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House Republicans push for spending cancellations as Elon Musk and conservatives demand deeper budget cuts

And you thought you had just figured out what "reconciliation" means in Congressional budget terms.

Here’s a new vocabulary term: rescissions.

You might not be able to spell it. But I can tell you what it does.

A "rescissions" bill "rescinds" money which Congress has already allocated, ex post facto.

For simplicity, I often describe rescissions legislation as "spending cancellations." Congress appropriated money. Then, under a recissions bill, Congress claws back dollars it previously appropriated. It’s kind of like a reverse appropriation.

And you thought that in elementary school, there were no takebacks.

TRUMP SENDS $9.4 BILLION DOGE CUTS PROPOSAL TO CONGRESS, TARGETING NPR, PBS

Presidential administrations send "budget requests" to Congress. This is the opposite. An administration can send a "recissions request" to Congress, too. And that’s what Budget Director Russ Vought is doing this week.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is intent on moving fast.

"I'd like to turn it around as quickly as possible," said Johnson. "There may be multiple rescissions packages coming and we’ll process them as quickly as we can. It’s a big priority for me."

Congressional conservatives and Elon Musk were not pleased with the relative paucity of spending cuts in the Big, Beautiful Bill.

Musk told CBS he was "disappointed" in the legislation.

"Which increases the budget deficit, not decreases it. And it undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing," said Musk about the hallmark of President Trump’s agenda.

By Tuesday morning, the world’s richest man incinerated the bill on X and chastised most Republicans in Congress.

Musk characterized the legislation as "a disgusting abomination." He lectured the 215 House Republicans who voted yes, declaring "you know you did wrong."

SCOOP: HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS DRAWS BATTLE LINES AS WHITE HOUSE READIES $9.4B DOGE SPENDING CUTS

DOGE initially set a goal of unearthing $2 trillion in spending cuts. It then slashed the threshold to $1 trillion. DOGE finally homed in on about $150 billion in cuts by the end of next year. And many of those cuts aren’t even in effect because Congress has the power of the purse.

That’s where Congress comes in with a potential rescissions package.

Most Republicans are appreciative of the efforts by DOGE and Musk.

"I think this is the beginning and the whole conversation in Congress is changed because of it," said Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., on Fox.

But DOGE evaluated "discretionary" spending. Congress has the "discretion" to spend or not spend certain money each year. That comes through the annual appropriations process. That’s why GOPers are now using their "discretion." They intend to unwind some of that spending with a rescission plan.

But the largest percentage of federal spending – by about two to one – is tied to entitlements like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, plus interest on the debt. That spending is called "mandatory." House Republicans tried to address that slightly in the Big, Beautiful Bill since it dealt with Medicaid spending. But cuts to federal departments lie in the appropriations realm and falls on the discretionary side of the ledger.

However, discretionary cuts via the Big, Beautiful Bill weren’t going to happen.

"Much of what DOGE has looked at is the discretionary spending," said Flood. "This is far more complicated than just doing it in reconciliation."

WHITE HOUSE SENDING $9.4 BILLION DOGE CUTS PACKAGE TO CONGRESS NEXT WEEK

And so here we are, with Republicans in Congress looking at the first major rescissions plan since 1993.

"The House Freedom Caucus strongly supports these critical rescissions, and we will support as many more rescissions packages the White House can send us in the coming weeks and months," said the Freedom Caucus in a statement. "There is no excuse for a Republican House not to advance the first DOGE rescissions package the same week it is presented to Congress then quickly send it for passage in the Republican Senate so President Trump can sign it into law."

The law requires the president to spend money which Congress approves. However, there are some loopholes where a President can "impound" money and not spend it.

GOP REBELS FIRE WARNING SHOT IN SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: NO DOGE, NO DEAL

On CNN, Vought suggested that the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 "allows for a procedure called pocket rescissions later in the year to be able to bank some of these savings without the bill actually being passed."

Vought signaled that President Trump would likely lean on that tool. But he wants to start with an initial rescissions request.

A recissions plan requires a simple majority to pass the House. And, believe it or not, a simple majority in the Senate. There’s no 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster. Moreover, the "motion to proceed" to start debate on a recessions package is "privileged." That means the Senate only needs 51 votes to begin the process. Many "motions to proceed" in the Senate need 60 yeas and can be subject to a filibuster.

President Trump formally routed his recissions request to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. It aims to trim $9.4 billion dollars from public broadcasting and foreign aid programs. All of this is money which Musk targeted in his DOGE reviews. But these cuts only count if Congress approves them.

"I want make sure you take the first tranche and see if it passes," said Vought on the targeted set of proposed spending reductions. "The wider you do in terms of a package, the harder it is to pass. And if it doesn't pass, this is the real world. And we will lose flexibility that we have to use executive tools to find other ways to make the DOGE cuts permanent."

SPEAKER JOHNSON SETS EYES ON CUTTING GOVERNMENT SPENDING, VOWS TO TAKE A 'BLOWTORCH' TO THE 'REGULATORY STATE'

Lawmakers are starting to process the rescissions proposal. Especially since Republicans often talk a good game about slashing spending.

"We'll see if Congress can step up to the plate," said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Tex., noting the political consequences of not green lighting the rescissions package. "(Members will have) to go campaign on why they want to continue to fund PBS, NPR, and a whole bunch of foreign policy and foreign funding that most Americans don't like. So you go explain it."

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., represents one of the most-Democratic leaning districts in the country. He worries about the PBS and NPR cuts.

"I have a great rapport with Nebraska Public Radio and TV. I think they've been great to work with. And so that would be one I hope they don't put in," said Bacon.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, flagged reductions to PEPFAR, short for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

"I consider that to be possibly the most successful public health program that has ever been used in Africa and other parts of the world. So I do not support the reduction in PEPFAR," said Collins.

It’s unclear whether this opening bid to cut spending – minimal as it is – can make it through Congress. Lots of Republicans will sweat this. And these are just negligible cuts. Republicans extolled the work of DOGE. But if they want to eliminate spending, they have to put their vote where their favorite program is.

We’ll know more in a few weeks whether Republicans can approve the recissions package and rescind what some characterize as wasteful spending. Otherwise, they may need to rescind those campaign promises.

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' faces resistance from Republican senators over debt fears

President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" is facing criticism, even from within his own party, as some lawmakers remain skeptical about the massive spending package and its potential impact on the nation's debt, despite it being under consideration by a Republican-controlled Congress.

The spending bill, which the House passed late last month and is now in the Senate’s hands, aims to address a number of issues, including tax policy, border security and immigration, defense, energy production, the debt limit, and adjustments to SNAP and Medicaid.

However, without a serious overhaul, lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is still a "no" on the legislation because it will increase the nation's debt limit. He is among a group of at least four Republican senators who have expressed concerns over Trump's bill, because of the package's projected increase in the national debt.

RAND PAUL SAYS HE WOULD SUPPORT 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' IF DEBT CEILING HIKE REMOVED

This week, Paul relayed his concerns to media members that the bill will raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. 

"We have never raised the debt ceiling without actually meeting that target," he said. "So you can say it doesn't directly add to the debt, but if you increase the ceiling $5 trillion, you'll meet that. And what it does is it puts it off the back-burner. And then we won't discuss it for a year or two."

As of Tuesday, the national debt, which measures what the U.S. owes its creditors, was $36.2 trillion, according to the Treasury Department. Trump pushed back on Paul's remarks about his bill. 

TRUMP WARNS RAND PAUL HE'S PLAYING INTO 'HANDS OF THE DEMOCRATS' WITH 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' OPPOSITION

"Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting ‘NO’ on everything, he thinks it’s good politics, but it’s not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!" Trump wrote on TRUTH Social.

Meanwhile, the national deficit, which occurs when the federal government’s spending exceeds its revenues, was $1 trillion as of Tuesday, according to Treasury Department data. 

