ryun posted on X. “They are apparently bat guano crazy sex pervs. Is this all they think about??” “How the F does Hirono have seats on Judiciary AND Armed Services AND Energy?????” columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher posted on X. “What member of Dem leadership does she have kompromat on??” Conservative comedian Tim Young posted on X that the “more Mazie Hirono asks cabinet nominees if they’ve sexually assaulted someone… the more I think she’s guilty of it herself.” Henry Rogers, The Daily Caller’s chief national correspondent, called Hirono “deranged” on X. Hirono’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Newsom calls for looting to be a felony in evacuation zones amid LA inferno
FIRST ON FOX: California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for looting in fire evacuation zones to be a felony after prosecutors in Southern California urged him this week to issue harsher penalties, Fox News Digital has exclusively learned. “Preying on people at their most vulnerable is despicable, these criminals are among the worst kinds,” Newsom said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday afternoon. Newsom said “looting has never been legal here” and that “it will not be tolerated” as the state continues to battle the ravenous inferno that broke out on Jan. 7. CALIFORNIA FIREBUG ARREST CAUGHT ON VIDEO AS POLICE WARN OF ARSONISTS “And that’s why I’ve tasked – from the beginning – support from CalGuard and CHP [California Highway Patrol] to protect impacted residents and their property,” Newsom said. In California, looting is currently classified as a “wobbler offense,” meaning it can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. However, judges have the authority to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor, even over prosecutors’ objections. So far, Los Angeles County’s newly elected tough-on-crime district attorney, Nathan Hochman, has issued several arson felonies this week in unrelated cases as firefighters continue to battle the blaze across the region. Fox News Digital previously reported that authorities have arrested at least a dozen individuals in connection with looting and arson. LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES: ARMED HOMEOWNERS PATROL FOR LOOTERS INSIDE EVACUATION ZONE Hochman issued a warning to others “contemplating similar acts,” vowing individuals would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Armed homeowners in some neighborhoods impacted by the fires have taken matters into their own hands to defend homes that have not been destroyed. Newsom’s public call comes after Hochman and District Attorney Todd Spitzer, of neighboring Orange County, teamed up on Tuesday to ask the governor to make looting a felony. Newsom has come under fire recently for his handling of the crisis from celebrities and lawmakers alike. Hochman and Spitzer’s proposal seeks to reclassify looting as a straight felony, requiring a state prison sentence rather than a county jail term, as is currently the case. The Los Angeles wildfires have killed two dozen people, and that number is expected to rise as authorities continue containment efforts. Fox News Digital has reached out to Spitzer and Hochman for comment. Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
President Biden’s climate standards for walk-in freezers could face reckoning under new GOP resolution
EXCLUSIVE: Congressional Republicans are pushing back against President Biden’s regulations on appliances with a resolution that seeks to circumvent new green energy standards for freezers. In December 2024, Biden’s Department of Energy (DOE) announced a final rule setting more stringent climate standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. The new regulation is currently set to go into effect in February, but could soon be impeded by Republican lawmakers seeking to overturn the rule. Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Oka., introduced a joint resolution of disapproval against the DOE standards for coolers and freezers on Thursday, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital. Joint resolutions of disapproval are used by lawmakers to invalidate a final rule enacted by a federal agency, meaning that if passed, the Republican-led Congress can overturn Biden’s new green energy standard for appliances. “The Biden administration has done everything it can to regulate all aspects of our homes and businesses. Walk-in coolers and freezers are used everywhere; from pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and more,” Bice told Fox News Digital. HOUSE GOP RESOLUTION WOULD OVERTURN BIDEN’S GAS WATER HEATER BAN According to the DOE’s final rule, the amended freezer standards would “result in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified,” but Bice suggests that such regulations are an overreach of the federal government into consumers’ lives. “These rules continue to add unnecessary burdens on everyday Americans and ultimately suppress consumer choice,” Bice said. “This is a direct overreach of power that my colleagues and I are fighting back against.” The joint resolution is being cosponsored by GOP Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama. TRUMP ENERGY NOMINEE HECKLED BY CLIMATE PROTESTERS, DERIDED BY DEM SENATOR AS ‘ENTHUSIAST FOR FOSSIL FUELS’ The bill comes as Republicans, who have a trifecta of leadership in Washington, are teeing up legislation and resolutions to push back on Biden’s green energy regulations on several household appliances. The Department of Energy recently announced a new rule banning non-condensing, natural gas-fired water heaters by 2029. However, on Wednesday, Palmer introduced a resolution to block the ban on water heaters, which was announced first by Fox News Digital. President-elect Trump has said that when he assumes office, he intends to overturn many environmental regulations enacted as part of Biden’s climate agenda.
