WASHINGTON – Republicans returned to Washington on Monday facing questions about a $1 billion Senate security proposal that could help pay for President Donald Trump’s ballroom. Democrats say they will try to defeat it. Senate Republicans added the money for White House security to a spending bill that would restore funding for immigration enforcement agencies that Democrats have blocked since February. The steep security proposal was put forward after a man was charged with trying to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month. The partisan budget maneuver would push the spending legislation through Congress without any Democratic votes. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will try to strip the security proposal from the bill.
OCHOPEE, Florida – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” always was meant to be temporary. DeSantis says the facility has processed and deported 22,000 detainees since it opened last summer. Department of Homeland Security officials have not said they want the facility closed. But DeSantis says the idea has been discussed since DHS got a new secretary, Markwayne Mullin, in March. Detainees have described poor physical conditions and difficulty accessing lawyers. Florida has spent more than $1 million a day to run the facility, and DeSantis has said he expects reimbursement from the federal government. The state has not yet received $608 million it has requested.
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing tough questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration’s end game for the Iran war, the cost of the conflict and its impact on diminishing U.S. weapons stockpiles. At a House hearing Tuesday, Hegseth insisted that the military has plenty of missile defense systems and other munitions for the Iran war or future conflicts as both Republicans and Democrats hammered him with those concerns. Pentagon officials also told lawmakers that the cost of the Iran war has risen to about $29 billion, the vast bulk of which is related to repairing and replacing munitions. Hegseth also was to testify later Tuesday in the Senate.
BALTIMORE – Prosecutors have filed criminal charges against the operator of the ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge leading to the deaths of six construction workers in March 2024. A key employee is also charged. Federal prosecutors announced the indictment Tuesday naming Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., based in Chennai, India. FBI investigations focused on the vessel’s operations and whether the crew knew of critical issues before leaving port. Maryland officials estimate it will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion to replace the bridge. A new bridge is expected to open to traffic in 2030.
– The Associated Press