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the "blatantly wrong claim that the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ increases the deficit is based on the Congressional Budget Office and other scorekeepers who use shoddy assumptions and have historically been terrible at forecasting across Democrat and Republican administrations alike."

SEN. RON JOHNSON PROPOSES 'LINE-BY-LINE' CUTS TO PASS TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'

The outlook for the federal debt level is bleak, as FOX Business previously reported, with economists increasingly sounding the alarm over the torrid pace of spending by Congress and the White House

Under the terms of the bill, the bill would add over $2 trillion to budget deficits over a decade, according to a recent analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

All together, the tax cuts and reforms in the package add nearly $3.8 trillion to the deficit over a decade – though spending reductions in other parts of the bill offset some of that to arrive at the $2.3 trillion figure.

Elon Musk, who ended his tenure last week as Trump’s lead in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), doubled down on his position Tuesday that the House’s reconciliation package was an "abomination."

WHITE HOUSE STANDS BY TAX BILL AFTER MUSK CALLS IT A ‘DISGUSTING ABOMINATION’

"I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore," Musk posted on X Tuesday. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

The Trump administration and some congressional Republicans have pushed back on the estimates of the bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and its impact on the deficit, arguing that economic growth from the tax cuts will stimulate economic activity and lead to more tax revenue than what is projected.

SPEAKER JOHNSON CLASHES WITH RAND PAUL OVER 'WIMPY' SPENDING CUTS IN TRUMP'S BILL

"Hope it does a lot to get some further cuts," Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., told Fox News about the bill. "We don't want to bankrupt the country. And what Elon also should recognize is we don't need more solar and EV credits. That actually makes it worse. He probably knows that, though."

To push back on the criticism, the White House launched a website where Americans can tabulate how much the bill will personally save them.

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The House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on May 22 with a narrow 215-214-1 vote that went largely along party lines.

If that version of the bill is revised by the Senate, the legislation will have to go back to the House for another vote before it can go to Trump's desk and become law. 

Navy ship USNS Harvey Milk to be renamed as part of Pentagon's 'warrior culture' shift

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the renaming of a U.S. Navy ship named after San Francisco gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

The Military Times first reported on a memorandum issued by the Office of the Secretary of the Navy rolling out plans to rename the oiler USNS Harvey Milk.

The outlet reported that a defense official said the U.S. Navy was making preparations to strip the ship of its name and that Hegseth had directed Navy Secretary John Phelan to do so. The Military Times also reported the official saying the timing of the announcement during Pride month was intentional.

The memo directing the renaming of the ship said the move is meant to mark a shift in culture in the Department of Defense and U.S. Navy in "alignment with president and SECDEF [secretary of defense] objectives and SECNAV [secretary of the Navy] priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture," according to the outlet.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Defense and U.S. Navy but did not receive a response.

In an emailed statement sent to Fox News, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell did not deny the renaming of the ship but indicated that further name changes may be coming.

"Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities, our nation’s history, and the warrior ethos," said Parnell.

Parnell said that "any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete."

PENTAGON EYES 50% REDUCTION IN PERMANENT CHANGES OF STATION AS MILITARY FAMILIES BRACE FOR MOVING HIGH SEASON

The USNS Harvey Milk was named after Milk in 2016 during the Obama administration. The ship completed its maiden voyage in 2024, arriving in San Francisco with much fanfare.

According to the Harvey Milk Foundation, Milk was a "visionary civil and human rights leader who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States" when he was elected to public office in San Francisco in 1977.

The foundation said that Milk enlisted in the Navy in 1951 but resigned in 1955 at the rank of lieutenant junior grade "after being officially questioned about his sexual orientation."

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The renaming has been soundly condemned by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who called the move a "shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision," Pelosi said in a statement.

Pelosi claimed that "this spiteful move … is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country."

Man caught scaling Mar-A-Lago wall wanted to 'marry' Trump's granddaughter, 'spread the gospel': report

A man detained by the Secret Service early Tuesday morning after attempting to jump the wall at President Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort, reportedly told law enforcement that he wanted to gain entry to "spread the gospel" to Trump and marry his teenage granddaughter.

Anthony Thomas Reyes, 23, was arrested by the Palm Beach Police Department early Tuesday morning after attempting to unlawfully enter the president's Florida resort, according to booking records from the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office. 

The police report detailing the incident reportedly chronicled how Reyes, who was previously arrested over the New Year's holiday after once again trying to illegally enter Mar-a-Lago, told officers he wanted to get into Trump's resort to "spread the gospel" to the president and marry his granddaughter, Kai.

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Reyes was initially arrested on trespassing charges and given a $1,000 bond, but his bond was subsequently raised to $50,000, according to records from the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office. Federal charges could likely follow. 

The president was in the nation's capital at the time of the incident. 

"An adult male was arrested early Tuesday morning by the Palm Beach Police Department for unlawfully entering the Mar-a-Lago Club property in Florida. Shortly after midnight, the individual scaled a perimeter fence and triggered alarms," the U.S. Secret Service told Fox News Digital. "U.S. Secret Service personnel detained him without incident at the scene. Palm Beach Police officers responded to the scene and took the individual into custody, charging him with occupied trespassing."

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB FENCE OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE

Reyes's Tuesday arrest was not the first time he tried to enter the president's Florida compound, according to the Palm Beach Daily News. Per the arrest report, according to the local outlet, Palm Beach police issued a warning to Reyes for trespassing at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve, when Trump was present at the property.

Expert speaks out on 'perfect solution' to federal hiring issues creating national security concerns

EXCLUSIVE: Fox News Digital sat down with SkillStorm CEO Justin Vianello, who addressed issues the federal government faces hiring workers, sometimes raising national security concerns, and explained what his company is doing to streamline that process.

The federal government has struggled for decades with staffing issues in key roles like cybersecurity, tech and other high-skill areas, an issue flagged as far back as 2001, according to the Government Accountability Office. Vianello discussed how SkillStorm is attempting to solve those issues. 

"If we look at the procurement process and the way it's been structured, there's significant delays," Vianello told Fox News Digital. "So, it can take years to actually get to a point where a solicitation is actually awarded. And then, ironically or paradoxically, post that award, the agency will expect … the particular company to be able to deliver a team in 10 days. So, this process is inefficient and somewhat outdated."

Vianello explained that the current hiring process is "lengthy" and "laborious," sometimes taking years rather than months and creating delays that teams need to properly mobilize and deploy. 

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"One of the solutions to that issue is to actually allow for an on-ramp time where people can spend between two to four months to custom build teams that have the right skills, that have (the) right certifications that are based in the right locations to rapidly deploy teams and to accelerate IT transformation and automation. And that's really where the SkillStorm model comes in," Vianello said. 

Vianello says the company has spent millions of dollars in recent years building a Performance Acceleration Center for Excellence that is essentially a learning management training system with a customized curriculum and content along with a "stable of trainers" in a position to "rapidly upskill and deploy people."

"How do we leverage that infrastructure to build out a solution for the federal government?" Vianello said. "Well, what we do is we leverage that infrastructure to accelerate and train teams. And the way the model works is we both bring people into our program. We train them for anywhere between 10 and 16 weeks. We pay them while we're training them. We help them achieve their certification, and then we deploy them. And we recover the investment that we make by billing them hourly."

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That system, Vianello explained, means SkillStorm takes "all the risk up front" and recovers it by billing hourly to the client. 

"Now this is the perfect solution to being able to custom-build tech teams, create net new talent for the ecosystem and being able deploy these people over time. But the government is gonna have to change the procurement system to not require people to be deployed within 10 days but allow companies to build these teams over two, three, four months."

Another issue, Vianello told Fox News Digital, is the current hiring process can get tied up with security clearances and become a national security risk

"That's absolutely part of it, but I think there's a bigger issue here if you look more generally at our model and some of the issues that are facing the market," Vianello said. "Well, if you look at SkillStorm's model, SkillStorm has an innovative cost-effective solution to custom-build U.S.-based tech teams for rapid deployment. 

