Who is John Fleming, the Freedom Caucus founding member challenging GOP Sen Bill Cassidy?
Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, who aims to unseat Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., during the Bayou State’s 2026 U.S. Senate contest, assailed the incumbent as a “RINO Republican” during an interview with Fox News Digital, using the acronym that abbreviates the phrase “Republican in name only.” Fleming, who served as a U.S. House lawmaker from early 2009 through early 2017, was one of the founding members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2016 and held several posts during the first President Donald Trump administration. In 2023, with Trump’s endorsement, he won election to serve as the Pelican State’s treasurer. When asked by Fox News Digital to name some lawmakers he largely aligns with ideologically, Fleming mentioned GOP Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris of Maryland, as well as Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah. RFK JR. ‘WRONG’ ABOUT VACCINATIONS, GOP SENATOR SAYS When asked whether there are any federal departments or entities that he would like to see fully abolished, Fleming replied that if there are any federal entities he thinks should be eliminated, he said, “First on my list would be the Department of Education.” Regarding the debt ceiling, he said if he were in office, he would seek to “leverage” debt ceiling increases to lower spending, adding, “I don’t think we should raise the debt ceiling.” Fleming indicated that he supports foreign aid in some cases. “I do believe in some level of foreign aid, particularly military foreign aid, when it’s in the best interest of the people of the United States,” he noted, suggesting that the U.S. should assist Taiwan and Israel. Fleming said that America must “be careful about” involving itself in affairs abroad. Pointing to Afghanistan and Iraq, he said, “We seem to win the wars but lose the peace.” Fleming indicated that he is supportive of the TikTok ban that passed last year, because he does not believe it is “wise for us to allow the Chinese or any other foreign power, or even our own government, to spy on us through our social media.” He opined that the social media platform should be banned until it is no longer under the influence of the Communist Chinese Party government of China. PRO-TRUMP IMPEACHMENT REPUBLICAN SEN BILL CASSIDY TARGETED FOR OUSTER BY FREEDOM CAUCUS FOUNDING MEMBER In Louisiana’s jungle primary system, candidates of various parties run against each other, and if any candidate wins the majority, they win election to the role — but if no candidate gets the majority, the top two finishers compete in a runoff. When Cassidy ran in 2014, he placed second in a field that included seven other candidates, advancing along with incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu to a runoff, which Cassidy won. When Cassidy was re-elected in 2020, he won the majority and avoided a runoff, defeating a field of more than a dozen other candidates. Cassidy was one of the seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Trump after the 2021 House impeachment in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Trump had already departed from office by the time of the February Senate vote, and the number of senators who voted to convict ultimately fell short of the threshold necessary for conviction. During a CNN appearance that the outlet shared on social media in 2023, Cassidy said he thought Trump should drop out of the presidential contest, though the lawmaker noted that the decision was up to Trump, who he said would lose to President Joe Biden based on the polls at the time. HEGSETH BACKED BY LOUISIANA SEN. BILL CASSIDY TO LEAD THE PENTAGON UNDER TRUMP After Trump had become the presumptive GOP presidential nominee last year, Kristin Welker asked Cassidy on “Meet the Press” whether he would endorse Trump. The senator responded by saying that he planned to vote for a Republican for president. Cassidy in June pledged to work with Trump if the candidate returned to the White House. “Just met with my colleagues and President Trump. I was elected to work for Louisiana and the United States of America. I commit to working with President Trump if he is the next president—and it appears he is going to be—to make things better for all,” the senator said in a statement at the time. He congratulated Trump and Vice President JD Vance on their inaugurations earlier this week. “Today, the American people start winning again. Republicans are going to secure the border, unleash American energy, and protect American manufacturing,” he noted in the statement. “Congratulations to President Trump and Vice President Vance. Let’s get to work!” The lawmaker, who has served in the U.S. Senate for just over a decade, previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Trump endorsed Cassidy when the senator sought re-election in 2020, thanking him for supporting the Make America Great Again agenda, and praising his “outstanding” work representing Louisianans and Americans at large. “THANK YOU @BillCassidy for all of your support with our #MAGA Agenda. You are doing an outstanding job representing the people of Louisiana & the U.S.A. You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump declared in a post. