Republican Rep. Joe Wilson announces plan to propose $250 bill featuring Trump
Rep. Joe Wilson, R- S.C., announced that he plans to put forward a proposal for the development of a $250 bill that features President Donald Trump. “Grateful to announce that I am drafting legislation to direct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a $250 bill featuring Donald J. Trump,” the congressman declared in a post on X. “Bidenflation has destroyed the economy forcing American families to carry more cash. Most valuable bill for most valuable President!” he added. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CALLS ON INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO TARGET ‘THE AXIS OF AGGRESSORS’ Current U.S. law indicates that only the portrait of a dead person may appear on U.S. currency and securities. Wilson, who has served in the House of Representatives for more than two decades, is not the only GOP lawmaker who wants to honor the current president. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., put forward a measure last month that calls for Trump’s likeness to be added to Mount Rushmore. TULSI GABBARD GIVES EXCLUSIVE GLIMPSE OF TRUMP’S FIRST CABINET MEETING “The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall arrange for the carving of the figure of President Donald J. Trump on Mount Rushmore National Memorial,” the text of her proposal reads. The four presidents featured on Mount Rushmore include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. “President Trump’s bold leadership and steadfast dedication to America’s greatness have cemented his place in history. Mount Rushmore, a timeless symbol of our nation’s freedom and strength, deserves to reflect his towering legacy—a legacy further solidified by the powerful start to his second term,” Luna said, according to a press release. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, OCTOBER 4, 1927, MOUNT RUSHMORE’S MOMENT OF CREATION BEGINS IN SOUTH DAKOTA CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “He will be forever remembered among the great like Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt,” she declared.
Dem support carries Trump’s pro-union labor pick past key vote
President Donald Trump‘s nominee for labor secretary cleared a key vote before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Thursday morning after picking up Democratic support from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. Lori Chavez-DeRemer was reported favorably out of the committee by a bipartisan vote of 13-9. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., ultimately voted against her, despite her attempts to clarify her past support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act during her hearing. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, did not vote. In addition to Hassan, Democratic Sens. John Hickenloopers, D-Colo., and Tim Kaines, D-Va., voted to advance Chavez-DeRemer. Her history of PRO Act backing seemed to jeopardize her confirmation odds last week, when Paul said he would not vote for her if she continued to support it. Paul’s reluctance meant Chavez-DeRemer would likely need some Democrats’ support to pass the key confirmation hurdle. Hassan’s support, as a Democrat on the HELP Committee, was a breakthrough for Chavez-DeRemer’s chances. “The Department of Labor plays an integral role in supporting workers and small businesses alike, and after hearing significant support from constituents, including members of labor unions in New Hampshire, I will support Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination as Secretary of Labor,” Hassan shared in a statement to Fox News Digital. TRUMP’S NOMINEE FOR LABOR SECRETARY WALKS BACK SUPPORT FOR PRO ACT, EMBRACES REPUBLICAN RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS Hassan admitted that she “may not agree on everything” with Chavez-DeRemer, but she is “qualified” to serve and earned “significant support” from New Hampshire voters. SENATE CONFIRMS TRUMP NOMINEE JAMIESON GREER AS US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE “Though we may not agree on everything, after meeting with Representative Chavez-DeRemer and listening to her testimony during her confirmation hearing, I believe that she is qualified to serve as the next secretary of labor, and I look forward to working with her to support New Hampshire’s workers and small businesses,” Hassan added. Chavez-DeRemer supported the PRO Act as a representative for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District but told senators during her confirmation hearing that she no longer supports overturning Republican-supported right-to-work laws under the PRO Act. The PRO Act would effectively kill state-level laws that prevent employers and unions from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. Republicans oppose the PRO Act for overturning right-to-work laws. Chavez-DeRemer went into the committee vote without Paul’s voting plan publicly known. But, going in with Hassan’s support, Chavez-DeRemer was much less likely to be reliant on Paul to be reported favorably out of the committee. “If she wanted to make a public statement saying that her support for the PRO Act was incorrect and she no longer does, then I’d think about her nomination,” Paul told Fox News Digital in a statement ahead of Chavez-DeRemer’s hearing. “So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state right-to-work laws?” Paul asked during the hearing. “Yes, sir,” she replied. Paul’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on how he would vote in committee, however. Chavez-DeRemer testified before the HELP Committee on Feb. 19. Once reported out of committee, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., can file a motion to end Senate floor debate on the nominee, triggering a later cloture vote. Once the debate is closed, senators