"Now, we have a student debt crisis in this country, and, at the same time, what are we doing? We're offshoring our children's roles to other countries, and we're using visa holders to take up the place of entry-level tech roles. Now, if we don't invest in programs like SkillStorm, if we do invest in these outcome-driven, apprenticeship-type programs, where's the next generation of cybersecurity experts going to come from?

"Where’s the new generation of AI innovators going to come from? This is a national security issue that is essential in driving innovation. Right now, there are 500,000 open cybersecurity roles as of January 2025. We are the domestic models, like these apprenticeship models, that can support that gap to make sure that we're protecting national security."

Former General Services Administration (GSA) head Emily Murphy, who previously spoke to Fox News Digital about the GSA’s work to streamline government in the era of DOGE, said she has "seen firsthand how outdated federal systems have become one of the most serious yet least discussed threats to national security.

"Agencies charged with safeguarding cybersecurity and digital infrastructure are losing the talent battle to the private sector, and the slow, outdated process for onboarding cleared workers doesn’t match the urgency of today’s threats."

Murphy explained that the federal government needs a "new pipeline" that "delivers clearance-eligible, project-ready professionals trained on mission-specific tools."

"SkillStorm is doing exactly that, deploying "Stormers," technologists trained on specific tech platforms, at a significant discount. It’s a smarter, faster way to secure the talent our government urgently needs.

Vianello told Fox News Digital SkillStorm and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have similar goals in making government more efficient. 

"I think DOGE is really focused on IT automation and IT transformation and doing it on an efficient and cost-effective basis," Vianello said. 

"We believe, going forward, there's probably going to be more of a push to less full-time employees and more of a push towards efficient contractors coming in and accelerating project delivery. So, again, this really does come back in our belief. 

"To the solicitation process, how do we tighten it up? How do we make sure that once an award is made and that technology is implemented, it's not outdated? Because, if that continues to happen, how are you going to continue to attract technologists, young technologists who want to be part of the change?"

Energy groups celebrate Trump's latest move to unleash Alaska drilling

Conservative energy leaders are celebrating President Donald Trump's latest effort to unleash American drilling. 

The Department of the Interior announced a proposal Monday to rescind President Joe Biden's restrictions on oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said a Biden-era 2024 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule that restricted energy development for more than half of the 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope ignored the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976. 

"The National Petroleum Reserve (NPR), created by Congress over a century ago to secure America’s energy supply, supports responsible oil development on 13 million acres," Frank Lasee, president of Truth in Energy and Climate, said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. 

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO OPEN 13 MILLION ALASKA ACRES TO MINING, DRILLING

"President Biden’s drilling ban in Alaska undermined energy security, increasing reliance on foreign oil, raising gasoline prices and fueling inflation through higher transportation costs," Lasee added. "Resuming drilling puts economic growth and energy independence ahead of climate ideology in a place almost no regular American will ever visit."

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Consistent with Trump's executive orders, the proposed revision reverts to regulations that were in place prior to May 7, 2024, which Lasee called a "commendable" prioritization of "American energy needs and economic well-being while adhering to the law."

"President Biden never should have halted congressionally sanctioned oil drilling in Alaska," said Sterling Burnett, director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at the Heartland Institute. "Trump is to be applauded, both for putting Americans' energy needs and our economic well-being first and for following the law by opening these areas back up for production."

According to the Department of Interior, the 2024 rule provisions lacked "a basis in the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act" and undermined the BLM's congressional obligation to oversee timely leasing in the region. 

"President Trump’s move to restore drilling in Alaska’s Arctic region is a bold and necessary step toward reclaiming American energy independence," Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, said. 

Trump vowed to unleash American energy on the campaign trail in 2024 and signed executive orders on the first day of his second term to rescind Biden-era climate policies. 

"By reversing Biden’s disastrous restrictions on 13 million acres, Trump is unleashing the abundant resources that power our economy, lower energy costs and strengthen national security. This is a victory for American workers, consumers and allies who rely on stable, affordable energy," Isaac added. 

Steve Milloy, senior policy fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, called the announcement "more good news from the Trump administration in rolling back more of Biden’s war on fossil fuels."

"Promises made. Promises kept. But the Trump administration will need to go further to give investors confidence that the Alaska leases will actually be viable. Radical climate activists will resort to the courts and scare off investors. There likely needs to be a legislative solution to that," Milloy added.

Trump and his Republican allies are seeking to roll back some of Biden's green energy initiatives through budget reconciliation on Trump's "big, beautiful bill."

"The National Petroleum Reserve (NPR) was created more than 100 years ago specifically to provide a supply of oil for America’s energy security. That energy security can be achieved by responsibly developing our oil reserves, including in the Gulf of America, our vast shale oil deposits in America’s heartland and, now, thankfully, the 13 million acres of the NPR that are going to be developed," said Gregory Whitestone, CO2 Coalition executive director.

"Continuation of the Biden administration’s drilling ban would have resulted in a greater reliance on foreign supplies of oil (and) increases in gasoline prices and the inflationary spiral across all sectors of the American economy from increased transportation costs," Whitestone added. 

Grassley alleges FBI used biased sources in anti-traditional Catholic memos under Biden administration

The FBI hid the extent of what some lawmakers have called an anti-Catholic operation targeting churchgoers during the Biden administration, despite then-agency Director Christopher Wray telling Congress that the matter was limited to a single 2023 memo, according to documents released Tuesday. 

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who serves as the Senate Judiciary Committee chair, released documents that he said show the FBI engaged in the investigation of traditional Catholics. During his tenure, Wray characterized the matter as part of a memo prepared by the FBI's office in Richmond, Virginia. 

"I’m determined to get to the bottom of the Richmond memo, and of the FBI’s contempt for oversight in the last administration," Grassley said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to work with you to restore the FBI to excellence and prove once again that justice can and must be fairly and evenly administered, blind to whether we are Democrats or Republicans, believers or nonbelievers." 

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In a letter Tuesday to FBI Director Kash Patel, Grassley presented his findings while expressing frustration at the agency's handling of the "anti-Catholic" memo under Wray and its alleged lack of transparency. Wray had told congressional lawmakers the memo was a single product by a single field office.

Despite Wray's claims that the memo was a single product, the FBI found at least 13 additional FBI documents and five FBI attachments that used the terminology "radical traditionalist Catholic" and cited the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Grassley said.

The FBI told Fox News Digital that it received Grassley's letter but declined to comment further. 

During his testimony to lawmakers, Wray didn't reveal the existence of a second draft product on the same topic.

"It was a product by one field office, which, of course, we have scores and scores of these products, and when we found out about it, we took action," Wray told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about the memo in March 2023. 

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The memo became known when a whistleblower brought it to light. The memo, titled "Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities," drew instant criticism from Republicans, who demanded immediate answers from the agency.

A second FBI memo drafted by the FBI Richmond Field Office for bureau-wide distribution repeated the unfounded link between traditional Catholicism and violent extremism, Grassley said, noting that it was never published due to backlash after the public disclosure of the first memo. 

The new documents released by Grassley show that the Richmond memo was distributed to more than 1,000 FBI employees nationwide. One email exchange shows the FBI's field office in Buffalo, New York, expressing concerns about hate groups identified by the SPLC, mentioned in the Richmond memo, being in its area of responsibility.

Grassley said the FBI may have relied on "deeply-biased sources" used in the memo. 

"These letters focused on the preparation of the memo, its dissemination, the use of biased sources such as the radical Southern Poverty Law Center, and later, the FBI's misleading representations to Congress, including those of former Director Wray," Grassley wrote.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the SPLC.

Dem who wanted Elon Musk 'taken down' launches bid for House Oversight leadership position

Rising Democratic Party star Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who sparked controversy earlier this year with remarks about Elon Musk and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, formally launched her bid for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee Tuesday.

"These are not normal times — and this cannot be a business-as-usual moment," Crockett said in a post on X. 