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Cassidy campaign spokesman said of Fleming, “He came in 5th place last time he ran for Senate in 2016 and currently has $500k in campaign debt.” According to a Cassidy campaign press release, the senator “raised another $1 million across his reelection, leadership, and joint fundraising committees in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing his campaign cash-on-hand to over $6.5 million.” The Fleming campaign responded to the Cassidy spokesperson’s comment in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The senate campaign loan is 100% owed to Treasurer Fleming, personally,” Fleming’s campaign noted. “With regard to placement, Sen Cassidy ran against a weak Republican and a politically-wounded Democrat who had voted for Obamacare among other things. And, he had
‘FEMA is not good:’ Trump announces agency overhaul during visit to North Carolina
President Donald Trump said he plans to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. “I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina on Friday morning. “I think, frankly, FEMA is not good.” Trump also promised his administration would step in and assist North Carolina to fix the damage quickly, vowing to “do a good job” for the state. “We’re going to fix it, and we’re going to fix it as fast as you can,” Trump said. “It’s a massive amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down. And I don’t know if that’s Biden’s fault or whose fault it is, but we’re going to take over. We’re going to do a good job.” Trump also said he would like to see the states assume more responsibility when disaster strikes, arguing those familiar with the state are better equipped to provide disaster response and relief. TRUMP, GOP LEADERS MEET AT WHITE HOUSE AS PRESIDENT PLANS VISIT TO NC, DEFENDS EXECUTIVE ORDERS Trump also promised to work with three of the lawmakers whose areas were affected by Hurricane Helene, claiming that FEMA was “not on the ball” in assisting North Carolina in the aftermath of the hurricane. “So we’re going to be doing something on FEMA that I think most people agree [with],” Trump said. “I’d like to see the states take care of disasters, let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen. And I think you’re going to find it a lot less expensive. You’ll do it for less than half, and you’re going to get a lot quicker response.” So far, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claim that only half of the debris recovery from Hurricane Helene is complete. Additionally, thousands of families in North Carolina remain in hotels that FEMA is footing the bill for under its Transitional Housing Assistance program. TRUMP SAYS NEWSOM IS TO ‘BLAME’ FOR ‘APOCALYPTIC’ WILDFIRES While these families were approaching a late January deadline that would have removed them from the hotels, FEMA announced this week it extended the deadline to May 26. In total, more than 3,000 families are eligible for the program extension. “It’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester, and we’re going to get it fixed up,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday prior to departing for North Carolina. “It should have been done months ago from the hurricane that took place almost four months ago. North Carolina’s been treated very badly so we’re stopping there.” FAST-MOVING HUGHES FIRE ERUPTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS ORDER EVACUATIONS Trump said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that “Democrats don’t care about North Carolina” and that was why he would visit the state for his first official trip as president during his second term. Trump is slated to visit California on Friday as well to survey the damage from wildfires that have ravaged the state this month. “It looks like something hit it, we won’t talk about what hit it,” Trump said. “But it is a bad, bad situation.” Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich and Aubrey Conklin contributed to this report.