will cast their final confirmation vote. During her hearing, Chavez-DeRemer advocated for trade school investments to expand “educational pathways beyond the traditional four-year degree” to strengthen the American workforce. She said she is committed to leveling the playing field for American businesses, workers and unions. Chavez-DeRemer also thanked Trump and credited him with the “single greatest political achievement of our time” in building a “new coalition of working-class Americans.” “President Trump has united a new coalition of working-class Americans like never before. With 59.6% of Teamsters backing him, historic support from African-American and Latino voters, and record-breaking turnout in once-solid blue cities and states, Americans are speaking loud and clear. They are calling for action, progress and leadership that puts the American worker first,” Chavez-DeRemer said. Trump nominated Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of labor less than three weeks after he was elected president. “Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America,” Trump wrote. “I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand training and apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families,” he added.
Dem support likely to push Trump’s pro-union labor pick past key vote
President Donald Trump‘s nominee for labor secretary is expected to pass a key vote before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Thursday after picking up Democrat support from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s past support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act jeopardized her confirmation last week, when Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he would not vote for her if she continued to support the PRO Act. Paul’s reluctance meant Chavez-DeRemer would likely need a Democrat’s vote to pass a key confirmation hurdle. Hassan’s support, as a Democrat on the HELP Committee, all but confirms Chavez-DeRemer will pass through her committee vote. “The Department of Labor plays an integral role in supporting workers and small businesses alike, and after hearing significant support from constituents, including members of labor unions in New Hampshire, I will support Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination as Secretary of Labor,” Hassan shared in a statement to Fox News Digital. TRUMP’S NOMINEE FOR LABOR SECRETARY WALKS BACK SUPPORT FOR PRO ACT, EMBRACES REPUBLICAN RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS Hassan admitted that she “may not agree on everything” with Chavez-DeRemer, but she is “qualified” to serve and earned “significant support” from New Hampshire voters. SENATE CONFIRMS TRUMP NOMINEE JAMIESON GREER AS US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE “Though we may not agree on everything, after meeting with Representative Chavez-DeRemer and listening to her testimony during her confirmation hearing, I believe that she is qualified to serve as the next secretary of labor, and I look forward to working with her to support New Hampshire’s workers and small businesses,” Hassan added. Chavez-DeRemer supported the PRO Act as a representative for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District but told senators during her confirmation hearing that she no longer supports overturning Republican-supported right-to-work laws under the PRO Act. The PRO Act would effectively kill state-level laws that prevent employers and unions from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. Republicans oppose the PRO Act for overturning right-to-work laws. Chavez-DeRemer could still earn back Paul’s vote after she distanced herself from the PRO Act during her Senate hearing. With Hassan’s support, Chavez-DeRemer is no longer reliant on Paul for confirmation. “If she wanted to make a public statement saying that her support for the PRO Act was incorrect and she no longer does, then I’d think about her nomination,” Paul told Fox News Digital in a statement ahead of Chavez-DeRemer’s hearing. “So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state right-to-work laws?” Paul asked during the hearing. “Yes, sir,” she replied. Paul’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on how he will vote in committee today. Chavez-DeRemer testified before the HELP Committee on Feb. 19. If the committee votes to send Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination before the full Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., can file a motion to end Senate floor debate on the nominee, triggering a cloture vote to halt deliberations. Once debate closes, senators cast their final confirmation vote. During her hearing, Chavez-DeRemer advocated for trade school investments to expand “educational pathways beyond the traditional four-year degree” to strengthen the American workforce. She said she is committed to leveling the playing field for American businesses, workers and unions. Chavez-DeRemer also thanked Trump and credited him with the “single greatest political achievement of our time” in building a “new coalition of working-class Americans.” “President Trump has united a new coalition of working-class Americans like never before. With 59.6% of Teamsters backing him, historic support from African-American and Latino voters, and record-breaking turnout in once-solid blue cities and states, Americans are speaking loud and clear. They are calling for action, progress and leadership that puts the American worker first,” Chavez-DeRemer said. Trump nominated Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of labor less than three weeks after he was elected president. “Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America,” Trump wrote. “I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand training and apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families,” he added.
