Congress struggles to keep up with the Trump cavalcade of action

The Trump-DOGE-Musk fast-moving agenda prods Congress into action. This week, members reacted to several of the latest administrative executive orders and other moves. Loren Duggan, deputy news director of Bloomberg Government, joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to give the rundown. Interview transcript: Tom Temin: And Loren, there is a House vote this week on nationwide injunctions. What’s going on there? Loren Duggan: Right. This is a reaction to what some judges have done in the Trump administration. He’ll put forward an executive order or other action and a…

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The Sneaky Way Government Unions Rake in Taxpayer Money, and How Congress Can Fight It in Reconciliation

While public-sector unions file lawsuits to block President Donald Trump’s reforms to the bureaucracy, federal government workers are getting paid by the taxpayer for time they spend doing work for those very same unions. The little-known practice of “official time” allows bureaucrats to bill the taxpayer for hours they spend doing work for the union. Members of Congress have filed bills to ban the practice, but a budget expert suggests that taxing the practice instead might pose a smaller hurdle for getting it through Congress. While most bills face a…

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A big to do list for Congress as it finishes the first month with a new administration

Congress has a lot to do as it finishes off its first month with a new administration. The branch itself has not impeded any of the White House’s agenda so far. It has its own policy initiatives to consider and there is the matter of funding for the government, which runs out in less than a month. Loren Duggan, deputy news director for Bloomberg Government, joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to break down what’s going on. Interview transcript: Eric White: So, yeah, let’s cover those nominations first. We…

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MoveOn Announces “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” Recess Actions to Hold Lawmakers Accountable

MoveOn Announces “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” Recess Actions to Hold Lawmakers Accountable AP: The anti-Musk protest movement is expected to ramp up with Congress on recess NEW MEMO: Top Five Questions for Lawmakers in the Upcoming Congressional Recess WASHINGTON – As reported in the AP, MoveOn Civic Action today announced a nationwide “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” mobilization during the upcoming congressional recess (February 15-23), with rallies and town hall actions aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda. With critical budget fights ahead, MoveOn…

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Republicans in Congress propose bill to fast track Trump plans

Two Republican lawmakers want to make any governmentwide reorganization plan an up or down vote by Congress. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 would fast-track any plan President Donald Trump submitted to Congress. Lawmakers said the bill would help give the president the authority to streamline government operations to better serve the American people. Comer and Lee said this legislation restores a reorganization authority that was last in effect in 1984, aiming to modernize and improve government efficiency. (Bill would restore President’s…

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