UmairFederal Debt Is Now Worrying Even Progressives
The 119th Congress began, as it so often has in recent years, with calls from Republican politicians for wrestling down the national debt, which is near a record level relative…
Here’s How Government Funding Works
President Trump’s blanket pause on foreign aid, grants, loans and other pots of federal financial assistance that might clash with his administration’s agenda poses a direct challenge to Congress, which…
White House Budget Office Orders Pause in All Federal Loans and Grants
The White House budget office has ordered a pause in grants, loans and other federal financial assistance, according to a memo sent to government agencies on Monday, potentially paralyzing a…
Senate Confirms Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary
The Senate on Monday voted 68 to 29 to confirm Scott Bessent to be President Trump’s Treasury secretary, putting in place the new administration’s top economic official who will steer…
Musk Plan for Retooling Government Takes Shape, but Big Questions Loom
The initial plan for retooling the federal government under President Trump started with three loyal billionaires: the banker Howard Lutnick, the tech leader Elon Musk and the entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.…
What Republicans Could Cut to Pay for Trump’s Tax Cuts: Medicaid and More
Top Republicans are passing around an extensive menu of ideas to cover the cost of a massive tax cut and immigration crackdown bill. They could create a 10 percent tariff…
Ramaswamy Will Bow Out of DOGE and Run for Governor in Ohio
The advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency is losing one of its leaders before it even begins. Vivek Ramaswamy, whom President Trump named in November as co-leader of…
U.S. to Deploy ‘Extraordinary Measures’ to Avoid Default on Jan. 21
Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen told Congress on Friday that on Jan. 21 the Treasury Department will have to begin using so-called “extraordinary measures” to prevent the United States from…
Trump Treasury Pick Scott Bessent to Face Grilling
Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, will face questions from lawmakers on Thursday about how he would manage a department at the center of the Trump…
Russell Vought Poised to Expand Power of White House Budget Office
While leading the Office of Management and Budget during the first Trump administration, Russell T. Vought took steps to to expand the number of federal employees required to work during…
