Latest news with #Democrat-controlled
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This will ‘devastate scientific research': 16 states sue the Trump administration over National Science Foundation directive
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Attorneys general from 16 mostly Democrat-controlled US states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday, arguing that some of the federal government's attempts to gut National Science Foundation research programs are illegal. The suit, filed in federal court Wednesday afternoon, asks a judge to put a stop to NSF policies that are halting millions of dollars' worth of research spending. The move comes after the NSF announced in April that it would do away with hundreds of grants — mostly related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and misinformation research — that amounted to more than $230 million. The cancellations have mounted since then, so far affecting a total of 1,753 grants worth nearly $1.4 billion across numerous areas of research, according to NSF data. Neither the National Science Foundation nor the White House responded to a request for comment. The agency also announced a new policy in May that caps how much researchers can spend on 'indirect costs,' which include operating expenses such as the use of laboratories, safety programs and equipment, at 15%. (The cap is currently on hold through June 13, pending a legal hearing.) The attorneys general argue such a policy would 'slash millions of dollars for groundbreaking scientific research across the country, jeopardizing national security, the economy, and public health,' according to a news release from New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who is coleading the suit with Hawaii State Attorney General Anne Lopez. The coalition's lawsuit also argues that the Trump administration's efforts to shutter research related to diversity is illegal. The NSF 'has a Congressionally-mandated focus on improving diversity in STEM fields,' according to the news release from James' office. 'Congress has instructed in law that a 'core strategy' of NSF's work must be to increase the participation of people who have historically been left out of STEM occupations.' A federal law states that the National Science Foundation should work to increase the 'participation of women and individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM.' The new lawsuit argues that recent NSF directives 'violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by unlawfully changing NSF policy and ignoring Congress's intent for how NSF should function,' according to the news release. 'The lawsuit seeks a court order ruling NSF's new policies are illegal and blocking them from being implemented.' The National Science Foundation is a $9 billion agency charged with advancing discoveries across the scientific spectrum, largely by evaluating the scientific merit of grant requests and doling out dollars, mostly to universities and other research institutions. The agency's staff has been asked in recent weeks to ensure funding requests comply with Trump's executive orders that have sought to dismantle DEIA-related activities and a 'free speech' directive that argues efforts to combat misinformation can be 'used to infringe on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States.' Many researchers, stakeholders, and institutions that work with the NSF have decried the new policies. The Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences, for example, said in an April 24 statement that the Trump administration's directives have put scientists in the 'middle of a political tug-of-war, wasting valuable time and resources.' Former NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, who was tapped to lead the agency during Trump's first term, also resigned in late April — 16 months before his term was set to end. 'I believe I have done all I can to advance the critical mission of the agency and feel that it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership,' Panchanathan said on April 24 in parting remarks, which were provided to CNN by an agency spokesperson. The White House has proposed a sweeping 55% budget cut for the NSF, and the agency could face sweeping layoffs. The coalition of states suing the Trump administration over NSF changes include New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Washington. The lawsuit mirrors another filed May 5 by 19 states and Washington, DC, against the Trump administration for allegedly taking 'a wrecking ball to the Department of Health and Human Services.' The Trump administration had in late March announced plans to cut some discretionary federal health spending and transform several health agencies. The restructuring plans include consolidating the 28 agencies of HHS into 15 new divisions, including the Administration for a Healthy America. The lawsuit over the HHS changes alleges that the impacts of the restructuring already have been harmful, leading to the shutdown of some regional HHS offices that provide services to low-income families, children with disabilities, youth experiencing homelessness and preschool development programs.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Accuses NC Of Violating Federal Election Law in New Lawsuit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Trump administration's Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing North Carolina's election board of violating federal election law by failing to ensure that voter registration applications include required identifying numbers. The suit seeks a court order compelling state officials to take immediate steps to correct the issue. Local elections start in September. Newly appointed members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, from left, Jeff Carmon, Francis De Luca, Stacy "Four" Eggers, Siobhan O'Duffy Millen and Bob Rucho, take their oaths of office at the Dobbs... Newly appointed members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, from left, Jeff Carmon, Francis De Luca, Stacy "Four" Eggers, Siobhan O'Duffy Millen and Bob Rucho, take their oaths of office at the Dobbs Building in Raleigh, N.C., on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. More Associated Press Why It Matters The case spotlights how federal and state authorities are intensifying scrutiny of election procedures, particularly in battleground states. With a razor-thin margin deciding a recent state Supreme Court race, the outcome of this legal battle may influence broader political dynamics heading into the 2026 midterm elections. What to Know At the heart of the dispute is North Carolina's alleged noncompliance with the 2003 Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which mandates that new voter registrations include either a driver's license number, the last four digits of a Social Security number, or a unique state-issued identifier. The