Judge blocks DOGE from accessing Education Department records
A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden is temporarily blocking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal records at the Department of Education (DoEd) as part of their cost-cutting sweep. Judge Deborah Boardman of Greenbelt, Maryland, issued a temporary restraining order on Monday against DOGE’s access to records at the DoEd containing personal sensitive information on Americans, including financial data related to federal student loans. The order established a two-week restraining order against the DoEd and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing information with the newly formed cost-cutting department. “This continuing, unauthorized disclosure of the plaintiffs’ sensitive personal information to DOGE affiliates is irreparable harm that money damages cannot rectify,” Boardman wrote in the decision. CAESARS PALACE, MLB STADIUM, AN ICE CREAM TRUCK: DOGE REVEALS HOW SCHOOLS SPENT BILLIONS IN COVID-RELIEF FUNDS The order stems from a lawsuit filed against the administration alleging that “the agencies unlawfully granted access to records that contain their personally identifiable information (“PII”) to personnel implementing the President’s Executive Orders on the DOGE agenda.” “The plaintiffs have made a clear showing that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm without injunctive relief,” the decision reads. “DOGE affiliates have been granted access to systems of record that contain some of the plaintiffs’ most sensitive data—Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, income and assets, citizenship status, and disability status—and their access to this trove of personal information is ongoing.” “Upon consideration of the amended complaint, the TRO briefing, the limited record evidence, oral argument, and the recent decisions of other courts in similar cases, the Court finds that the plaintiffs have met their burden for the extraordinary relief they seek,” the ruling reads. “The TRO is granted in part and denied in part.” DOGE SLASHES OVER $100M IN DEI FUNDING AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: ‘WIN FOR EVERY STUDENT’ The latest ruling against DOGE comes from the same judge who in early February blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. Boardman argued in the earlier ruling that citizenship is a “national concern that demands a uniform policy.” DOGE has seen several legal victories in the face of attempts to block efforts to cut “wasteful” federal spending. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan recently denied a request to issue a temporary restraining order preventing Musk and DOGE from accessing data systems at several federal agencies. The department was issued another win after District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, shot down a request from several federal labor unions to pause the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration.
Reporter’s Notebook: All night long
The policy agenda of President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans is keeping Democrats up at night. Literally. If you snooze, you lose. Or at least you might have missed the recent nocturnal front mounted by Democrats to oppose the GOP’s budget package. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE SENATE TRYING TO ADVANCE TRUMP’S AGENDA It was the second overnight session in three weeks for the Senate. While you were sleeping last Thursday night – drifting into Friday – Democrats hoped their resistance to the president wasn’t a legislative lullaby. In the overnight Senate session, Democrats forced two dozen votes over nearly nine hours on every subject under the moon. “The right to IVF,” was an amendment offered by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. “Deficits and debt,” came the proposal from Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., the top Democrat on the Budget Committee. MILLIONS MORE FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS REQUIRED TO WORK UNDER NEW HOUSE GOP PROPOSAL “Public lands,” was the focus for Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. “Deadly and devastating wildfires,” caught the attention of Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “The cost of housing,” was the issue for Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. “Tax cuts,” declared Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. “The FAA,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the leading Democrat on the Appropriations panel. However, Republicans threw a shuteye shutout. The GOP-controlled Senate rejected every Democratic proposal all night long. Marathon voting sessions – often called “vote-a-ramas” in the Senate – present an opportunity for the party out of power to engineer challenging votes for the other side. They like to put the majority on the spot with tough votes. Some amendments are even drafted with a specific senator in mind. Especially someone who might face a competitive bid for re-election in the next cycle. Democrats tried to trip up Republicans with votes on tax cuts. They even compelled Republicans to weigh in on their support – or lack thereof – for Ukraine. “This amendment ensures continued support for the government of Ukraine to stand firm against Russian aggression. For three years, Ukraine has fought tooth and nail for its very survival heroically,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. Reed’s plan scored a brushback from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. “There’s no greater supporter of Ukraine in this Senate than I am. But this is not the right vehicle,” argued Wicker on the floor at 12:34 a.m. ET Friday. “Passage of this amendment – though members might wish to – will make it harder to pass this very valuable budget.” But it was lights out for Democrats as Republicans passed their budget framework just before dawn Friday. The vote was 52-48. