The Senate is finding itself in a familiar position, working to with just hours to spare Friday. Democrats have only painful options: allow passage of a bill they believe gives vast discretion on spending decisions, or vote no and give Trump free rein. gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration before he will not allow a government shutdown.
Also Friday, it's Trump's move now that two federal judges requiring his administration to rehire thousands of probationary federal workers let go in . Trump also plans a Justice Department rally for what he's calling a And his Education secretary announced probes of more than 50 schools for as part of Trump鈥檚 campaign to that his officials say exclude white and Asian American students.
Here's the Latest:
Trump鈥檚 tariffs forge a rare bipartisan alliance among Kentucky鈥檚 leaders
Democratic Gov. and Republican Sens. and came together to lament brewing trade wars that could stagger the bourbon industry.
Bourbon distillers who have cultivated markets in Europe and Canada are now worried about in escalating tit-for-tat disputes. It intensified this week when Trump on European wine, Champagne and other spirits if the EU goes forward with a planned tariff on American whiskey.
In solidly Republican Kentucky, the governor and senators have been in lockstep in their disapproval of the tariffs. Beshear, who is seen as a potential presidential contender in 2028, has been especially critical.
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JD Vance suggests Trump鈥檚 promised boom won鈥檛 be 鈥榚asy鈥 nor 鈥榟appen overnight鈥
The vice president toured a plastics facility in Bay City, Michigan and promised 鈥渁 great American comeback鈥 in manufacturing 鈥 even as he urged patience for it to fully materialize.
鈥淭he road ahead of us is long,鈥 Vance told the crowd of about 100 people at Vantage Plastics.
The Trump administration鈥檚 tariffs on Canada has especially concerned some businesses in the border state, but Vance defended them as a way to increase domestic manufacturing.
鈥淚f you want to be penalized, build outside of America,鈥 he said.
Immigration officials arrest second person who protested at Columbia
Immigration officials have arrested a second person who participated in Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, and have revoked the visa of another student, they announced Friday.
Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by immigration officers for overstaying her student visa, the Department of Homeland Security said. Kordia鈥檚 visa was terminated in January 2022 for 鈥渓ack of attendance,鈥 the department said. Kordia was previously arrested for her involvement in protests at Columbia in April 2024, it added.
The Trump administration also revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student, on March 5 鈥渇or advocating for violence and terrorism.鈥 On Tuesday, Srinivasan opted to the department said.
The announcement comes after the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who helped lead student protests at the school and is facing deportation.
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Rubio denies the US is giving up on demand that Russia agree to immediate cease-fire
Rubio was speaking to reporters Friday after talks in Moscow between a U.S. envoy and Putin ended with no word of an agreement on a cease-fire with Ukraine.
鈥淲e will get there,鈥 Rubio said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly at least talking about peace for the first time in three years.鈥
Rubio says Canada as a 51st state came out of Trump-Trudeau talks
Rubio says Trump鈥檚 repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st state began with a chat the president had with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Rubio said Trudeau told Trump that Canada 鈥渃ouldn鈥檛 survive as a nation-state鈥 if the U.S. went ahead with threatened tariffs on Canadian imports.
鈥淎t which point the president said, well, then you should become a state. And that鈥檚 where this began,鈥 Rubio told reporters.
Trump 鈥渓oves Canada,鈥 Rubio insisted. He simply 鈥渕ade an argument for why Canada would be better off joining the United States from an economic perspective and the like. He鈥檚 made that argument repeatedly, and I think it stands for itself.鈥
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Protesters organize outside the Department of Education
Ringing cowbells and chanting, organizers, teachers, former employees and locals gathered in Washington to protest personnel cuts in the Department of Education on Friday morning. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii joined teachers鈥 union representatives and advocacy organizations to speak at the event. Dozens of cars and trucks, along with tour buses and a Metro bus, honked in support of the line of protesters along Independence Avenue.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about a department and a building, this is about federal streams of money that help students live into their full potential,鈥 said Kim Anderson, National Education Association executive director. 鈥淭his agenda is about cutting funding and shipping it to public schools.鈥
The Education Department plans to lay off more than 1,300 of its employees as part of an effort to halve the organization鈥檚 staff 鈥 a prelude to Trump鈥檚 plan to .
Rubio says Trump administration will be revoking more student visas
It comes after the arrest of , a well-known Palestinian activist now detained in Louisiana over his role in protests at Columbia University against the war in Gaza. Khalil is a legal U.S. permanent resident with no criminal history and a pregnant American citizen wife.
