President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at eradicating “anti-Christian bias” in the federal government by having agencies review policies and practices that he says have tried to squelch religious activities and activism. Mr. Trump, who announced the order at the National Prayer Breakfast, appointed his new attorney general, Pam Bondi, to lead … Read more
A plane carrying 10 people went missing in a remote region along the western coast of Alaska on Thursday, setting off a search amid poor weather conditions, officials said. The Cessna 208 Caravan, on Bering Air Flight 445, left Unalakleet, Alaska, about 2:40 p.m. local time, said David Olson, the airline’s director of operations. The … Read more
Senate Democrats demanded answers from the Education Department on Thursday about the scope of Elon Musk’s data collection efforts at the agency, which appears to be a focus of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting initiative. The letter, by a coalition of 15 lawmakers, reflected growing concern about the aggressive incursions that members of Mr. Musk’s so-called … Read more
Ellen L. Weintraub, the chairwoman of the Federal Election Commission, said on Thursday that President Trump had moved to fire her. Ms. Weintraub, who has served as a Democratic commissioner on the bipartisan panel since 2002, posted a short letter signed by Mr. Trump on social media that said she was “hereby removed” from the … Read more
The Senate voted along party lines, 53 to 47, to confirm Russell T. Vought — an architect of the ultraconservative Project 2025 policy agenda — to lead the White House budget office. Measure passed with 53 “yes” votes to 47 “no” votes. Vote Total Democrats Dem. Republicans Rep. Independents Ind. Bar chart of total votes … Read more
President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday placing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, saying that his administration would “impose tangible and significant consequences” on people who work on investigations that threaten the national security of the United States and its allies, including Israel. The court faced backlash from the U.S. and Israel in … Read more
Former Vice President Kamala Harris toured fire damage in Pacific Palisades on Thursday and met with local officials, her first visit to the neighborhood since the devastating wildfires last month and one of her few public appearances since leaving office. On a block where many homes had been reduced to rubble and only chimneys remained, … Read more
The Senate voted along party lines on Thursday to confirm Russell T. Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget, putting in place one of the most powerful architects of President Trump’s agenda to upend the federal bureaucracy and slash spending that the administration thinks is wasteful. The 53-to-47 vote returns Mr. Vought to … Read more
The chocolates, potato chips and other colorful snacks that arrived as cargo at Los Angeles International Airport from Japan last month looked tempting. The shipment, though, wasn’t destined to hit store shelves. Agriculture specialists with U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered 37 giant live beetles hidden inside snack bags and containers, and agency officials said … Read more
In San Francisco, it is informally called “Susie’s Building” in deference to the owner of the 12th-floor penthouse with wraparound views of the bay. Susie Tompkins Buell, a power broker in Democratic politics, is known for throwing lavish fund-raising parties and writing checks so large they can start a campaign. A who’s who of the … Read more