Healthcare spending in the United States surged by 7.5% to $4.9 trillion in 2023, driven by increased medical service use and rising enrollment in private health plans, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is poised to challenge Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo over her reported rush to allocate the remaining CHIPS and Science Act funds before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. In a letter expected to be delivered Wednesday, Ernst calls Raimondo’s expedited spending plan “extremely concerning” and urges her to stop any “binge buying” of taxpayer dollars.
Three U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas, were charged in a human smuggling case involving illegal immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
A series of recent polls highlights widespread public dissatisfaction with the federal government, with many Americans favoring efforts to reduce its size and improve efficiency. A Pew Research survey from this summer found that 56% of Americans believe the government is “almost always wasteful and inefficient,” while Gallup reports that 55% feel the government is doing “too much,” compared to 41% who think it should do more.
A Delaware court upheld its decision to block Tesla’s 2018 compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk, valued at over $100 billion today. Chancellor Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled on Monday that the compensation package was improperly approved, despite overwhelming shareholder support.
