Congress
Trump says Hegseth’s ‘support is strong and deep’ amid confirmation fight
President Donald Trump isn’t moving on from embattled pick for Defense secretary Pete Hegseth yet, calling the former Fox News personality’s support “strong and deep” in a post to his social media site Friday morning.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”
Hegseth has spent the week meeting with GOP senators and trying to shore up support for his nomination as allegations of sexual assault, financial mismanagement and alcohol abuse have sowed doubt about his ability to be confirmed. He’s denied any wrongdoing.
Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told POLITICO that the secretary designate is looking forward to the FBI’s background check, because it will “actually do a full investigation, look at everything from both sides, and not just take anonymous uncorroborated statements and run with them.”
Allies of Hegseth, including his mother, have gone on a media blitz to defend the former Fox News host. And the Heritage Foundation is spending $1 million to pressure senators to confirm him.
While he’s still backing Hegseth publicly, Trump is also considering other options to lead the Pentagon, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But as long as Trump is still behind him, Hegseth has said he will continue on.
“As long as Donald Trump wants me in this fight, I’m going to be standing right here in this fight,” Hegseth said Thursday.
Congress
Another DHS meeting
A meeting is now underway seeking potential paths for ending the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, is meeting with top Senate appropriators and other key senators. It’s the second meeting of the same group in as many days.
Congress
Another DHS funding vote coming to House floor
Speaker Mike Johnson is planning to put a stalled Homeland Security funding bill on the House floor a third time next week, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss private plans, as the GOP moves to further pressure Democrats to end the five-week closure.
Two versions of the bill have already passed the House, each time with just a few House Democrats breaking from party lines to back it. But the bill is still held up in the Senate, where Democrats have refused to approve DHS funding without adding new restrictions on immigration enforcement.
The House will also vote on a resolution next week in support of DHS workers, including TSA officers who have gone without pay as the spring break travel crush stresses U.S. airports.
Congress
House GOP leaders punt controversial FISA vote to April
House GOP leaders are punting a reauthorization vote for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that they had hoped to hold next week until mid-April, with a GOP hard-liner revolt over warrantless surveillance threatening to tank the legislation, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter granted anonymity to discuss the conference dynamics.
GOP leaders are still dealing with a dozen or so Republican members who want reforms to the spy powers extension, as Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to pass a clean, 18-month extension without any changes. President Donald Trump has also asked for the clean extension.
Johnson and GOP leaders will instead work through the remaining issues over the upcoming two-week recess and try to put the extension on the floor the week of April 14, the people said.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and a group of ultraconservatives have warned GOP leaders that the reauthorization would fail if Johnson tried to push it through next week.
Another House Republican told Blue Light News there was “no way” a rule to advance a clean FISA extension would pass next week.
Johnson can lose only two votes on a rule to advance the measure, and already a handful of GOP hard-liners have told Blue Light News they would oppose it.
The FISA reauthorization deadline is April 20, and the delay leaves barely any time for the Senate to act.
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