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the lone GOP nay. FOLLOWING KEY WINS, TRUMP POSED FOR CABINET COMPLETION IN RECORD TIME “We’re going to vote all night long to set up a bill to increase spending by $340 billion,” argued Paul in a floor speech Thursday. “Senate Republicans are coming forward today to pass a budget to allow them to raise federal spending.” Paul asserted that senators should vote on his amendment to cut spending rather than greenlight an outline to actually spend more on the military and border security. He also reminded his colleagues that the budget plan wasn’t binding. It was just an aspiration with no real money or spending reductions. “The talk of the savings is ephemeral. It isn’t real. Until Congress has the courage to vote on it, it has to be certified by a vote. If Congress doesn’t vote, it sort of wishes and washes around in the ether. And it may or may not wind up being savings,” said Paul. Democrats claimed they shined a spotlight on Republican political vulnerabilities via the overnight exercise. “One amendment at a time, Democrats exposed Republicans’ true colors here on the Senate floor,” bragged Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. But in the middle of the night. Did anyone see it? Did anyone pay attention? If a tree falls in the woods… But now it’s up to the House to approve its plan. It tackles the same provisions which are in the Senate package. But it emphasizes tax cuts. It also has the support of Trump. It will be hard to advance anything through the House. “If we don’t do our job, everyone’s taxes are going up. And so that is absolutely going to be catastrophic to the American people,” said Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., on FOX Business. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House. It’s about the math. They can only lose a vote or two on any given day. And keep in mind that a key demand in this bill is to drive up military and border spending – but also reduce overall spending. Plus, renew tax cuts. That’s why some skeptics say the only way is to tackle the entitlements. So-called “mandatory” spending. This is spending that Congress doesn’t approve for each year. Based on laws passed years ago, the money for mandatory spending just floods out the door – based on what the government owes (such as interest on the debt) and who qualifies for particular entitlements. That’s why there’s a serious hunt for the triumvirate of “waste, fraud and abuse” in federal spending. There simply isn’t enough money to trim from the “discretionary” side of the ledger. That’s the money which Congress allocates on an annual basis to run the government. Mandatory spending dwarfs discretionary spending. “If we cut all of that, we still won’t balance the budget. We have a deficit of $2 trillion. We have got to touch our mandatory spending,” said Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., on FOX Business. That’s why securing an agreement to advance the package through the House is so tough. And the House and Senate must both advance the same plan to use budget reconciliation to skip over the filibuster. If the House adopts its plan, the House and Senate could then work to sync up. The chambers could try to merge their respective plans in
Federal workers who fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave, Musk states
Elon Musk, who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), warned federal workers on Monday morning that those who fail to return to the office will be placed on administrative leave. “Those who ignored President Trump’s executive order to return to work have now received over a month’s warning,” Musk wrote on X, the platform which he also owns. “Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave.” Musk’s warning comes after he announced Saturday that federal employees must report their accomplishments from the last week or face losing their jobs. Musk said on Saturday that federal employees would receive an email directing them to list their accomplishments from the week prior, with the DOGE leader adding later that day that the assignment should take less than five minutes to accomplish. Employees have until 11:59 pm on Monday to send the list or lose their employment, according to emails regarding Musk’s directive that were sent by the Office of Personnel Management. MUSK’S DEMAND THAT FED EMPLOYEES LIST THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ROIL WORKFORCE: ‘MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE’ Mass confusion followed on the eve of the deadline as some agencies resisted the order, others encouraged their workers to comply, and still others offered conflicting guidance. Several key U.S. agencies, including the FBI, State Department, Homeland Security and the Pentagon, which instructed their employees over the weekend not to comply. The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., instructed its roughly 80,000 employees to comply shortly after acting general counsel, Sean Keveney, had instructed some not to. Later Sunday evening, agency leadership issued new instructions that employees should “pause