Rubio said they鈥檒l keep looking for people with student visas who wouldn鈥檛 have been let into the country by the Trump administration 鈥渉ad we known they were going to do what they鈥檝e done.鈥
鈥淏ut now that they鈥檝e done it, we鈥檙e going to get rid of them,鈥 Rubio said.
Rubio says Americans are cautiously optimistic on Ukraine ceasefire after talking with Putin
Rubio said Friday he鈥檚 鈥渃autiously optimistic鈥 about Russian President Vladimir Putin agreeing to a cease-fire with Ukraine after Putin鈥檚 meeting with a U.S. envoy on the war.
Trump administration officials plan to spend the weekend debriefing presidential envoy Steve Witkoff on his session with Putin and on next steps, Rubio said. Rubio spoke to reporters at the end of a Group of Seven meeting in Canada.
The talks with Putin did not appear to secure the immediate agreement for a ceasefire that Rubio had said Americans would press Putin for. Still, he said 鈥渨e certainly feel like we鈥檙e at least some steps closer to ending this war.鈥
Among Senate Democrats, four NOs and a maybe
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, NV: She said she鈥檚 鈥渟till weighing the impact鈥 of her vote.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, WA: 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for my state to have infrastructure investment. They鈥檙e cutting 40% out of the Army Corps of Engineers. The lifeblood of my state is growing agriculture product and getting it to destinations all around the globe.鈥 She said she鈥檇 vote no on the continuing resolution.
Sen. Tina Smith, MN: 鈥淚鈥檓 voting no on the CR. I believe that the CR would do terrible damage. It鈥檚 not even a CR. It鈥檚 a it鈥檚 a new bill written exclusively by Republicans that would do great damage to Minnesota.鈥
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, RI: 鈥淭he real danger here is this Trump-Musk cabal that is out to break government, destroy agencies, fire off thousands of people, ruined government services. Also they can give data probably and tax breaks to billionaires.鈥 He said he鈥檇 vote no on the resolution.
Sen. Ben Lujan, NM: 鈥淐olleagues are having to make those decisions. If you鈥檙e ask if I support Chuck Schumer, I support Chuck Schumer. And, I announced I鈥檒l be voting no. And I鈥檓, right now, that鈥檚 where I鈥檓 standing.鈥
Secretary of State says tariffs aren鈥檛 a 鈥榟ostile move鈥 against allies
Marco Rubio says the Trump administration鈥檚 tariffs are about making trade fair.
He told reporters Friday after the Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Canada that Trump wants to 鈥渃harge other countries what they charge us.鈥
Rubio acknowledged that those benefiting from previous arrangements likely do 鈥渇eel it is hostile to change the status quo.鈥
But he said 鈥淭his is not meant as a hostile move against Japan or Germany or anybody else. This is about balancing and fairness and trade.鈥
Tariffs and other Trump policies overshadowed the meeting of G7 allies, but they were able to find consensus on peace in Ukraine and other topics.
Pelosi warns Senate Democrats it鈥檚 鈥榰nacceptable鈥 not to fight GOP funding bill
In a scathing rebuke to Senate leadership, the House Speaker Emerita said Trump and Musk are offering a false choice between the bill and a shutdown.
Instead Rep. Nancy Pelosi is imploring Senate Democrats to 鈥渓isten to the women鈥 鈥 top Democratic appropriators Sen. Patty Murry and Sen. Rosa DeLauro 鈥 and fight in favor of their 30-day stopgap plan. 鈥淲e must fight back for a better way,鈥 she said.
Notably, Pelosi鈥檚 statement mentions Trump鈥檚 first-term shutdown, which was the longest in history when Democrats refused to provide funding for his promised U.S-Mexico border wall.
鈥淎merica has experienced a Trump shutdown before 鈥 but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse,鈥 Pelosi said.
House Democrats tamp down talk of primarying Democratic senators
鈥淭here鈥檚 always going to be an election cycle. This is not about politics. This is about what is best for the American people. We made that vote with that interest in mind,鈥 said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the Democratic caucus chair.
Aguilar reiterated that House Democrats feel that supporting the bill makes lawmakers 鈥渃omplicit鈥 in Trump鈥檚 agenda. But he said 鈥渨e have all the respect in the world for our Senate colleagues鈥 鈥 a message they鈥檙e sharing while lobbying them on the phone.
鈥淭his has really been about what are our tactics and strategies to defending Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, from what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are seeking to do each every day,鈥 he said.