The House Oversight Committee is responsible for holding the executive branch of the federal government and President Donald Trump accountable in Congress. The committee's last ranking member, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., died May 21 after battling cancer. He was elected to the position in 2023.

"Since the start of the 119th Congress, the late ranking member, Gerry Connolly, led Oversight Democrats in the fight to hold the Trump Administration accountable and it was my distinct privilege and absolute honor to serve alongside him as the Vice Ranking Member," Crockett said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues. 

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Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday a special election to replace Connolly in the House. His death May 21 also left a leadership gap on the House Oversight Committee, and House Democrats are now tasked with electing a new leader to challenge Trump. 

Connolly designated Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., as interim ranking member, and the race is on among House Democrats for the open leadership position. Democratic representatives Robert Garcia of California and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland have announced their own bids to lead the committee. 

Crockett had signaled her intention to run for ranking member, and the Texas congresswoman's letter to Democrats Tuesday made her bid official. 

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"In this moment, Americans are demanding a more strategic, aggressive, and energetic fight," Crockett said. 

"Understanding that fierce urgency, I formally announce my candidacy for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — with a focus on standing up for American families, defending the Constitution and the rule of law, and ensuring the government serves the people, not the privileged few."

Crockett has risen to the national stage for her viral moments in the House, building name recognition among Democrats and a reputation among Republicans. 

Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Crockett of "threatening lives" and said she should apologize for her rhetoric against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for saying, "All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down." 

Crockett said she was referring to "nonviolent" resistance. 

Crockett was also criticized this year for calling Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, who is in a wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels." She walked back the comments after her remarks went viral, calling the outrage a "distraction." 

And the Texas congresswoman dominated headlines last year when her campaign trademarked the phrase "bleach blonde, bad built, butch body" after a verbal dispute with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. 

Her viral moments have even caught the attention of Trump, who called Crockett a "low I.Q. person."

"Our country is in an existential crisis driven by an out-of-control Executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic," Crockett said in her letter to House Democrats. "The Administration has refused to respect congressional authority, abide by lawful judicial orders, or respond to public outrage."

"The magnitude of these unprecedented times warrants a resistance and tactics never before seen. We must pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0 and translate our findings to the American people in a way they can digest," Crockett added. 

In the letter, Crockett praised President Joe Biden, touted her own achievements during her first two terms in the House and asked for her colleagues' support. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., another rising Democratic Party star, said earlier this year she would not seek the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee. 

"It’s actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe I’ll be staying put at Energy and Commerce," Ocasio-Cortez's spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement first reported by NBC

Ocasio-Cortez lost her House Oversight bid to Connolly late last year. Connolly had announced his plan to step back as ranking member of the Oversight Committee after just four months on the job due to the resurgence of his esophageal cancer. 

Fox News Politics Newsletter: Baraka Sues Trump-appointed Prosecutor

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening…

Newark Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ras Baraka filed a lawsuit Tuesday against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, accusing her of false arrest and malicious prosecution in connection with his May 9 arrest and charges outside a federal immigration center.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, accuses Habba of acting politically in Baraka's May 9 arrest outside the Delaney Hall detention center, near Newark Liberty International Airport. Baraka was arrested during a protest outside the facility, after being accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings from law enforcement officials to leave. He was held in custody for several hours before being released. The U.S. attorney's office said 13 days after it brought charges against Baraka that it was dismissing the case "for the sake of moving forward." 

The civil lawsuit filed by Baraka's attorneys seeks damages for what they described as his "false arrest and malicious prosecution," as well as the allegedly defamatory remarks Habba made about his case, including on social media. The lawsuit includes screenshots of Habba's social media posts in question…READ MORE

SIGNATURE ISSUE: Trump DOJ investigating Biden pardons to family, death row inmates

'REALLY SAD': Boulder terror attack witness describes 'horrific' scene at pro-Israel rally

LOOKING BACK: Lawmakers, officials warned about terrorist attacks from foreign nationals long before Colorado

TERROR UNLEASHED: Mohamed Soliman planned Molotov cocktail attack after gun purchase denial

GROWING THREAT: Boulder terror attack suspect showed signs of growing ‘lone-wolf’ radicalization, says former FBI supervisor

SERVE AND PROTECT: Boulder antisemitic terror attack spurs response from major cities 

WARTIME READY: Challenges posed by Trump and Putin push UK to adopt new NATO first defense policy

HOMELAND ON EDGE: After Ukraine’s surprise drone assault on Russia, new attention drawn to sensitive sites stateside

CRIMEA CHAOS: Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows

DIVINE PRESENCE: Huckabee condemns efforts to erase Jewish history to the Holy Land as ‘absurd’

'BETRAYAL': US citizen who fought for ISIS in Syria sentenced to 10 years in prison

ATOMIC IMPASSE: Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows

A NATION ON EDGE: After Ukraine’s surprise drone assault on Russia, new attention drawn to sensitive sites stateside

'AGGRESSIVE AFFRONT': House Dems urge GOP to condemn DHS for handcuffing Rep Nadler staffer, order Noem to testify

'PART OF THE DESIGN': Jasmine Crockett agrees during town hall that 'Republicans want poor people to die'

FISCAL SHOWDOWN: Rand Paul says $5 trillion debt increase in 'Big, Beautiful Bill' a deal-breaker

'HELPING OUT DHS': Patel’s immigration push at FBI yields 10,000 arrests since January

PAPER TRAIL: Liberal city mayor hit with ethics complaint over alleged lavish gifts

TAXPAYER WASTE: HHS ends Biden-era COVID-19 testing program that bled taxpayers years after pandemic

HOPE UNDER FIRE: DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens 'lawfare' to attacks on Trump and nominees

PROTECTING CHILDREN: FBI urges public to provide tips on mutilation of children with 'gender-affirming' surgeries

CAMPUS DECEPTION: Red state dean ousted after admitting on hidden cam she was secretly pushing DEI

Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Booker, Cruz spar over threats to US judges in fiery Senate exchange

Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas., sparred Tuesday over the uptick in threats made to federal court judges during President Donald Trump’s second term. Their heated standoff comes as federal judges have issued a record number of injunctions against the flurry of executive actions by the president. 

The testy exchange took place during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing titled "The Supposedly Least Dangerous Branch: District Judges v. Trump."

Cruz, the subcommittee chair, used his remarks at the outset of the hearing to take aim at Democrats on the subcommittee, who he said were "utterly silent" about judicial threats under the Biden administration, including after threats were made against conservative Supreme Court justices. 

TRUMP TARIFF PLAN FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS COURT BATTLES INTENSIFY

Cruz took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for "unleashing" protesters who gathered outside the homes of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh prior to their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – the landmark ruling that overturned a 50-year-old abortion rights precedent – which he later said was ironic given the current "pearl-clutching" stance of Democrats on the panel.

His remarks sparked a quick rebuke from Booker, who said, "Something you said is actually dangerous, and it needs to be addressed."

"This implication that there was silence [from Democrats on the panel] at a time there were threats on people's houses is absolutely absurd," he continued.

"I remember the rhetoric and the comments, the concern from [Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.]," Booker said. "I actually distinctly remember you, chairman, on more than one occasion, condemning those attacks on Republican-appointed jurists."

TRUMP NOMINATES FORMER DEFENSE ATTORNEY EMIL BOVE FOR FEDERAL APPEALS COURT VACANCY

"To say things like that just feeds the partisanship in this institution, and it feeds the fiery rhetoric. And it's just plain not true," Booker added.

In response, Cruz argued the "angry mobs" that appeared outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices prior to their decision in Dobbs were in violation of U.S.C. Section 1507. That law prohibits picketing outside the homes of judges or justices' homes in a way that could influence their decision or otherwise obstruct justice. 

Despite the protests, Cruz said, the Biden-led Justice Department "prosecuted nobody." 