Burgum grilled on environmental issues targeted by Trump during confirmation hearing: ‘Drill, baby, drill’
Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, President-elect Trump’s nominee for interior secretary, was pressed by the Senate on his environmental agenda and whether his mission aligns with that of Trump, who plans to overturn many environmental rules and regulations enacted under the Biden administration. A confirmation hearing was held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday for Burgum, a 2024 presidential candidate who was tapped to lead the department that manages public land, wildlife and natural resources. “This is a guy who really fits this job,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said as he introduced Burgum, who grew up in Arthur, North Dakota. Democrats focused their questioning on whether Burgum aligns with Trump’s stance on wind farming and electric vehicles, while Republicans asked about his commitment to forest management, increasing energy production and resurrecting interest in nuclear energy. TRUMP ENERGY NOMINEE HECKLED BY CLIMATE PROTESTERS, DERIDED BY DEM SENATOR AS ‘ENTHUSIAST FOR FOSSIL FUELS’ “When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn’t reduce demand. It just shifts production to countries like Russia and Iran, whose autocratic leaders not only don’t care at all about the environment, but they use their revenues from energy sales to fund wars against us and our allies,” Burgum said in his opening statement. “President Trump’s energy dominance vision will end those wars abroad and will make life more affordable for every family in America by driving down inflation. DEMS BLAME LA FIRE ON ‘CLIMATE CHANGE’ DESPITE CITY CUTTING FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET “And President Trump will achieve those goals while championing clean air, clean water and protecting our beautiful lands.” The Biden administration has enacted recent policies keeping animals on the endangered species list and blocking coal mining and liquefied natural gas exports (LNG). Republicans asked Burgum about his approach to these specific Biden-era policies, which he agreed are policies that should be reevaluated. Burgum told lawmakers that, if confirmed, his agenda would be anchored by two issues — national security and the economy. “Without baseload, we’re going to lose the AI (artificial intelligence) arms race to China,” he said. Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, using a phrase coined by the incoming president, asked the interior nominee if he is going to “drill, baby, drill” after claiming Trump wants to drill in national parks. “As part of my sworn duty, I’ll follow the law and follow the Constitution. And so you can count on that,” Burgum responded. “And I have not heard of anything about President Trump wanting to do anything other than advancing energy production for the benefit of the American people.” President-elect Trump recently suggested his administration could introduce policy to block all new wind energy projects, a topic raised by Democratic Sen. Angus King of Maine, who applauded Burgum for having “all of the above energy strategy” during the hearing. Asked if he will commit to current wind projects, Burgum said, “I’m not familiar with every project that the interior has underway, but I’ll certainly be taking a look at all of those.” “President Trump’s been very clear in his statements that he’s concerned about the significant amount of tax incentives that have gone towards some forms of energy, that have helped exacerbate this imbalance that we’re seeing right now,” Burgum said in reference to Trump raising the issue of subsidies for wind energy projects. Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada asked if Burgum would support repealing credits for electric vehicles, which could reportedly be axed by Trump during his upcoming term. “I support economics and markets,” Burgum responded, highlighting the costs of EVs compared to liquid fuel with zero carbon. Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana, the former secretary of interior during Trump’s first term, told Fox News he is “very confident” Burgum will be confirmed for the top administration post.
Texas has a big water problem. This state lawmaker hopes he has the solution.
Texas’ population is booming and there is not enough water for everyone. State Sen. Charles Perry hopes to fix that.
