President Trump’s sweeping agenda took its first hit Thursday, when a federal judge put a temporary hold on his birthright citizenship executive order.
Senate leaders are pushing ahead with a series of votes on Trump’s Cabinet nominees, looking to confirm an initial batch by Friday. A vote on John Ratcliffe as CIA director is expected Thursday afternoon, along with a vote to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Defense secretary for a final vote Friday.
But Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has said she won’t back Hegseth, the first Republican to say so publicly.
Pressure is building from both sides on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his bid to become Health and Human Services secretary. His confirmation hearing is set for next week.
And the president’s blanket pardons of Jan. 6 rioters aren’t the only White House action drawing some concern from Republicans during the first week of the GOP trifecta in Washington.
Republicans were surprised by the halt on funding from former President Biden’s major spending bills, which could impact infrastructure projects in their home states. Some are also worried about a hiring freeze at federal agencies.
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