WASHINGTON — Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told Congress Wednesday that the military needs to return to its traditional missions, and he wants to know how much longer troops will be needed at the U.S.-Mexico border. In testimony to a House Appropriations subcommittee, Shanahan said he needs to determine how...
White House Wants $4.5 Billion in Emergency Border Funding
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday asked Congress for an additional $4.5 billion in emergency funds for the U.S.-Mexico border as the administration contends with a surge of Central American migrant families, with the bulk of the money for shelter and care. The number of families and children arriving...
Democrats Using Veterans Bill to Try to Block Border Wall
WASHINGTON — Democrats controlling the House are trying to use a popular veterans measure to block President Donald Trump from transferring $3.6 billion from military base construction to build his long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tuesday's move faces certain opposition from Trump and a potential veto threat. Lawmakers often...
Immigrant-Heavy GOP States OK with Census Citizen Question
PHOENIX — It's not just Democratic-leaning states at risk of losing federal money and clout in Congress if the Supreme Court says the upcoming census can include a citizenship question. Fast-growing Arizona, Florida and Texas all have large groups of immigrants, especially Hispanics, who might choose to sit out the...
US Gives Exemptions to Sanctions on Iran Revolutionary Guard
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday granted important exemptions to new sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard, watering down the effects of the measures while also eliminating an aspect that would have complicated U.S. foreign policy efforts. Foreign governments and businesses that have dealings with the Revolutionary Guard and its...
Commission: New NAFTA would deliver modest economic gains
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's new North America trade agreement would give the U.S. economy only a modest boost, an independent federal agency has found. The International Trade Commission said Thursday that Trump's U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement would lift the U.S. economy by 0.35%, or $68.2 billion, and add 176,000 jobs six...
Trump Vetoes Measure to End US Involvement in Yemen War
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday vetoed a bill passed by Congress to end U.S. military assistance in Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. In a break with the president, Congress voted for the first time earlier this month to invoke the War Powers Resolution to try to stop U.S....
Trump Suggests He's Moving Forward With Sanctuary City Plan
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested Monday that his threat to ship migrants to so-called sanctuary cities is taking effect, even though it remains unclear whether such a plan is feasible. "Those Illegal Immigrants who can no longer be legally held (Congress must fix the laws and loopholes) will be,...
Redacted Mueller Report to Be Released Within a Week
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday that he expects to release a redacted version of the special counsel's Trump-Russia investigation report "within a week" as he defended his handling of the document. Barr told members of Congress at his first public appearance since receiving special counsel Robert Mueller's...
Cohen Asks Lawmakers to Help Keep Him Out of Prison
NEW YORK — Attorneys for Michael Cohen are asking members of Congress to help keep him out of prison. In a letter sent to lawmakers Thursday, Cohen's legal team said he is still sorting through documents in his personal files that might be of interest to House Democrats investigating President...