Mark Carney is sworn in as Canada鈥檚 new prime minister amid Trump鈥檚 trade war
Carney, a former Goldman Sachs executive with no experience in politics, becomes Canada鈥檚 24th prime minister, and will now try to steer his country through .
Carney has said if he shows 鈥渞espect for Canadian sovereignty鈥 and is willing to take 鈥漚 common approach, a much more comprehensive approach for trade.鈥
Trump put 25% tariffs on Canada鈥檚 steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products April 2. He has threatened economic coercion in his annexation threats and suggested the border is a fictional line.
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Musk met with NSA, US Cyber Command in sign that DOGE could soon focus on spy agencies
The billionaire鈥檚 meeting with the leader of the National Security Agency suggests his push to slash spending and personnel may soon focus on the nation鈥檚 intelligence community.
The agency said Friday that Elon Musk met Wednesday with Gen. Timothy Haugh, who directs the NSA as well as U.S. Cyber Command, which coordinates the Pentagon鈥檚 cybersecurity work.
An NSA statement said the meeting was intended to ensure both organizations are 鈥渁ligned鈥 with the new administration鈥檚 priorities.
Like the CIA, the NSA has offered buyouts to personnel as Trump and Musk push deep cuts to the federal workforce.
Trump said 鈥榯ariff鈥 is the 鈥榤ost beautiful word.鈥 Elon 惭耻蝉办鈥檚 car company isn鈥檛 sure
Tesla warned a top Trump trade official that retaliatory tariffs could add to the costs of its cars sold abroad.
鈥淯.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions,鈥 Tesla wrote this week in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, first reported by the Financial Times.
The carefully worded letter expresses support for Trump鈥檚 鈥渇air trade鈥 efforts while also aligning with most economists who say tariffs do more harm than good. The retaliation by China, Canada and Europe comes as Tesla鈥檚 sales plunge overseas amid competition by foreign EV makers and calls for boycotts.
Tesla鈥檚 stock rocketed after Trump鈥檚 election, but it has plummeted 50% since its mid-December high, wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth.
Nonprofits sue Trump for freezing funding for clean energy and conservation projects
Their federal lawsuit filed in Rhode Island argues that Trump鈥檚 鈥淯nleashing American Energy鈥 executive order freezing billions of dollars already approved by Congress is arbitrary and capricious, lacks statutory authority and violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
Americans are being harmed, they say, by the freeze on weatherization programs, programs aimed at reducing food waste and work to protect giant sequoias and other large trees.
The suit by the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, National Council of Nonprofits, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District and Green Infrastructure Center demands the resumption of funding from the Inflation Reduction Act as well as Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
U.S. allows energy license with Russia to expire, tightening pressure for ceasefire
The license allowed U.S. firms to do business with Russian energy companies through sanctioned Russian banks.
A Treasury Department representative confirmed the expiration. The official wasn鈥檛 authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, telling The Associated Press that the Trump administration is focused on fostering negotiations to end the war.
The expiration of the license, which was issued during Joe Biden鈥檚 presidency, adds pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire deal crafted by the U.S., which Ukraine has accepted.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said the Trump administration would go 鈥渁ll in鈥 on Russia sanctions in order to end the war raging since February 2022.
By Fatima Hussein
Schumer vows a long-term fight over the Trump agenda
Facing a groundswell of Democratic dissent, Schumer insists that voting for the Republican funding bill is better than a federal shutdown, which he says would give Trump and Musk free rein to gut the government.
鈥淎 shutdown would allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,鈥 Schumer warned as the Senate opened.
Schumer said Democrats are not backing down and vowed a long-term fight against the Trump agenda.
Dr. Mehmet Oz would oversee Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage
A Senate Finance Committee hearing has begun for Trump鈥檚 pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The 64-year-old Oz who became a popular TV pitchman. Now Trump wants him to oversee health insurance for about 150 million Americans.
Republicans likely will ask Oz how he鈥檒l from Medicare and Medicaid. Democrats will probably focus on cuts he would make to insurance coverage and his televised comments supporting privatized Medicare.
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Consumer sentiment falls sharply amid worries about Trump鈥檚 policies
The University of Michigan鈥檚 consumer sentiment measure has fallen for three straight months and is down 22% from December 2024.
Declining confidence showed up 鈥渃onsistently across all groups by age, education, income, wealth, political affiliations, and geographic regions,鈥 survey director Joanne Hsu said.
