US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Trump's $87.6 billion emergency defense spending request for the Iran war, which has cost $37.5 billion so far, during a heated Senate hearing. Democrats questioned the funding scale and strategy, warning of a "forever war" amid public division and rising casualties.
Two Trump administration nominees for high-profile health roles, Erica Schwartz for CDC director and Sean Kaufman for ASPR assistant secretary, failed to gain support during Senate health committee hearings. Schwartz was criticized for evasiveness and lack of awareness, while Kaufman faced anger for past anti-vaccine rhetoric and contradictory stances on mRNA research, leading to their effective rejection.
Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros suggests a nihilistic violent extremist network, '764', may have influenced perpetrators of a deadly school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20. The information has been sent to the National Bureau of Investigation for verification.
Cody Carbone, CEO of The Digital Chamber, testified on how digital assets could solve affordability issues, but received a muted response from most senators, with some dismissing his claims.
Cody Carbone, CEO of The Digital Chamber, testified before the Senate Banking Committee on how digital assets could address affordability issues. However, most lawmakers showed little interest, with Senator John Kennedy dismissing his points and Senator Jim Banks asking a specific question about remittances.
Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a Senate hearing for his Director of National Intelligence (DNI) nominee, Jay Clayton. Trump cited the need to ensure Jamie McDonald, a lawyer involved in one of his cases, is approved as US Attorney before replacing Clayton.
During a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Booker criticized the Trump administration's Iran policy, stating the US is "begging" to return to a deal they "tore up." Secretary Rubio defended the administration's stance, asserting Iran is the one in a weaker position due to sanctions and economic hardship.
The US is pausing a $14bn arms sale to Taiwan to prioritize munitions for the Iran war, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed. The sale awaits Trump's approval and has drawn strong opposition from Beijing.
The US has paused a $14bn arms sale to Taiwan to ensure sufficient munitions for the Iran war, confirmed acting Navy secretary Hung Cao. Taiwan's presidential office stated they have no information on the adjustment, while President Trump views the sale as a "negotiating chip" with China.
US official warns China is rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities to surpass the US within a decade, citing new missile silos, mobile and submarine forces, and long-range bombers.
FBI Director Kash Patel denied allegations of excessive drinking and clashed with Senator Chris Van Hollen during a Senate hearing, countering with accusations of hypocrisy and misuse of public funds.
A protester disrupted a Senate hearing for U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth, shouting accusations of war crimes before being removed by security. The incident underscores public dissent regarding foreign policy and defense.
A protester disrupted a Senate hearing involving U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth, shouting accusations and calling him a war criminal before being removed by security. The incident underscores public anger regarding foreign policy and defense spending.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has expressed strong support for restoring Pluto's planetary status during a US Senate hearing, stating he is 'very much in the camp of make Pluto a planet again.' Isaacman indicated NASA researchers are working on studies that could help reopen the scientific debate nearly two decades after Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman wants Pluto to be a planet again. He voiced this support in a Senate hearing. Nasa researchers are studying Pluto's status. Pluto was a planet until 2006. The International Astronomical Union reclassified it as a dwarf planet. This decision is still debated by scientists and the public. Isaacman believes Pluto should be a planet.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks questioned Health Secretary Robert Kennedy during a combative Senate hearing about his proposal for national 'wellness farms' based on San Patrignano, an Italian addiction recovery community. Alsobrooks cited Kennedy's past comments about 'reparenting' Black children on such farms. Kennedy said he has no memory of making those statements and apologized if he did. Critics, including addiction experts at Yale, warn that San Patrignano's abstinence-only approach could be dangerous in the U.S. where opioid overdoses kill tens of thousands annually. San Patrignano's leaders say the model cannot be safely scaled and acknowledge past scandals including residents held against their will.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended her efforts to dismantle the Education Department in a heated Senate hearing Tuesday, facing criticism from Democrats over proposed cuts to special education, TRIO programs for low-income students, and the Office for Civil Rights funding. Republicans were divided on some cuts, with some supporting school choice expansion while others expressed concern about TRIO program reductions.
Trump's $185 billion Golden Dome missile shield faces congressional scrutiny as a senior Pentagon official admits the US currently has no defence against hypersonic or cruise missiles. The assistant secretary of defence for missile defence told a Senate hearing the shield will strengthen deterrence by denying adversaries ability to achieve objectives through coercion, specifically targeting China as the 'pacing competitor'.
A senior Pentagon official told Congress that the US has "no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles" as President Trump's US$185 billion Golden Dome missile shield faces continued skepticism. The space-based interceptor system, targeted for operation by January 2029, is designed to counter Chinese and Russian missile arsenals, with the price tag increasing from an initial US$175 billion estimate.
Sen. Bernie Sanders confronted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Senate hearing over his rejection of germ theory, the scientific foundation that specific pathogens cause specific diseases. Kennedy defended his fringe view promoting terrain theory over germ theory, citing studies arguing vaccines did not significantly reduce mortality. Sen. Bill Cassidy fact-checked Kennedy by reading from the same studies Kennedy cited, showing they actually credited vaccines with eliminating deaths from diphtheria, pertussis, measles, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Ali Act overhaul would allow unified boxing bodiesBackers say centralized model would boost revenuesCritics warn fighters could lose leverage and rightsA US Senate hearing on the future of boxing laid bare a sharp divide over the sport’s direction on Wednesday, as longtime boxing figures including Oscar De La Hoya warned the changes could erode fighters’ rights while executives aligned with an Ultimate Fighting Championship-backed push for a centralized model argued they would bring structure and investment.“When one system controls access, choice becomes theoretical, not real,” professional boxer Nico Ali Walsh told lawmakers, framing the stakes of a debate that could dramatically reshape boxing’s economic model. “When that happens, you fight who you’re told to fight or you don’t fight at all.” Continue reading...
Kevin Warsh, President Trump's nominee to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair, testified before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. Warsh advocated for using interest rates over balance sheet tools to fight inflation. Senators questioned his independence from Trump, who has pressured the Fed to lower rates. Sen. Thom Tillis vowed to block the nomination pending investigation into Fed headquarters renovations. The Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged at its upcoming April meeting.
Kevin Warsh, nominated to lead the Federal Reserve, told the Senate Banking Committee he made no secret agreements with the White House over interest rate policy, defending his independence amid pressure from President Trump for rate cuts. Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren, labelled him a potential "sock puppet," while Republican Thom Tillis refuses to support the nomination due to a DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell. The confirmation faces hurdles before Powell's term expires May 15.
Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh is set to face a Senate Banking Committee hearing, where he will address concerns regarding his political independence, personal financial disclosures, and his alignment with President Donald Trump's interest rate policies.
