FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., are demanding sweeping reforms to the federal government’s use of charge cards after thousands of highly questionable charges were uncovered at the Department of Defense, including at casinos, bars and nightclubs using taxpayer dollars.

In a letter addressed to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Ernst and Comer called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to launch a comprehensive review of all federal charge card programs.

The demand follows alarming findings from recent audits that point to systemic failures in oversight, including the issuance of nearly two charge cards per federal employee and more than $40 billion in spending last fiscal year alone.

The Pentagon’s inspector general found nearly 8,000 Defense Department credit card transactions at "high-risk locations" – including casino ATMs – over the past year. An additional 3,246 transactions occurred at bars and nightclubs, many of them on federal holidays, Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, the day of UFC 300, Cinco de Mayo and New Year’s Eve.

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"It is indefensible for Department of Defense bureaucrats to waste tax dollars at clubs, casinos, and bars, racking up charges on Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and federal holidays," said Ernst.

The DOD is not alone. Recent GAO reports have found agencies consistently fail to use tools to analyze purchase card data and prevent fraud, the letter notes. 

"With Washington $36 trillion in debt, the last thing we need is bureaucrats maxing out their tab and sticking taxpayers with the bill. There should never be more credit cards than federal employees, and I’m working to create accountability government-wide."

$1,300 COFFEE CUPS, 8,000% OVERPAY FOR SOAP DISPENSERS SHOW WASTE AS DOGE LOCKS IN ON PENTAGON

The letter also highlighted the illegal practice of "split purchases," where government employees intentionally divide large transactions to stay under the $3,500 micro-purchase threshold – the largest purchase that can be put on a federal charge card. Despite being a clear violation of federal regulations, these practices reportedly continue due to inadequate monitoring and enforcement.

Ernst and Comer's request urges the GAO to investigate criteria for issuing cards, agency compliance with internal controls, the frequency of risky transactions – including at marijuana dispensaries, dating services, and gambling platforms – and whether agencies are appropriately closing accounts after employees leave government service.

In a particularly damning detail, the lawmakers noted that no local purchase card program officials at the DOD could provide examples of analyzing card spending to reduce costs, despite long-standing recommendations from the Office of Management and Budget to do so.

"I’m working to create accountability government-wide. It’s time to cut up the plastic and put a stop to the reckless spending," said Ernst. 

The GAO review, if initiated, could affect hundreds of federal agencies covered under the Chief Financial Officers Act and could lead to a sweeping overhaul of how federal employees use government-issued charge cards.

"American taxpayers shouldn’t be stuck paying for federal bureaucrats' splurges on government-issued credit cards. Tax dollars are meant to fund essential government services, not dating apps, nightclubs, or bar tabs," Comer said in a statement. 

The Kennedy Center is seeking to revamp its family-focused programming, including through offering more explicitly faith-based content that has often been left off the center's agenda.

To kick off the new focus, the Kennedy Center will be holding a free family screening of the new Angel Studios animated movie "The King of Kings," which journeys through the life of Jesus from the viewpoint of a young boy who, throughout the movie, discovers the transformative power of faith. It is the first Jesus-centric show there since 2022. 

The "King of Kings" screening, which will be held on Sunday, June 1, marks a shift to providing more pro-Christian content at the Kennedy Center. 

According to the center, the only recent modern production that could be considered "Christian" was a 2022 showing of "Jesus Christ Superstar," a musical from the early 1970s that some critics (at least initially, such as the late Rev. Billy Graham) considered sacrilegious.

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"When I saw the advertising campaign for ‘King of Kings,’ I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center," Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of The Kennedy Center, said. "And then coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future."

The special screening of "King of Kings" will mark the center's first Jesus-centric show since "Jesus Christ Superstar," the Kennedy Center indicated. The venue has hosted gospel singers and classical performances by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, some of which were originally commissioned for church music.

SCOOP: DOLLY PARTON SYMPHONY CONCERT HEADS TO DC'S KENNEDY CENTER IN EVENT 'NO ONE WILL WANT TO MISS'

"The King of Kings has become the most successful theatrically released faith-based animated film in history," said David Fischer, Head of Acquisitions & Business Affairs at Angel Studios. "But its greatest achievement is in the hearts it’s moved—and its screening at the Kennedy Center is a symbol of just how far truth and light can travel." 

The film, which came out last month, saw a strong box office performance, earning $19.3 million during its first weekend in theaters.

It is produced by Angel Studios, which is a crowd-funded streaming service and film studio that produces a lot of pro-Christian content and aims to help boost independent creators. 

The Kennedy Center is seeking to revamp its family-focused programming, including through offering more faith-based content that has often been left off the center's agenda. 

To kick off the new focus, the Kennedy Center will be holding a free family screening of the new Angel Studios animated movie "The King of Kings," which journeys through the life of Jesus from the viewpoint of a young boy who, throughout the movie, discovers the transformative power of faith. 

The "King of Kings" screening, which will be held on Sunday, June 1, also marks a shift to providing more pro-Christian content at the Kennedy Center. 

According to the center, the only recent modern production that could be considered "Christian" was a 2022 showing of "Jesus Christ Superstar," a musical from the early 1970s that was considered by some critics, at least initially, such as the late Rev. Billy Graham, for being sacrilegious.

DAVID MARCUS: AS SPRINGSTEEN AND DE NIRO TRASH AMERICA ABROAD, KENNEDY CENTER THRIVES

"When I saw the advertising campaign for ‘King of Kings’ I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center," Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of The Kennedy Center, said. "And then coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future."

The special screening of "King of Kings" will mark the center's first Jesus-centric show since "Jesus Christ Superstar," the Kennedy Center indicated. The venue has hosted gospel singers and classical performances by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, some of which were originally commissioned for church music.

SCOOP: DOLLY PARTON SYMPHONY CONCERT HEADS TO DC'S KENNEDY CENTER IN EVENT 'NO ONE WILL WANT TO MISS'

"The King of Kings has become the most successful theatrically released faith-based animated film in history," David Fischer, Head of Acquisitions & Business Affairs at Angel Studios, said. "But its greatest achievement is in the hearts it’s moved—and its screening at the Kennedy Center is a symbol of just how far truth and light can travel." 

The film, which came out last month, saw a strong box office performance, earning $19.3 million during its first weekend in theaters.

It is produced by Angel Studios, which is a crowd-funded streaming service and film studio that produces a lot of pro-Christian content and aims to help boost independent creators. 

Former judge Jeanine Pirro was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

Pirro, 73, will now lead a team of attorneys in defending President Donald Trump's administration in court as well as prosecuting local crimes in the nation's capital.

"Congratulations ⁦Judge Jeanine⁩ who will soon make DC Great Again!" Sergi Gor, the director White House Office of Presidential Personnel, wrote on social media.

President Donald Trump announced he was appointing Pirro to the role last week.

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"I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia," Trump wrote on social media. 

TRUMP PULLS HIS NOMINATION FOR DC US ATTORNEY, SAYS HE'LL REVEAL NEW PICK SOON

"Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!"

Pirro has left Fox News Channel and a rotation of Fox News personalities will fill her seat on "The Five" until a new co-host is named.

"Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington," a spokesperson for FOX News Media said in a statement. 

Pirro served as the assistant district attorney and district attorney in New York's Westchester County and became the first woman to serve as a judge in Westchester County Court. 

She joined Fox News Channel in 2006 and hosted "Justice with Judge Jeanine" for 11 years before joining "The Five," which has emerged as the most-watched show on cable news.

