Russian missiles rained down on Ukraine just ahead of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s visit
Russian missiles struck Kyiv in the early hours of Wednesday, killing at least one civilian, Ukrainian officials said. The barrage of ballistic missiles hit hours before Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited the Ukrainian capital, the first Cabinet-level Trump official to do so, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aide Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram. Bessent is visiting the city to meet with Zelenskyy and discuss President Donald Trump‘s demand for access to $500 billion worth of rare Earth minerals as payment for U.S. military aid to Ukraine. He is also expected to talk about energy, having promised to ramp up sanctions on Russia’s oil sector. JD VANCE, TREASURY SEC SCOTT BESSENT TO MEET WITH ZELENSKYY AS TRUMP TEAM SETS SIGHTS ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR Zelenskyy said the recent attack proved Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in pursuing peace. Reporters from the French newswire AFP heard explosions ring out early Wednesday before discovering the body of one person killed, covered with a black plastic sheet. Zelenskyy said at least one person was killed, and four others were wounded – including a child. He said the attack damaged apartments and office buildings. Russia’s defense ministry claimed it had conducted a “group missile strike” on Ukrainian sites producing drones and added that all targets were hit. Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is expected to visit Kyiv next week as he hashes out a plan for peace with Russia. ‘LET’S DO A DEAL’: ZELENSKYY CALLS TRUMP’S TERMS ACCEPTABLE FOR SECURITY PARTNERSHIP Kellogg, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are all traveling to Europe for the Munich Security Conference this week, when they will discuss peace options with Ukrainian and European officials. In the region north of Kyiv, Chernihiv, local Gov. Vyacheslav Chaus said Russians had targeted critical infrastructure and at least two were wounded. The Ukrainian air force said it shot down six missiles and 71 of 123 drones, which included Iranian-designed Shahed attack vehicles.
Maine sports governing body says trans athletes can still compete in women’s sports despite Trump order
The executive director of the primary governing body for high school sports in the state of Maine said athletic teams will continue to determine eligibility based on a student’s stated gender identity, despite the president’s executive order seeking to keep “men out of women’s sports.” Mike Burnham, executive director of the Maine Principals Association (MPA), said the president’s order conflicts with state law aimed at protecting human rights and, as a result, the MPA will defer to the latter when it comes to determining athletic eligibility. “The executive order and our Maine state Human Rights Act are in conflict, and the Maine Principal’s Association (MPA) will continue to follow state law as it pertains to gender identity,” Burnham told local news outlet Maine Public following President Donald Trump’s Feb. 5 executive order. NYC OFFICIAL REMOVES POST SUPPORTING TRUMP’S TRANS ATHLETE ORDER AFTER ‘GUIDANCE’ FROM MAYOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF In a statement to Fox News Digital, Burnham reiterated that MPA would be “instructing all schools in Maine to follow the Maine Human Rights Act,” which he said was in accordance with a Jan. 21 notice from the Department of Education. “The staff at the MPA will closely monitor any updates from federal and state authorities regarding the potential impact of the president’s executive order on high school sports participation and adjust its policy accordingly.” While the NCAA revised its guidelines around transgender participation in sports, Maine is one of a handful of states that have said they will continue to allow transgender women to compete on women’s sports teams in accordance with its state laws. Trump’s executive order instructed all federal agencies to review grants, programs and policies that fail to comply with the administration’s efforts to end “male competitive participation in women’s sports… as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.” The order also instructs strict Title IX enforcement against any educational institutions or athletic associations that do not comply, and demands federal assistance be taken away in such cases. “Many sport-specific governing bodies have no official position or requirements regarding trans-identifying athletes. Others allow men to compete in women’s categories if these men reduce the testosterone in their bodies below certain levels or provide documentation of ‘sincerely held’ gender identity,” Trump’s executive order states. “These policies are unfair to female athletes and do not protect female safety.” TRUMP ADMIN EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING TRANSGENDER PARTICIPATION IN WOMEN’S SPORTS JUST THE START, EXPERT SAYS Just like Maine, the governing bodies for youth sports in both Minnesota and California have said determination regarding the eligibility of transgender athletes is controlled by state human rights statutes. Meanwhile, in Michigan, the state’s governing body for youth sports said it is seeking further clarification on potential conflicts between Trump’s executive order and state law. Sarah Perry, a civil rights attorney who