Bondi spars with Schiff at testy confirmation hearing: ‘You were censured’
Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Justice, was involved in a sharp clash with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Wednesday as the California senator quizzed Bondi over whether she would prosecute Trump’s political opponents. Schiff, a vocal critic of the president-elect, asked Bondi about whether she would investigate former Special Counsel Jack Smith and also former Rep. Liz Cheney. “I’m asking you sitting here today whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney,” he said. ‘MASTERCLASS’: BONDI FLIPS SCRIPT ON DEM SENATOR AFTER SUGGESTING SHE WILL WEAPONIZE DOJ “Senator, no one asked me to investigate Liz Cheney, that is a hypothetical,” she said. She then turned the tables on Schiff, noting the crime rate in California. “You know what we should be worried about? The crime rate in California is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average,” she said. “That’s what I want to focus on, senator.” Schiff said that Bondi’s answers suggested she doesn’t have the independence to say “no” to the president. He then asked her if she would tell Trump he lost the 2020 election. Bondi accused Schiff of “playing politics” and of leaking Rep. Devin Nunes’ memo. “What I can tell you is I will never play politics, you’re trying to engage me in a gotcha,” she said. TRUMP AG PICK PAM BONDI WOULD ‘MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN’ WITH ‘BACK TO BASICS’ DOJ APPROACH: FORMER COLLEAGUE Schiff shot back, asking her if she would advise against blanket pardons by President-elect Trump and suggesting she would not be able to look at every file on day one. “You’ll be able to review hundreds of cases on day one. … Of course you won’t,” Schiff said. Bondi was furious at Schiff’s comments. “I’m not going to mislead this body or you, you were censured by Congress, senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless,” she said. Schiff was censured in 2023 for promoting claims that Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia, a vote that made Schiff just the third member of the House to be censured since the turn of the century. The incident was one of a number of sharp exchanges that the former Florida AG had with Democrat lawmakers. She was asked by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., about the weaponization of the DOJ. “It would not be appropriate for a prosecutor to start with a name and look for a crime?” Whitehouse said during his line of questioning. “It’s a prosecutor’s job to start with a crime and look for a name. Correct?” Bondi responded by highlighting the federal government’s investigations into Trump. “Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what’s been happening to Donald Trump,” Bondi said.
House Republican introduces bill to redirect funds employing IRS auditors to instead hire more border agents
FIRST ON FOX – Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., is introducing a bill that aims to redirect funding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to fund the hiring of more Border Patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill, titled the “Diverting IRS Resources to the Exigent Crisis Today Act” or the “DIRECT Act,” aims to “rescind certain balances made available to the Internal Revenue Service and redirect them to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.” Specifically, the proposal seeks to have “unobligated balances” appropriated or otherwise made available to the IRS for “enforcement activities” under federal law instead go to the CBP “for the salaries and expenses of new agents and officers hired for the security of the southern border of the United States,” according to the bill’s language. Tenney is reintroducing the 2023 bill to the newly sworn-in 119th Congress. HOUSE REPUBLICAN’S BILL WOULD RIP FEDERAL FUNDS FROM STATES THAT GIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DRIVER’S LICENSES “The Biden-Harris administration has overseen the entry of over 10 million illegal immigrants into our country,” Tenney said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Yet, instead of prioritizing border security and supporting CBP agents, they focused on sending the IRS to harass middle-class families. The DIRECT Act stops Biden’s IRS army from launching audits of middle-class families and reinvests those funds to hiring additional Customs and Border Protection agents to secure the Southern Border.” The congresswoman added: “As we transition to the new administration, it is vital to provide CBP agents with the additional resources needed to secure our borders and deport illegal immigrants, ensuring they can effectively support President Trump’s and Border Czar Homan’s agenda.” TRUMP BORDER CZAR BLASTS NY GOVERNOR FOR TOUTING SUBWAY SAFETY HOURS AFTER HORRIFIC MURDER: ‘SHAME ON YOU’ Congress passed Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 without any support from Republicans. The package allocated about $80 billion to the IRS, green-lighting the hiring of 87,000 new IRS agents by 2035, including enforcement agents. That stipulation became a flash-point issue for Republicans, including Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who accused the Biden IRS of trying to “harass hard-working Americans.” Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead the newly developed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The nongovernmental task force will be responsible for finding ways to slash the federal workforce, and ax programs and federal regulations, as part of Trump’s “Save America” agenda for a second term. Trump announced on Wednesday he would establish another new agency, the External Revenue Service, to collect tariffs and other funding owed to the U.S. by foreign entities. Incoming border czar Tom Homan, who like Tenney is a native New Yorker, is tasked with delivering on Trump’s promise of mass deportations of criminal illegal immigrants and drug traffickers. Tenney, who co-chaired the House Election Integrity Caucus amid the 2024 race that ended in Trump’s victory, also recently re-introduced a bill that aims to rip federal funds from states that allow illegal immigrants to hold driver’s licenses.
