Roll Call

Old habits die hard for Republican Rep. Harold Rogers — at least when it comes to earmarks. Known by his critics as the “Prince of Pork,” the long-time appropriator over the years earned a reputation for bringing largesse to his Kentucky district, catching criticism for funneling tens of millions in earmark money to entities he had close ties to. Now, in the time since Congress returned to earmarks in 2021 after a decadelong ban, the 88-year-old lawmaker appears to have resurrected his ol

Sporting events dominated Capitol Hill and beyond this week, with all eyes on the NBA Finals and lawmakers suiting up for the annual charity Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park. 

A federal judge in Virginia on Friday extended a block on the Trump administration proceeding with an $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, finding the administration’s claims of its demise insufficient. Ruling from the bench, Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia said the administration cannot move forward with the fund while the lawsuit challenging it proceeds. Brinkema said statements by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to Congress t

It was a week full of Capitol traditions, including the arrival of Marty the Moose, the Congressional Baseball Game for charity and Seersucker Thursday. Here are images captured by CQ Roll Call photojournalists this week. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, dives to try to tag Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., after fielding a ground ball during the Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington on Wednesday. Subramanyam was called safe on the play. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) Rep. Pete

President Donald Trump’s personal finances have undergone a fundamental transformation since he first sought the presidency a decade ago — from golf clubs and hotel licensing fees to cryptocurrency token sales, Saudi licensing payments and tens of thousands of securities trades. In 2016, when Trump was elected to his first term, the portfolio was built almost entirely on what Trump had run for decades: real estate, golf clubs, hotels and licensing agreements. Brokerage and securities

The Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled the markup of a bipartisan measure that proposes sweeping changes to collegiate athletics and has the backing of President Donald Trump. The panel is expected to take up several amendments at the markup on June 18, including one aimed at protecting non-revenue sports. Some athletics departments in recent years have been forced to terminate some Olympic sports due to what some college officials call an “arms race” to pay football and basketball stars

ANALYSIS — The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool began filling with water on June 4 following maintenance work that President Donald Trump called a “big project.” In late May, Trump claimed that “the Biden administration and the Obama administration spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to get it to work, and they failed,” adding that his administration was spending “$10 million, maybe, $12 million.” But that exaggerates the amount spent by previous adminis

Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans, in a reversal, voted this week to oppose an NDAA provision that would broaden health care coverage for military families’ fertility treatments, a Democratic senator said Thursday. “After everything our troops sacrifice for our nation, they should never have to sacrifice their dreams of building a family,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., in a statement. Duckworth has said she had both of her children with the help of in vitro fertilization. The deba

A bill that would stop large online platforms from discriminating against outside services has been revived in the Senate after versions in recent years died amid strong opposition from the technology industry. Judiciary Chair Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced the legislation on Wednesday in what they say is an effort to bolster competition in online retail and between app providers. Even before the bill’s official announcement, technology groups decl

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Thursday he will try to get President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence confirmed “as quickly as possible.” “I don’t know what realistic is, but we’re gonna probe the limits of it,” the South Dakota Republican said. Trump on Thursday afternoon said he’d be nominating Jay Clayton, currently leading the office of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to the role. Within hours, the Senate Intelligen

President Donald Trump has yet to embark on a robust midterm campaign schedule, and his handful of initial rallies have been far from targeted messages talking up GOP candidates. In the most recent two trips to districts that could help determine whether Republicans retain control of the House, the president opted for the meandering signature speaking style he has dubbed “The Weave” and said relatively little about why voters should back those GOP candidates come November. He was in Chippe

President Donald Trump on Monday sent to the Senate the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to fill the role permanently, teeing up what could be a bruising confirmation process for a Trump ally who has drawn bipartisan criticism for recent Justice Department moves. The president’s former defense attorney has pursued an aggressive agenda during his short tenure as the acting head of the department, including indictments against perceived political enemies of the president

A federal judge in Massachusetts on Monday blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to charge a $100,000 fee for companies seeking to employ foreign workers with an H-1B visa, ruling in part that it oversteps Congress’ taxing power. In the ruling, Judge Leo T. Sorokin of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts found the Trump administration’s policy was effectively a tax, and that Congress in an immigration law had not given presidents the power to tax. Sorokin wrote that

House Republicans appeared set to clear a Senate-passed reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies through the rest of President Donald Trump’s term. CQ Roll Call’s Aris Folley and Paul M. Krawzak join host David Lerman to discuss the final chapter of the reconciliation battle and how a controversial Justice Department “anti-weaponization” fund continues to complicate the process. Show Notes: Immigration bill passes without curbs on ‘anti-we

House lawmakers passed a bill Monday aimed at preventing future executive branch interference in some legislative branch agencies, a year after President Donald Trump fired the librarian of Congress. It would allow House and Senate leaders to appoint the heads of both the Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office, removing that power from the president.  But the president would get new appointment authority over another role, the register of copyrights. Historically par

Work continued Monday on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has been under renovation for weeks. The pool is expected to reopen in time for the Fourth of July. Ducks are seen wading in the Reflecting Pool on Monday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Workers prepare for the reopening of the Reflecting Pool on Monday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Republicans in Congress face two major tasks this week: wrapping up reconciliation 2.0 and renewing a controversial spy powers authority before it expires Friday. The House returns with a final sprint to clear roughly $70 billion for immigration enforcement through President Donald Trump’s term, which GOP leaders are hoping to finish in the first half of the week.  The Senate passed the reconciliation package early Friday after voting down a number of amendments aimed at limiting a Ju

Former Sen. Bob Packwood, whose immense political influence was marred by a major sexual misconduct scandal, died Saturday at the age of 93.  The Oregon Republican served nearly 27 years in the Senate, but resigned in 1995 after the Senate Ethics Committee voted to recommend expelling him for sexual misconduct, abuse of office and obstruction following a 33-month investigation.  It was a rare example of a senator resigning under pressure, and a tense moment for the Ethics Committ

Democrats are looking to break a five-year losing streak at Wednesday night’s Congressional Baseball Game, hoping a revamped roster will be enough to beat Republicans. But partisan rivalry aside, research suggests the game may boost legislative collaboration. Playing baseball gives legislators the chance to forge bonds outside the halls of the Capitol, according to SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, an assistant professor of public policy and politics at the University of Virginia. Gaynor got the

The Trump administration told a federal judge Friday there is no need to block implementation of a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” arguing the administration has already scrapped the idea. The filing, in response to an order from Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in one of the lawsuits challenging the creation of the fund, said the lawsuit is moot because the fund “had not been set up and is now not going forward.” The Justice