"I really appreciate that you have now shifted the accusation you made earlier," Booker shot back. "Your accusation was that we were silent in the face of protests at Supreme Court justices' homes. Again, we joined together in a bipartisan way, not only to condemn that but to pass legislation to extend round-the-clock security protection. So if you’re saying we didn’t criticize –" he started before Cruz interjected.

"Did the Biden DOJ go out and arrest a single person under this law?" the Texas lawmaker asked.

Booker attempted to respond before Cruz interrupted again, "Did the Biden DOJ arrest even one [person]? Again, the answer is no."

100 DAYS OF INJUNCTIONS, TRIALS AND 'TEFLON DON': TRUMP 2ND TERM MEETS ITS BIGGEST TESTS IN COURT

Booker attempted once more to respond before Cruz interrupted again, prompting Booker to raise his voice.

"I did not interrupt you, sir, I would appreciate it if you would let me finish," he told Cruz.

"I am sick and tired of hearing the kind of heated partisan rhetoric, which is one of the reasons why we have such divisions in this country," Booker continued, prompting Cruz to laugh openly in response.

"The attacks we see from the president of the United States of America, trolling and dragging judges through is what we should be talking about," Booker said.

"I'm simply taking issue with the claim that you made at the top, that people on the Democratic side of the aisle do not care about the safety and the security of judges and said nothing," he continued, adding that the notion that his Democrat colleagues said nothing in the face of Supreme Court justice threats "is a patent lie."

WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S DEPORTATION EFFORTS?

The two continued arguing before Cruz said, "Let the record reflect that Spartacus did not answer the question and did not tell us whether the criminal law" under U.S.C. Section 1507 should be enforced, "because he knows the answer is yes."

The hearing comes as the number of threats against federal judges has spiked during Trump's second term, which has seen hundreds of federal lawsuits filed in courts across the country seeking to either pause or halt the flurry of sweeping executive orders and actions taken by the president. 

Trump has repeatedly criticized what he called "activist judges," prompting Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a rare public warning.

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The U.S. Marshals Service said last week that it has investigated more than 370 threats against federal judges since Trump's inauguration in January, which is a sharp rise from 2024, when 509 people were investigated during the entire year.

Democrats on the panel used Tuesday's hearing to renew requests for the Justice Department and FBI to investigate an uptick in anonymous "pizza deliveries" sent to federal judges, which can be used as a threat or warning to let judges know their home address is known.

Dem governor ripped as 'total disgrace' after vetoing bill limiting Chinese land ownership near military bases

Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is up for reelection this year, garnered backlash Tuesday after vetoing a bill aimed at preventing China from buying up land next to strategic assets, such as military bases.

Arizona state Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp said the "politically motivated veto" was "utterly insane," blaming Hobbs for being "an obstructionist against safeguarding our citizens from threats." 

However, Hobbs said the bill, S.B. 1109, was "ineffective at counter-espionage" and did not "directly protect" American military assets in the state.

TEXAS PUSHES BACK AGAINST FOREIGN LAND GRAB WITH 'STRONGEST BILL IN THE NATION' AGAINST CHINA, IRAN, RUSSIA

Chinese investment in land near military bases has become an increasing concern for national security hawks. Shamp, in her efforts to get the now-vetoed bill passed, cited recent Chinese attempts to lease buildings alongside Arizona's Luke Air Force Base, where the military trains fighter pilots.

"Governor Hobbs’s veto of SB 1109 hangs an 'Open for the CCP' sign on Arizona’s front door, allowing Communist China to buy up American land near critical assets like Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde nuclear power plant, and Taiwan Semiconductor’s growing fabrication footprint," said Michael Lucci, the CEO and founder of State Armor Action, a conservative group with a mission to develop and enact state-level solutions to global security threats.   

"Allowing Communist China to buy up land near our critical assets is a national security risk, plain and simple, and Governor Hobbs is substantively and completely wrong when she says that SB 1109 ‘is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets,’" Lucci added.

Lucci pointed to Ukraine's recent drone attacks that destroyed significant numbers of Russian military aircraft, noting that "proximity produces peril in asymmetric warfare."

AFTER UKRAINE’S SURPRISE DRONE ASSAULT ON RUSSIA, NEW ATTENTION DRAWN TO SENSITIVE SITES STATESIDE

S.B. 1109, which can still pass if the Arizona legislature overrides Hobbs' veto, would have prohibited the People's Republic of China from having a 30%, or more, stake in Arizona property.

Hobbs, in her defense of the veto, added that in addition to being ineffective at countering Chinese espionage efforts, the bill lacked "clear implementation criteria," which opened the door for "arbitrary enforcement."

However, the bill went through a bipartisan amendment process in an effort to assuage those concerns that the legislation might lead to discrimination in land sales, according to local outlet the AZ Mirror. The initial version of the bill banned certain people and entities deemed to be national security threats from buying up land in Arizona, but following subsequent amendments the bill only sought to ban Chinese government-linked entities and its subsidiaries.

In addition to Arizona, other states have proposed or passed legislation aimed at curtailing Chinese land grabs in the United States. Congress has also taken steps in an effort to effectuate change through national policy.

As of March 17, according to the China-focused nonprofit Committee of 100, 27 states are currently considering 84 bills aimed at restricting foreign property ownership in some way, while Congress is currently considering seven separate bills addressing the issue. So far, the committee indicated, 22 states have passed bills restricting foreign property ownership, 17 of which were passed into law in 2024.

White House hits back at Dem mayor suing US attorney after ICE arrest: ‘Desperate attempt’

The White House is pushing back against Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka, who has hit interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba with a lawsuit this week after he was arrested and briefly charged with criminal trespassing last month outside an ICE facility.

Baraka, who is one of the leading Democratic candidates for New Jersey governor, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Habba, accusing her of "false arrest and malicious prosecution" in connection with his May 9 arrest and charges outside a federal immigration center.

He was one of several public officials, including Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, from the New Jersey congressional delegation, all of whom had massed outside the facility in protest. The U.S. attorney's office said 13 days after it brought charges against Baraka that it was dismissing the case against him "for the sake of moving forward." 

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, accuses Habba of acting politically in Baraka's May 9 arrest outside the Delaney Hall detention center, near Newark Liberty International Airport. Baraka was arrested during a protest outside the facility after being accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings from law enforcement officials to leave. He was held in custody for several hours before being released. 

BUMPY WEATHER OVER NEWARK: HOUSE DEMOCRATS COULD FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR DELANEY HALL INCIDENT

The civil lawsuit filed by Baraka's attorneys seeks damages for what they described as his "false arrest and malicious prosecution," as well as the allegedly defamatory remarks Habba made about his case, including on social media.

In the lawsuit, Baraka's lawyers accused Habba of acting as "a political operative, outside of any function intimately related to the judicial process, and in her individual personal capacity."

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, responded to Baraka’s move by calling it a "meritless lawsuit" and a "desperate attempt" to stay relevant. 

BOULDER TERROR ATTACK RESULT OF 'RECKLESS BIDEN POLICIES,' WHITE HOUSE SAYS

"Much like Mr. Bakara’s last stunt – storming a federal detention facility in defense of criminal illegal aliens – this meritless lawsuit is just his latest desperate attempt to try and stay relevant among the far-left Democrat base," said Jackson.

Habba, meanwhile, dismissed Baraka’s lawsuit and mocked it as "shocking."

"My advice to the mayor - feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey," Habba said in an X post on Monday night.

HOMELAND SECURITY REMOVES 'SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS' LIST FROM ITS WEBSITE

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

Baraka’s team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

GOP senators express 'concerns,' 'skepticism' over Trump's spending bill after Musk rant

A cohort of Senate Republicans already troubled by the House GOP’s version of President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" found a common ally in Elon Musk, who again trashed the legislation on Tuesday.

Musk, who just exited his tenure as Trump’s efficiency bloodhound leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week, doubled down on his position that the House’s reconciliation package was an "abomination."