Zeldin grilled by Democrats on climate change, Trump’s stance on carbon emissions during EPA hearing
Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin sat for his confirmation hearing to lead the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, and was grilled by Democrats on his views of climate change. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member, questioned Zeldin on the effects of carbon dioxide and pollutants on the atmosphere. “Is carbon dioxide a pollutant?” the Rhode Island Democrat asked. “As far as the carbon dioxide emitted by you during that question – no,” Zeldin replied, adding that in larger masses, the EPA should indeed focus on carbon dioxide output. DEM LAWMAKER BACKS ZELDIN OVER HOCHUL Whitehouse also produced a topographic map of the Ocean State, showing colored ranges he said are at danger of becoming underwater due to climate change. He said Zeldin likely understands the issue with sealevels – as his former congressional district is diagonally across Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean from Westerly. Later, Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, told Zeldin that 2024 was the “hottest year in recorded history.” Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, added the past decade has also been the hottest on record and cited “unprecedented wildfires in the West Coast and Canada as well as “unprecedented flooding in China” and drought in South America and Africa. He said President-elect Trump has called climate change a “hoax, time and time again.” DONALD TRUMP CABINET PICKS SIT FOR SENATE HEARINGS ON THURSDAY “What we’re seeing right now in L.A. right now is apocalyptic… Montpelier was underwater recently in a way we have not seen.” He pressed Zeldin to disclose whether he believes climate change is an existential threat. By contrast, Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, praised Zeldin for his measured belief in climate change. “There’s a lot that should unite us… as it relates to the environment,” he said. Around that time, a cellphone near Zeldin rang loudly. “That was the fossil fuel industry,” Sanders quipped. Later, Green New Deal co-sponsor Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts questioned Zeldin on comments from a 2016 congressional debate where he said it is the U.S.’ job to “reduce reliance on fossil fuels.” “I support all of the above energy,” Zeldin replied before Markey cut in. “Considering all factors, in an ideal world, we would be able to pursue always the cleanest, greenest energy sources possible,” Zeldin later continued, leading Markey to suggest present-day Lee Zeldin doesn’t agree with 2016 Lee Zeldin. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., brought up constituents ravaged by wildfires. Zeldin asked to visit California to bring assistance, and Schiff accepted. “Your response will not depend on whether disaster strikes a red state or a blue state…?” Schiff later asked. Zeldin assured him that would not be the case. In his opening statement at the start of the hearing, Zeldin pledged to uphold the EPA’s core mission, which he described as protecting human health and the environment. “We must do everything in our power to harness the greatness of American innovation with the greatness of American conservation and environmental stewardship. We must ensure we are protecting our environment, while also protecting our economy,” he said. “The American people need leaders who can find common ground to solve the urgent issues we face. I want my daughters, your loved ones, and every child across our country to thrive in a world with clean air, clean water and boundless opportunity,” Zeldin went on. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP If confirmed, Zeldin pledged to “foster a collaborative culture within the agency, supporting career staff who have dedicated themselves to this mission. I strongly believe we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of our environment for generations to come.” Zeldin earned a 14% lifetime environmental voting score from the League of Conservation Voters, but while in office he also fought to improve the air and water quality in and around New York. He pushed back against efforts to dump dredge-waste in Long Island Sound, and tripled funding for the EPA’s Long Island Sound Program. Trump said in a previous statement that Zeldin will ensure fair deregulation decisions and enact them in “a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”
Vance hosts top-dollar fundraiser ahead of Trump inauguration
Vice President-elect JD Vance, in a role that he’s likely to repeat with frequency in the years ahead, hosted a top-dollar fundraiser that attracted some of the leading figures and donors in President-elect Trump’s political orbit. The $250,000-a-plate fundraiser, which was confirmed to Fox News by a source familiar with the details, was held Wednesday at Le Bilboquet, a French restaurant in Palm Beach, Florida, located just a few miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, which has long served as the former and future president’s political headquarters. Among those in attendance was the president-elect’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is a top friend and political ally of Vance, and who pushed hard last summer for the elder Trump to name Vance, then the junior senator from Ohio, as his running mate on the 2024 Republican Party’s national ticket. WHAT JD VANCE SAID ON FOX NEWS SUNDAY A number of Trump mega donors, including billionaire investor John Paulson and tech entrepreneur David Sacks, as well as tech and cryptocurrency titans, also attended, according to the source. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT VANCE The money hauled in at the fundraiser, which will likely top seven figures, will go toward MAGA Inc., the top super PAC that supported Trump during his two-year campaign to win back the White House in 2024. With Trump term-limited and prevented from running again for re-election in 2028, Vance is seen as the heir-apparent to the president-elect’s America First movement and MAGA world of devout supporters. He will likely be considered the frontrunner when the next GOP presidential nomination race formally kicks off following the 2026 midterm elections. Hosting and headlining top dollar fundraisers that attract the leading donors in Trump’s political orbit will likely enhance Vance’s position as the politician best equipped to carry on the president-elect’s legacy in 2028. Politico was first to report news of the Vance fundraiser.