Trump’s ‘gold card’ visa could invite fraud, national security risks: expert
President Donald Trump’s plan to offer a “gold card” visa to those willing to shell out $5 million could raise new fraud and national security risks, according to one expert. “Any immigration benefit draws fraud … people are willing to do anything and say just about anything to come to the U.S.,” Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, told Fox News Digital. The comments come after Trump announced Tuesday a plan that would give those willing to pay $5 million for a “gold card” lawful permanent U.S. residency status and a pathway to citizenship, which the president argued would lead to several economic benefits. “They’ll be wealthy, and they’ll be successful,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office on Tuesday. “They’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people, and we think it’s going to be extremely successful.” TRUMP TO INTRODUCE ‘GOLD CARD’ VISA FOR WEALTHY INVESTORS WITH $5 MILLION PRICE TAG: ‘ROUTE TO CITIZENSHIP’ Trump doubled down on those comments Wednesday while also telling reporters that the program would be a way to pay down some of the national debt. “Companies can go and buy a gold card, and they can use it as a matter of recruitment,” Trump said. “At the same time, the company is using that money to pay down debt. We’re going to pay down a lot of debt with that.” But while Ries acknowledged that she understands the goals behind the program, she expressed skepticism that applicants could be vetted well enough to prevent the kind of fraud currently seen in the similar EB-5 visa program, which Trump’s gold card would replace. “Fraud is rarely detected, let alone enforced … so it’s low risk, high reward to commit immigration benefit fraud,” Ries said, adding that even Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to the widespread fraud plaguing the EB-5 program. TRUMP’S LATEST MOVES SIGNALS MOST ‘HAWKISH’ APPROACH ON CHINA YET: EXPERT “So the question is: How is this going to be different,” Ries said. “It raised the price from a million to 5 million, but how are we going to prevent the fraud? Are you just inviting wealthier fraudsters and corrupt people to exploit this?” Ries also raised concerns about the potential national security implications of the program, arguing that many of the applications are likely to originate from countries that are not exactly friendly to the United States. “Who can afford this? What countries have many people who can afford this,” Ries said. “Russia, China … you’re going to get Gulf countries, but China is not exactly our ally – some Russians, the same boat.” Ries said the key will be the system used to vet potential applicants, details of which have yet to be revealed by the Trump administration. “It’s going to need thorough vetting for national security concerns, espionage and corruption,” Ries said. “That’s going to be very, very important.” The White House did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Chief Justice John Roberts pauses judge’s order for Trump admin to pay foreign aid contractors by midnight
U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts on Wednesday paused a federal judge’s order that required the Trump administration to pay around $2 billion in foreign aid funds to contractors by midnight. The ruling comes after the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block the release of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, which the federal judge had required by midnight. Officials had said they would not be able to comply with the judge’s order. The Trump administration said U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali’s order had created “an untenable payment plan at odds with the President’s obligations under Article II to protect the integrity of the federal fisc and make appropriate judgements(sic) about foreign aid – clear forms of irreparable harm.” Any response from the groups that are fighting the Trump administration is due before Friday at 12 p.m., meaning the pause could potentially be relatively short-lived. USAID INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRED EMPLOYEES GIVES THEM 15 MINUTES TO GATHER BELONGINGS FROM SHUTTERED DC BUILDING The Trump administration said it was eliminating more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world, putting numbers on its plans to eliminate the majority of U.S. development and humanitarian help abroad. The cuts detailed by the administration would leave few surviving USAID projects for advocates to try to save in what are ongoing court battles with the administration. Wednesday’s disclosures also give an idea of the scale of the administration’s retreat from U.S. aid and development assistance overseas, and from decades of policy that foreign aid helps American interests by stabilizing other countries and economies and building alliances. TRUMP ADMIN TO SLASH 1,600 USAID POSITIONS JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT The memo said officials were “clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift.” More changes are planned in how USAID and the State Department deliver foreign assistance, it said, “to use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests.” President Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk have hit foreign aid harder and faster than almost any other target in their push to cut the size of the federal government. Both men say USAID projects advance a liberal agenda and are a waste of money. The administration has filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court in one other case so far, arguing that a lower court was wrong to reinstate the head of a federal watchdog agency after Trump fired him. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DOJ responds to Rep. Luna’s request for Epstein, JFK files as AG Bondi promises transparency