Energy experts weigh in after Canadian premier says she wants to discuss Keystone Pipeline 2.0 with Trump
The premier of a key oil region in Canada is open to talking with President Donald Trump about reopening the Keystone Pipeline, which, according to experts, could strengthen energy security and affordability. Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, Canada, said on Tuesday that she was interested in talking to the Trump administration about potentially reopening the Keystone XL oil pipeline – a system that was designed to carry oil from Alberta to the U.S. through to states like Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma. The pipeline has been at the forefront of political debate since the project began construction in 2010, and was eventually halted by former President Barack Obama before it was finished. Trump revived it during his first term, but in 2021, former President Joe Biden again blocked the project. Trump could resume construction during his second term, and do so with the help of Smith, who said that she wants to have conversations about potential cross-border pipelines, according to the Washington Free Beacon. ALASKA LEADERS CHEER TRUMP OIL AND GAS DRILLING EXECUTIVE ORDER “What I would propose is—are there ways that we can look at increasing pipeline access, perhaps some new routes or perhaps some new proposals on existing routes?” Smith told the outlet. “So, whether it’s a Keystone 2.0 or something else, I’m looking forward to starting those conversations in earnest once the interior secretary is sworn in.” Trump tapped Gov. Doug Burgum, R-N.D., to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior, but he has not yet been confirmed by the Senate. TRUMP TELLS EU TO BUY MORE AMERICAN-MADE OIL AND GAS OR FACE ‘TARIFFS ALL THE WAY’ The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. However, this week, Trump rescinded Biden’s executive order that canceled the pipeline’s permits, a move that could reopen potential construction of the oil system. “Restarting the Keystone XL pipeline aligns with President Trump’s agenda to lower food and energy costs by bolstering North American energy infrastructure and reducing reliance on costly imports,” Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute (AEI), told Fox News Digital. “The pipeline’s ability to transport heavy sour crude, rich in sulfur, will support the production of affordable fertilizers, a critical input for agriculture, ultimately lowering food-production costs,” Isaac said. “Additionally, the increased supply of crude oil will stabilize fuel prices, reducing transportation and energy costs that significantly impact food prices. This project strengthens energy security, fosters economic growth, and directly contributes to making energy and food more affordable for American families.” Another expert said that Trump will likely face litigation if he chooses to proceed with construction of the pipeline, but that Congress could help limit legal action. “The Trump administration will, no doubt, provide the needed permits for completing the Keystone XL, but litigation is sure to occur,” Steve Milloy, a senior fellow at the Energy & Environmental Legal Institute and former Trump EPA transition team member, told Fox News Digital. “The trick will be to limit the litigation so that investors don’t get scared off. Congress could aid the process by ordering the pipeline completed and limiting the litigation.” In December 2022, the Biden administration’s Department of Energy (DOE) published a report that said the Keystone XL project would have created between 16,149 and 59,000 jobs and would have had a positive economic impact of between $3.4 and 9.6 billion, citing various studies.
Flashback: Murkowski voted to confirm 19 Biden Cabinet picks in defiance of GOP
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted in favor of 19 out of 21 of former President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominees in 2021, a Fox News Digital analysis shows. Murkowski voted against the confirmation of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and did not vote on former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh’s appointment. She did vote in favor of Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. SENATE CHAIRMAN CRITICIZES ‘ANONYMOUS SOURCES WITH ULTERIOR MOTIVES,’ STANDS BY HEGSETH NOMINATION Alaska’s senior senator is facing a barrage of attacks from President Donald Trump‘s supporters over her opposition to his nominee to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth. “I commend Pete Hegseth’s service to our nation, including leading troops in combat and advocating for our veterans. However, these accomplishments do not alleviate my significant concerns regarding his nomination,” Murkowski said in a lengthy statement posted to X this week. She expressed concerns about his lack of relevant experience on Pentagon policy, as well as allegations that he mismanaged two veterans organizations he previously led, and accusations of sexual assault and excessive drinking – all of which Hegseth has denied. “While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces,” Murkowski wrote. MODERATE REPUBLICAN MURKOWSKI WON’T BACK TRUMP PICK HEGSETH FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY Among those who criticized her stance was Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., a former Navy SEAL. Van Orden targeted Murkowski for voting for Biden Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over his leadership during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “You voted for the two men responsible for the murder of these 13 heroes. The internet is forever, your time in office is not,” Van Orden wrote on X, in reference to the service members killed during a suicide bombing in Kabul. “I strongly encourage you to fire the staff that gave you this horrible advice and wrote your X post.” However, some on the right agree with Murkowski. One GOP lawmaker previously told Fox News Digital about Hegseth, “The military fired people who behaved like Hegseth. Him being [Defense Secretary] will cause issues with discipline.” Murkowski told Politico in 2020 that “all presidents have right to their Cabinet” but it was the Senate’s responsibility to make sure those people “are good, qualified credible candidates.” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is also opposing Hegseth, voted in favor of all of Biden’s Cabinet nominees in 2021. Fox News Digital reached out to Murkowski’s office for comment.