DOJ argues that the state's registration forms were unclear for years and that the election board failed to act decisively to remedy the issue, potentially jeopardizing the integrity of elections. Though it's unclear how many records are impacted, prior estimates from GOP lawsuits suggested as many as 225,000. Although the form was updated in 2023 under a Democrat-controlled board, officials opted not to contact voters who registered without providing the necessary data. Instead, the board planned to collect missing information at polling places, on an ad hoc basis. The DOJ contends this is insufficient and is asking a judge to force the state to contact affected voters within 30 days and bring their records into compliance. The issue resurfaced after Election Day through formal protests filed by the Republican candidate for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat, who challenged roughly 60,000 ballots. He argued those votes were cast by individuals whose registration records lacked a required identifying number. The election board later reported that about half of those voters had, in fact, submitted the necessary information. While state appeals courts criticized the board's management of registration data, they ultimately ruled that the disputed ballots must be included in the final count. Democratic Justice Allison Riggs narrowly defeated Republican Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes out of more than 5.5 million cast. What People Are Saying Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized the importance of accurate voter rolls, stating, "Accurate voter registration rolls are critical to ensure that elections in North Carolina are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud. The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that maintain inaccurate voter registration rolls in violation of federal voting laws." Sam Hayes, executive director of the state election board, acknowledged the issue and signaled openness to resolving it, saying Tuesday that the board is reviewing the lawsuit and that "the failure to collect the information required by HAVA has been well documented." What Happens Next The new Republican-controlled election board, reshaped by a 2024 state law transferring appointment powers from the Democratic governor to GOP State Auditor Dave Boliek, may take a different approach than its predecessor. The lawsuit will now move through the federal courts, with the DOJ urging swift compliance ahead of upcoming elections. If a judge grants the department's request, North Carolina will have 30 days to contact affected voters, collect missing identification numbers, and update its electronic registration system. This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Axios
5 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Trump's 5-step push to keep GOP control of the House in '26
President Trump 's team has launched an early and aggressive behind-the-scenes effort to maintain the GOP's tenuous grip on the House in 2026 — and avoid his third impeachment. Why it matters: Trump allies believe — with good reason — that a Democrat-controlled House would launch investigations of the president and move to impeach him. That's exactly what happened after Democrats seized the chamber during Trump's first term. Midterm elections are historically tough for the party occupying the White House, and senior Republicans privately acknowledge that retaining the speaker's gavel won't be easy. The twice-impeached Trump"knows the stakes firsthand. He saw what can happen. It's clear he doesn't want that again," said Matt Gorman, a top official for House Republicans' campaign arm in the 2018 midterms. "Investigations, impeachment — he knows it's all on the table with a Speaker [Hakeem] Jeffries." Already, some Democrats have signaled they want to investigate Trump's overhaul of the U.S. government, whether he manipulated markets and fostered insider trading with his tariff announcements, and whether he's helped Elon Musk secure deals for Starlink. Then there's that $400 million jet from Qatar. Democrats and other critics say Trump violated the Constitution by accepting the gift. Zoom in: Here are five steps Trump's taking to try to keep Republican control of the House, where the GOP has an eight-seat majority — including vacancies created this year by the deaths of three Democrats. 1. Trying to prevent retirements The White House is targeting several Republicans in politically divided swing districts and urging them to not ditch their seats or run for higher office. It has sent a clear message to New York Rep. Mike Lawler that Trump wants him to stay in the House rather than run for governor. This month Trump made a point of endorsing Lawler for re-election to his southern New York district, which Kamala Harris won in the presidential election last November. Trump's team also has expressed concern about Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga weighing a run for the Senate. Incumbent lawmakers with established fundraising and campaigning networks are almost always better positioned to win than any challengers. Vacant seats also cost the party big bucks. Trump's allies have been passing around a spreadsheet with cost estimates to compete in the seats of 16 members if they depart. Among the estimated price tags: As much as $14 million for Lawler's seat and $3.7 million for Huizenga's. Trump's team hasn't been totally successful in dissuading ambitious lawmakers from jumping ship. Michigan Rep. John James opted to run for governor. Trump is worried about the GOP's chances of keeping James' seat on the state's eastern shore, according to a person familiar with the president's thinking. The White House also is worried about retaining the central Kentucky seat held by Rep. Andy Barr, who's running for Senate. Trump won Barr's district by 15 points in November, but Democrats hold an edge in registered voters there. 2. Spending big Trump has built a $500 million-plus political apparatus, and he's already unloading some of it with 2026 in mind. Securing American Greatness, a pro-Trump group that works with the White House, has launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign touting his economic agenda in the districts of eight vulnerable House Republicans. The commercials also are airing in 13 districts where Trump won in November, but House GOP candidates lost. Trump also has a leadership PAC, Never Surrender, planning to give directly to Republican candidates. 