U.S. Senate News

The Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence in a 52-to-48 vote on Wednesday. Gabbard, who served four terms in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021 as a Democrat but subsequently became an independent and then a Republican, was approved on a near-party-line vote. All 45 Democrats and the two nominal…

As Republicans in Congress explore how they will accomplish President Donald Trump’s agenda through budget reconciliation, concerns about a national debt crisis percolate in the background. “Whether new spending comes in the form of tax relief or actual new spending, such as a border wall … it will have to be offset, because it can’t…

Amid President Donald Trump’s and entrepreneur Elon Musk’s public push to downsize the federal government, Sen. Mike Lee is advocating for the REINS Act, a bill that would rein in agencies’ power and give Congress more of a say in spending decisions. The bill has even received support from Musk himself, who reposted on X…

After an escalation in political violence over the past several years, including protesters at the homes of Supreme Court justices, several United States senators introduced legislation on Wednesday to increase the penalties for those that threaten federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.  The bill, sponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Mike Lee,…

Some of President Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks are facing crucial votes this week after a string of hearings that saw senators on both sides of the aisle grill nominees on key issues, including abortion, vaccines, and immigration. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination passing out of committee by a 14-13 margin Tuesday morning…

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking him to investigate reports that a foreign aid agency pushed abortion on a black-majority country under the Biden administration. The letter cites The Daily Signal’s Dec. 16 report that the Biden administration was pressuring Sierra Leone to pass an unpopular pro-abortion…

After Tulsi Gabbard’s tense three-hour confirmation hearing Thursday, Democratic members of the Select Intelligence Committee remained bitterly opposed to President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence. Gabbard—like fellow Trump nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—is a former Democrat who curiously faces a more difficult confirmation process than lifelong Republicans, such as Secretary of State…

After Robert F. Kennedy’s tense three-hour hearing on his nomination as secretary of the Department of Human Health and Services, Republican and Democratic senators remain fiercely divided over the health activist who now represents a large part of President Donald Trump’s coalition. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., emerged from the hearing to tell the press that…

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee convened Tuesday to discuss the American-Chinese rivalry at the Panama Canal, one of President Donald Trump’s major talking points since his reelection in November. Trump has repeatedly called for the United States to take back control of the canal—while not ruling out using military force to do so—and…

After a slew of Trump administration executive orders aimed at strengthening the border against illegal immigration, Republican lawmakers are gearing up to support the effort with a number of bills focused on reforming the asylum process and finishing the border wall. The president has already made several moves to strengthen the border—declaring an emergency at…

Every Senate Democrat on Wednesday afternoon voted against protecting the lives of babies born alive after botched abortions. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, introduced by Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Jim Banks, R-Ind., states that a baby born alive from a failed abortion deserves the same protection and medical care as other newborns. “Almost…

An amended version of the Laken Riley Act passed through the Senate Monday night with bipartisan support in a vote of 64 to 35.   “We are a proud nation of immigrants. We are also a nation of laws, and the lawlessness ends today,” Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt, who led the reintroduction of the Laken…

Ten Senate Democrats joined their Republican colleagues in a vote Friday to advance the Laken Riley Act, teeing the bill up for final passage in the Senate as early as next week.   The Democrats who voted in favor of the bill include: Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona; Jon Ossoff of Georgia;…

Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Kristi Noem told lawmakers Friday that she would prioritize border security and transparency within the federal government.   “If confirmed as secretary, I will ensure that our exceptional, extraordinary Border Patrol agents have all the tools, resources, and support they need to carry out their mission effectively,” Noem told senators on…

Chris Wright, nominated to lead the Department of Energy, received a generally warm welcome from senators of both parties at his Senate committee confirmation hearing Wednesday—despite raucous protests from climate activists. Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a natural gas company based in his home state of Colorado. Wright made clear in his opening…

Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi vowed Wednesday that her focus, if confirmed, would be on restoring integrity to a politicized Justice Department and to “make America safe again,” as she fended off criticism from Democratic senators.  The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general.  While Republicans on…

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, veterans advocate, and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Some senators tested the nominee’s mettle on defense issues, while others—primarily Democrats on the panel—honed in on allegations, most of them made anonymously, of…