DOJ requests order barring commuted J6 defendants from DC be lifted
The Justice Department filed a motion Friday asking to lift the order imposed on commuted Jan. 6 defendants barring them from entering Washington, D.C., and the Capitol building. The order was issued by a federal district judge earlier in the day. In that order, Judge Amit P. Mehta specified it applied to “Defendants Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, David Moerchel, and Joseph Hacket,” whose sentences were commuted. Those pardoned are not subject to the order. The order states, “You must not knowingly enter the District of Columbia without first obtaining the permission from the Court,” and, “You must not knowingly enter the United States Capitol Building or onto surrounding grounds known as Capitol Square.” TRUMP PARDONS FORMER DC POLICE OFFICERS CONVICTED IN DEATH OF MAN DURING DEADLY PURSUIT The filing says the order is effective as of Friday at noon. Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers, was previously seen in the Capitol complex’s Longworth House office building. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Martin filed a motion later Friday to lift all release conditions on the defendants. “As the terms of supervised release and probation are included in the ‘sentences’ of the defendants, the Court may not modify the terms of supervised release,” the filing reads. President Donald Trump pardoned nearly all Jan. 6 defendants earlier this week, after promising to do so at his inaugural parade. Trump signed off on releasing more than 1,500 charged with crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol on Monday. The order required the Federal Bureau of Prisons to act immediately on receipt of the pardons. Those pardoned in his initial order included Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys chairman, who faced a sentence of 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy. SCHUMER BLASTS TRUMP’S J6 PARDONS AS ‘UN-AMERICAN’ Several prominent figures on the Hill came after Trump and his decision to pardon the defendants. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters the pardons were “deeply un-American.” “There is no other way to describe President Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6th defenders than un-American,” Schumer said. “It is so deeply un-American to do that, to pardon. And let’s be clear, President Trump didn’t just pardon protesters. He pardoned individuals convicted of assaulting police officers. He pardoned individuals convicted of seditious conspiracy. And he pardoned those who attempted to undermine our democracy.” TRUMP REVOKES SECURITY CLEARANCES OF 51 INTEL OFFICIALS WHO SIGNED DISCREDITED HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP LETTER Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called Trump’s pardon “shameful,” and “a betrayal” to those police officers “who put their lives on the line to stop an attempt to subvert the peacefyl transfer of power.” “The President’s actions are an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution,” Pelosi said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Commuted Jan. 6 defendants barred from DC, Capitol building by federal judge
A federal district judge issued an order Friday barring certain January 6 defendants with commutations from entering Washington, D.C., or the U.S. Capitol building. In the filing, Judge Amit P. Mehta specified the order applied to “Defendants Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, David Moerchel, and Joseph Hacket” – whose sentences were commuted. Those pardoned are not subject to the order. The order states “You must not knowingly enter the District of Columbia without first obtaining the permission from the Court” and “You must not knowingly enter the United States Capitol Building or onto surrounding grounds known as Capitol Square.” The filing says the order is effective as of Friday at noon. This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Date set for Robert F Kennedy Jr’s Health secretary confirmation hearings
The Senate committees on health and finance have announced the upcoming hearing dates for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bid to be the next secretary of Health and Human Services. The Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary nominee will participate in hearings with two committees, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and the Senate Committee on Finance. The first hearing will occur next week, on Wednesday, in front of the Senate finance committee, which oversees HHS. The Senate’s chief committee covering issues tied to health and healthcare, the HELP committee, will probe Kennedy the following day, on Thursday. Kennedy’s nomination could face opposition, even from Republicans. In particular, Kennedy’s views and past statements about vaccines have been scrutinized by both GOP and Democratic lawmakers. Additionally, GOP lawmakers have been concerned about Kennedy’s pro-abortion views that he has espoused in the past and his potential impact on the agriculture sector. TRUMP INAUGURATION: CHERYL