Senate Official Rejects Food Aid Cuts Proposed by Republicans in Megabill
A top Senate official on Friday night rejected a bid by Republicans to slash federal food aid payments as part of their sweeping legislation carrying President Trump's domestic agenda, sending party leaders scrambling to find another way to help offset the massive cost of the bill.
The measure passed by the House last month and on track to be considered in the Senate next week would cover part of the cost of extending and expanding large tax cuts by cutting social safety net programs including Medicaid and nutrition programs, including SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.
Republicans are moving the bill through Congress using special rules that shield it from a filibuster, depriving Democrats of the ability to block it. But to qualify for that protection, the legislation must comply with a rigorous set of budgetary restrictions meant to ensure that it will not add to the deficit. And the Senate parliamentarian, an official appointed by the chamber's leaders to enforce its rules and precedents, must evaluate such measures to ensure that every provision meets those requirements.
Elizabeth MacDonough, the parliamentarian, ruled that the SNAP measure, which would push some of the costs of nutrition assistance onto the states, did not. That sent Republicans back to the drawing board to find another strategy for covering tens of billions of dollars of the bill's cost.
She also said Republicans could not include a provision that would bar immigrants who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents from receiving SNAP benefits, according to Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee.
The House-passed bill would require all states to pay at least 5 percent of SNAP benefit costs, and more if they reported a high rate of errors in underpaying or overpaying recipients. That provision was estimated to save roughly $128 billion.
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State Dept Starts Exit Flights From Israel as Trump Mulls War Entry
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The post continued: "Once on the list you will find out options to leave via cruise ship, commercial or charter flight or a few US Gov't operated flights. If given an option, TAKE IT. If you turn down evac offer, it will be offered to next person on list." In another X post on Saturday, Huckabee reaffirmed that the "assisted departure flights" have commenced and that individuals who would like to be considered need to fill out the online form first. Earlier this week, Trump shared reported text messages from Huckabee on his Truth Social account, calling the ambassador a "great person!" The messages read, "I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else's." The State Department notice also states that due to the closure of the Iranian airspace, U.S. citizens seeking to leave the country should "depart by land to Azerbaijan, Armenia, or Türkiye if they deem conditions are safe/if they can do so safely," the notice said, adding that "because of the limitations on consular support in Iran, we do not anticipate offering direct U.S. government assisted departure from Iran. U.S. citizens seeking departure should take advantage of existing means to leave Iran." U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are seen with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem on May 26. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are seen with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem on May 26. AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool What People Are Saying Governor Ron DeSantis, a Florida Republican, wrote Friday on X: "Welcome home to those rescued from the escalating Iranian attacks against Israel. The mission has been challenging, but Florida delivered solutions. Through the partnership of @FLSERT and @greybullrescue, we are proud to be the first to welcome these individuals home." Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said in a June 18 X post: "President Trump has handled the Israel-Iran conflict brilliantly thus far. Israel dominates the skies and has destroyed Iran's military and scientific leadership. They have also done great damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. However the one site left standing - the deep underground Fordow site - must be dealt with to achieve the common objective of making sure Iran's nuclear enrichment program ends..." President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on June 16: "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to Trump, said on his show, The War Room: "Come on, man. We have to have an adult conversation. We're not going to let the shills at Fox—the same exact crowd that said the same thing about the Iraq War—force the President of the United States into a corner. He needs a range of options." What Happens Next The conflict remains volatile, with Israel continuing its military campaign and Iran vowing not to back down. Reports also indicate American bombers and naval fleets are mobilizing in preparation for U.S. war efforts.