WHITE HOUSE STANDS BY TAX BILL AFTER MUSK CALLS IT A 'DISGUSTING ABOMINATION'

"I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore," Musk said on X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination."

"Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong," he continued. "You know it."

Senate Republicans have already vowed to make changes to the colossal bill, which includes the president’s desires on tax, energy, immigration, defense and national debt policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., lauded Musk for his work with DOGE, but noted that the Senate GOP and the tech-billionaire had "a difference of opinion."

ELON MUSK CRITICISM OF TRUMP TAX BILL FRUSTRATES SOME REPUBLICANS: 'NO PLACE IN CONGRESS'

He didn’t believe that Musk’s comments would derail the bill entirely in the upper chamber, either. Thune has pledged to get the bill to the president's desk by Independence Day. 

"The legislation, as passed by the House, can be approved here in the Senate, can be strengthened in the Senate, in a number of ways," Thune said. "We intend to do that, but when it's all said and done, we'll send it back to the House and hope that they can pass it and put it on the president's desk."

Still, fractures have emerged among lawmakers, with some viewing the bill through the same lens as Musk.

"Well, he has some of the same skepticism I have, you know, towards the big, beautiful bill," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

TRUMP CRITICIZES RAND PAUL OVER TAX BILL OPPOSITION: ‘VOTES NO ON EVERYTHING’

Paul has vowed not to support the bill as is without a serious overhaul to the legislation that would nix a $5 trillion increase to the nation’s debt ceiling — a stance that has gotten him into hot water with Trump.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has similarly pledged not to support the bill unless much steeper spending cuts are achieved. The House’s product includes $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade, but Johnson would like to see a return to pre-pandemic spending levels, which would effectively amount to a roughly $6 trillion cut in spending.

"I share his concerns," Johnson said of Musk. "I also appreciate what he and President Trump did with his DOGE effort."

And Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a fiscal hawk whose views are closely aligned with Johnson’s, argued in response to the tech billionaire’s social media post that "federal spending has become excessive."

"The resulting inflation harms Americans and weaponizes government," Lee said on X. "The Senate can make this bill better. It must now do so."

Other Senate Republicans, including those with outstanding concerns with the current legislation, were much less receptive to Musk’s tirade against the bill.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has remained steadfast in his position that he would not support the current Medicaid proposals in the House’s bill, especially if they cut benefits to his constituents and people across the country.

When asked his reaction to Musk’s rant, he shrugged, "Well, he's entitled to his opinion, it's a free country."

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., who has expressed reservations on the contents of the megabill, was more blunt.

"My reaction to that is just simply this — and y'all may like this or not like this — but you know, Donald Trump is our president, not Elon Musk," he said. 

DNC taco truck stunt trolling Trump backfires on social media with Vance, GOP: 'Can't fix stupid'

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) parked a custom-wrapped food truck in front of the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., in an effort to troll President Trump over his tariff policies.

The stunt received widespread mockery from conservatives. 

The DNC used the acronym TACO for "Trump Always Chickens Out" to provoke Trump's ire. The phrase was coined by Wall Street analysts when referring to Trump's tariff policies, suggesting Trump will walk back the steep reciprocal tariffs he announced in April. 

TREASURY SECRETARY CONFRONTS CBS HOST OVER PAST TARIFF INFLATION PREDICTIONS AS RATES HIT 4-YEAR-LOW

"Trump always chickens out. We’re just bringing the tacos to match," DNC Chair Ken Martin told Fox News Digital of the effort. 

The move did not impress conservatives on social media who highlighted it as an example of Democrats struggling with their messaging during Trump's presidency.

"The party that brought you the hugely successful ‘Dark Brandon’ and ‘Republicans are Weird’ campaigns are now going all in on ‘TACO,’" Washington Free Beacon reporter Chuck Ross posted on X. 

"We have the lamest opposition in American history," Vice President JD Vance posted on X. 

"Democrats are doing what they do best: cheap gimmicks, free handouts, and I wouldn't be surprised if they stuck us with the bill," Western Regional & National Hispanic press secretary Christian Martinez posted on X. 

TRUMP WARNS COURT RULING AGAINST TARIFFS COULD LEAD TO 'ECONOMIC RUINATION' OF US

In a statement to Fox News Digital, NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella mocked the DNC for parking the truck at a church a block away. 

"Looks like the Democrats took a break from fighting amongst themselves to stage a pathetic stunt," Marinella said.  The most embarrassing part? They couldn’t even get the location right. You can’t fix stupid." 

"LMFAO," Zach Parkinson, RNC communications director, told Fox News Digital. "A taco truck? Are they going to be giving out free vasectomies again, too? These people are morons. No wonder Democrats’ approval rating is at a historic low."

Abhi Rahman, the DNC's deputy communications director, took aim at Vance's X post, telling Fox News Digital Democrats know Vance is the "cringiest VP in American history."

"We understand that JD Vance, the cringiest VP in American history who cannot order a donut like a normal human being, prefers to take food away from people, including 40 million Americans whose SNAP benefits were just scrapped in the GOP budget," he said.

Earlier this week, conservative commentators took aim at a TikTok posted by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., in which he is filmed eating a taco in an attempt to mock Trump's tariff strategy, and some declared it "cringeworthy."

Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.

SCOOP: House GOP circles wagons on Trump tax-and-spend bill as Senate seeks changes

The House GOP is quietly mounting a pressure campaign on the Senate to accept its version of President Donald Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" even as lawmakers in the upper chamber signal they'll be making changes.

Tensions are simmering between Republicans in the two chambers as they work to pass a massive tax, immigration and energy bill via the budget reconciliation process.

The House Budget Committee held a staff-level communications briefing on Monday, two sources told Fox News Digital, the same day the Senate returned from the Memorial Day week recess to begin consideration of the massive bill.

Senate Republicans have vowed to tweak the House’s offering to varying degrees, with some wanting to tackle even deeper spending cuts and others wanting to soften the blows to Medicaid and green energy subsidies. 

MIKE JOHNSON, DONALD TRUMP GET ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL’ WIN AS BUDGET PASSES HOUSE

While lawmakers in the upper chamber are still working out the kinks of their approach, they agree the bill will be different. 

Both sources interpreted the meeting as a way to get ahead of Senate Republicans' criticism of certain aspects of the bill.

Documents viewed by Fox News Digital that were handed to House Republican aides show specific talking points about the bill's taxpayer savings, Medicaid provisions and green energy subsidy rollbacks, among other topics.

The document pushed back on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate that the bill would add more than $2 trillion to the deficit over a decade.

"The cost of the bill ($4.12 trillion) is surpassed by the savings ($4.29 trillion) associated with mandatory spending reforms ($1.7 trillion) and economic growth ($2.6 trillion)," the document said.

It suggested House Republicans assume 2.6% economic growth over 10 years rather than the CBO's unprecedentedly low 1.8%.

MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE

"House Budget is desperately circling the wagons with staff and members to make sure they do not forget the fight is not over on messaging why their bill is better than their Senate rivals," one House GOP aide told Fox News Digital. "They got jammed with the Senate version in the blueprint round and are using every tool at their disposal to make sure it doesn't happen again."

A senior House GOP aide also told Fox News Digital, "The Senate should heed President Trump's wishes to get [the bill] to his desk before July 4th."

The House passed its version of the legislation late last month after a marathon all-night session full of debate and Democrat procedural motions to delay.

The mammoth bill is aimed at permanently extending Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while also including new tax relief for senior citizens and eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages.

It would also send new funding to the U.S.-Mexico border and to enhance Immigrations and Customs Enforcement while rolling back a significant portion of the green energy subsidies from the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

To save money and cut down on what Republicans see as waste, fraud and abuse of government safety nets, the bill would introduce Medicaid work requirements for certain able-bodied recipients beginning in December 2026. 

It would penalize states that allowed illegal immigrants into the Affordable Care Act-expanded Medicaid population while rewarding states that did not.