has extensive experience litigating Title IX issues, said that in addition to Trump’s executive order, these state athletic associations are also flouting directives from the Department of Education and previously established precedent from a slew of cases that challenged former President Joe Biden’s Title IX regulations allowing athletic eligibility to be determined by one’s preferred gender identity. TEEN GIRLS OPEN UP ON TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL THAT TURNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL INTO A CULTURE WAR BATTLEGROUND “Within six weeks [after Biden’s Title IX ruling] we had 11 federal lawsuits brought by 26 states, in addition to a handful of others – the Biden administration has lost every time,” Perry pointed out. “The most damning of their losses was the one out of the Eastern District of Kentucky, which just came out last month, and that was not just enjoining the rule, but vacating the rule. In other words, sending it literally to the trash heap as though it had never been made.” Perry noted that besides the obvious risk of losing funding, these states also open themselves up to federal Title IX investigations, something she said could potentially force them to comply with Trump’s demands. “The executive order of women’s sports specifically says that the secretary of education is going to convene, in conjunction with Attorney General Pam Bondi, all affirmative action in all the states to make sure that there is compliance, and for those schools that do not comply, to prioritize first Title IX legal enforcement actions against those educational institutions, including athletic associations, that are composed of or governed by those particular schools,” Perry said. “They’re welcome to follow state law in light of contrary federal law,” Perry continued. “But my guess is, the minute that these investigations and the purse strings start to close, this is going to be a completely different story in a short period of time.”
Dem looks to codify new AG Bondi’s desired crackdown on ‘zombie drug’ xylazine
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Democrat is looking to work across the aisle and codify a policy requested by President Donald Trump’s new Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi to crack down on the dangerous “zombie drug” xylazine. “Xylazine poses a growing threat across the Silver State, and our law enforcement officers simply don’t have the tools they need to keep our communities safe from this dangerous drug,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement. “My bipartisan, bicameral bill would crack down on illegal use of xylazine while protecting its legitimate use by veterinarians and ranchers. It’s time for Congress to act now and pass this life-saving legislation,” she said. SENATE DOGE CHAIR SAYS SHE SPEAKS WITH ELON MUSK ‘EVERY FEW DAYS’ AS TRUMP ADMIN SLASHES SPENDING On Bondi’s first day as AG, she directed the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Office of Legal Policy and the Office of Legislative Affairs to advocate for several legislative reforms, including, “Adding xylazine, which has no legitimate human use and makes fentanyl even more lethal, to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.” Xylazine, increasingly referred to as a “zombie drug,” has powerful sedative effects. Currently, the drug is not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). According to the DEA, “If xylazine became a federally scheduled substance, however, it would result in more consistent reporting across entities and a fuller picture of xylazine’s presence in all drug exhibits.” DEMOCRAT SENATOR BACKS TRUMP’S ‘COMMON SENSE MOVE’ TO FIRE THE PENNY The bill, being reintroduced on Wednesday by Cortez Masto and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, would add xylazine to Schedule III of CSA. In this category, it would be listed alongside “products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, [and] testosterone.” “Illicit xylazine is contributing to the national drug epidemic and driving up overdose deaths in communities across the country. Our nation’s laws must keep pace with emerging drug trends,” Grassley said in a statement. “This bipartisan bill recognizes the lethal threat of xylazine and provides law enforcement new tools to combat its spread, while ensuring veterinarians, ranchers and cattlemen can continue to access the drug for legitimate animal treatment.” SCOOP: TRUMP BUDGET CHIEF VOUGHT TELLS GOP SENATORS $175B NEEDED ‘IMMEDIATELY’ FOR BORDER SECURITY The measure would additionally make sure that intended users of the drug, such as veterinarians, farmers and ranchers, are still able to access it. This would be done by creating an official definition of the “ultimate user” who is “lawfully permitted to possess a controlled substance for legitimate use.” Further, the bill would allow the DEA to track xylazine manufacturing to prevent its infiltration of illegal drug markets. NOEM, HEGSETH, BONDI PLEAD WITH CONGRESS FOR MORE BORDER FUNDING AMID LARGE-SCALE DEPORTATIONS During Bondi’s confirmation hearing last month, she promised that: “If confirmed as the next attorney general of the United States, my overriding objective will be to return the Department of Justice to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously prosecuting criminals and that includes getting back to basics: gangs, drugs, terrorist cartels, our border, and our foreign adversaries.”