Trump also announced on Truth Social that Ed Martin, who was the previous interim U.S. attorney in D.C., will be moving to the Department of Justice as its "Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney."

Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

EXCLUSIVE — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a roughly 214% increase in applications to join the U.S. Secret Service compared to the first few months of last year. 

The number of submitted applications from Jan. 20 to May 1 of last year was approximately 7,000 compared to 22,000 applicants in 2025 under the Trump administration.

"For four long years, the previous administration demoralized and denied resources to our brave men and women in law enforcement, including in the Secret Service," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"Our country suffered the consequences of that disastrous approach. President Trump himself nearly lost his life because of it. Now, after reforming the Secret Service and providing it with the resources it needs to do its job, we are seeing an historic surge in applications. Americans naturally want to protect and serve. We simply have to let them."

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A SECRET SERVICE AGENT? DIRECTOR SEAN CURRAN OFFERS A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK

The Secret Service has a total of 8,210 employees and law enforcement officers, including 3,904 special agents, 1,560 in the uniformed division, 265 technical law enforcement personnel, and 2,481 administrative, professional, and technical staff.

"I think the reality is that the Secret Service is returning to the core mission and the standards that made it great and that inspires a lot of really good people to want to be part of it," former Secret Service agent Tim Miller told Fox News Digital. "I think now under the new director, they are trying to get back to having highly qualified people that are very mission focused."

"I know when I got hired, I had been a U.S. Marine Corps officer and a police officer, it was a high standard to get hired. I think many now want to be one of the best of the best and the Secret Service is trying to get back to that gold standard." 

SCULPTURE DEPICTING ICONIC TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT PHOTO DISPLAYED IN OVAL OFFICE

The Secret Service was responsible for protecting former President Donald Trump through two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign. The first was at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, and the second at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. 

The agency, founded in June 1865, was originally tasked with exposing counterfeit U.S. currency under the Treasury Department, but began overseeing presidential protection shortly after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901.

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"The Secret Service has always been a top-tier protection organization until the last 10 or so years and I think returning to its mission and restoring the standards required to be an agent are making a huge difference and causing good men and women to want to join," Miller added.

A senior staffer for California Rep. Sara Jacobs' office was the victim of an armed carjacking in a popular Washington, D.C., neighborhood on Friday afternoon, according to a Metropolitan Police Department report. 

Metro Police announced on Sunday two arrests in the armed carjacking that occurred on Friday afternoon in a Harris Teeter parking lot in Washington's Navy Yard neighborhood. 

In addition to the victim's personal items, the senior staffer's government-issued iPhone, MacBook, ID and Capitol parking pass were identified as missing in the police report obtained by Fox News Digital. Jacobs' office did not provide comment but confirmed the devices were immediately wiped.  

On Friday, around 12:08 p.m., the suspects approached the victim as they exited their car, demanding the victim's car keys, according to Metro Police. When the staffer refused, one of the suspects brandished a handgun and obtained the keys before the suspects fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle, police said.

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Officers recovered the victim's car and a firearm on Saturday, and then arrested two suspects. According to police, a 15-year-old juvenile male of Washington was charged with armed carjacking, and a 14-year-old juvenile male of Maryland was charged with carrying a pistol without a license and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DRIVING INTO FESTIVAL CROWD HOURS AFTER EXPLOSION ROCKED SAME EVENT

As of Sunday, police are still searching for two outstanding suspects whose photos were captured during the incident by surveillance cameras. 

Navy Yard is a popular Washington neighborhood located south of the U.S. Capitol and home to the Washington Nationals baseball stadium. While the neighborhood has transformed over the past decade into an urban hub for congressional staffers and young professionals, it has also been the subject of criticism for its crime. 

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was walking to the Navy Yard Metro Station for a transit safety event last month when he learned a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) police officer had just been stabbed in the face. 

The WMATA confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital and said the suspect stabbed the officer "with a sharp metal object" after they did not pay their fare at the station. 

President Donald Trump vowed to clean up Washington while speaking at his "Make America Great Again" rallies on the 2024 campaign trail. Since returning to office this January, Trump has committed to creating a "crime-free capital."  

"We're cleaning up our city. We're cleaning up this great capital," the president said. "And we're not going to have crime, and we're not going to stand for crime," Trump said at the Department of Justice earlier this year. 

The Jacobs staffer did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo and Andrew Margolis contributed to this report. 

EXCLUSIVE: A division of the Congressional Budget Office, the agency charged with providing budget and economic information to lawmakers, is stacked with liberal Democrats, putting into question its long-standing reputation of being nonpartisan. 

The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative government research nonprofit, found that much of the CBO's Health Analysis Division is made up of Democrats or Democratic donors.

Of the 32 staff members in the division, 26 of them, or 84%, have "clearly" verified liberal partisan biases, being either a Democrat donor, a registered Democrat, or a Democratic primary voter, the group said in a memo outlining its findings, which come ahead of potential scrutiny of President Donald Trump's budget request. 

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"The CBO likes to call itself ‘nonpartisan’ in an attempt to disguise its role as an undercover leftist think tank," AAF President Tom Jones said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "In fact, the CBO is institutionally progressive, with 84% of its professional healthcare staff members being registered Democrats. These same staff members, who are on record donating to radicals like Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton, ‘score’ legislation and present it to the American people like it’s sacrosanct."

Jones accused the CBO staffers of not just voting left, but using their influence to promote progressive policy changes. 

DOGE SUBCOMMITTEE INVITES NPR, PBS CHIEFS TO TESTIFY ON THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING, ‘SYSTEMICALLY BIASED CONTENT’

"The Health Analysis Division has been overtaken by liberal group think," the memo states. "As policymakers consider pronouncements and scores from CBO over the coming weeks, they should regard those from the Health Care Analysis Division with deep suspicion and should likely disregard them as the product of a politically biased policy shop, much as they would analysis from an institution like the Center for American Progress."

The HAD is tasked with analyzing federal programs and policies that include Medicare, Medicaid and subsidies provided through health insurance exchanges. Its staffers produce reports on policy issues and play a key role in certain estimates of proposed changes in health care programs, the CBO website states.

The report noted that the CBO works to "cultivate" a reputation as a "non-partisan scorekeeper, just balls and strikes." That reputation is so entrenched, the AAF said, that 1,358 different news media stories in the last year alone have appended the word "nonpartisan" to the beginning of the office’s name, reporting on the "nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office."

"While the CBO has spun a narrative through the mainstream media that it’s a neutral scorekeeper, it’s one big gaslighting campaign to distract from the office’s fundamentally progressive roots." Jones said. "They know the next few months with reconciliation are crucial and will do everything they can to slam and stall the Trump administration’s policies."

CBO employees are barred from engaging in political activity if it would "identify, or appear to identify, CBO with a political campaign, candidate, officeholder, or cause," its website states. 

"The specific positions taken are irrelevant; rather, the potential harm to CBO’s reputation for objectivity comes from association with political activity or public advocacy," it adds. 

The agency doesn't hire employment candidates based on their political affiliation, it said. 

Research conducted by the group found that Health Analysis Director Chapin White is a Democratic donor, having given money to former Secretary of State John Kerry. White made a $300 donation to Kerry's failed presidential bid in 2004, according to Federal Election Commission data. 

White referred Fox News Digital to the CBO, which declined to comment.