activities” related to the request until noon on Monday. Officials at the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security were more consistent. The State Department reportedly told employees on Saturday that department officials “will respond on behalf of the Department,” according to a message sent by Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy, who serves as acting under secretary of state for management. ELON MUSK SAYS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST FILL OUT PRODUCTIVITY REPORTS OR RESIGN The Department of Defense (DOD) told its civilian workforce to ignore the billionaire’s request, while Kash Patel, who was confirmed by the Senate last week as the new director of the FBI, also told employees to stand down. While Musk and DOGE have been criticized for how they’re going about cutting federal spending, President Donald Trump on Saturday wrote on Truth Social that though Musk is “doing a great job,” he should be “more aggressive.” “ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE. REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!,” Trump wrote. Musk responded with an enthusiastic “Will do, Mr. President!” hours after Trump posted. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner and Andrea Margolis, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
Democrat Rep Ritchie Torres endorses Cuomo for New York City mayor over Eric Adams: report
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., has endorsed Andrew Cuomo to run for mayor of New York City in the latest blow to incumbent Democrat first-termer, Mayor Eric Adams. “The two most important things we need are competence and courage,” Torres, who represents the Bronx, told the New York Post. “Andrew Cuomo has the competence to govern the city. He has the courage to stand up to extremist politics – both from the far left and far right,” Torres said, adding: “We don’t need a Mr. Nice Guy. We need a Mr. Tough Guy.” Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy for mayor but is rumored to announce soon. “He has my endorsement as soon as he enters the race,” Torres told the Post. CUOMO RESPONDS AFTER EX-NEW YORK OFFICIAL CALLS FOR HIM TO BE NYC MAYOR The former governor resigned in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims. Cuomo has always denied the allegations against him. “I predict the comeback story of the 2025 election will be the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo,” Torres told the Post. “America loves a comeback, New York loves a comeback.” Fox News Digital reached out to Torres’ office for comment Monday and was referred to the congressman’s appearance on CNBC. “Andrew Cuomo is a common sense Democrat,” Torres told CNBC Monday. “For me the two most important virtues in politics are competence and courage. And Andrew Cuomo has the competence to run New York City in a moment of crisis, and he has the courage to stand up to the extremes of American politics whether it’s the far right or the far left. There’s a mayoral candidate who openly identifies with the Democratic Socialists of America, which celebrated the mass murder of Jews on Oct. 7, and so when it comes to confronting political extremism in New York, when it comes to confronting the crisis of crime, we need not a nice guy, but a tough guy like Andrew Cuomo.” Asked whether it was an endorsement of Cuomo or an indictment of Adams, Torres said it was both, arguing that New York City is “in crisis” after four deputy mayors resigned and “the city is less safe than it should be.” “What we now need more than ever is the kind of stable and strong and steady leadership that Governor Cuomo can provide, and the effectiveness of Andrew Cuomo as an executive need not be taken on faith. It is a fact,” Torres said. “We as New Yorkers every day live and feel the legacy of Andrew Cuomo as a great builder of New York City. Last week, Cuomo disseminated a letter from former state comptroller Carl McCall, a prominent Democrat and Black elder statesman, backing him for mayor. McCall endorsed Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor, in his 2021 campaign for the office. MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SAYS NYC’S ROOSEVELT HOTEL MIGRANT SHELTER WILL SOON CLOSE Adams already faces multiple challengers in June’s Democratic primary, but Cuomo is polling as the front-runner. A federal judge on Friday canceled a corruption trial for Adams and appointed counsel to advise the court about President Donald Trump’s Justice Department’s controversial request to drop charges against the mayor filed under the Biden administration. Adams has denied allegations of a quid pro quo agreement with the Trump administration, as the Democratic mayor cooperates with federal law enforcement on the president’s criminal illegal immigration crackdown. “I want a mayor who can governor independently of the far right and Donald Trump represents the far right,” Torres told CNBC. “What I found striking is Donald Trump made the decision not to pardon Eric Adams or to permanently drop the charges, but only to do so temporarily, and so the fear of a reindictment keeps Mayor Adams permanently under the thumb of Donald Trump.” Judge Dale E. Ho’s written order Friday means he will not decide before mid-March whether to grant the dismissal of the case against the embattled mayor of the nation’s largest city. Ho said he appointed Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general under former President George W. Bush, to present arguments on the government’s request to drop the case.