Trump US trade rep pick Jamieson Greer advances out of Senate Finance Committee
President Donald Trump‘s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Jamieson Greer, advanced out of the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday. The vote was 15-12, with all Republicans on the panel voting for Greer, as well as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. His appointment now moves on to the full Senate for final confirmation. Greer, who previously served as chief of staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer during Trump’s first term, has been credited with assisting in imposing tariffs on China and renegotiating the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico during the first administration. He is also a lawyer and Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps veteran with one deployment to Iraq. Greer’s first confirmation hearing last week came amid new announcements that Trump would impose tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE NOM INEE DEFENDS TRUMP TARIFFS IN COMMITTEE HEARING If confirmed by the entire Senate, Greer will be responsible for pursuing U.S.-international trade agreements that align with President Trump’s agenda to support well-paying American jobs and bolster supply chain resilience, which includes boosting domestic manufacturing and industrial jobs and diversifying sources for essential goods and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. “If the United States does not have a robust manufacturing base and innovative economy, it will have little in the way of hard power to deter conflict and protect Americans,” Greer said in last week’s hearing. “Trade policy can play an important role in ensuring that we have the economic security that leads to strong national security. I am convinced that we have a relatively short window of time to restructure the international trade system to better serve U.S. interests.” Greer also noted he would seek out a balanced U.S. trade system with countries like Vietnam, which has a trade surplus in the country, to “have better reciprocity.” ‘MAKING AMERICA EXPENSIVE AGAIN’: DEMS FIND A TAX THEY DON’T LIKE IN TRUMP TARIFFS The White House announced this month a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, citing an “invasion of illegal fentanyl,” along with a 10% tariff on Canadian energy and all Chinese imports. Tariffs on China took effect Tuesday, while those on Mexico and Canada were delayed at least a month following border security talks.
RFK Jr nomination to serve as Trump’s Health secretary clears key hurdle in Senate
The Senate voted Wednesday to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial nomination to serve as Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary in President Donald Trump‘s Cabinet, sending him on a path to final confirmation. The vote to invoke cloture on Kennedy’s nomination ends debate and starts the clock ticking toward the final Senate vote on his confirmation. The Senate agreed to advance the nomination by a party-line, 53-47 vote, setting up a final roll call vote on Kennedy’s confirmation early Thursday morning. Kennedy, the well-known vaccine skeptic and environmental crusader who ran for the White House in 2024 before ending his bid and endorsing Trump, needed a simple majority to advance to a final vote in the chamber, which Republicans control by a 53-47 majority. TRUMP HEALTH SECRETARY NOMINEE RFK JR. SURVIVES HEATED HEARINGS Kennedy survived back-to-back combustible Senate confirmation hearings late last month, when Trump’s nominee to lead 18 powerful federal agencies that oversee the nation’s food and health faced plenty of verbal fireworks over past controversial comments, including his repeated claims in recent years linking vaccines to autism, which have been debunked by scientific research. During the hearings, Democrats also spotlighted Kennedy’s service for years as chair or chief legal counsel for Children’s Health Defense, the nonprofit organization he founded that has advocated against vaccines and sued the federal government numerous times, including a challenge over the authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine for children. HEAD HERE FOR LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE With Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee voting not to advance Kennedy, the spotlight was on Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a physician and chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Cassidy issued a last minute endorsement before the committee level vote, giving Kennedy a party-line 14-13 victory to advance his confirmation to the full Senate. Cassidy had emphasized during Kennedy’s confirmation hearings that “your past of undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments concerns me,” which left doubt about his support. However, after speaking again with the nominee, Cassidy rattled off a long list of commitments Kennedy made to him, including quarterly hearings before the HELP Committee; meetings multiple times per month; that HELP Committee can choose representatives on boards or commissions reviewing vaccine safety; and a 30-day notice to the committee, plus a hearing, for any changes in vaccine safety reviews. “These commitments, and my expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make America healthy again, is the basis of my support,” the senator said. Earlier this week, another Republican senator who had reservations regarding Kennedy’s confirmation announced support for the nominee. “After extensive public and private questioning and a thorough examination of his nomination, I will support Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services,” moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced on Tuesday. Another Republican who was on the fence, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alalska, also voted to advance Kennedy’s nomination. “I continue to have concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my misgivings about his nomination,” Murkowski