3. Taking primary challengers off the table Besides Lawler, Trump has endorsed a slate of swing-district GOP incumbents in a series of moves aimed at shutting down would-be primary challengers before they get off the ground, people close to the president tell Axios. Top Republicans are worried that competitive primaries could drain the party's resources and weaken lawmakers in next year's general election. The endorsements by Trump followed a recent meeting involving the president, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chair Richard Hudson, and Georgia Rep. Brian Jack, a former Trump aide. Trump proposed endorsing vulnerable Republicans early to ward off primary challenges and Johnson agreed, according to a person familiar with the discussion. Corry Bliss, who formerly led a pro-House GOP super PAC, said Trump's popularity among Republican voters is likely to stop many potential primary challengers in their tracks. 4. Raising gobs more money Trump is the GOP's most powerful fundraiser, and he's begun helping the party fill its coffers. He headlined an April dinner benefiting the NRCC that raked in more than $35 million. Trump expects to hold more events for House Republicans ahead of the midterms, according to a person close to the president. 5. Ramping up recruiting Trump's political operation and the NRCC are seeking out candidates in swing-district contests with no incumbents. Their goal is to get the party to coalesce around a Trump-and-GOP-backed candidate to avoid a bloody primary, a Trump ally said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Old Trump foe says he must be stopped before ‘tanks are rolling down the streets'
Removing President Donald Trump from office is an urgent matter for U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Tex. Green, 77, filed articles of impeachment against the 47th president last week, citing the Commander in Chief as a threat to democracy. In an interview with Newsweek, Green said he felt the time was now to act on filing the articles, arguing things could get worse if he did so later. 'You don't wait until the tanks are rolling down the streets of American cities,' Green told Newsweek. 'It's too late then. You don't wait until you have what everybody will recognize as a constitutional crisis, because that can be the forerunner to tanks moving down the streets of American cities.' During his interview, Green said Trump condones the undermining of the judiciary branch's independence, denigrates federal judges, disregards the separation of powers between branches, violates the due process clause and is 'condoning the flouting of orders of United States Federal Courts, including orders of the United States Supreme Court.' He cited the fight between the Trump administration and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg as one example of how the president and his administration have defied the judiciary's authority. Last month, Boasberg wrote that he found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for flouting his order to turn back planes carrying deportees to El Salvador, according to Newsweek. Green said that Trump has an 'authoritarian mentality' and that he disrespects the office of the president. 'So we have this unique opportunity to use impeachment as a deterrent to stop him and prevent what could become more than we have seen in this country in terms of power emanating from a presidency that is out of control,' he told Newsweek. Green made headlines this year when he interrupted Trump's joint address to Congress in March, shaking his cane and yelling, 'You have no mandate' at the president. Green was removed from the Capitol that night and The House of Representatives voted to censure Green for his actions, according to PBS. Trump was impeached twice during his first term as president. In 2019, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges stem from a report asserting that Trump misused the powers of his office to pressure Ukraine into investigating Democrats, including former President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, according to the Associated Press. The Republican-controlled Senate, however, acquitted Trump during their trial. The second time the House impeached Trump was in 2021 following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Trump was charged with inciting an insurrection. Like his first trial, the Senate voted to acquit the president. Trump's attacks on Mass. hit economy in 'the gut,' Greater Boston Chamber boss says US stuck with 'madman' Trump. And it's Dems' fault, Conn. senator says From Baker to Ballot: Republican Mike Kennealy makes his pitch for governor | Bay State Briefing Former President Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer Phone workers worried about lead on old lines wonder: Who will answer their call? Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameron says ‘Democrat-controlled' ethics commission charged him with violation over fundraising
Daniel Cameron addressed supporters in Louisville on election night, Nov. 7, 2023, after losing his race for governor. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Matthew Mueller) Daniel Cameron, a former Republican Kentucky attorney general who is seeking election to the U.S. Senate, criticized the Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission Wednesday over what he called 'a bogus charge of violating state ethics law.' In a news release, Cameron's campaign says the commission has charged him with an ethics violation stemming from donations collected by his 2023 campaign for governor. In June 2023, the AFL-CIO filed a complaint with the commission seeking an investigation of allegations that Cameron had solicited executives of Edgewater Recovery Center while his attorney general's office was investigating the organization. At the time, Cameron's gubernatorial campaign said it had refunded the donations and canceled a fundraiser Edgewater had planned to hold for Cameron after becoming aware of a possible conflict of interest. On Wednesday, Cameron's Senate campaign issued additional details aimed at refuting any allegation that he used his influence as AG by failing to recuse himself and his office from the Edgewater matter. According to a 2023 report from the Daily Beast, Cameron recused himself from the Edgewater investigation two days after his office received an open records request for Cameron's recusals. Cameron, who lost the 2023 race to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, chalked up the charge to the work of a 'Democrat-controlled Executive Branch Ethics Commission.' In a statement he called it 'political persecution.' Cameron also shared a video on X about the charge and said the commission was 'weaponizing government to attack a political opponent.' Cameron said he'd never run 'from tough fights. Not when angry mobs protested on my front lawn. And certainly not when the left tried to strip away your constitutional rights.' 'I'm going to fight this just like I'll continue fighting for the great people of this Commonwealth. Every single day,' he continued. The Kentucky Executive Branch Commission has the power to review the conduct of executive branch officials and employees, which include the governor and attorney general. Beshear, who is serving his second term as governor, has appointed all members of the commission.
