Latest news with #SenateAppropriationsSubcommittee
Int'l Business Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Pam Bondi Repeatedly Dodges Questions About Trump's Crypto and Potential Foreign Influence
US Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions regarding whether or not President Donald Trump's decisions were being influenced by foreign actors in possession of the President's crypto currency. Bondi appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee where she testified at a hearing regarding the President's budget request on Wednesday. During the hearing, she was questioned on foreign influences to Trump's decision-making by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). "I know you avoided the same question on the house side," Merkley asked, "but what we know is that many folks who attended this dinner were buying those claims because they wanted to influence policy." Israeli security forces deploy in the occupied West Bank town of Huwara after the death of two Israelis in a shooting AFP "This solicitation of investments in his personal product led to many people from foreign countries attending the dinner. Don't you think the American people have a right to know? You said yourself you're very concerned about foreign influence on our government?" he continued. "Senator, it's wildly offensive that you would accuse President Trump of not protecting American interests in our country," Bondi responded, adding that "we are here to talk about the budget." "Will you appoint a special investigator to make sure that foreign influence does not affect the policies of the United States of America?" Merkley asked. "I'm not going to tell you what I will or will not do," Bondi said. "I will do everything to keep the people of your state safe even though you don't want to talk about anything to do with your state because of the crime in your state." She continued to express frustration at Merkley's line of questioning, accusing him of posing "gotcha questions" at her. "The attorney general certainly has made the point that she's very concerned about issues I'm concerned about as well regarding the security of the country," Merkley said. "But let the record know in terms of foreign influence of the sale of foreign influence she absolutely refuses to respond and instead turns to a whole list of different topics." Originally published on Latin Times
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sen. Moran tries to protect NWS meteorologists from federal hiring freezes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas congressman on Friday introduced legislation to exempt National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists from federal hiring freezes. U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) – both members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies – introduced the Federal Operational Resilience in Emergency Conditions and Storm Tracking (FORECAST) Act. Multiple cars damaged in fire on Aspiria campus in Overland Park If passed, it would exempt certain NWS employees from any executive order or memorandum imposing a hiring freeze. Click to read the full legislation. The roles included in the exemption include positions responsible for issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical observational equipment and protecting life and property. Additionally, this legislation requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report after one year of enactment on staffing levels at the NWS for those covered positions. 'Staffing National Weather Service offices, particularly in rural parts of the country, is a constant challenge, and recent staffing shortages have led to some offices, including in Kansas, being unable to provide 24/7 weather forecasting,' Sen. Moran said in a news release. 'As we work to install new technology and modernize the National Weather Service, it is important the NWS is able to continuously fill critical public safety roles as they become vacant to make certain communities across the country receive timely, accurate weather data.' Sen. Peters said the bill would help protect 24/7 weather monitoring in the Upper Peninsula and ensure communities are kept informed and protected. 'We know that in the Upper Peninsula, weather can change on a dime,' Peters said. 'That's why we need a team of full-time meteorologists working around the clock to notify the public when extreme weather impacts the region.' Sen. Moran said he recently secured a national exemption from the federal hiring freeze to enable the NWS to hire meteorologists and weather forecasters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dem senator takes aim at Trump's viewpoint diversity policy, calls it 'micromanaging' colleges
Education Sec. Linda McMahon defended President Donald Trump's efforts to reform Harvard University during a Tuesday hearing on Capitol Hill. McMahon appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and faced lengthy criticism from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., over the administration's actions against Harvard. Murphy began by arguing the Trump administration's instructions to Harvard were contradictory. "You told [Harvard] that they had to end all of their diversity programs, but then that they had to institute viewpoint diversity," Murphy said. "That doesn't make sense." Trump Admin Asking Federal Agencies To Cancel Remaining Harvard Contracts "How do you tell them to end all their diversity programs…while instituting viewpoint diversity?" he asked. Read On The Fox News App "No, the diversity programs we've asked and demanded to be eliminated were the DEI, where those programs were actually pitting one group against another," McMahon responded. "Isn't viewpoint diversity a diversity program?" Murphy pressed. "Viewpoint diversity is an exchange of ideas," McMahon retorted. "Now here, because Harvard only has 3%, by its own numbers, conservative faculty. Do you think they are allowing enough viewpoint diversity?" Murphy then shifted to the authority underpinning the Trump administration's effort, demanding to know what stature allowed them to "micromanage" Harvard's policies. "The statute is Title VI," McMahon says after a number of confused exchanges. "That is why we filed a case and defunded, or stopped the funding for a while, for Harvard as well as we did Columbia." Elite University Eliminates Dei Hiring Requirement: 'They Don't Work' "I don't understand any conception of civil rights law to give you the authorization to micromanage viewpoint diversity on campus. That's not authorized under the civil rights title provided to you by the United States Congress," Murphy said, closing out his questioning. The Trump administration is threatening to pull all federal funds from Harvard, amounting to a staggering $100 million in contracts, if it does not comply with the administration's reforms. So far, Harvard has remained article source: Dem senator takes aim at Trump's viewpoint diversity policy, calls it 'micromanaging' colleges
Toronto Sun
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
U.S. to revoke Chinese student visas in escalating crackdown