said in a statement. But Murkowski added that Kennedy “has made numerous commitments to me and my colleagues, promising to work with Congress to ensure public access to information and to base vaccine recommendations on data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research. These commitments are important to me and, on balance, provide assurance for my vote.” Kennedy, whose outspoken views on Big Pharma and the food industry have also sparked controversy, has said he aims to shift the focus of the agencies he would oversee toward promotion of a healthy lifestyle, including overhauling dietary guidelines, taking aim at ultra-processed foods and getting to the root causes of chronic diseases. The push is part of his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. “Our country is not going to be destroyed because we get the marginal tax rate wrong. It is going to be destroyed if we get this issue wrong,” Kennedy said as he pointed to chronic diseases. “And I am in a unique position to be able to stop this epidemic.” The 71-year-old scion of the nation’s most storied political dynasty, launched a long-shot campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination against then-President Joe Biden in April 2023. However, six months later, he switched to an independent run for the White House. Trump regularly pilloried Kennedy during his independent presidential bid, accusing him of being a “Radical Left Liberal” and a “Democrat Plant.” Kennedy fired back, claiming in a social media post that Trump’s jabs against him were “a barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims.” However, Kennedy made major headlines again last August when he dropped his presidential bid and endorsed Trump. While Kennedy had long identified as a Democrat and repeatedly invoked his late father, former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and his late uncle, former President John F. Kennedy – who were both assassinated in the 1960s – Kennedy in recent years built relationships with far-right leaders due in part to his high-profile vaccine skepticism. After months of criticizing him, Trump called Kennedy “a man who has been an incredible champion for so many of these values that we all share.” Trump announced soon after the November election that he would nominate Kennedy to his Cabinet to run HHS.
‘Categorically untrue’: Key government agency pushes back against media narratives of DOGE chaos
FIRST ON FOX: The General Services Administration (GSA), an independent agency that manages federal property for various agencies, is pushing back on recent media outlets reporting that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has instilled fear among employees and insists it is continuing to deliver efficient and effective services with employees that are focused on their mission. “Over the past few days, numerous media outlets have reported on GSA’s return to office and future workforce plans,” the GSA said in a statement released on Wednesday. “These reports include numerous quotes from anonymous sources and contain significant inaccuracies.” Several media outlets, including NPR, Politico and The Associated Press, have reported on a chaotic scene in recent days at GSA as DOGE searches the government bureaucracy for waste, and it has been reported that GSA is closely monitoring employees’ location and keystrokes and employees are calling the situation “grim” and “Orwellian” while reportedly facing massive staffing cuts. “For the record: GSA is leading the way to reduce government spend[ing] and close the deficit in service of the American taxpayer,” GSA’s statement continued. “GSA has no plans to surveil employees. GSA leadership is being forthright with our employees, and we’re sharing the best available information with them as they make decisions regarding their future. Characterizations that GSA senior leadership are unduly pressuring employees to leave the agency are categorically untrue.” TRUMP SIGNS ORDER INSTRUCTING DOGE TO MASSIVELY CUT FEDERAL WORKFORCE A GSA career senior manager who has worked in multiple administrations told Fox News Digital that “the press seem to be trying to conflate DOGE with our agency’s appointee leadership team.” “GSA, like every other agency, is working in partnership with DOGE, but it’s GSA’s appointee leadership that is leading the transformation.” The senior manager told Fox News Digital that career staff have relayed a sentiment of being “grateful for the frequency and tone of communications from our appointee leadership” and that the team is “focused on the mission” “Characterizations of ‘frantic’ meetings just aren’t what I’m experiencing,” the senior manager said. DOGE SLASHES OVER $100M IN DEI FUNDING AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: ‘WIN FOR EVERY STUDENT’ The GSA has been involved in working with DOGE on its cost-cutting measures, including earlier this month when the agency issued a letter terminating the U.S. Agency for International Development occupancies in Washington, D.C., which GSA said “will be repurposed for other government needs.” The manager told Fox News Digital that rather than an agency in “fear,” the agency is working efficiently to work with DOGE to ensure that the government is streamlined. “GSA’s appointed leadership is working hand in hand with our career executives to thoughtfully find solutions that meet the administration’s goals of streamlining government and delivering effectively and efficiently for the American taxpayer,” GSA’s statement added. “GSA’s subcomponent, the Federal Acquisition Service, led by Josh Gruenbaum, is committed to a common sense approach to federal procurement, delivering goods and services with the best value, and helping all government agencies reduce wasteful contract spending. Optimizing GSA’s real estate portfolio prioritizes reducing our deferred maintenance liabilities, supporting the return to office of federal employees, and taking advantage of a stronger private/government partnership in managing the workforce of the future.”