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One analyst has donated to several Democratic elected officials, including former President Joe Biden and various members of Congress, according to the FEC. Many others are registered Democrats or have donated to Democratic pollical candidates, the think tank said. 

Much of the data gathered by the AAF was obtained through public campaign finance reporting agencies or from voter registration offices, noting that many CBO employees live in Virginia, which doesn't have partisan registration, the nonprofit said. 

Virginia also restricts access to voter history records via the state’s Freedom of Information Act, making it challenging to ascertain whether voters cast ballots in Democratic or Republican primaries, it said. 

However, the AAF said it obtained Virginia voting history information from a trusted third-party source. 

"There were four staff members for whom AAF was unable to secure voting history or registration information," it said. "AAF strongly suspects if the staffers listed as ‘Data on Definitive Partisan Bias Unavailable’ were asked whether they vote in Democrat or Republican primaries (or if they had voted for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump) very few, if any, will respond that they are Republicans."

Under the floorboards of the U.S. Capitol lie hidden staircases and passageways left over from the iconic building's original construction in the 18th century, a viral video posted by Republican North Carolina Rep. Tim Moore shows. 

"Construction started in the 1700s and there are all sorts of little hidden passageways. As you saw, I just pulled this cover up, and you can see," Moore said in a video posted to his official congressional X account on Friday, showing a secret door in the floor of the Capitol. 

The U.S. Capitol's construction was commissioned in 1793, with President George Washington laying the cornerstone that same year. The original building was completed in 1826, with various expansions made across the decades, such as a visitor center that opened in 2008. 

SECRETS OF THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA

Moore took viewers inside the Capitol's Lincoln Room, which he said is one of his favorites to show visitors to Washington, D.C., noting it's where Abraham Lincoln would sit by a fire and read letters when he served as a congressman representing Illinois from 1847-1849. 

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"But the most interesting part of the room is underneath the floorboards," Moore posted to X. 

The North Carolina Republican opened a hidden door on the floor, revealing a dusty and historic staircase leading to what appeared to be another room below. 

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"We're just off of what's called Statuary Hall, which at one time was the actual House chamber.… But this is just an example of some of the little hidden secrets in the Capitol," Moore said. 

The lawmaker added that he heard through Capitol building lore that the staircase under the Lincoln Room was used by British soldiers in the War of 1812 to set fire to the historic building. Known as the "Burning of Washington," British soldiers in August 1814 set fire to the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Navy Yard and the White House – which was then known as the Presidential Mansion – before storms put out the fires and military personnel were called to D.C. to defend it from British forces. The War of 1812 ended in 1815. 

TRUMP TO CREATE TASK FORCE TO PLAN 'EXTRAORDINARY CELEBRATION' FOR 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE

Moore's tour of the secret staircase comes as President Donald Trump prepares to kick off America's 250th anniversary of its founding on July 4, 2026. Trump signed an executive order just days after his inauguration this year detailing how his administration will prepare for the massive celebration, including launching a White House task force, building monuments celebrating the nation's founding and historical leaders, and protecting monuments from vandalism following such attacks during the riots and protests that swept the nation in 2020. 

The Army will hold a 250th anniversary of its founding next month with a planned parade that will stretch from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall.

Democratic leaders erupted late Thursday after it was reported that President Trump had abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. 

Hayden was notified of her firing in an email late Thursday from the White House's Presidential Personnel Office, according to an email seen by The Associated Press. 

"Carla," the email reportedly began. "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service." 

Nominated by former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2016, Hayden, whose term was set to expire next year, was the first woman and the first African American in the role. Advocates praised her tenure for helping to modernize the Library and make it more accessible with initiatives in rural communities and online.

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But Hayden had come under fire from the conservative advocacy group American Accountability Foundation, which accused her and other library leaders of promoting children's books with "radical" content and literary material authored by Trump opponents. 

Earlier Thursday, just hours before the firing was made public, AAF derided Hayden on X as "woke" and "anti-Trump," accusing her of promoting "trans-kids." 

"It's time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!" the group wrote. 

In a follow-up post on X, the group celebrated news of Hayden's firing, thanking President Trump. 

Hayden’s reported firing ignited the fury of prominent Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. 

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Jeffries applauded Hayden as "an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress."

"Donald Trump's unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock," Jeffries said.

"Enough is enough," Schumer said, calling Hayden a "trailblazer, a scholar, and a public servant of the highest order."

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said Hayden was "callously fired" by Trump and demanded an explanation.

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"Hayden, has spent her entire career serving people — from helping kids learn to read to protecting some of our nation's most precious treasures," said Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee that oversees the Library.

New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate panel that oversees funding for the library, said the firing, was "taking his assault on America's libraries to a new level."

"Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone," he said.

The Library of Congress holds a vast collection of the nation's books and history, which it makes available to the public and lawmakers. It houses the papers of nearly two dozen presidents and more than three dozen Supreme Court justices. It also has collections of rare books, prints and photographs, as well as troves of music and valuable artifacts.

Robert Newlen, the principal deputy librarian, said he would serve as acting librarian of Congress "until further instruction" in a separate email seen by the AP.

"I promise to keep everyone informed," he wrote to colleagues.

Hayden’s firing comes as the Trump administration has been purging officials seen as not aligning with the president’s agenda – from the Justice Department to the Pentagon and beyond. 

Earlier Thursday, Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was fired just one day after telling lawmakers that dismantling the agency – as President Trump has proposed – is a bad move. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and the Library of Congress for additional details. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

• Jeff Bezos sold one of his several Washington properties after moving to Miami in 2023.
• He snapped up three mansions on Indian Creek Island, leaving behind eight properties in Washington.
• He closed the reported deal for $63 million on a Hunts Point estate.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has amassed a real estate portfolio that rivals some of America's biggest property owners. He's the 23rd-largest landowner in the US, according to the 2025 Land Report, with at least 420,000 acres to his name.

Bezos' Seattle-area real estate empire, which was worth as much as $190 million in 2023 based on Zillow estimates, is getting smaller. Almost two years after moving south, Bezos sold one of his several Seattle properties for a big profit.

He sold his 9,420-square-foot home in Hunts Point, Washington, for a record $63 million, Puget Sound Business Journal reported in April. The estate was acquired by Cayan Investments LLC, Business Insider confirmed Thursday.

His collection also includes three properties in Indian Creek Village, an island off the coast of Miami, where he announced in 2023 he'd be relocating with his fiancée Lauren Sánchez.

Bezos, worth $211 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, purchased several properties with his former wife MacKenzie Scott. Their divorce was finalized in 2019, and it's unclear which of these properties Bezos still owns, as divorce records were not made public.

From two neighboring Beverly Hills mansions to multiple estates in exclusive Seattle suburbs, here are Bezos' residential properties in the US.

Caroline Cakebread, Katie Warren, Dominic-Madori Davis, and Libertina Brandt contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Jeff Bezos has spent millions of dollars amassing a collection of residential properties over the years.

A 2025 Land Report named Bezos the country's 23rd-largest landowner, with 420,000 acres to his name.

Over the years, he's picked up several New York City apartments, a ranch in Texas, and homes in Washington state, California, and Washington, DC.

 

For years, Bezos' home base was a nearly 24,000-square-foot estate in Medina, Washington.

In 1998, Bezos paid $10 million for a 5.3-acre property in the wealthy suburb on the shores of Lake Washington.

Twelve years later, in 2010, he spent $45 million on an estate nextdoor, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported.

One home is a 20,600-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom house with a basement spanning over 5,000-square-feet and five fireplaces. The other is an 8,300-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom home built in 1940.