Republican lawmakers pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the release of classified documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, among other federal secrets, received a response, though it fell a bit flat. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month calling on agencies to create plans to release and distribute top-secret documents, including those pertaining to the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is leading the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, and, after sending letters to the DOJ Feb. 11 and Feb. 19, finally heard back. “My office just received a formal response from the DOJ on the Jeffrey Epstein, JFK, MLK, & RFK files,” Luna wrote in a post on X, attaching a copy of the letter. GOPERS PRESS FOR THE RELEASE OF JFK, EPSTEIN FILES: HERE’S WHY THEY’RE NOT OUT In the letter, the DOJ thanked Luna for the two letters, in which she requested briefings and any documents in the department’s possession relating to the classified investigations. The DOJ also acknowledged Luna’s request for written confirmation of the date and location of the release of those records. “The integrity of criminal investigations and prosecutions is essential to every component of the Department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our nation safe, and protect civil rights,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis wrote. “The Department remains committed to meeting its legal recordkeeping obligations as it pursues that mission. We are reviewing your requests and look forward to engaging further to accommodate your oversight and legislative needs. “We hope this information is helpful,” Davis added. “Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.” ANNA PAULINA LUNA TO LEAD TASK FORCE ON DECLASSIFICATION OF JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS, EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST The response came two days after Luna said she had faced silence from the DOJ. “On Feb 11 & Feb 19, house oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK etc.,” Luna said in a post on X Monday. “The DOJ has not responded. Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG. @AGPamBondi what is the status of the documents? These documents were ordered to be declassified.” Luna also sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and White House Counsel David Warrington requesting a briefing by Thursday on plans for the release of the documents. TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO DECLASSIFY FILES ON JFK, RFK AND MLK ASSASSINATIONS Bondi was a guest on “Jesse Watters Primetime” Wednesday and said her office plans to release information about Epstein tomorrow. She told Watters there are over 250 alleged victims, and her office needs to ensure all of their identities are protected. “What you’re going to see, hopefully tomorrow, is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information,” Bondi said when asked about the type of information that will be released Thursday. “But, it’s pretty sick what that man did, along with his co-defendant.” Trump’s executive order instructed the Department of Justice to coordinate with Gabbard, Waltz and Warrington to establish a plan by Feb. 7 for the release of the JFK files and to create a plan for the release of the MLK and Robert F. Kennedy files by March 9. Additionally, Luna is pushing the Justice Department to share details regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. The American financier died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Bondi said Friday that Epstein’s client list was awaiting review and that she was looking over the Kennedy and King files. Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
AG Pam Bondi says some Epstein files coming Thursday: ‘It’s pretty sick’
Attorney General Pam Bondi made an explosive revelation on Wednesday when she told Jesse Watters on “Jesse Watters Primetime” that some information about Jeffrey Epstein would be released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday. She told Watters there are over 250 alleged victims, and her office needs to ensure all of their identities are protected. “What you’re going to see, hopefully tomorrow, is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information,” Bondi said when asked about the type of information that will be released Thursday. “But, it’s pretty sick what that man did, along with his co-defendant.” Bondi’s revelation comes after Republican lawmakers pressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the release of classified documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, among other federal secrets, received a response, though it fell a bit flat. GOPERS PRESS FOR THE RELEASE OF JFK, EPSTEIN FILES: HERE’S WHY THEY’RE NOT OUT President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month calling on agencies to create plans to release and distribute top-secret documents, including those pertaining to the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is leading the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, and, after sending letters to the DOJ Feb. 11 and Feb. 19, said she finally heard back. “My office just received a formal response from the DOJ on the Jeffrey Epstein, JFK, MLK, & RFK files,” Luna wrote in a post on X, attaching a copy of the letter. In the letter, the DOJ thanked Luna for the two letters, in which she requested briefings and any documents