HINES EMBRACES RFK JR’S MAHA MISSION In an interview with “Fox News Sunday” earlier this month, Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top lawmaker on the Senate HELP committee, said Kennedy was “wrong” on vaccinations. One example that has been raised was Kennedy’s alleged efforts, which he has denied, to promote doubts around vaccine efficacy during a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa. Those efforts included a letter Kennedy sent to the country’s prime minister, as chairman of Children’s Health Defense, suggesting that the measles vaccine could have potentially exacerbated the outbreak. In the past, Kennedy has also suggested that vaccines can be linked to autism. “The scientific research has been done and the results are clear – vaccines do not cause autism,” Autism Science Foundation President Alison Singer wrote in a statement. Kennedy suggested to journalist John Stossel that such studies are “propaganda.” AARON RODGERS WARNS SENATORS ABOUT RFK JR’S INTELLECT AS CONFIRMATION HEARING LOOMS: ‘BETTER COME READY’ Kennedy’s past pro-abortion views, and what he might do to the agriculture sector in his push to implement his “Make America Healthy Again” platform, have also raised concerns for some Republican members of the Senate. “He’s made some statements about pigs and about GMO corn and soybeans. I can’t believe that he’s going to have a problem with that. But if he does, he has a problem with me,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, a member of the Senate finance committee, told Semafor. Following a meeting with conservative Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a staunch pro-life lawmaker, the senator said that Kennedy told him that he agrees with Trump on abortion “100%” and will have a light touch on regulating farmers. “We talked about abortion and the big thing about abortion is he’s telling everybody, ‘Listen, whatever president Trump [supports] I’m going back him, 100%,’” Tuberville told reporters following his meeting with Kennedy. Fox News Digital reached out to Kennedy’s representatives for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
‘We can’t wait’: Issa fights back against ‘green tape’ regulations impacting firefighters
FIRST ON FOX: GOP Congressman Darrell Issa has introduced a bill in response to the devastating California wildfires aimed at slashing through the regulatory burdens that prevent firefighters from most effectively preventing the fires. Issa, who represents California’s 48th Congressional District, is putting forward the Green Tape Elimination Act which would exempt hazardous fuel reduction activities on federal lands from federal regulations for a decade. Eliminating those regulatory burdens, Issa says, will allow firefighters to clear brush, cut shrubs, prescribe fires, along with other fire prevention activities without being hindered by six major federal environmental regulations. Those regulations include the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean Air Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Migratory Bird Conservation Act. BILL MAHER TRASHES KAREN BASS, CALI OFFICIALS FOR RESPONSE TO FIRES: ‘FIDDLING IN GHANA WHILE THE CITY BURNED’ “For years, environmental rules have become regulatory ‘green tape’ — locking in dangerous conditions and contradicting common sense reforms,” Issa, who will be touring the Palisade Fire devastation with President Trump on Friday, told Fox News Digital. “That’s why this is no time for tinkering around the edges. We can’t wait for the next deadly disaster.” “Giving a blank check to finance even more of California’s mismanagement would be like giving matches to an arsonist,” Issa continued. “We’re dedicated to helping the victims of this disaster first and working to prevent the next one. It’s a message I’ll bring to President Trump when I see him today in Los Angeles.” The Golden State’s struggles with preventing or at least moderating severe wildfires over the past few decades has been a longstanding concern that was only exacerbated by the recent Eaton Fire and Palisades fire which killed at least 28 people. CALIFORNIA WATER SUPPLY CRUCIAL FOR LA WILDFIRE RESPONSE ALLOWED TO RUN DRY MONTHS BEFORE INFERNOS: LAWSUIT Many have argued that a wide range of federal and state regulations make it more difficult to conduct mitigation activities, like prescribed burns or treatments to remove hazardous trees and vegetation. Chuck Devore, a former member of the California State Assembly and the chief national initiatives officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, told FOX Business in a recent interview that federal and state rules have hampered wildfire mitigation efforts, resulting in larger fuel loads that drive more intense wildfires.” “The nature of the wildfire problem changes a little bit from north to south… In both cases, you have the issue of air quality management districts that are under both federal and state mandate to clean up the air. That makes it difficult to have prescribed burns with the sort of frequency that needs to happen to be able to reduce the fuel load,” Devore said.