Published May 29, 2025 • 6 minute read Marco Rubio, U.S. secretary of state, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photo by Nathan Howard / Bloomberg The U.S. plans to start 'aggressively' revoking visas for Chinese students, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, escalating the Trump administration's push for greater scrutiny of foreigners attending American universities. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Rubio said in a statement that students affected would include 'those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' The U.S. will also enhance scrutiny 'of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong,' he added. China had the second most students in the U.S. of any country in 2024, behind India. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning accused the U.S. of taking its decision 'under the pretext of ideology and national security' at a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday, adding that it would harm people-to-people relations. 'Such a politicized and discriminatory move lays bare the U.S. lie behind the so-called freedom and openness that the U.S. touts,' she added. 'It will only further undermine its image in the world and national reputation.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The decision comes just weeks after the U.S. and China negotiated a truce in their tariff war. The issue of revoking visas could now emerge as another flashpoint between the world's two biggest economies, potentially upending progress made on trade. It will also add to heightened tensions over sales to China of sophisticated chips and Beijing's determination to limit U.S. access to rare earths, which have been simmering even after the breakthrough agreement in Geneva to sharply lower tariffs for 90 days as officials try to strike a broader deal. 'This action intends to build a wall between two countries,' said Wu Xinbo, director at Fudan University's Center for American Studies in Shanghai. 'I don't think it will help facilitate the forthcoming trade talks between two sides.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The move followed Rubio's order a day earlier instructing U.S. embassies worldwide to stop scheduling interviews for student visas as the administration weighs stricter vetting of applicants' social-media profiles. It marks yet another effort by President Donald Trump's push to restrict foreign students' entry to American schools over claims that they might threaten U.S. national security. The White House has waged a high-stakes battle with universities that initially focused on elite universities such as Harvard and Columbia over antisemitism. That has turned into a bigger attack over the role of U.S. higher education and the foreign students whose tuition is a crucial source of income for schools around the country. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'For the ones that really can make a contribution, want to make a difference, we want to make it possible for them to come here and bring their great ideas, bring their great intellect and help us build a great America,' Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'I think the administration is all in on that and I don't think anything they have said changes that.' The scrutiny of Chinese students and researchers in the U.S. in recent years dates back to Trump's first term, as part of a broader attack on China's ties in the U.S. The Trump administration announced in 2020 that the Confucius Institute U.S. Center, a program funded by the Chinese government that's dedicated to teaching Chinese language and culture in the US, had to register as a 'foreign mission,' making it subject to administrative requirements similar to those for embassies and consulates. Later the same year, the U.S. revoked the visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers for national security reasons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In 2018, the Justice Department created a project to investigate and prosecute Chinese and Chinese-American researchers it said were stealing American secrets while hiding their links to the government in Beijing and to the People's Liberation Army. Known as the 'China Initiative,' the program was shut down four years later after coming under intense criticism for fanning discrimination against Asian-Americans. The visa restrictions announced on Wednesday extend a broader crackdown underway since Trump reclaimed the White House this year. Hours earlier, the U.S. president said Harvard should cap foreign student enrollment at 15%, escalating his campaign to force policy changes at the elite institution. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The State Department extended its scrutiny of those at Harvard beyond student visas to all visa holders, including those with business and tourist documents, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Rubio told senators last week that the number of revoked student visas is 'probably in the thousands at this point,' adding that 'a visa's not a right — it's a privilege.' International students accounted for 5.9% of the total U.S. higher education population of almost 19 million. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 1.1 million foreign students came to the US, with India and China accounting for about half, according to the Institute of International Education. Last year, America sold a net $32 billion in services to China — including education, travel and entertainment — more than double the amount in 2022 and accounting for 11% of the nearly $300 billion global total. Almost a third of U.S. services exports to China were related to education, coming from tuition and living expenses for the Chinese students studying in the US. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The number of Chinese students has declined in the U.S. — it fell 4% to about 277,000 students in 2024 — amid increased tension between the two adversaries. The FBI has warned that China has sought to exploit 'America's deeply held and vital culture of collaboration and openness on university campuses.' The State Department is also clamping down more on foreigners seeking to come to the U.S. more broadly as part of Trump's crackdown on immigration. Earlier Wednesday, Rubio announced visa restrictions on foreign officials and other individuals who 'censor Americans,' including those who target American technology companies. Taking action against people with links to the Chinese Communist Party is a sweeping measure, given the role it plays in the lives of Chinese people and institutions, including universities and enterprises. While just under 100 million people count as members of the party, its reach is so pervasive that the number of those who can be said to have ties with it runs into multiples of that figure. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. What happens next is less clear. During his visit to the U.S. to meet with then President Joe Biden, Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to bring 50,000 young Americans to China to stabilize ties over a period of five years. That he's lent his name to such an effort could suggest China will be less inclined to engage in tit-for-tat by targeting American students in China. Even if it did, that number is minuscule, with the U.S. State Department saying in April last year the figure was fewer than 900 students. In the past, the two sides vented their fury at one another by closing consulates. China shuttered the U.S. consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. That came just days after the U.S. government forced their Chinese counterparts out of their mission in Houston in 2020. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But this time, China has other options. Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, said a possible response may be indirect, such as new export controls on critical minerals. 'Beijing is increasingly realizing the power of its export control regime to apply pressure on global supply chains and Western political leaders,' he said. 'Beijing will be angry and ask more questions about how successful the Geneva talks really were at laying the groundwork for a US-China deal.' — With assistance from James Mayger, Derek Wallbank, Yasufumi Saito and Philip Glamann. Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Columnists Tennis
Yomiuri Shimbun
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2 Staff Members of Israeli Embassy Killed in Shooting near Jewish Museum in DC, Noem Says
AP Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives for a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security oversight hearing, Thursday, May 8, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) — Two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening near a Jewish museum, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. Noem announced the deaths in a post on X after the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum, which is located steps away from the FBI's field office in the nation's capital. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene with former judge Jeanine Pirro, who serves as the U.S. attorney in Washington. Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting a 'depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.' Police offered no details late Wednesday night on a potential motive for the shooting. A news conference was expected later Wednesday. 'We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act,' Danon said in a post on X. 'Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives — everywhere in the world.'