Both the IRA subsidies and Medicaid reforms are emerging as pain points for the Senate GOP's three-seat majority.

The document obtained by Fox News Digital appears to target specific senators' concerns. For example, one portion of the Q&A specifically said, "No," the bill does not put rural hospitals at risk.

"The bill reinvests funds to reopen rural emergency hospitals and ensure cost-effective care access," the messaging guidance said.

HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANOTHER DEM OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF BLOCKING ICE AMID DELANEY HALL FALLOUT

On the rescinded IRA funds, it said, "The bill targets unused or duplicative funds from programs such as the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants and sustainable jet fuel. These projects aligned more with ideological goals than infrastructure priorities."

Another note mentioned the electric vehicle (EV) credit rollback, arguing it would "ensure all vehicles contribute to the Highway Trust Fund."

"EVs cause more wear and tear due to their higher weight but pay no fuel taxes. The bill imposes modest user fees starting no later than the end of FY 2026 and terminates in FY 2035, indexed to inflation," it said.

But it's not clear that senators with those concerns will heed the House's arguments right now.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told reporters Tuesday, "It's going to hurt rural hospitals in my state."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged to reporters on Tuesday that while there was discontent over "individual pieces" of the bill, Republicans must agree on something that will pass the chamber.

"Failure is not an option. We've got to get to 51, so we'll figure out the path forward to do that over the next couple of weeks," Thune said.

Other senators, meanwhile, have argued they want to make deeper cuts than what the House came up with.

"The House bill, they're not even scratching the surface. It's not even the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we need to do to return to a reasonable, pre-pandemic-level spending," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said on Fox Business last week.

When reached for comment, the House Budget Committee referred Fox News Digital to recent comments by Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas.

"Some senators will say we went too far on entitlement reform and health care and welfare, and then you'll have ... [f]olks like [Sens.] Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, who are dear friends of mine, all well-intentioned, will say we don't cut enough spending," Arrington said on Fox News last week. "Well, the fact is, you can only cut as much as you can get the vote to pass it out of your chamber. And we cut almost $1.7 trillion in spending, which is the largest spending cuts in American history by twofold."

"There's always room for improvement, and I welcome that, especially on the fiscal reform side, but we've got to get the votes."

Sanctuary policies in deep-blue Colorado led to terror attack, says local DA

Permissive laws in deep blue Colorado created an environment in which last weekend’s antisemitic attack could occur, a local district attorney told Fox News Digital.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, George Brauchler, a Republican district attorney for Colorado’s 23rd district, said that the state government, which is dominated by Democrats, has been intentionally creating a lax, sanctuary-type environment regarding immigration enforcement. 

This, he said, emboldens illegals, such as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect accused of firebombing pro-Israel activists on Sunday, to act with impunity.

A DHS spokeswoman has said Soliman, an Egyptian national, was living in the country illegally at the time of the attack. He entered the United States in August 2022 with a visa that expired in February 2023, the spokeswoman said, noting he applied for asylum during that time.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AMONG VICTIMS IN BOULDER, COLORADO SUSPECTED TERROR ATTACK

Soliman allegedly injured eight adults, including a victim who was 88 years old, at an outdoor mall in Boulder, according to the FBI.

The suspect was witnessed shouting "Free Palestine" during the attack and using a makeshift flamethrower to target the crowd, the FBI said. Police said the victims were hospitalized with burn wounds.

They had been participating in a Run for Their Lives protest, which, according to the Anti-Defamation League, is a weekly event attended by members of the Jewish community to support hostages held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists.

Discussing the brazen attack, Brauchler said: "When you have taken the ongoing steps that our state government has taken over the past many years to identify yourself to everyone, both citizen and noncitizen alike, that you are a sanctuary state - and it doesn't matter if they ever say those words, what matters is the policies in place - and when you had put local law enforcement on its heels, when it comes to trying to coordinate with immigration enforcement authorities, you create an environment where someone feels like visa or no visa, I can stay here and do whatever I want, whether it's to try to find a job off the books or to plan for a terrorist act against Jews up in Boulder."

BOULDER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TERROR SUSPECT’S ’POSSIBLE RADICALIZATION’ PROBED BY AUTHORITIES: RETIRED FBI AGENT

In response to the attack, Brauchler said he expects the Trump administration may assume control of the case and "make an example" of the perpetrator.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"In the past, you would see some deference by the federal government to local prosecutors who showed an interest in prosecuting high-profile cases," he said. "But in this day and age, with illegal immigration being an issue, with the anti-Semitic terrorist acts being an issue, I can foresee President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi saying, ‘We're taking this case, we're going to use every tool at our disposal, we're going to highlight this prosecution, we're going to make an example of this guy, and we're going to send a message.’"

Brauchler said that though "we've seen antisemitic stuff before out here, never in my recollection at this scale or this brazenly having somebody do this."

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROMISES JUSTICE FOR SLAIN ISRAELI COUPLE IN DC SHOOTING

"My worry is if we don't make a big, loud, powerful statement sooner rather than later, these things are going to start to repeat themselves, not just here, but everywhere," he said.

"This is another horrific blemish on a state that I have known as home my entire life," he went on, adding that "because of the powers that be and the policies that have been put in place over the last 10 or 15 years, I don't recognize Colorado anymore."

"It's hard to imagine, and it's just another black eye for our state that we didn't need," he said.

Federal judge rules against Trump order halting sex change procedures in prisons

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to continue to provide accommodations and care for transgender inmates in federal prisons, saying officials had not provided a serious explanation for why medical treatment for gender dysphoria should be handled differently than other cases. 

The order Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, blocks officials from carrying out President Donald Trump's executive order, which required Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials to stop providing medical procedures related to sex changes. 

"Neither the BOP nor the Executive Order provides any serious explanation as to why the treatment modalities covered by the Executive Order or implementing memoranda should be handled differently than any other mental health intervention," Lamberth wrote in a 36-page opinion. 

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The judge granted an injunction requested by three transgender inmates diagnosed with gender dysphoria to block the implementation of Trump's executive order. Lamberth ruled the plaintiffs' merits are likely to succeed under the Administrative Procedure Act. 

"The import of the opinion is essentially this: Under the APA, the BOP may not arbitrarily deprive inmates of medications or other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff have deemed to be medically appropriate without considering the implications of that decision," Lamberth wrote.

A BOP spokesperson told Fox News Digital the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation or matters that are the subject of legal proceedings.

A White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the "decision allowing transgender women, aka MEN, in women’s prisons fundamentally makes women less safe and ignores the biological truth that there are only two genders. The Trump administration looks forward to ultimate victory on this issue in court."

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Trump's order mandated the BOP stop providing "any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex."

Prior to Trump's reversal of BOP gender dysphoria policies, the BOP began funding transgender surgical procedures for transgender inmates in December 2022, with Donna Langan, formerly known as Peter Kevin Langan, becoming the first federal prisoner to undergo taxpayer-funded gender surgery. 

Langan was convicted in 1997 for involvement in a series of armed bank robberies across the Midwest during the 1990s. Langan was a leader of the Aryan Republican Army, a White supremacist group that carried out these robberies to fund their activities, according to court documents.

Tuesday's ruling comes as judges continue to block parts of Trump's agenda. 

Defunding NPR and PBS ‘finally’ within reach, says House Republican

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, is celebrating President Donald Trump's leadership in sending a DOGE cuts package to Congress that he believes will "finally" defund NPR and PBS, which he said have become "nothing more than fake news."

Jackson claimed the outlets, which receive millions of dollars in federal taxpayer funding, "have become taxpayer-funded propaganda arms of the radical Left."

The White House is expected to include cuts to both NPR and PBS in the $9.4 billion federal spending cut proposal – called a "rescissions" package – it is sending to Congress on Tuesday.  

It is the latest move by Republican officials to make good on promises to slash government spending, a project spearheaded by the president and the Department of Government Efficiency.