The Wall Street Journal reported that he purchased the property next door in 2010 under Aspen Ventures LLC. That lot has a 24,000-square-foot Tudor-style, six-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion, which was listed for $53 million. 

Finally, in 2015, he purchased a $3.9 million property across the street from the Medina compound, Business Insider previously reported. The comparatively smaller property was purchased through a trust managed by the same law firm, and with the same property tax address, as the other Medina properties Bezos and Scott purchased before their divorce.

Medina is an exclusive suburb that is home to Bill Gates, Microsoft bigwigs, tech entrepreneurs, and telecom magnates.

Many of the neighborhood's mansions are hidden away behind gates and protected by elaborate security systems.

Bezos' first big New York purchases were three apartments, which he bought for $7.65 million on Central Park West in Manhattan.

The three units in The Century building on Manhattan's Upper West Side were purchased in 1999 from the former Sony Music head Tommy Mottola, The Observer reported at the time. 

More than a decade later, in 2012, Bezos bought an additional unit in the building, valued at $5.3 million in 2012, making him the owner of four condos in the building.

The Art Deco building was built in the 1930s, boasts a concierge, elevator attendants, and three separate entrances.

His next big buy was a massive ranch near the town of Van Horn, Texas.

In 2004, Bezos purchased Corn Ranch, a 165,000-acre stretch of land outside Van Horn, Texas.

He told the local paper he bought the property so his family would get the chance to live on a ranch like he did when he visited his grandfather as a child. The land is also the most productive launch site for his aerospace company Blue Origin.

Three years after buying The Washington Post in 2013, Bezos bought a former textile museum in DC's Kalorama.

He spent $23 million on the property, which dates back to 1912 and has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, The Washington Post reported.

The neighborhood is a hot spot for Washington bigwigs.

The Obamas purchased an $8.1 million property nearby in 2017, which marked the second-most expensive transaction in the neighborhood, after Bezos' — The Washington Post reported.

The two joint structures on Bezos' property have nearly 27,000 square feet of living space, making it the largest home in Washington, DC.

It's been reported that Bezos may have also purchased the home across the street in January 2020 for $5 million, though BI could not confirm he owns the property.

In the months following his 2019 divorce, Bezos spent $45 million on four properties in other exclusive Seattle enclaves.

The largest property of the 2019 spending spree was a $37.5 million waterfront estate in Hunts Point, an exclusive neighborhood with fewer than 400 residents. The home has 300 feet of coastline, a rooftop deck with a fireplace, and a glass bridge connecting to a two-story guesthouse.

He purchased two more modest homes in Hunts Point around the same time, which his neighbors said are used for security and other staff, including a chef.

When he offloaded the $37.5 million estate in April, he got $25 million more than he purchased it for in 2019, Puget Sound Business Journal reported.

Around the same time, he purchased a home nearby in Yarrow Point.

He also purchased a staff home in the nearby Yarrow Point. The home sold for $4.2 million in January 2024, according to its listing on Compass.

Two months after Bezos and MacKenzie Scott finalized their divorce, he reportedly dropped about $80 million on three New York City apartments.

In 2019, he dropped about $80 million on three adjacent New York City apartments in the priciest-ever real-estate deal south of Manhattan's 42nd Street.

The spread included a three-story penthouse and two units directly below it.  It was the priciest real estate deal south of Manhattan's 42nd Street, appraiser Jonathan Miller told The Wall Street Journal at the time.

Renderings of the inside of the apartment from the creative agency VisualHouse show the opulence of the penthouse.

Bezos has since purchased two more units inside the prewar building. In 2020, he spent $16 million on an additional unit, and purchased a $23 million apartment in the building in 2021.

The purchases brought his grand total to $119 million of real estate in the one building, which has a fitness center, golf simulator, game room, and movie-screening room, according to the property's website.

 

Bezos also owns property in Beverly Hills, California, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

He first bought property in the cushy neighborhood in 2007, shelling out $24.45 million for a mansion that had tennis courts, a guesthouse, a six-car garage, and a pool, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time. In 2017, he bought the house next door for $12.9 million.

In 2022, Scott donated the two mansions to a housing charity.

 

After his divorce, he broke California records when he purchased the Warner Estate in 2020.

Bezos purchased the nine-acre Warner Estate in Beverly Hills for $165 million from billionaire David Geffen.

The estate was designed for Jack Warner — the former president of Warner Bros. Studios — in the 1930s. 

The most expensive home sale in California's history at the time, Bezos purchased the house for $165 million from David Geffen, who bought it in 1990 for $47.5 million. The mansion has guest homes, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course.

Like many of his other homes, privacy is key at the Warner Estate. Hedges surround the nine acres on which the 13,600-square-foot home sits.

In 2021, Bezos and his now-fiancée Lauren Sánchez bought a home in Hawaii.

Bezos paid about $78 million for the Maui home, according to The New York Times.

In the weeks leading up to the purchase, Bezos made several donations to local organizations — including Hawaii Land Trust and Mālama Family Recovery Center, local news site Maui Now reported.

Sánchez announced that she and Bezos would donate $100 million to help Maui after neighborhoods on the island were devastated by fires.

"Jeff and I are heartbroken by what's happening in Maui. We are thinking of all the families that have lost so much and a community that has been left devastated," Sánchez wrote on Instagram. 

Their notable island neighbors include fellow billionaires Oprah Winfrey, Paul Thiel, and Oracle executive Larry Ellison, according to the Times.

Bezos purchased a home in Indian Creek in 2023, another billionaire hotspot.

In August 2023, he added a $68 million mansion on Miami's "billionaire bunker" island, Indian Creek Village, to his portfolio. 

The home reportedly spans 9,300 square feet, and the entire property is about 2.8 acres. The exclusive island has been home to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Tom Brady, and billionaire investor Carl Icahn.

While announcing his relocation, Bezos said that he wanted to be closer to his parents and space company Blue Origin's operations in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

He reportedly also snapped up the home next door.

Bezos bought the seven-bedroom Indian Creek mansion for $79 million in October, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources.

The nearly two-acre mansion was built in 2000 and boasts features like a home theater, library, pool, and wine cellar.

But he wasn't done yet with his Indian Creek shopping spree. People representing Bezos reportedly contacted at least three other island homeowners to discuss purchasing their properties, Bloomberg reported in early January.

Bezos snapped up a third mansion on Indian Creek for $90 million

In April 2024, Bezos made his third purchase on the island known as the "billionaire bunker," Bloomberg reported. He paid $90 million for the six-bedroom home in an off-market transaction.

The house last sold for $2.5 million in 1998, according to the outlet, which noted that Bezos plans to live there while tearing down the other two properties he'd purchased on the island.

Indian Creek, located on Biscayne Bay and home to fewer than 100 residents, has its own mayor and police force, and is accessible only via a gated bridge.

With REAL ID’s deadline approaching Wednesday, there are still swaths of the country where travelers could run into trouble trying to hit the skies for summer break.

Although at least 12 states are more than 90% REAL ID-compliant, many still have significant portions of their populations who will need a passport to fly.

The states in the proverbial green include Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming as well as Washington, D.C.

Texas reported 98% compliance, Mississippi 97%, Hawaii and Utah 96%, according to a CBS survey.

New Jersey has recently made headlines for its low REAL ID compliance, but it tops the nation in passport ownership, with 69% of residents holding one, according to data from the Center for American Progress and Swift Passport Services.