Trump deploys SpongeBob meme to troll DOGE critics
President Donald Trump shared a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed meme after Elon Musk announced that federal workers would receive an email seeking information about what they accomplished last week. The meme features a list titled, “Got Done Last Week.” The five items on the list include, “Cried about Trump,” “Cried about Elon,” “Made it into the office for once,” “Read some emails,” and “Cried about Trump and Elon some more.” Trump shared the meme on Truth Social shortly after Musk shared it on X. BUREAUCRACIES ‘CANNIBALIZING OUR NATION’ LAWMAKER SAYS, EXPRESSING EMPATHY FOR FEDERAL WORKERS FACING JOB CUTS Musk had previously declared in a tweet, “Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” The announcement came as Musk seeks to uncover government waste, fraud, and abuse as the Trump administration seeks to shrink the massive federal bureaucracy. “A large number of good responses have been received already. These are the people who should be considered for promotion,” Musk noted in another tweet. ELON MUSK SAYS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST FILL OUT PRODUCTIVITY REPORTS OR RESIGN But some have raised objections to the email sent to government workers. GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska referred to it as “absurd.” “Our public workforce deserves to be treated with dignity and respect for the unheralded jobs they perform. The absurd weekend email to justify their existence wasn’t it,” she declared in a post on X. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota blasted Musk. “This is the ultimate d— boss move from Musk – except he isn’t even the boss, he’s just a d—,” she tweeted. Musk mockingly replied to the senator, “What did you get done last week?” DOD TELLS CIVILIAN WORKFORCE TO IGNORE ELON MUSK’S REQUEST TO REPORT PRODUCTIVITY CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Department of Defense told workers to “pause any response to the OPM email titled ‘What did you do last week,’” the Pentagon noted on X. FBI Director Kash Patel similarly instructed workers to “pause any responses.” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told intelligence community workers not to reply to the email, the New York Times reported. “Given the inherently sensitive and classified nature of our work, I.C. employees should not respond to the OPM email,” she noted, according to the outlet. Fox News Digital emailed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to request comment on Monday. Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report
Trump’s new SBA chief unleashes ‘Day One’ priorities to transform agency into ‘golden era of prosperity’
FIRST ON FOX: Newly-confirmed Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator Kelly Loeffler is unveiling the agency’s top priorities over the next four years as she aims to work with President Trump to create a “golden era of prosperity and growth.” Loeffler, confirmed in the Senate by a 52–46 margin last week, issued a “Day One” memo on Monday outlining the top priorities for the agency that will be tasked with the directive to “carry out President Trump’s America First agenda and empower small businesses to thrive” and to become an “America First engine for free enterprise.” The first priority on the list is promoting a “Made in America” agenda to boost U.S. manufacturing. “The vast majority of America’s manufacturers are small businesses, and SBA programs have powered tens of thousands of them,” the memo states. “This agency is committed to supporting the America First agenda by rebuilding American supply chains and investing in manufacturing to strengthen our economy and national security.” PRESIDENT TRUMP LOOKS TO BRING MANUFACTURING BACK TO US WITH TARIFFS “The agency will transform its Office of International Trade into the ‘Office of Manufacturing and Trade’ – which will focus on promoting economic independence, job creation, and fair trade practices to power the next blue-collar boom. SBA will also partner across agencies to scale innovative manufacturing and technology startups that will help our nation return to ‘Made in America.’” Since being sworn in as president for the second time, Trump has been vocal about eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from the federal