in the department’s possession relating to the classified investigations. The DOJ also acknowledged Luna’s request for written confirmation of the date and location of the release of those records. “The integrity of criminal investigations and prosecutions is essential to every component of the Department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our nation safe, and protect civil rights,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis wrote. “The Department remains committed to meeting its legal recordkeeping obligations as it pursues that mission. We are reviewing your requests and look forward to engaging further to accommodate your oversight and legislative needs. “We hope this information is helpful,” Davis added. “Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.” ANNA PAULINA LUNA TO LEAD TASK FORCE ON DECLASSIFICATION OF JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS, EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST The response came two days after Luna said she had faced silence from the DOJ. “On Feb 11 & Feb 19, house oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK etc.,” Luna said in a post on X Monday. “The DOJ has not responded. Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG. @AGPamBondi what is the status of the documents? These documents were ordered to be declassified.” Luna also sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and White House Counsel David Warrington requesting a briefing by Thursday on plans for the release of the documents. TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO DECLASSIFY FILES ON JFK, RFK AND MLK ASSASSINATIONS Trump’s executive order instructed the Department of Justice to coordinate with Gabbard, Waltz and Warrington to establish a plan by Feb. 7 for the release of the JFK files and to create a plan for the release of the MLK and Robert F. Kennedy files by March 9. Additionally, Luna is pushing the Justice Department to share details regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. The American financier died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Bondi previously said Epstein’s client list was awaiting review and that she was looking over the Kennedy and King files. Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
Trump to subject all contracts, grants through rigorous standards with DOGE executive order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday requiring government payments and travel expenses to be justified and made public where possible. The requirement is part of Trump’s executive order to implement the cost efficiency initiative for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Using modern technology, the order aims to transform spending by putting all federal grants and contracts through rigorous standards to justify their existence. Trump’s order will have federal agencies acting immediately, reviewing all contracts and grants for waste, fraud and abuse. Travel expenses and government payments are also being analyzed closely, as they must be justified and made public if possible. MUSK TELLS CABINET THAT DOGE EMAIL WAS ‘PULSE CHECK’ FOR WORKERS, WARNS US WILL ‘GO BANKRUPT’ WITHOUT ACTION The order also tells agencies to treat their credit cards as if they were frozen for 30 days. “To the maximum extent permitted by law, all credit cards held by agency employees shall be treated as frozen for 30 days from the date of this order, except for any credit cards held by employees engaged in, or charges related to employees utilizing such credit cards for, disaster relief or natural disaster response benefits or operations or other critical services as determined by the Agency Head, and subject to such additional individualized or categorical exceptions as the Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, deems appropriate,” Trump’s executive order reads. Working with DOGE, agency heads will review and terminate any contracts deemed unnecessary. HOUSE DOGE HEARING ERUPTS OVER DEMOCRAT DEEMING ‘GRIFTER IN CHIEF,’ REFERRING TO ‘PRESIDENT MUSK’ Additionally, the executive order will look at how the government manages property, requiring the General Services Administration to submit a plan for disposing of unnecessary owned or leased properties. Trump’s order is being implemented to add “discipline to a wasteful system.” “The existing system fails to safeguard taxpayer dollars or promote merit among contractors and grant recipients,” White House officials said in a fact sheet, noting that the government spends large sums of money on contracts and grants. FEDERAL WATCHDOG RELEASES FIRST DOGE-ERA REPORT DETAILING AREAS OF GOVERNMENT PRONE TO FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE The sheet also notes that in fiscal year 2023, the government committed about $759 billion in contracts. “This flood of spending historically had minimal safeguards,” the fact sheet read. “In the Biden Administration, GSA directed its efforts to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) rather than merit and efficiency.” Since his return to the Oval Office, Trump has set sort of a wildfire on federal government spending, unleashing DOGE, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk. According to the DOGE website, the total estimated savings as of Tuesday were $65 billion, which is a combination of fraud detection and deletion, contract and lease cancelations, contract and lease renegotiation, asset sales, grant cancelations, workforce reductions, programmatic changes and regulatory savings. The site is updated two times a week. The DOGE site also has a “Wall of Receipts,” showing a breakdown of how much was saved and where the savings were found.
