Colette Peters, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) since August 2022, has resigned amid significant changes to the Justice Department under President Donald Trump.
Samantha Deering, ex-wife of Pete Hegseth, has publicly denied allegations of abuse made by Hegseth’s estranged ex-sister-in-law, Danielle Dietrich. The allegations surfaced just days before Hegseth’s expected confirmation as defense secretary, prompting accusations of a politically motivated smear campaign.
A new Washington state bill, Senate Bill 5123, introduced this legislative session, seeks to expand protected classes under the state's nondiscrimination law for public schools. Sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), the legislation would add "gender identity," "ethnicity," "homelessness," "immigration status," and "neurodivergence" to the existing protections.
A new bill seeking to prohibit the addition of fluoride to public water systems in Tennessee passed its first consideration in the state Senate last week. This marks the initial step in what is expected to be a lengthy process of votes and debates over water fluoridation in the state.
Less than 12 hours after TikTok was temporarily banned in the U.S., the app was restored, crediting former President Donald Trump for its return. However, in Indiana, proposed legislation could once again restrict access to popular social media platforms for thousands of children.
The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense to the full Senate on Monday, moving him closer to confirmation. The vote, which took place behind closed doors, was strictly along party lines, with all 14 Republican members supporting and all 13 Democratic members opposing.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) announced that he will continue to investigate former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci for his actions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and 11 Republican senators are calling for accountability after a Department of Defense (DoD) inspector general (IG) report revealed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to notify the White House and Congress of multiple hospitalizations. The report concluded Austin violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA) and left critical defense responsibilities unaddressed during his incapacitation.
Attorneys General from 20 states are calling on the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm three nominees proposed by President-elect Donald Trump for key national security positions. The nominees include Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) for Secretary of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi for Attorney General, and Kash Patel for FBI Director. The officials emphasize the urgency of assembling a strong national security team given current challenges.