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An official from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told Fox News Digital last week that it will primarily target federal funding to NPR, PBS and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Once transmitted to Capitol Hill, lawmakers have 45 days to take up the rescissions package before it's voided. Among the package’s strongest supporters is the House Freedom Caucus, which is demanding the House vote on the package the same week it lands.

Jackson, who has introduced a bill to defund NPR and PBS in every Congress since he was elected, told Fox News Digital that he strongly supports the rescissions package, which he said is fully in line with his long-standing efforts to defund what he has previously called the "chronically biased" media outlets.

The congressman said he is "excited" to codify the DOGE package that "finally cuts off their funding."

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"Since being elected to Congress, I’ve led the charge to defund NPR and PBS, which have become taxpayer-funded propaganda arms of the radical Left. They are now nothing more than another fake news media outlet," said Jackson.   

He added that under Trump’s leadership, Congress will deliver on "ending the outrageous practice of forcing hardworking Americans to pay for left-wing attacks on our values, our children, and our president." 

This follows a high-intensity House DOGE Subcommittee hearing in March in which NPR’s Katherine Maher and PBS’ Paula Kerger attempted to explain why their outlets still deserve public funding.

During the hearing, Maher conceded that NPR botched coverage of Hunter Biden's infamous laptop, saying, "We made a mistake." At the time, NPR representatives publicly called the story unserious and a distraction. During the hearing, Maher said, "We were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner."

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She also expressed regret about remarks she made about President Donald Trump, calling him "a fascist and a deranged racist sociopath."  

Meanwhile, Kerger's PBS was slammed for producing such programs as "Real Boy," which follows a transgender character exploring sexuality.

Following the NPR and PBS leaders’ testimonies, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called the outlets "out of touch with everyday Americans," saying: "I think from what we have heard here today, the American people will not continue to allow such propaganda to be funded through the federal government with their hard-earned tax dollars."

Trump sends $9.4 billion DOGE cuts proposal to Congress, targeting NPR, PBS

The clock will soon start ticking away on Congress to consider President Donald Trump's $9.4 billion request for federal spending cuts.

"Today, we have officially received the rescissions request from the White House to eliminate $9.4 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending at State and USAID and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. The House will act quickly on this request," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Tuesday.

"This rescissions package reflects many of DOGE’s findings and is one of the many legislative tools Republicans are using to restore fiscal sanity. Congress will continue working closely with the White House to codify these recommendations, and the House will bring the package to the floor as quickly as possible."

House and Senate Republicans now have 45 days to codify the funding reductions.

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Trump is asking lawmakers to claw back federal funding from NPR, PBS and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It's the first of what could be several efforts by Congress to follow through on Elon Musk's work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The proposal is called a rescissions package, a mechanism allowing the White House to weigh in on Congress' yearly government appropriations process. 

The process was created under the 1974 Impoundment Control Act as a way to stop the president from unilaterally acting on government funding while giving the executive some say over the spending – albeit with congressional approval.

House and Senate GOP leaders have pledged to work swiftly once they receive the White House's request.

But lawmakers are also working up against another deadline, with Republicans hoping to finish Trump's "big, beautiful" tax and immigration bill by July Fourth.

The tax bill is being passed under a separate fiscal mechanism called budget reconciliation, which allows Congress to amend areas they normally could not touch via the annual appropriations process.

But like reconciliation, rescissions allow the party in power to sidestep the minority by lowering the Senate's threshold for passage to 51 instead of 60 votes. Rescissions debates are also capped at two hours in the House and 10 in the Senate.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told reporters after meeting with Johnson on Monday that more packages could be coming.

"I want to see if it passes. I think we're very interested to make sure it passes both the House and the Senate, but we're very open to sending multiple bills," Vought said.

Paul Winfree, founder of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), told Fox News Digital he believed the White House was using this first package as a test run to see how DOGE cuts could be achieved.

"This first rescissions package from President Trump is a test as to whether Congress has the ability to deliver on his mandate by canceling wasteful spending through a filibuster-proof process," Winfree said.

"If they can’t, then it’s a signal for the president to turn up the dial with other tools at his disposal."

And while a wide swath of Republicans is likely to coalesce around cuts to NPR, PBS and USAID – areas long targeted by fiscal conservatives – multiple people told Fox News Digital they could foresee some issues with the GOP's razor-thin, three-seat House majority.

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"I get a sense that there will be some that don't want an ad written that they're defunding Big Bird," one House Republican told Fox News Digital. "They've earned cancellation, but I mean, there are some moderates in our conference."

Meanwhile, conservative groups in the House are bearing down hard to get the bill passed.

Both the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee released statements pushing for the spending cuts to be passed as soon as possible.

The Freedom Caucus, whose position was first reported by Fox News Digital, called for the House to pass the bill as soon as this week.

GOP ad war kicks off in heated battleground state primary: 'We've barely just begun'

EXCLUSIVE: The campaign advertising war has already kicked off in the Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary – over a year away from the August 2026 election.

Turning Point PAC announced on Tuesday that they’re launching a $500,000 media buy across platforms in support of Rep. Andy Biggs on "strategic cable, over-the-top, radio, and direct-to-voter placements" targeting Arizona voters. The ads will begin Tuesday and will air for the next 3.5 weeks. The ads will air on Fox News' local designated market area slots, conservative talk radio and streaming services in addition to targeted digital ads. 

"Andy Biggs was the best Senate President Arizona has had in decades and he has been President Trump’s most reliable friend in Congress. He is Trump-endorsed, Charlie Kirk endorsed, and Turning Point Action endorsed," Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action and Turning Point PAC, said in a statement on Wednesday.

"His campaign momentum is already building at an incredible clip and we’ve barely just begun. The media buy combined with Biggs’s impressive earned media exposure shows how enthusiastic the grassroots is to make Andy Biggs the next governor of Arizona," he added.

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The effort’s announcement comes as the group held a rally in support of Biggs over the weekend in the Phoenix area.

"To see a room packed with thousands of Biggs supporters this far out from the primary was truly historic, and it’s proof of the grassroots energy that is already gathering behind his campaign," TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk said in a statement. The organization is headquartered in Arizona.

"There isn’t a world in which voters will not be aware of Andy Biggs being on the ballot, and the more who find out, the more his double-digit lead over all other competitors will grow. Andy Biggs is ready to bring a President Trump and Ron DeSantis level of leadership and competency to governing Arizona, and Turning Point is proud to get behind his campaign," Kirk continued.

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In the primary, Biggs is running against Karrin Taylor Robson, a businesswoman and former Arizona Board of Regents member who sought the nomination in 2022 but lost to Kari Lake. A Taylor Robson ally said that she has been spending that amount of money weekly "talking to voters across all platforms." Her campaign recently touted a "multi-million dollar" ad buy with a commercial touting Trump’s endorsement in April.

"I’m proud and honored that President Trump has reaffirmed his endorsement of our campaign," Taylor Robson said in a statement at the time. "It's time that we take our message of America and Arizona First leadership to voters across Arizona. Katie Hobbs has been a disaster and has tried to stand in President Trump’s way. As Governor, I will work with President Trump to build a stronger border, a stronger economy, and a stronger and safer Arizona."

The Taylor Robson ally added that Turning Point’s decision to spend on advertisements this early affirms that it’s a competitive primary race.

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President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he is backing both Biggs and Taylor Robson for governor, as whoever wins the primary will go up against Gov. Katie Hobbs in what’s expected to be a highly competitive general election. 

"I like Karrin Taylor Robson of Arizona a lot, and when she asked me to Endorse her, with nobody else running, I Endorsed her, and was happy to do so," Trump said in a Truth Social post in April. 

"When Andy Biggs decided to run for Governor, quite unexpectedly, I had a problem — Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH. Either one will never let you down. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" the president added.

The advertising push this early is a testament to the Grand Canyon State’s competitiveness, as it was one of the most widely watched swing states in November, which Trump ended up sweeping. Cook Political Report currently ranks the governor’s race as a toss-up.

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