MARRIED WOMEN FACE REAL ID DOCUMENTATION HURDLES: 'I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS'

Delaware, California, New York, Massachusetts and Alaska also ranked high.

Though geographically diverse, all the states – except Delaware – serve as major international travel hubs, home to airports like Ted Stevens, Logan, and JFK. The First State, however, is only a short distance from Philadelphia International Airport.

By contrast, the states with the lowest proportion of passport holders tend to be ones without major airports: West Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama.

What effect that may have on REAL ID-era travel remains unclear.

Those states do, however, have regional Amtrak stops like Harpers Ferry, Jackson, Ashland and Birmingham, respectively. REAL ID is not required for intrastate or interstate rail travel.

REAL ID IS ABOUT TO GO INTO EFFECT: HERE'S HOW IT MAY IMPACT VOTING

A REAL ID is an identification that includes a star emblazoned in the upper corner to denote the holder has provided additional identifying documentation like a Social Security card to a government agent. It will be required for air travel and to enter most government or military installations.

The law requiring REAL ID was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, but has been delayed several times by multiple presidential administrations.

Last week, Wingate University political science professor Dr. Magdalena Krajewska – an expert on national ID cards – told the school’s news outlet she was surprised the delays have taken so long.

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"I feel like all of us who were alive during that time, all of us who witnessed this as it was happening, thought the U.S. would do everything to prevent something similar from happening again," she said.

Krajewska added it is important that people also know they don’t need a REAL ID to enter less-secure government locations like a post office.

FIRST ON FOX: Twenty-two state attorneys general sent a letter to Senate leaders on Monday urging lawmakers to swiftly confirm President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin, ahead of a May 20 deadline, when judges on a court led by Trump-antagonist Judge James Boasberg could select a temporary replacement. 

"To put it bluntly, the District of Columbia is broken. And four years of corruption, mismanagement, and derelictions of duty in the U.S. Attorney’s Office under President Biden’s appointees are in many ways to blame. The District should be made safe again. The District should have a U.S. Attorney who replaces the rule of lawfare with the rule of law. Ed Martin is the man to achieve those goals. We strongly encourage the Senate to confirm him at the earliest possible date," reads the letter, which was first exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital. It was sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley on Monday afternoon. 

The letter comes as a May 20 deadline looms to confirm the Trump nominee, when his role as interim U.S. attorney runs dry after 120 days in the role. Martin, who previously worked as a defense attorney and represented Americans charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol in 2021, was named interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia beginning on Inauguration Day. 

If an interim U.S. attorney is not confirmed by the Senate within 120 days, judges on the federal district court for that district can name a new interim U.S. attorney until a nominee is confirmed, Department of Justice documents show. Trump antagonist James Boasberg, an Obama-appointed judge at the center of legal efforts targeting Trump's deportation efforts, is the current chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 

TRUMP NOMINATES JAN. 6 DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR TOP PROSECUTOR ROLE IN DC

Trump has previously slammed the entire D.C. District Court, saying it would be "virtually impossible" for him to get an "honest ruling" after Boasberg blocked Trump's Venezuelan deportation flights in March. 

"Our Nation’s Courts are broken, with New York and DC being the most preeminent of all in their Corruption and Radicalism. There must be an immediate investigation of this Rigged System, before it is too late!" Trump posted to Truth Social in March. 

Indiana Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita spearheaded the letter, and told Fox Digital on Monday that Martin has already shown in his few months serving on an interim basis that "he’s a proven leader."

"I am proud to lead this effort to support Ed Martin because he’s a proven leader who is already devoting all of his time to restoring the rule of law in our nation’s capital," Rokita said. "His bold actions have had an immediate impact, which sent the disreputable D.C. news media into a full-blown meltdown - the Senate must act swiftly to confirm him and ensure his critical work continues uninterrupted."

TRUMP NOMINATES JUDGE TO SERVE AS NEXT US ATTORNEY FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

The letter similarly argued that the Senate confirmation process should go smoothly as lawmakers can already examine Martin's track record in the role. 

"The Senate does not have to wonder or speculate about whether Mr. Martin will lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office with honor and skill," the state attorneys general continued in their letter. "As interim U.S. Attorney for the District since January 20, 2025, he has shown conclusively that he has what it takes to serve in that role with integrity and a fearless commitment to do what is right on behalf of the American people. And there are few offices in the American justice system that could use that kind of leader now as much as the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office."

The 23 states that joined the letter include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. 

Martin's confirmation has stalled, however, with Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, voicing concerns about the nomination during the committee’s May 1 executive business meeting.

FEDERAL PROSECUTOR VOWS TO PROTECT DOGE STAFFERS FROM ANY 'THREATS, CONFRONTATIONS' TARGETING MUSK TEAM

"Last Friday, we received responses from Mr. Martin to our questions, and it raised even more questions. Mr. Martin made a number of false statements and contradictory statements that are easily disproven by the material he himself disclosed in his Senate Judiciary Questionnaire. And it wasn’t just to my questions—it was to Chairman Grassley’s questions as well," Durbin said during the meeting. 

The AGs took specific issue with how crime has spiraled in the nation's capital under the Biden administration, which they cited was related to the justice system and failing to prosecute criminals.  

"Under President Biden, public safety and the quality of life deteriorated in the District of Columbia. Matthew Graves—President Biden’s appointee as chief federal prosecutor for District—oversaw during his tenure a deeply troubling increase in crime in the nation’s capital.  In 2023 alone, the number of homicides in D.C. increased by 35% over the previous year. Robberies were up 67%. Car theft skyrocketed by 82%. All the while, Mr. Graves declined to prosecute over two-thirds of all criminal cases brought to his office. In this way, President Biden brought to the District the same lax-on-crime policies that have benighted many of America’s largest cities for decades," they wrote. 

Since taking over the position, Martin has overseen the dismissals of various Jan. 6 cases after Trump pardoned and commuted the defendants. 

Martin also published a fiery letter in February vowing to hold to account those who try to sabotage efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to clean the federal government of overspending and corruption. Trump granted clemency to more than 1,500 Jan. 6 criminal defendants upon taking office earlier this year. 

TRUMP UNLOADS ON JUDGE BOASBERG, 'RADICAL LEFT JUDGES' FOR HALTING DEPORTATIONS OF VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIENS

"I recognize that some of the staff at DOGE have been targeted publicly," Martin wrote to Elon Musk in the February letter. "At this time, I ask that you utilize me and my staff to assist in protecting the DOGE work and the DOGE workers. Any threats, confrontations or other actions in any way that impact their work may break numerous laws."

"Let me assure you of this: We will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people," he continued. "We will not act like the previous administration who looked the other way as the Antifa and BLM rioters as well as thugs with guns trashed our capital city. We will protect DOGE and other workers no matter what." 

In their letter, the state attorneys general said Martin has done more to crack down on crime during his few months as interim leader than his predecessor did under the Biden administration.

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"Mr. Martin has prosecuted and seized the assets of pro-Hamas protestors who defaced monuments and assaulted police. He has pursued and indicted Chinese-backed hackers who threatened our national security. He has prosecuted and disrupted the operations of gangs of illegal aliens. He has rooted out and brought to justice corrupt civil servants who stole taxpayer money. He has done more in less than four months to restore law and order to the District than Matthew Graves did in nearly four years," they wrote. 

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is looking for support from fellow Democrats with her eyes on a possible run for the top Democratic spot on the House Oversight Committee, according to reports.