Trump says Russia agrees to ‘immediately’ begin negotiations to end war in Ukraine
President Donald Trump said he had a “lengthy” call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, which included Putin agreeing to “immediately” begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine. “We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday. “We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful.” Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022, when Russia first invaded its neighboring nation. “We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!” Trump added in his Truth Social post of his call with Putin. “We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together. But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, “COMMON SENSE.”
Trump lands key Tulsi Gabbard confirmation following uphill Senate battle
President Donald Trump continued his successful Cabinet confirmation roll on Wednesday, with Tulsi Gabbard officially being approved by the Senate to become his director of national intelligence (DNI). She became his 14th Cabinet confirmation following the 52-48 Wednesday vote. The vote was party-line, with the exception of former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who opposed Gabbard. Despite an uphill battle before her first hurdle in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the former Democratic Rep. managed to come back and get key Republicans to support her in her bid to oversee the nation’s intelligence agencies. SENATE DOGE CHAIR SAYS SHE SPEAKS WITH ELON MUSK ‘EVERY FEW DAYS’ AS TRUMP ADMIN SLASHES SPENDING With the coordinated and persuasive assistance of Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Vice President JD Vance, crucial senators who had lingering concerns about Gabbard were convinced to back her in the crucial committee vote last week, including Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Todd Young, R-Ind. Her success came despite the impassioned plea of Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., and Democrats, who all opposed Trump’s DNI pick. DEMOCRAT SENATOR BACKS TRUMP’S ‘COMMON SENSE MOVE’ TO FIRE THE PENNY “We need leaders in the Intelligence Community and throughout government who are prepared to stand up to short-sighted attempts to attack our workforce at the expense of our national security. Unfortunately, I do not believe Ms. Gabbard is such a leader. Nor is she well-suited, by dint of experience or judgment, to serve as Director of National Intelligence,” he explained on the chamber floor on Monday. But Warner failed to persuade any Republicans, and Gabbard’s nomination advanced past its last obstacle on Monday evening. The vote passed by a party-line margin of 52-46. SCOOP: TRUMP BUDGET CHIEF VOUGHT TELLS GOP SENATORS $175B NEEDED ‘IMMEDIATELY’ FOR BORDER SECURITY Gabbard’s Senate comeback was achieved despite concerns regarding her past meeting with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her previous FISA Section 702 stance and her past support for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Trump announced his selection of Gabbard for DNI in November shortly after being elected. “I am pleased to announce that former Congresswoman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, will serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI),” he said in a statement at the time. NOEM, HEGSETH, BONDI PLEAD WITH CONGRESS FOR MORE BORDER FUNDING AMID LARGE-SCALE DEPORTATIONS “For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans. As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!” Gabbard notably left the Democratic Party and subsequently endorsed Trump in the 2024 election.