government while also tasking Tesla CEO Elon Musk with leading the effort to cut wasteful spending with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Loeffler’s memo states that the SBA intends to be an ally in both of those efforts and says it will enforce Trump’s executive orders, including “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and “Unleashing American Energy.” BIDEN GAVE AMERICANS THE BUSINESS. TRUMP IS GIVING US BUSINESSMEN The memo says that the SBA will “continue working closely” with DOGE and “prioritize eliminating fraud and waste within the agency, to ensure American taxpayer dollars are utilized in the most productive way possible to benefit small businesses and economic growth and resilience.” The agency will work to eliminate wasteful spending and fraud with a “zero-tolerance policy” that will involve fraud investigations across all programs and appointing a “Fraud Czar” to “identify, stop, and claw back criminally obtained funds on behalf of American taxpayers – working across agencies to prevent fraud.” The SBA will also conduct an agency-wide financial audit. “As fraud has risen, so too have delinquencies, defaults, and charge-offs on loan programs, exacerbated by the previous Administration’s lax loan underwriting, servicing, and collection efforts,” the memo states. “As a result, SBA has been unable to satisfactorily complete a financial audit for several consecutive years. Therefore, the agency will request an independent audit of its financials to address mismanagement, restore the credibility of financial statements, and preserve the solvency of public-private programs like the 7(a) lending program and the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program, which are designed to drive economic growth without taxpayer subsidy.” Last month, Trump told federal employees working from home that they would need to return to the office or face termination, which is a sentiment echoed by Loeffler, who said in her memo that all non-exempt employees will report to work in person on Monday for five days a week. Trump’s immigration agenda will also be furthered by the SBA, according to the memo, which will ban illegal immigrants from receiving SBA assistance while also “restricting hostile foreign nationals from accessing SBA assistance.” The memo outlines a variety of ways that the agency will work on “empowering small businesses,” including a strike force to cut regulations, improving customer service and cybersecurity, promoting fair competition, and relocating offices outside of sanctuary cities. Fox News Digital previously reported that the SBA has faced criticism in recent years during the Biden administration from the Republican-led Small Business Committee, which issued a subpoena and alleged that the agency failed to turn over information related to efforts to funnel resources to help register swing state voters. Republicans argued those efforts were unconstitutional, and Loeffler’s memo pledges that the registration efforts in question will be ended. “The SBA will end all taxpayer-funded voter registration activities – starting by rescinding the agency’s 2024 MOU with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, which forced SBA district offices to conduct partisan voter registration on behalf of the previous Administration,” the memo states. “Instead, the agency will return its focus to its founding mission of empowering job creators, delivering disaster relief, and driving economic growth.” Loeffler, who served as a senator in Georgia from 2020-2021, appeared before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee on Jan. 28 to outline her vision and promised that Trump’s policies would “restore the small business economy” and would lead to a “golden era of prosperity and growth.” “Small businesses are the backbone of our nation, driving innovation, job creation, and prosperity – and there’s no stronger advocate for small business than President Trump or myself. But over the last four years, the SBA has burdened entrepreneurs with bureaucracy – with its programs becoming mired in fraud, waste, and abuse,” Loeffler told Fox News Digital in a statement. “That changes today. My first priority is rebuilding the SBA into an America First engine for free enterprise – by empowering small businesses and fueling economic growth.”