Trump administration sets deadline for NYC to shut down controversial congestion pricing toll
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a letter ordering New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to eliminate its controversial congestion pricing tolls by mid-March. The letter, dated and signed by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Executive Director Gloria Shepherd on Feb. 20 and released Wednesday, notes that the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and its project sponsors “must cease” the collection of tolls on Federal-aid highways in New York’s Central Business District Tolling Program by March 21. It noted the program’s implementation was initially approved by the FHWA prior to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy sending a letter on Feb. 19 terminating the program. Shepherd called for agencies and project sponsors to “terminate operations” in an “orderly manner,” according to the letter. TRUMP ADMIN MOVES TO BLOCK NYC CONGESTION TOLL PROGRAM Last week, the Trump administration issued a federal order halting the program, which began Jan. 5 and aimed to limit traffic and fund mass transit by adding a $9 toll on “most” vehicles entering Manhattan’s core south of Central Park. Despite Trump’s action, the tolls have continued due to a federal lawsuit filed by the MTA, a state agency that runs public transit in New York City. “Our position is clear: this is not a lawful order. We have already filed a lawsuit and now it’s up to the courts to decide,” John J. McCarthy, MTA chief of policy and external relations, wrote in a statement on Wednesday. Critics say the tolling negatively impacts suburban commuters or those without access to the subway system, causing increased costs for working-class Americans and small business owners. The “cordon pricing” method of tolling means drivers are required to pay a toll regardless of which roads they use, as there are no toll-free options. HOCHUL SPURS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER MASSIVE TOLL REBOOT AS DEMS WORRY TRUMP WILL BLOCK IT Advocates argue the fees will limit traffic congestion and reduce air pollution. The MTA on Monday announced tolls from the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) generated $48.66 million in revenue, with a net of $37.5 million, from Jan. 5 to Jan. 31. The figures show the program is on track to generate the $500 million that the MTA initially projected. “We are on track for the projected $500 million in net revenue, especially as we get into warmer months when traffic will increase which provides confidence in the forecast,” said MTA co-chief financial officer Jai Patel. “All indicators show the program is reducing traffic but also projecting the revenue to be on target for what we had in 4,000 pages of studies and what we were looking at in the fall.” Of the nearly $50 million generated from the program’s start in January, 22% came from taxis and for-hire vehicles ($10.6 million), 68% came from passenger vehicles, 9% came from trucks, and 1% came from buses and motorcycles, according to the MTA. About 85% of non-taxi and for-hire vehicles revenue was generated from passenger vehicles, and 15% was generated from trucks, buses, and motorcycles, the agency reported. And 95% of revenue was generated during peaking tolling hours. Expenses from the program, which include operating camera infrastructure and customer service, amounted to $9.1 million. Factoring in another $2 million for mitigation efforts, the results were a net surplus of $37.5 million. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a proponent of the program, met with Trump to discuss the issue. The Democrat claimed the city is “paralyzed with gridlock,” and the program could “make the city move again.” “The people in my state need to know I’m willing to take the fight wherever I have to,” Hochul said. As the situation unfolds, Hochul said she expects the state’s case to be won in court and the program will continue. The Federal Highway Administration and NYSDOT entered into an agreement on Nov. 21, 2024, approving the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP) under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP). The VPPP, which was approved by Congress in 1991, is an exception to the general rule outlawing tolling on highways as a pilot to test congestion reduction techniques. New York is one of about a dozen states allowed to implement the program. Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace, Charles Creitz and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Dem bid to end Trump energy emergency squashed after forced Senate vote