Although Semafor first reported about Crockett’s plans, Politico also reported that two people familiar with the matter claim the congresswoman has been making calls, sending text messages and having conversations on the floor in search of support for her quest to take the seat held by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.

Connolly is reportedly planning to step aside as he fights a resurgence of esophageal cancer, though he has not made an official announcement, Politico reported.

Still, Crockett reportedly told her colleagues she is "made for the moment," the sources told the publication, referring to the Democratic Party’s desire to resist President Donald Trump in a more forceful way.

JASMINE CROCKETT ROASTED FOR WORRYING ABOUT EFFECT OF DEPORTATION ON OTHER COUNTRIES

Crockett did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Politico reported that Crockett told the outlet in a text message that even though a vacancy does not currently exist, "knowing that Rep Connolly doesn’t plan to seek re-election & knowing that our oversight powers are broad, I’m ready to shine a light on the very dark things taking place in our country under this administration."

Crockett, a first-term progressive, has made headlines for several controversial comments this year.

SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS OVER JASMINE CROCKETT 'GASLIGHTING' ABOUT CALLING ABBOTT 'GOVERNOR HOT WHEELS'

Her most recent comments came this week as she expressed sympathy for countries that may be affected by mass deportations from the U.S. after remaining largely silent on millions of migrants pouring into the country under the Biden administration.

"As far as I'm concerned, you randomly kidnapping folk and you throwing them out of the country against their civil rights, against their constitutional rights," Crockett said in a video posted to her Instagram page, which has 1.3 million followers. 

"And, frankly, how would they feel if some other country decided that they were gonna just start throwing people randomly in our country? Like that is absolutely insane."

Crockett lambasted Republicans who had voted down an amendment to a massive budget bill being hammered out by lawmakers that aims to clarify that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot detain or deport U.S. citizens under any circumstances.

REP. JASMINE CROCKETT SAYS DEMOCRATS NEED TO BE 'OK WITH PUNCHING' IN RACES AGAINST TED CRUZ, REPUBLICANS

The Republicans' actions incensed Crockett, who cited a case last week when a U.S. citizen child was deported with her noncitizen mother. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the child and her siblings were deported because their mothers are not citizens and wanted to take them with them back to Honduras.

Crockett made the comments alongside Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who also panned Republicans. 

"Literally they just voted, they being the other ones, not us, because we were all on the right side of history," Crockett said. "They just voted to give Trump the legal ability to deport U.S. citizens. That is what they voted for. A bunch of elected U.S. representatives, that is how they voted, Am I telling a lie Eric or not?"

She also made news in March after she called her fellow Texan, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels." She later claimed her words were misunderstood.

Crockett continues her viral media streak with incendiary comments aimed at those on the other side of the aisle, including saying DOGE head Elon Musk should be "taken down" and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, should be "knocked over the head, like, hard."

Fox News' Michael Dorgan, Rachel del Guidice, Elizabeth Elkind and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

EXCLUSIVE – Bipartisan lawmakers are introducing a bill on Capitol Hill Thursday focused on protecting the country’s water systems from foreign hackers, just months after China admitted behind closed doors that it was responsible for a series of attacks on U.S. infrastructure.

Senators Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., authored the Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act to help protect public water systems and respond to cyberattacks, which have become more frequent in recent years.

"In Arizona, we know better than most the importance of safe and secure access to water. But adversaries also understand the importance and are increasingly trying to undermine our water security," Gallego said. "It is critical that we ensure our public water systems have the resources they need to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. That’s exactly what this bipartisan, commonsense bill does."

The bill would extend and expand a portion of the Safe Drinking Water Act, called the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program, to provide technical assistance and grants to community water systems that can be used for training and guidance on cyberattack protections and responses.

CHINESE OFFICIALS CLAIMED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS PRC PLAYED ROLE IN US CYBERATTACKS: REPORT

Cotton said cyberattacks on public infrastructure are a growing threat.

"This bipartisan bill will strengthen our ability to protect essential services and support local water utilities in building stronger cyber defenses," he added.

The bill comes less than a month after the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese officials acknowledged behind closed doors in December that their government was responsible for a series of attacks on U.S. infrastructure.

CHINA ATTACKED US WITH HACKERS. WE NEED TO HIT BACK HARD

In the exclusive report, those who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed Chinese officials connected the cyberattacks on U.S. ports, airports, utilities and other important targets to America’s support for Taiwan.

The report noted that Biden administration officials learned of the attacks first hand during a summit in Geneva, as their Chinese counterparts blamed the campaign, referred to as Volt Typhoon, on a criminal organization.

Chinese officials also accused the U.S. of blaming China based on their imagination.

BIDEN ADMIN DOUBLING TARIFFS ON CHINESE SOLAR PANEL PARTS AFTER REPORTED 'INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE'

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier this month it had made clear to Beijing that the U.S. will continue to take actions in response to Chinese malicious cyber activity targeting the U.S.

"Chinese cyber threats are some of the gravest and most persistent threats to U.S. national security," the spokesperson said. "The United States will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to safeguard U.S. critical infrastructure from irresponsible and reckless cyberattacks from Beijing. President Trump is committed to protecting the American people and U.S. critical infrastructure from these threats."

The Chinese Embassy told FOX Business that China "firmly opposes" the smear attacks against it without any factual basis.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WARNS STATES OF POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON WATER SYSTEMS FROM FOREIGN HACKERS

The Biden administration warned state leaders in March 2024 that cyberattacks by hackers linked to Iran and China could take down water systems across the U.S. if cybersecurity measures were not taken as a precaution.

Then Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael S. Regan and Jake Sullivan, the assistant to Biden for national security affairs, said in an email to state governors that cyberattacks were targeting water and wastewater systems throughout the U.S.

In the letter, the two Biden administration officials said the attacks could disrupt clean and safe drinking water and impose significant costs on affected communities.

In January 2024, Russian hackers launched an attack on the water system in Muleshoe, Texas.

The hack caused the small Texas town's water sytem to overflow and within two hours sent tens of thousands of gallons of water flowing out of the town's water tower. Muleshoe was one of three small towns in the rural Texas Panhandle targeted by a Russian hacktivist group.

Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told legislators in a letter that the cybersecurity firm Mandiant attributed the attack on Muleshoe to Sandworm, which is believed to be connected to Russia's spy agency, the GRU.

Ukraine has signed a deal with the United States, giving the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare minerals as it continues to work with the Trump administration in an effort to end its three-year war with Russia. 

Ukrainian Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko flew to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to help finalize the deal. 

"On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country," she wrote on X. 

Upon taking office, President Donald Trump said he wanted Ukraine’s rare earth materials as a condition for continued U.S. support in the war. He described it as reimbursement for the billions of dollars of U.S. military assistance given to Ukraine. 

RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON UKRAINE INTENSIFY IN MAKE-OR-BREAK WEEK FOR PEACE TALKS

Discussions about a possible deal stalled following a combative meeting between Trump administration officials and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. 

The agreement will establish the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund to help accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term" Bessent said in a statement. "President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine."

TRUMP MARKS 100-DAYS IN OFFICE EMBROILED IN TRADE BATTLES, DEADLY WARS AND HARD-PRESSED DEALS

The U.S. is seeking access to more than 20 raw materials deemed strategically critical to its interests, including some non-minerals such as oil and natural gas. Among them are Ukraine's deposits of titanium, which is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, and uranium, which is used for nuclear power, medical equipment and weapons. 