Trump hiring freeze prompts DOJ to pull job offers in AG’s honors program: report
The Department of Justice is rescinding job offers for the Attorney General’s Honors Program amid President Donald Trump’s federal hiring freeze, according to a new report. The Attorney General’s Honors Program, established in 1953, hires graduating law students or recent law school graduates from top law schools such as Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, Stanford and the University of Virginia. But the Department of Justice notified those who had been selected for the program, which serves as a pipeline to recruit top legal talent into the public sector, that their offers were being revoked, several people familiar with the decision told the Washington Post. CAREER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS REASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS: REPORTS The Department’s Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management distributed an email to those affected via email on Wednesday. “Pursuant to the hiring freeze announced Jan. 20, 2025, your job offer has been revoked,” said the email,” according to an email the Post obtained. Those familiar with the program said it may take on more than 100 lawyers annually, with recent hires assigned to the antitrust, national security, criminal and other divisions. They told the Post that the program is critical in recruiting new top talent to the Justice Department in order to replace outgoing legal talent. The two-year program places young attorneys on a career path to stay at the Department once the program concludes. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FREEZES ALL CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION CASES: REPORT The Post reports that it is uncertain whether the program will resume once federal hiring starts again. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Trump signed a series of executive orders on Inauguration Day this week, including those initiating the federal hiring freeze as well as withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, and directing every department and agency to address the cost-of-living crisis. DOJ RACING THE CLOCK TO ENSHRINE ‘WOKE’ POLICING RULES, LAWYER SAYS, AS JUDGE HEARS BREONNA TAYLOR REFORM CASE CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “As part of this freeze, no Federal civilian position that is vacant at noon on January 20, 2025, may be filled, and no new position may be created except as otherwise provided for in this memorandum or other applicable law,” a White House memo said. “Except as provided below, this freeze applies to all executive departments and agencies regardless of their sources of operational and programmatic funding.” Those exempt from the hiring freeze include military personnel and other federal jobs pertaining to immigration, national security or public safety.
President Trump, Melania board Air Force One for first time in 4 years, photo shows
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were photographed Friday boarding Air Force One for the first time in four years. Trump and his wife — who was wearing a green jacket and aviator sunglasses — were seen getting onboard the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The president is heading to North Carolina to survey damage from Hurricane Helene last September. NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT CALLS FOR ‘LARGER FEDERAL RESPONSE’ TO HELENE DAMAGE AHEAD OF TRUMP VISIT “We’re going to North Carolina. It’s a horrible thing, the way that’s been allowed to fester. And we’re going to get it fixed up. Should have been done months ago from the hurricane that took place almost four months ago,” Trump told reporters after leaving the White House. “North Carolina has been treated very badly.” TRUMP TO VISIT CALIFORNIA AFTER RIPPING ‘IDIOT’ NEWSOM ON WILDFIRE “So we’re stopping there and we are then going to go to Los Angeles and take a look at a fire that could have been put out if they let the water flow but they didn’t let the water flow, and they still haven’t for whatever reason. So, I think we’re going to have a very interesting time,” Trump added. Trump was last photographed stepping off Air Force One on Jan. 20, 2021, while Joe Biden was being sworn in as president that day.