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Hegseth says Trump still supports him, dodges question about drinking

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Pete Hegseth told reporters Thursday he still has President-elect Donald Trump’s support to be Defense secretary, while also dodging a question about how he is addressing his alcohol use with senators.

“I’m here with the support of President Donald Trump. As long as he supports me, which he told me this morning, I’ll be here,” Hegseth said from Capitol Hill when asked if there were any circumstances under which he would withdraw his name for the position.

The Fox host continues to meet with senators in efforts to secure confirmation votes amid allegations of sexual assault and a problematic drinking habit, both of which he has denied. It’s unclear if the efforts will be enough, as Blue Light News previously reported Trump is considering nominating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Hegseth. The president-elect is eager to know the details of Hegseth’s meetings, Playbook reported.

When asked what he is telling senators regarding his drinking — amid reports that he has vowed to stop drinking if he is confirmed — Hegseth replied, “that’s why I’m telling senators and not you.”

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who is seen as a critical barometer for Hegseth’s support among Senate Republicans, told Fox News earlier Thursday that she is not ready to vote yeson Hegseth’s confirmation after meeting with the nominee for a “frank and thorough” conversation on Wednesday.

Hegseth maintained Thursday that his meetings have been “great” thus far.

“Senators give great advice and this is how the process works. It’s not going to be tried out here, it’s going to be discussed inside the offices,” he said. “How we rebuild our military, put the war fighters first, that’s what Donald Trump — President Trump has asked me to do, and that’s what we will continue to do.”

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Congress

GOP senators see path to ending DHS shutdown after Trump meeting

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A group of Senate Republicans believe they’ve found a path to ending the five-week Department of Homeland Security shutdown after meeting Monday with President Donald Trump.

Asked after the White House meeting if they had a solution after meeting with Trump, Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama told reporters, “We do.”

Britt and Sens. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Steve Daines of Montana met with Trump to try to pitch to accept an agreement that would fund most of DHS.

Their pitch, according to two people with knowledge of it, was to pass a funding bill that would fund all of DHS except specific parts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is already funded under last year’s GOP megabill.

Graham told colleagues on the Senate floor after the meeting that the president is now open to a new party-line reconciliation bill after rejecting the idea over the weekend, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said. That could give Republicans a path to pass more ICE funding — if they can muster the votes.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. And Republicans cautioned that nothing is official until Trump backs it publicly.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said “hope so” when asked Monday night whether a deal was in hand.

Proceeding with the arrangement with Trump’s support would represent a U-turn from just 24 hours ago for the president, who insisted Sunday that DHS could be only funded if Democrats agreed to pass a partisan GOP elections bill, the SAVE America Act, alongside it.

Democrats in both chambers have pressed Republicans multiple times to take up their bills that would fund all of DHS except ICE, Customs and Border Protection and the secretary’s office. Republicans have rejected the efforts each time.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a senior appropriator, said there are “various options” for funding the department but is “hopeful” a solution was within grasp.

“Republicans have put a lot on the table, and hopefully the Democrats will agree,” he said.

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GOP senators meet with Trump on DHS

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Four Senate Republicans are meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss funding the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shuttered for more than a month amid a standoff with Democrats over the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.

GOP lawmakers attending the Monday night meeting, according to a person granted anonymity to share details of a private confab, are Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Steve Daines of Montana.

Britt is the chair of the appropriations subcommittee with oversight over DHS and has been helping lead negotiations to reopen the agency — though Trump warned Sunday night a deal should not be brokered until Democrats agree to help Republicans pass a partisan elections bill known as the SAVE America Act.

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No DHS talks expected until Mullin is confirmed, White House official says

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The White House is holding off on further DHS funding negotiations until the Senate confirms Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead the agency, according to a White House official, granted anonymity to share internal thinking.

Democrats have previously canceled meetings, and given Mullin is close to confirmation, the official said, aides to President Donald Trump believe it’s better to wait so he can be a “full and active” participant in funding talks from the DHS side.

The White House earlier in the day rejected a Monday morning meetingwith a bipartisan group of senators who have been negotiating to end the DHS shutdown. Democrats had previously canceled a Saturday meeting.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on Mullin’s confirmation shortly before 8 p.m. Monday.

Some Senate Republicans are aiming to meet with Trump on Monday night to discuss the DHS funding situation, although no meeting has been officially scheduled.

The meeting, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, would be to try to pitch Trump on a plan to fund all of DHS except specific pieces of ICE, which have already been funded through last year’s megabill.

Trump was in Memphis, Tenn., earlier in the day, attending an anti-crime event and paying a visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he expected additional meetings Monday but declined to say who was involved: “Conversations continue,” he said.

Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.

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