Ukraine also has lithium, graphite and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.

The deal will establish an equal partnership between the two countries and last for 10 years. Financial contributions to a joint fund would be made in cash, and only new U.S. military aid would count toward the American share. 

Neither party will have a majority vote, reflecting an equal partnership between Ukraine and the United States, Svyrydenko said. The fund is supported by the U.S. government through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. 

Unlike an earlier draft of the agreement, the deal would not conflict with Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership — a key provision for Kyiv.

Under the terms of the deal, the Ukrainian government will determine where and what minerals will be extracted, Svyrydenko said. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The Washington Commanders reached an agreement to build a new stadium on the site of the old RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., officials said Monday.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the District of Columbia government and Commanders executives reached a deal to return to the site they called home for three decades. The deal is pending D.C. City Council approval.

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The Commanders posted a nostalgic video showing the old days of the franchise, formerly known as the Washington Redskins, playing in Washington, D.C. Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann narrated the video. 

"The time is now," Theismann said. "Let's bring Washington back to D.C."

The franchise played at RFK Stadium from 1961 to 1996 before they moved to Landover, Maryland, at the faculty now known as Northwest Stadium. Team owner Josh Harris had considered different sites for a new stadium since he bought the team from Daniel Snyder.

EAGLES' SAQUON BARKLEY SLAMS CRITICS AFTER HANGING OUT WITH TRUMP

Congressional lawmakers supported Harris’ pursuit of taking over the old RFK Stadium site on the condition the team and the NFL would honor the old Redskins logo in some way. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he would support the organization going forward with its plan after "good faith negotiations" with both entities.

"We were calling out leaders in case of really, woke gone wrong. The irony that they were canceling Native American culture as the DEI movement went way too far," Daines said in November. "This is honoring a Blackfeet chief who was born in Montana. He is highly esteemed. The Blackfeet tribe of Montana, their current chairman and tribal council signed a letter in strong support to bring the logo back. It honors Indian Country. 

"We have good discussions with the NFL and with the Commanders. There’s good faith in negotiations going forward that’s going to allow this logo to be used again. Perhaps revenues going to a foundation that could help Native Americans in sports and so forth. We’re making good progress and, based on the good faith negotiations, I made a decision to support this bill yesterday in the committee."

Harris said in August that 2030 was a "reasonable target" for a new stadium.

He also expressed hope of a future NFL Draft taking place on the National Mall between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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One member of the Washington Nationals grounds crew was not as fast as he needed to be during Saturday's rain delay at Nationals Park.

Rain began to fall in the first inning of a scoreless game between the Nationals and New York Mets. 

The game started later than scheduled due to inclement weather, but conditions forced the game to stop shortly after it got underway.

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But shortly after the onsite crew was instructed to bring out the tarp, one person narrowly avoided what could have been a serious injury.

DODGERS STAR SHOHEI OHTANI IS PROGRESSING IN HIS RETURN TO PITCHING

That grounds crew member appeared to lose his balance, and his momentum carried him forward and over the tarp as it was being rolled on the infield dirt. Fellow crew members momentarily continued rolling out the tarp, which resulted in the waterproof cover getting rolled on the man's back.

The rain delay lasted for less than an hour. Once action resumed, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give New York a 2-0 lead. The Mets maintained that lead as of the eighth inning.

The game also marked former Washington star Juan Soto's first series at Nationals Park as a member of the Mets. 

Soto spent the first 4½ seasons of his MLB career with the Nationals. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in August 2022. Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs during his lone season with the New York Yankees in 2024.

He switched New York City boroughs in the offseason, trading in pinstripes for the Mets blue and orange. When Soto agreed to join the Mets, he signed the most lucrative contract in North American sports history. The 15-year deal was reported to be worth a record-breaking $765 million.

The Nationals entered Saturday's contest in fourth place in the NL East, while the Mets sat in first place in the division.

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FIRST ON FOX: The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will host symphony concerts featuring the music and life of American icon Dolly Parton this summer, Fox News Digital has learned. 

"The threads of my life are woven together through my songs. That’s why the project, Threads: My Songs In Symphony, is so special to me," Parton said in the Kennedy Center's announcement of the show, which was first exclusively shared with Fox Digital on Sunday. "It’s about sharing my music and my musical journey with audiences in a new way."

The concert, called "Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony," made its premiere last year in Nashville and has since toured the nation from Pittsburgh to Portland, Oregon. The Kennedy Center will host the program on June 26 and 27, with the National Symphony Orchestra performing hits such as "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," and "I Will Always Love You."

Parton will not sing during the concerts, but the events will feature "a unique performance that honors her enduring spirit and unparalleled impact on American popular music culture." The National Symphony Orchestra will perform alongside guest vocalists and musicians to deliver a "fresh symphonic take on the timeless songs of Dolly Parton," according to the Kennedy Center. 

DOLLY PARTON SUPPORTERS PUSH PETITION TO RENAME NASHVILLE AIRPORT: 'DEPARTIN' FROM PARTON!'

"Bringing Dolly Parton’s music to life through the power of a full symphony orchestra has long been a dream of mine," National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke said. "Dolly is one of the great storytellers of American music, and I am excited to bring her expansive catalog to the Kennedy Center. Through these unique symphonic charts, her music will be showcased like never before and will surely be an evening no one will want to miss!"

The concert is billed as "multimedia," and will include imagery of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer on screen that will lead "audiences in a visual-musical journey of her songs, her life, and her stories," according to the Kennedy Center. 

"Dolly Parton is an American icon whose music resonates with people from all walks of life and we are overjoyed to bring her symphony to the Kennedy Center!" Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at The Kennedy Center, told Fox News Digital. 

Tickets will become available to Kennedy Center members April 29 at 10 a.m., while the general public can begin purchasing tickets on May 1. 

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell told Fox News Digital back in February that he and his team will help usher in the "Golden Age of the Arts" with shows Americans actually want to see after years of the performing arts center running in the red. 

DOLLY PARTON WARNS SABRINA CARPENTER SHE DOESN'T 'MAKE FUN OF JESUS,' USE SWEAR WORDS AHEAD OF COLLABORATION

"This will be the Golden Age of the Arts," Grenell said. "The Kennedy Center has zero cash on hand and zero dollars in reserves - while taking tens of millions of dollars in public funds. We must have programs that sell tickets. We can’t afford to pay for content that doesn’t at least pay for itself right now. I wish we didn’t have to consider the costs of production, but we do." 

KENNEDY CENTER SHAKE-UP WILL USHER IN 'GOLDEN AGE OF THE ARTS' UNDER TRUMP, RIC GRENELL PREVIEWS

"The good news is that there are plenty of shows that are very popular, and therefore the ticket sales will pay for themselves," Grenell added. 

Grenell added during remarks at CPAC that the Kennedy Center will now focus on performances "the public want to see," such as Christmas-focused productions in December. The Kennedy Center under the Biden administration had rolled out drag show performances, which drew the ire of President Donald Trump earlier this year. 

"We have to do the big productions that the masses and the public want to see, we want to have really good programming," Grenell said at CPAC. "So the first thing that we’re doing … you’ve got to be at the Kennedy Center in December, because we are doing a big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. How crazy is it to think that we’re going to celebrate Christ at Christmas with a big traditional production to celebrate what we are all celebrating in the world during Christmastime, which is the birth of Christ."