Bureaucracies ‘cannibalizing our nation’ lawmaker says, expressing empathy for federal workers facing job cuts
As the Trump administration moves to slash thousands of government jobs, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., issued a message to federal workers facing joblessness, expressing empathy for their situation while also asserting that bureaucracies have been “cannibalizing” the country. Higgins, who has served as a House lawmaker since 2017, also declared that federal workers’ jobs were not more important than other Americans’ private sector jobs. “I’m a compassionate man. I know loss and struggle, I understand financial hardship, I know what it is to face eviction, I know hunger, I’ve lived through despair,” Higgins noted in a post on X. TRUMP ADMIN LAYS OUT ROLES OF ‘PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES’ AS DEMS CLAIM CRITICAL EMPLOYEES ARE BEING CUT “So, to the scores of thousands of FedGov employees who are facing unemployment because your elected officials have, for decades, grown the Federal bureaucracies into corrupt, bloated, weaponized devourers of America’s treasure and oppressors of American freedom… I say to you that I feel your pain and I wish you well, but your job was no more important than the carpenter, the machinist, the welder, the cop, the trucker, the warehouse worker, the salesman, the waitress, the heavy equipment operator… every American who lives down the street from you whose job has not been insulated from the real world,” he continued. “Our federal government bureaucracies are literally cannibalizing our nation, eating our children’s future. MAGA Republicans are going to bring our federal government back into sustainability. If you’ve lost your job, I’m sorry for your struggle. Pick yourself up, all of us will give you a hand. We’re all Americans, join us in saving our beloved Republic,” Higgins concluded. DC FEDERAL WORKERS IN A ‘PANIC’ OVER NOVEL EXPERIENCE OF JOB INSECURITY WITH TRUMP CUTS The congressman’s message comes as the Trump administration seeks to slash the size of the federal bureaucracy, with billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk playing a key role in helping to uncover government waste, fraud, and abuse. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., commented, “The amount of waste, fraud, and ABUSE of taxpayers which is being uncovered in the federal government is absolutely shameful. Central Illinois farms, families and businesses are struggling because of inflation, driven by reckless government spending. Finally, we have a President who is reforming our government into one that works for you. Thank you President Trump!” DOD TELLS CIVILIAN WORKFORCE TO IGNORE ELON MUSK’S REQUEST TO REPORT PRODUCTIVITY CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In another recent tweet, Higgins said, “Hey, bureaucrats… Wake up and pack up. America is pretty much done with you and your elitist attitude. You’re being daily weighed in the balances, and found wanting.”
‘Escape poverty’: Millions more food stamp recipients required to work under new House GOP proposal
FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans are eyeing reforms to federal benefits that would impose work requirements on a wider swath of Americans. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., chair of the right-wing pragmatist Main Street Caucus, is planning to introduce the “America Works Act of 2025,” Fox News Digital has learned. The bill would mandate that single, able-bodied Americans on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) – colloquially known as food stamps – between the ages of 18 and 65 take on at least 20 hours per week of work or work-related education. Adults with a dependent child under age 7 would be exempt, according to a summary provided to Fox News Digital. SCOOP: KEY CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DRAWS RED LINE ON HOUSE BUDGET PLAN “Able-bodied people who can work should work if we want to continue to have our welfare programs be pathways out of poverty,” Johnson told Fox News Digital in an interview. “There is no reliable path out of poverty that doesn’t have work, training and education at its core.” It comes as House Republicans get ready to negotiate on how to meet spending cut targets in their plans to move President Donald Trump’s agenda via the budget reconciliation process. By leveling the threshold for passage in the House and Senate at a simple majority, reconciliation allows the party in power to pass budgetary or other fiscal priorities in a massive piece of legislation with zero support from lawmakers on the opposing side. The threshold for passage in the Senate is otherwise two-thirds for most items. NONCITIZEN VOTER CRACKDOWN LED BY GOP AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS GOP lawmakers are looking to accomplish a wide swath of Trump policies, from more funding for the border wall and detention beds to eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages. To offset the cost of that spending, the House’s reconciliation framework directs several committees to find areas for spending cuts. The House Committee on Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, must aim to cut at least $230 billion in spending. The new bill gives the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees food stamps, the ability to exempt people who live in counties where the unemployment rate exceeds 10%. Two sources familiar with discussions told Fox News Digital that Johnson’s bill closely resembles what will end up in Republicans’ reconciliation bill. When asked about cost projections, however, Johnson emphasized that his bill was motivated by social rather than fiscal change. “It would be expected to be a major cost-savings, and while I think that’s important, my primary motivator is how much work requirements have proven to improve lives as opposed to how much money they save,” he said. “I want people to escape poverty.” Currently, adults aged 18 to 54 can receive three months of SNAP benefits in three years at most before a requirement kicks in to work at least 80 hours per month. Johnson’s bill would also strip present exemptions for young adults who recently aged out of foster care and for veterans. Those were included during bipartisan negotiations on raising the debt limit in 2023, as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. “The concessions we had to make in the Fiscal Responsibility Act to get things done were not helpful changes,” Johnson said when asked about the change. “It was just telling all veterans and all young adult former foster kids that the work requirements didn’t apply to them, and that’s not actually helpful to getting them to a better financial path.” He pointed out there would still be exceptions for pregnant women, people with disabilities, people living in high-unemployment counties, and others. “My bill would go back to the way it was before, which is the same eligibility requirements applied to veterans and foster kids are applied to everybody else,” he said.