Democrats in the Senate failed to pass a resolution that would have reversed President Donald Trump’s executive order on “Unleashing American Energy” in a 53-47 party-line vote. The White House argued that scrapping the emergency would endanger nearly 900,000 jobs and have a negative $3.6 trillion impact. The order encourages domestic energy production on federal lands and nixed a Biden-era push to strive for more electric vehicles on the road. “Tim Kaine wants to impoverish Americans. President Donald Trump’s executive order brings America into the future and unleashes prosperity. Senator [Tim] Kaine wants to cost the economy trillions and risk losing nearly a million jobs,” deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. STATE, TREASURY DEPARTMENTS REIMPOSE ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ SANCTIONS ON IRAN’S OIL TRADE The resolution was introduced by Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Martin Heinrich as they argued the emergency declaration made by the president would “benefit big oil” but harm Americans, according to a statement provided by the lawmakers to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “The Trump Administration is living in a fantasy land,” the Democratic senators stated. “Energy demand is high and only getting higher, which is why it’s great that America is producing more energy than at any other point in our history. Decreasing the supply of American-made energy when demand is high is the quickest way to raise prices—and that’s exactly what President Trump’s sham energy emergency will do.” “By tampering with the market to favor some forms of energy over others and making it easier for fossil fuel companies to take Americans’ private property, Trump’s emergency declaration will benefit Big Oil, but leave American consumers with fewer choices and higher bills.” 3 LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FROM BIDEN’S CANCELATION OF THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE Earlier on Wednesday, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., slammed the resolution as Democrats ‘trying to block common-sense measures” to tackle “painfully high prices.” “After four years of reckless regulations and restrictions, energy prices have jumped 31 percent. Families are feeling it all across the country. To most Americans, this is the definition of an energy emergency. To Senate Democrats, it’s an inconvenient truth,” he said in a floor speech. “This National Energy Emergency is part of President Trump’s swift actions, actions to unleash American energy. It’s part this broader vision of affordable, reliable, available American energy. Democrats oppose that,” the Republican continued. GOP GOVERNOR IN TOP ENERGY STATE OUTLINES HOW PRODUCTION ‘HELD BACK’ BY BIDEN WILL ‘OPEN UP’ UNDER TRUMP Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also slammed the Democrat effort: “Thanks in substantial part to a movement to shut down fossil-fuel-fired power plants before reliable sources of clean energy are available to replace them, America is running out of power even as we face huge new power demands. … If we don’t take action, we are going to be facing some very serious problems in the very near future, so I’m grateful to have a president who recognizes and acknowledges the energy emergency facing our nation.” Senate Energy Committee Chairman Mike Lee, R-Utah, said, “Senate Democrats are yet again attempting to block President Trump’s efforts to secure cheaper, more reliable energy—just when America needs it most. Their message to families is clear: pay more, expect less.” The Trump administration emphasized that ending the emergency would bring back Biden-era policies. A White House document obtained by Fox News Digital stressed that under those policies, during Biden’s first two years, families spent an extra $10,000 in energy costs on average, citing a study published by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. The document cited that estimates of liquefied natural gas (LNG) growth in the new administration were projected to bring in half a million jobs annually and boost U.S. GDP by $1.3 trillion through 2040, per a study by S&P Global in December.