• A Department of Defense contractor feels insecure about their job given federal reductions in force.
• They pursued degrees in government-related fields and are now worried that they'll be worthless.
• They're looking for jobs in the private sector due to the uncertainty in the federal government.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a federal contractor for the Department of Defense in the Washington, DC, metro area. They've asked to be anonymous for fear of job repercussions. Business Insider has verified their identity and employment. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.

My end goal was to work on the Hill, or at the very least somewhere inside the policy-making area of the federal government. That's what I would have said my end goal was if you'd asked me in high school.

I came from Texas for school, did one year at a college in New York, and transferred to American University because I wanted to have experience on the Hill. I wanted my foot in the door to better understand how to get a job with the federal government.

I stayed in the area because it's the hub for all things government.

I got my master's because I was having a hard time breaking into the policy field. I've been told that it really helps, especially in the early stages of your career. I'm glad I did because it ultimately landed me at least two jobs, so I still stand by the decision.

Even if you had told me back in 2020, when I entered the program, that Trump was going to be elected and throw a wrench into everything, I would still do it — but I would still have my same worries now.

I interned twice on the Hill — once during my undergraduate and once during my graduate studies. I worked for the Democrats, for a Department of Defense procurement firm, and then worked in the veteran space for a year and a half. I left to come to my current company.

I'm a Department of Defense contractor — a policy analyst providing contract support to a DOD office. This is the first position I've actually been inside the government, the first time I've received any credentials from the federal government.

Job security is definitely not 100%, but I do feel safer because I'm in the Department of Defense space.

Still, my thinking was that the administration could take a cleaver to the federal government — to my field — and make it to where my degree would not be worth anything.

The first Trump term wasn't as disruptive

Trump was elected during my sophomore year at American.

American University would bring in people from the state department or other federal governments for seminars, and they said it was still business as usual.

I didn't get the sense that there was a slowdown or that hiring took a hit during Trump's first term.

The first term and the second term have been night and day.

I didn't think that it would be as hostile as it is now.

There have been massive repercussions for my field and people I went to school with.

One friend worked for the Office of Personnel Management for a month and a half into this administration. They're still looking for a new job.

My LinkedIn feed for the first two months of this term has just been people posting, "I am looking for work. I can no longer work for this thing. The RIF hit me."

I'm looking for work outside the government

I am submitting résumés — not nearly as much as if I were unemployed, but I am submitting résumés.

There's definitely more stress. The job postings for anything related to the government kind of cratered. So if I did get laid off, it might be "What can I get?" rather than, "Can I see myself working for this company?"

I used to want to break into federal government work because of security, pension, and all of that good stuff, in addition to civic service.

Right now, I would not touch a federal job with a 10-foot pole.

It would have to be a really, really sweet job — one that I would die for. Right now, though, if you offered me a federal job, I probably wouldn't take it.

Before, I was prioritizing federal positions — things inside the federal government sphere. Now, if it touches policy at all, I'm looking at it.

I am stressed and worried at work every day

The office I support lost several people, and they're expecting to lose more.

I am worried every day I log on. I'm worried about waking up to a notice from my boss saying, "Hey guys, we have a meeting with HR today," or hearing the news that the contract's gone.

I've set up news alerts for anything Pete Hegseth, because he's announcing cuts in contracts.

Anytime I hop on a meeting with the government, I am petrified that something's going to happen.

I can't focus. I have trouble sleeping. I have anxiety.

I've severely cut back on my discretionary spending. Before, I put 20% of my paycheck into savings; now, it's about half.

I've also cut back on personal spending. My fiancé and I now rarely go out to eat. Last year, we would go out every Friday, just to celebrate the workweek being over. That's gone by the wayside.

There have been less expensive gifts, and less traveling. I was planning on visiting my parents in Texas during the summer, now I'm really on the fence about that.

Before this year, I knew what was coming. I knew not only what the next day would look like, but I also knew what the next week and the next month would look like.

Now I don't know what work I'll be doing for them a month or two. It could be all the same, or it could be a lot more because they've lost people. And when they're going to need someone to fill the gap, who do we put that on? The contractor.

The Kennedy Center has canceled a week’s worth of events celebrating LGBTQ+ people for the World Pride festival in Washington, D.C., amid a change in focus and the Trump administration firing the center's leadership.

Multiple artists and producers involved in the center’s Tapestry of Pride schedule said their events had been quietly canceled or transferred to other venues. The Tapestry of Pride was planned for June 5 to 8 before the cancellation.

Washington’s Capital Pride Alliance disassociated itself from the Kennedy Center in response to the canceled events.

"We are a resilient community, and we have found other avenues to celebrate," the alliance's deputy director June Crenshaw told The Associated Press. "We are finding another path to the celebration … but the fact that we have to maneuver in this way is disappointing."

TRUMP FIRES KENNEDY CENTER BOARD MEMBERS CITING DRAG SHOWS, APPOINTS HIMSELF CHAIRMAN

The Kennedy Center’s website still has a section for Tapestry of Pride with a general description and a link to the World Pride site. No other information is provided on the website.

The cancellations come in the wake of massive changes at the Kennedy Center, including President Donald Trump firing both the president and chairman in early February. Trump replaced most of the board with loyalists, who subsequently elected him the new chairman of the institution.

The World Pride event is held every two years and this year's event runs from May 17 through June 8 with performances and celebrations planned across the nation's capital. But concerns arose about what kind of reception attendees will receive due to Trump administration policies targeting transgender people and comments about Kennedy Center drag performances.

"I know that D.C. as a community will be very excited to be hosting World Pride, but I know the community is a little bit different than the government," said Michael Roest, founder and director of the International Pride Orchestra, which had its June 5 performance at the Kennedy Center canceled just days after Trump’s took control of the institution.

Roest told The Associated Press he was in the final stages of planning the performance at the center. He was waiting on a final contract when Trump revealed on Feb. 7 the leadership changes and his plans to amend the institution's programming.

The center then became unresponsive, he said.

On Feb. 12, Roest said he received a one-sentence email from a Kennedy Center staffer saying that they "are no longer able to advance your contract at this time."

"They went from very eager to host to nothing," he told The Associated Press. "We have not since heard a word from anybody at the Kennedy Center, but that’s not going to stop us."

After the cancellation, Roest said he was able to move the International Pride Orchestra performance to the Strathmore theater in nearby Bethesda, Maryland.

Roest said he was never given an explanation for why the performance was canceled so late in the planning stages. He said his orchestra would no longer consider performing at the Kennedy Center and that most queer artists would likely make the same choice.

"There would need to be a very, very public statement of inclusivity from the administration, from that board, for us to consider that," he said. "Otherwise it is a hostile performance space."

Crenshaw said some other events, including a drag story time and a display of parts of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, would be transferred to the World Pride welcome center in Chinatown.

SEATTLE PRIDE FACES BUDGET SHORTFALL AS CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS DWINDLE AMID ANTI-DEI SHIFT

Monica Alford, a veteran arts and culture journalist and event planner, was set to organize an event on June 8 as part of Tapestry of Pride, but said she also experienced an abrupt end to communication within days of Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center.

Alford has a long history with the Kennedy Center and organized the first-ever drag brunch on its rooftop last year. She said she viewed the institution as her "home base" and "a safe space for the queer community." She also said she was disappointed to lose the partnership she had with the Kennedy Center.

"We’re doing our community a disservice — not just the queer community but the entire community," she told The Associated Press.

She said she was still finalizing the details of her event, which she said was "meant to be family-friendly, just like the drag brunch was family-friendly and classy and sophisticated."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.