Congress
Frustration over Trump funding freeze dominates Lutnick confirmation hearing
Democrats have made it clear they want Donald Trump’s nominees to pay the price of the president’s federal aid freeze. Billionaire Howard Lutnick, the pick to lead the Commerce Department, had his turn on Wednesday.
Democratic senators on the typically bipartisan Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology had a nearly singular focus on the issue, asking Lutnick if he’d obey orders that defy the law. The freeze caused widespread backlash and was seemingly rescinded by the White House during Lutnick’s confirmation hearing.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) asked Lutnick if he thought Trump’s move was legal. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) asked him if he’d stop infrastructure money passed by Congress if he was ordered to. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) pressed if he would heed an unconstitutional order from Trump.“We’re asking simple questions. We had an incredible conversation in the office … a very respectful one,” a visibly frustrated Luján said. “It’s not just that you work for Donald Trump. Sir, you work for the American people.”
Lutnick, for his part, largely demurred. He replied that if Trump’s advisers said the move was legal, then he believed them. And he said Trump would not ask him to do something unconstitutional.
Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also came to Lutnick’s defense.
“I do not recall a single Cabinet nominee for Joe Biden testifying that he would defy an order from President Joe Biden,” Cruz said. “It’s unsurprising that President Trump’s Cabinet nominees are not interested in testifying that they intend to defy orders from President Trump.”
Cruz wasn’t the only Republican seemingly frustrated with Democrats’ focus on Lutnick’s loyalty to Trump. GOP members of the panel had more softball questions, focusing on bolstering American science and technology, leading Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to deem the hearing a “lovefest.” Lutnick largely appears poised for confirmation, despite Democratic skepticism.
Democrats did have some questions on other subjects. They also zeroed in on the Trump administration’s plans for across-the-board tariffs, which they argued could hit consumers’ pocketbooks in the form of higher costs for some goods.
Lutnick acknowledged that the tariffs could raise prices but dismissed widespread economist arguments that they could cause inflation.
“The two top countries with tariffs, India and China, do have the most tariffs and no inflation. It is just nonsense that tariffs cause inflation. It is nonsense,” Lutnick said.
Democrats also questioned how Lutnick’s business dealings and ties to special interests could undermine his ability to lead the agency responsible for helping Trump implement his controversial trade agenda.
Lutnick, a longtime friend of Trump who co-chaired the president’s 2024 transition team and rebuilt the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, reiterated his pledge to divest from his core business interests.
“I’ve made enough money in my life,” Lutnick said.
Congress
These House GOP election proposals could end up in a reconciliation bill
The chair of the House committee overseeing elections is circulating a list of proposals to include in a budget reconciliation bill as Senate Republicans and the White House move to rev up the party-line process to pass pieces of a contentious GOP voting bill in the coming months.
The list from House Administration Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) is a peek at what sort of provisions Republicans could try to pass under reconciliation, which is strictly reserved for legislation with a direct fiscal impact. The party-line effort is likely to rule out big portions of the SAVE America Act, the bill President Donald Trump has called his “No. 1 priority” for the year.
Steil’s proposals would mandate or financially incentivize states to implement voter ID laws, require proof of citizenship for voter registration, share voter data with federal agencies for verification and conduct post-election audits, among other items, according to a document obtained by POLITICO being circulated with GOP leaders and several Republican offices. It’s an effort to try to secure major pieces of Trump’s election-related demands.
In some cases, states would lose funding under the 2002 Help America Vote Act, a law passed in the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election that provides federal money to help administer elections, if they fail to comply.
It’s not clear if parts of Steil’s proposals would in fact pass muster under the party-line reconciliation process. The Senate parliamentarian’s guidance typically determines what is and isn’t included.
Three people granted anonymity to discuss the brewing deal Senate Republicans and Trump discussed Monday evening, to pass Homeland Security funding now and SAVE America Act provisions later, say the most likely outcome for a new reconciliation bill is adding money for ballot security measures and potentially incentivizing more states to enact voter ID requirements. Steil’s list includes some of those pieces.
Under Steil’s proposal, states using noncompliant IDs would be ineligible to receive HAVA funding — consistent with Steil’s bill, the Make Elections Great Again Act, which overlaps with the SAVE America Act but also has no current path to passage in the Senate.
His effort to mandate proof-of-citizenship requirements would appropriate funds to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to amend the national voter registration form to require “Documentary Proof of Citizenship” such as a passport or military ID. States would have to forfeit HAVA funds if they fail to share data with federal agencies to verify voter registration data, a move officials in several states have refused to make.
Besides the Senate parliamentarian, any effort to pass elections provisions on party lines will face other obstacles. The decision to pursue a new reconciliation bill in lieu of trying to pass the SAVE America Act in full is already generating major pushback from conservative hard-liners.
The House Freedom Caucus took a shot at Senate Republicans Tuesday, arguing the brewing DHS deal means Senate Republicans are opting for “failure theater” and “gaslighting” instead of fighting to pass the bill Trump has endorsed. Even GOP senators and senior aides are privately cautioning the fresh reconciliation push could fall apart, stranding the elections overhaul and other GOP priorities.
Congress
King Charles to make first US state visit, address Congress next month
England’s King Charles III will make his first state visit to Washington next month.
As part of his visit, the king will address Congress in a joint meeting the week of April 27, according to two people familiar with the matter granted anonymity to discuss plans ahead of a formal announcement.
The visit was first reported by Punchbowl News.
It will be the first time a British royal has addressed Congress since 1991, when Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, became the first British monarch to speak before a packed House chamber.
President Donald Trump visited London in September, and House Speaker Mike Johnson visited in January as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Johnson addressed Parliament during his visit, becoming the first House speaker to do so.
Charles’ visit comes as Trump continues to pressure Prime Minister Keir Starmer for assistance in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
Starmer has distanced himself from the war, previously stating, “This is not our war, and we are not getting dragged into this war.”
Congress
Stitt picks energy executive Alan Armstrong as next Oklahoma senator
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tapped energy executive Alan Armstrong to replace incoming DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Senate, he announced in a press conference Tuesday.
Armstrong is the executive chair of Williams Companies, an energy company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stitt called him a “strong business leader” who values “free markets and limited government.”
“Alan’s story, as you guys get to know him, reflects the very best of Oklahoma,” he said. “Our values, our work ethic, and our pursuit of the American dream that is alive and well in the state of Oklahoma.”
Armstrong will serve until a successor is elected in November. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) is the heavy favorite to win a full term.
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