鈥淢any consumers cited the high level of uncertainty around policy and other economic factors; frequent gyrations in economic policies make it very difficult for consumers to plan for the future, regardless of one鈥檚 policy preference,鈥 Hsu鈥檚 statement said.
Sentiment collapsed by more than a third among Democrats since December, nearly 20% among independents, and only slightly among Republicans. But a measure of Republicans鈥 economic outlook dropped by 10% just this month.
Senate Majority Leader hopes he has the votes to prevent a midnight shutdown
John Thune says the chamber is ready to vote later in the day, and he鈥檚 鈥渉opeful that enough Democrats will reject their party鈥檚 threat of shutting down the government to get this bill passed today.鈥
With a 53-47 majority, and some dissent within his won Republican ranks, the GOP leader still needs at least eight Democrats to cross party lines to clear the 60-vote threshold.
House Democrats express fury at Senate counterparts over GOP spending bill
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated that House Democrats would not be 鈥渃omplicit鈥 in the GOP spending plan.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York expressed frustration that Democratic senators aren鈥檛 aligning with the members 鈥渨ho have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territories in the United States, who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 still time,鈥 said Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico at a press conference of the Democratic Women鈥檚 Caucus. 鈥淭he American people are shouting: Please do not hand the keys over to Elon Musk.鈥
Trump administration investigating more than 50 universities in anti-DEI campaign
The Education Department announced the new investigations Friday, one month after warning America鈥檚 schools and colleges that they could lose federal money over 鈥渞ace-based preferences鈥 in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life.
鈥淪tudents must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,鈥 Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 鈥淲e will not yield on this commitment.鈥
Most of the new inquiries 鈥 45 鈥 are focused on colleges鈥 partnerships with the PhD Project, a nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented groups get degrees in business with the goal of diversifying the business world.
Department officials said that the group limits eligibility based on race and that colleges that partner with it are 鈥渆ngaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.鈥 They include public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and Rutgers, and prestigious private schools including Yale, Cornell, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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AP EXCLUSIVE: US and Israel look to Africa for resettling Palestinians from Gaza
The U.S. and Israel have reached out to officials from three East African governments to discuss using their territories as potential destinations to resettle more than 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
That鈥檚 according to American and Israeli officials who spoke to The Associated Press. The contacts were with Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland.
The idea of a mass transfer of Palestinians was once considered a fantasy of Israel鈥檚 ultranationalist fringe, but since Trump presented the idea at a White House meeting last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed it as a 鈥 .鈥
There鈥檚 strong opposition to displacing Gaza's population. Palestinians have and dismiss Israeli claims that the departures would be voluntary. Arab nations are vehemently against it, offering an that would leave the Palestinians in place. Rights groups said forcing or pressuring Palestinians to leave could be a .
Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a secret diplomatic initiative, U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed the contacts with Somalia and Somaliland, while the Americans confirmed Sudan as well. They said it was unclear how much progress has been made. The White House declined to comment on the outreach efforts.
By Josef Federman, Matthew Lee and Samy Magdy
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Allies wrap up a G7 meeting overshadowed by Trump鈥檚 tariffs and Canada taunts
The Group of 7 talks in Canada have been overshadowed by Trump鈥檚 trade and foreign policies and his repeated taunts aimed at the host. Top diplomats hope to reach consensus nevertheless on a final communique after hours of late-night negotiations.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said 鈥渢here is a great deal of unity within the G7,鈥 pointing to support for the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
And she said Canada will be working on off-ramps from Trump鈥檚 trade war, even as it puts 鈥渕aximum pressure鈥 on their neighbor. 鈥淭he Trump tariffs are going to hurt Americans. That鈥檚 our message, that鈥檚 our approach,鈥 she said.
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House Democrats express fury at Senate counterparts over GOP spending bill
After Schumer announced he鈥檇 vote for the package, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated that House Democrats 鈥渞emain strongly opposed鈥 and would not be 鈥渃omplicit鈥 in the GOP spending plan.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York expressed frustration that some members 鈥渨ho have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territories in the United States, who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people鈥 now have to watch Senate Democrats consider acquiescing.
鈥淭here鈥檚 still time,鈥 said Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico at the Democratic Women鈥檚 Caucus in Virginia. 鈥淭he American people are shouting: please do not hand the keys over to Elon Musk.鈥
Meanwhile, Schumer is winning praise from the president: 鈥淐ongratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing 鈥 Took 鈥済uts鈥 and courage!鈥 Trump posted on his social media account.