Migrants at risk of losing green card lottery if GOP House wins fight
FIRST ON FOX: Republican lawmakers are seeking to end a government program that “undermines national security” by allowing a “faceless computer code” to randomly distribute visas to migrants through a lottery system, Fox News Digital has learned. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), which is run by the State Department, holds an annual lottery where up to 55,000 green cards are given out to immigrants who are then granted permanent resident status through a randomized draw. The program has been in political debate for years among lawmakers who have raised national security concerns over randomly choosing migrants to receive residency rather than going through a merit-based selection process. On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga. introduced the Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2025, shared first with Fox News Digital, that aims to end the visa lottery and eliminate the ability for lottery winners to immediately sponsor family members for preferential green cards. DOGE FOCUSES ON MILLIONS IN MIGRANT HOTELS BILLED TO US TAXPAYERS AS DHS SEC. NOEM TARGETS FEMA “The Diversity Visa Program is a needless exercise in government virtue signaling. We’ve opened our country up to an almost endless system of chain migration while throwing a dart at the globe and letting faceless computer code determine a path to citizenship for 50,000 immigrants,” Collins said in a statement. TRUMP’S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY LOOKING TO DEPUTIZE IRS AGENTS FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT Collins added that “ending the Visa Lottery is commonsense” and that his bill “will reform our broken immigration system and realign our nation’s priorities back to the America First immigration policies that we need.” The DV Program currently allows applicants who meet a certain eligibility requirement to apply online. To apply, applicants must come from countries with historically low rates of immigration and complete at least a high school education. In 2017, several Republican lawmakers raised concern over the visa lottery after winner Sayfullo Saipov, a terrorist who was granted residency through the program in 2010, killed eight people in New York by driving a truck into a crowd on Halloween. Another accused terrorist, Akayed Ullah, was also granted a visa through the program, according to Republican Sen. John Boozman’s office. Cosponsors of the bill include Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas, Rep. Mike Haridopolos of Florida, Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida, Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, and Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas. The legislation is also backed by both the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and Numbers USA, an immigration reform group. “U.S. visa holders should represent the best and brightest immigrants from all over the world who share the commitment to advance American values,” Ryan Walker, Heritage Action Executive Vice President said in a statement shared with Fox. “Issuing visas based on arbitrary “diversity” quotas undermines national security, restricts opportunities for skilled talent, and fails to foster true diversity.”
Elon Musk describes limestone mine used for processing federal workers’ retirement papers: ‘Like a time warp’
Elon Musk announced on Tuesday that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was looking into a limestone mine in Pennsylvania, where the cost-cutting organization says federal employee retirements are processed manually using a system that could take months. Musk told reporters about the mine on Tuesday during an appearance with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, as the president prepared to sign an executive order concerning the billionaire’s work leading DOGE. “And then we’re told this is actually, I think, a great anecdote, because we’re told the most number of people that could retire possibly in a month is 10,000,” Musk said. “We’re like, well, what? Why is that? Well, because all the retirement paperwork is manual on paper,” he continued. “It’s manually calculated and written down on a piece of paper. Then it goes down to mine and like, what do you mean, a mine?” HOUSE EXPECTS FIRST DOGE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING TO BE ‘FULL-ON COMBAT’ DOGE wrote on X that an old limestone mine in Boyers, Pennsylvania, about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh, is where about 700 workers operate more than 230 feet underground to process about 10,000 federal retirement applications per month. The applications are processed by hand using paper, and are stored in manila envelopes and cardboard boxes, DOGE said. The Washington Post described the facility as a “sinkhole of bureaucracy” in a 2014 article. At the time, the report said the total spending on the retirement system was $55.8 million. Multiple attempts to digitize the system have been made since 1987, according to the report. Each attempt largely failed and was eventually scrapped, with reported costs totaling over $130 million. DOGE SLASHES OVER $100M IN DEI FUNDING AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: ‘WIN FOR EVERY STUDENT’ Musk said the facility was started in 1955 and looks “like a time warp.” He noted the slow processing speed, which DOGE says can take multiple months. “And then the speed, the limiting factor is the speed at which the mine shaft elevator can move, determines how many people can retire from the federal government,” Musk said. “And the elevator breaks down and sometimes, and then you can’t, nobody can retire. Doesn’t that sound crazy?” Musk said the flawed system of “carrying manila envelopes to, you know, boxes in a mine shaft” could be remedied with “practically anything else.” “That’s an example, like at a high level, if you say like, how do we increase prosperity is we get people to shift from roles that are low to negative productivity to high productivity roles,” he said. In recent weeks, Democrats have largely criticized the work of Musk and DOGE to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending and trim the more than 2 million-person federal workforce. Musk has pushed back, telling reporters Tuesday that “the people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get.”