NY lawmaker introduces bill to ban Zyn, other flavored nicotine pouches after FDA’s support of product
A New York state lawmaker is proposing a ban on the sale of what he described as “highly addictive” flavored nicotine pouches, even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration came out in support of the product due to data showing it can help smokers ditch cigarettes, which can cause cancer. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat, said he opposes replacing cigarettes, which contain tobacco, with nicotine pouches, noting that he wants to keep the flavored pouches away from young kids. “This product is distinguishable from other smokeless tobacco products because they do not contain tobacco leaf, rather contain nicotine derived from tobacco or synthetic nicotine,” Hoylman-Sigal said in his bill memo, according to the New York Post. “Regardless, nicotine in any form and in any product is a highly addictive substance. This legislation would align New York values in prohibiting enticing flavors for all nicotine products — including nicotine pouches,” he added. SOUTH CAROLINA BILL WOULD BAN SMOKING INSIDE CARS WHILE CHILDREN ARE PASSENGERS Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, also a Democrat, is introducing a companion bill to ban nicotine pouches in the state legislature’s lower chamber, the New York Post reported. “There’s a lot greater awareness about nicotine patches,” said Rosenthal, who first introduced a version of her bill in 2020. Last month, the FDA approved 10 flavors of Philip Morris International’s Zyn brand of nicotine pouches, including cinnamon, coffee, mint, menthol and peppermint. This was the first time the agency authorized sales of nicotine pouches. Nicotine pouches are held in the mouth and dissolve between the tongue and gum. In contrast to cigarettes and chewing tobacco, Zyn does not contain harmful substances linked to risks of cancer or other diseases, according to the FDA. Data also shows that a significant number of adults who used cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products switched entirely to Zyn, the FDA said. But Hoylman-Siegal is concerned about the product’s youth appeal. “Our bill is targeted at the flavored products most likely to be used by young people,” he told the New York Post. “With our bill, we’re trying to stop young people from getting hooked on favored Zyn products.” However, federal data shows that fewer than 2% of high school and middle school students in the country use nicotine pouches. The FDA also put in place restrictions to prevent companies from marketing nicotine pouches to the youth. Tobacco companies now turn to alternatives to cigarettes amid a dip in smoking rates. POPULAR ITALIAN CITY OFFICIALLY BANS CIGARETTE SMOKING OUTDOORS New York has already banned flavored e-cigarettes, although critics argue that the law is not adequately enforced. “It’s very similar to the issue involving flavored vapes,” Hoylman-Sigal said. Brian Erkilla, director of regulatory science at Philip Morris International, which produces Zyn, argues against New York banning Zyn and other nicotine pouches, saying that the “unintended consequences” include leaving 1.6 million tobacco smokers with fewer alternatives and that a ban could even lead to an uptick in smoking. “The most harmful product is the combustible smoking cigarette. We should let smokers know there are other options out there. We shouldn’t take away their choice,” Erkilla told the New York Post.