AP EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of federal offices could begin closing this summer at DOGE鈥檚 behest
Federal agencies will begin to vacate hundreds of offices across the country this summer under push by Elon 惭耻蝉办鈥檚 budget-cutting advisers to that they say waste money.
惭耻蝉办鈥檚 maintains a list of canceled real estate leases on its website, but internal documents obtained by The Associated Press contain a crucial detail: when those cancellations are expected to take effect. The documents from inside the General Services Administration, the U.S. government鈥檚 real estate manager, list expected to end by June 30, with hundreds more slated over the coming months.
The rapid pace of cancellations has raised alarms, with some agencies and lawmakers appealing to DOGE to exempt specific buildings. Several agencies are facing 20 or more lease cancellations in all, including the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Why Democrats are concerned about the spending bill
Both defense and non-defense spending is lower than what was agreed to when Congress in return for spending restraints. And they're even more worried about the discretion it gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. Many Democrats are referring to it as a 鈥渂lank check.鈥
Hundreds of the specific funding directives for key programs that come with most bills fall away under this continuing resolution, so the administration will have more leeway to decide where the money goes.
Democrats also object to the treatment of the District of Columbia, which would have to cut current spending by $1.1 billion, and the clawing back of $20 billion in special IRS funding, on top of the $20 billion rescission approved the year before, which essentially cuts in half the funding boost that Congress intended to give the agency.
What to know about the bill being debated by the Senate
Congress has been unable to pass the annual appropriations bills designed to fund the government, so they鈥檝e resorted to passing short-term extensions instead. The legislation before the Senate marks such continuing resolution for the current fiscal year, now nearly half over.
The legislation would fund the federal government through the end of September. It would trim non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increase defense spending by about $6 billion, which are marginal changes when talking about a topline spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion.
The Republican-led House the spending bill on Tuesday and then adjourned. The move left senators with a decision to either take it or leave it. And while Democrats have been pushing for a vote on a fourth short-term extension, GOP leadership made clear that option was a non-starter.
A procedural vote Friday will provide a first test of whether the package has the 60 votes needed to advance, ahead of final voting likely later in the day. At least eight Democrats will need to join with Republicans to move the funding package forward.
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Trump will visit a Justice Department he's sought to reshape with loyalists
Trump is expected to use his visit to deliver a speech outlining his administration鈥檚 tough-on-crime agenda. But the appearance doubles as a victory lap after he emerged legally and politically unscathed from two federal prosecutions that were .
The visit is the first by Trump and the first by any president in a decade. It brings Trump into the belly of an institution he has disparaged in searing terms for years but one that he has sought to reshape by and members of his personal defense team in top leadership positions.
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Judges order Trump to rehire probationary workers let go in mass firings
Two federal judges handed down orders on Thursday requiring Trump鈥檚 administration to rehire thousands, if not tens of thousands, of probationary workers let go in across multiple agencies, slowing down for now the president鈥檚 dramatic downsizing of the federal government.
Both judges separately found legal problems with the way the mass terminations were carried out and ordered the employees at least temporarily brought back on the job.
The Trump administration has already appealed the first ruling. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cast it as an attempt to encroach on the president鈥檚 power to hire and fire employees. 鈥淭he Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order,鈥 she said in a statement.
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Schumer gives Democrats room to side with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration about the options before them, but late Thursday he will not allow a government shutdown. His move gives Democrats room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to come up for a vote as soon as Friday.
Schumer said on the Senate floor that the choice between the GOP spending bill and a government shutdown is 鈥渘o choice at all鈥 but that a shutdown would be 鈥渁 far worse option.鈥
A procedural vote Friday will provide a first test of whether the package has the 60 votes needed to advance, ahead of final voting likely later in the day. At least eight Democrats will need to join with Republicans to move the funding package forward.
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Pentagon continues purge of images it sees as pro-DEI, including 3 related to the Enola Gay
The Pentagon is continuing its purge of photographs it considers promote DEI, and although it said historical photographs would be protected, at least three images related to the B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, have been removed 鈥 likely because the aircraft was called the Enola Gay.
The images that have disappeared include a historical black-and-white photo of the Enola Gay 鈥渦ndergoing modification at Oklahoma City Air Depot to be able to drop atomic weapons,鈥 according to a thumbnail of the photograph, which remains. Two others that mention a grandson of a member of the original Enola Gay crew flying a refurbished B-29 to honor his family have also been deleted, although their thumbnails are also still visible.
A request for comment to the Pentagon on why the Enola Gay images were removed was not immediately returned.
The Associated Press
