Category: Congress

Senators struggle to find a way forward as government shutdown enters ninth day

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The consequences of a government shutdown setting in, senators labored Thursday to find a way forward but found themselves struggling to overcome a fundamental lack of trust between the two parties. Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday afternoon floated an “off ramp” to the government funding impasse, suggesting that he could hold a later vote on expiring health care subsidies if Democrats would first support a stopgap spending bill to reopen the government. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer quickly dismissed the idea. “It’s nothing new, they…

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Grassroots campaign puts pressure on Congress to pass ‘Pay Our Troops Act’

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An advocacy group representing service members and their families nationwide has launched a campaign encouraging the public to contact their members of Congress in support of the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026.  The National Military Family Association says more than 10,000 letters have already been sent to Congress through its Military Family Action Center, urging lawmakers to pass the bill that would ensure that troops, Defense Department civilians and Coast Guard members continue to receive pay and benefits during this shutdown. The advocacy group made it easy for the…

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Government shutdown layoffs to occur ‘very soon,’ White House warns

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After congressional appropriations lapsed and a government shutdown began at midnight on Oct. 1, the Trump administration now warns that further federal employee layoffs are imminent. It’s unclear which agencies will move forward with potential layoffs, beyond at least one agency — the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office — that on Wednesday issued layoff notices. Vice President JD Vance doubled down on the Office of Management and Budget’s last week’s directive to terminate more federal employees in the case of a government shutdown. “If this thing drags on for another few…

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Feasibility of RIFs around a government shutdown called into question

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The Trump administration is taking a more aggressive approach than usual to what would happen in a government shutdown, after a White House memo Wednesday night told agencies to plan for further reductions in force if government funding lapses early next week. But with just days left before a government shutdown, many are questioning the ability for agencies to put together further RIF plans at all, since the reduction-in-force process is typically complicated and time-consuming, often taking months or longer. The new Office of Management and Budget memo, first reported…

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CISA names cyber policy vet to lead infrastructure security division

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A longtime federal official is now leading the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s infrastructure security division. CISA announced Tuesday that Steve Casapulla has been appointed executive assistant director for infrastructure security. Casapulla had been serving as interim assistant director for the National Risk Management Center and acting chief strategy officer. He previously served as director for critical infrastructure cybersecurity in the Office of the National Cyber Director. Casapulla had also spent 13 years at CISA and its predecessor, the Department of Homeland Security’s National Protection and Programs Directorate. “I’m honored…

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Senate rejects competing bills to fund government, increasing risk of shutdown on Oct. 1

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate rejected competing measures on Friday to fund federal agencies for a few weeks when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1, increasing prospects for a partial government shutdown on that date. Leaders of the two parties sought to blame the other side for the standoff. Democrats accused Republicans of not negotiating with them to address some of their priorities on health care as part of the funding measure, even though they knew Democratic votes would be needed to get a bill to the president’s…

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