Alaska can be ‘cure’ for nation’s ‘ills’ with help from Trump admin, governor says
EXCLUSIVE: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said his state can take the lead on being the best prescription for putting America back on the right track in multiple ways, including energy dominance, job growth and reducing government debt. In an exclusive interview Thursday with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the National Governors Association and Republican Governors Association winter meetings, Dunleavy said he is excited to work with President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on these matters in the Last Frontier. Burgum’s experience in North Dakota and his openness to pursue Trump’s vision of an energy-independent America based on responsible stewardship is exactly what the country needs, Dunleavy said. “What President Trump is doing is getting us back to what the purpose of all of this was,” he said of the original intent to use federal lands not primarily for parks but for responsible stewardship of natural resources. IN THE ONLY US STATE BORDERING RUSSIA, GOV SAYS DEFENESE ARE STRONG “And if we do that, we can eliminate a lot of ills: debt, job creation, reliance on foreign actors. The solutions are here. He knows what the solutions are and is implementing the solutions now,” Dunleavy said. He also said he hopes to work with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on expanding hydroelectric infrastructure in the Tongass National Forest – an area on the Inland Passage between Juneau and Petersburg that the late Rep. Don Young championed. Rollins’ role overseeing the U.S. Forest Service – rather than Interior doing so as they do the National Park Service – is another hint that wide expanses of national forests were not meant to be off limits to resource development. Just as the Department of Agriculture works with farmers in the Lower 48 to produce food and goods, its original mission therefore includes utilizing forest resources, he said. One area of “tremendous” potential is Ambler, an area at the foot of the Brooks Range west of the Dalton Highway – better recognized as the 800-plus-mile “Ice Road Truckers” carriageway. AK OUTRAGED AT FEDERAL OIL LEASE SALE ‘SET-UP’ BY BIDEN: FITTING FINALE FOR FOSSIL FUEL AVERSE PRESIDENCY There is a 30-mile section of the line between Ambler and the Dalton Highway that crosses federal land, Dunleavy said – noting the original law gives Alaska the right to cross federal land. “[The law says] we can’t be prevented from accessing our leases through federal lands.” He said he expects Trump’s team to finally allow passage to take advantage of the area’s rich mineralization opportunities. “There was no excuse [to stop passage through federal lands] – same as there was no excuse for stopping the legally-executed [oil and gas] lease sales that were part of [Trump’s] 2017 bill.” “Two of our large national forests are larger than several states. If they were to be managed on a sustainable basis so that we could grow timber, we could mine properly, we could use the hydro resources.” Of the ANWR-1002 oil lease President Biden was mandated to market but purportedly “set up to fail,” Dunleavy said investors recognized the January “sham” and are eager to see how Trump cures that particular ill. BIDEN LEVIED MORE ENERGY SANCTIONS AGAINST ALASKA THAN IRAN: GOV. MIKE DUNLEAVY Expansion of Alaska’s gas pipeline infrastructure and well-intended lease opportunities in ANWR-1002 are the right path to energy dominance on a global scale, Dunleavy said. The governor added that the native communities on the North Slope are supportive of responsibly exploring ANWR-1002 as it has and would create jobs and opportunities for the far-flung residents. “Our gas lines would also impact… our Asian allies; our position in the Pacific – It’s not just a gas project for Alaska. It’s a gas project for the Pacific and our allies,” he said. Another field Trump could pursue would be harnessing what are the second-strongest tides in the world, Dunleavy has said. In another recent Fox News Digital interview, that time from Mat-Su Borough, Alaska itself, the governor said Cook Inlet’s tides can be a “green” energy that works. Cook Inlet, which extends south from the state’s largest city, Anchorage, down the Kenai Peninsula and into the Gulf of Alaska, has an incredibly powerful push-pull dynamic. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Dunleavy said he is encouraging investment in harnessing Cook Inlet tides to produce a reliable energy source, particularly “green hydrogen,” while rejecting the idea that the debate over “green” vs. fossil fuels is a zero-sum game. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a White House spokesman said, “President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy and will work with state officials across the country to release our natural resources. Governor Dunleavy knows President Trump is right – unleashing our energy will boost the economy and make America energy independent once again.”