Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Senate committee obtains copy of Fauci's iPhone and weighs contempt charges — Senator Ron Johnson, chair of the Senate homeland security permanent subcommittee on investigations, announced that his committee obtained a backup copy of Anthony Fauci's iPhone, used during Fauci's tenure as NIAID director and during the Covid-19 pandemic response. The phone was transferred by the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Johnson stated the device would address questions Fauci refused to answer at a hearing on July 29, where Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right dozens of times. The committee is weighing whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.
• Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress — The Republican-controlled Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted to refer Dr. Anthony Fauci for contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a July 29 hearing on his Covid-19 pandemic response. Committee chair Rand Paul argued Fauci's pardon negated his right to invoke self-incrimination protections. The committee voted to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution, though a full Senate vote would normally be required and Democrats warned the process violated constitutional protections.
• Senate Committee Holds Dr. Fauci in Contempt — The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during questioning. This action reflects ongoing political tensions and scrutiny of public health officials.
• Senate Republicans vote to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress — Republican senators voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in contempt of Congress for invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee hearing on July 29. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times as Republican senators taunted and berated him. All Democrats voted against the contempt measure.
• Senate Committee Votes to Hold Dr. Fauci in Contempt — The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote follows Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment over 100 times. The committee, led by Sen. Rand Paul, bypassed the full Senate and sent the contempt referral directly to the DOJ, a move criticized by Democrats as illegitimate.

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• House defeats amendment to halt $3.3bn military aid to Israel; 103 Democrats vote yes — The House voted 314–104 to reject Republican Thomas Massie's amendment to a spending measure that would have halted $3.3 billion in planned military aid to Israel. Over 100 House Democrats voted in favor, signaling a significant shift in party sentiment toward Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu's government following accusations of genocide in Gaza. House Democratic leaders were split: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed it, while Whip Katherine Clark and Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar supported it. The vote reflects deepening Democratic primary pressure on Israel policy ahead of November midterms.
• House votes on amendment to cut military aid to Israel; 103 Democrats support measure — The House voted on an amendment by Republican Thomas Massie to eliminate $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel from the state department appropriations bill. The amendment failed 314-104, but 103 House Democrats—nearly half the caucus—voted in favor, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had urged Democrats to reject the amendment, but Minority Whip Katherine Clark publicly broke ranks and voted for it, signaling a significant fracture in the traditional bipartisan consensus on Israel aid.

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• Senate Democrats block NDAA advancement to protest Trump's Iran hostilities — Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, blocked advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Tuesday in protest of Trump's resumption of military hostilities with Iran. The blockade denied the bill the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate. Democrats cited an ongoing exchange of fire between the US and Iran, occurring despite passage of a war powers resolution last month intended to force a ceasefire. The NDAA authorizes $1.15 trillion in defense spending and includes military pay increases and weapons funding.

Supporting reports

• Todd Blanche held a closed-door meeting with Republican Senate leadership to address concerns about a $1.8 billion DOJ "weaponization fund" designed to compensate Trump allies and January 6 defendants, resulting in significant GOP opposition and procedural delays. — White House Counsel Todd Blanche met with Senate Republicans for nearly two hours to defend a $1.8 billion DOJ fund intended to compensate individuals deemed victims of political "weaponization," including January 6 Capitol riot defendants and Trump associates. The meeting was reportedly hostile, with as many as 25 GOP senators speaking in opposition. Multiple Republican senators publicly criticized the fund as fiscally irresponsible, legally unprecedented, and damaging to party electoral prospects. The controversy delayed completion of the reconciliation bill, with Senate leadership announcing a recess until June. Senators proposed conditions including restrictions on who could receive payouts and oversight of fund administration.
• Republican senators meet with acting attorney general over slush fund — Republican senators held a nearly two-hour meeting with acting attorney general Todd Blanche to express opposition to the slush fund and immunity agreement. Senators reported the meeting was "incredibly hostile." Republicans stated they had received no advance warning, questioned the legal basis for the fund, objected to Blanche's explanations of payment mechanisms, and declared they wanted no involvement. As many as 25 Republican senators spoke against the fund and proposed limits on it.
• Multiple Republican senators publicly opposed the $1.8 billion DOJ weaponization fund, with Sen. Thom Tillis warning the fund could damage GOP electoral prospects and Sen. Mitch McConnell calling it "morally wrong." — Republican senators including Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and John Curtis publicly criticized the $1.8 billion DOJ fund. Tillis warned that White House indifference to electoral consequences was "stupid" and would harm the president. McConnell called the fund "utterly stupid, morally wrong." Cassidy noted Americans prioritize basic needs over funding for presidential allies. Collins stated she opposed reimbursing individuals convicted of violence against police on January 6. Murkowski described the fund as a disruption to planned reconciliation efforts. Paul called the arrangement "unprecedented." Curtis expressed dissatisfaction with Blanche's explanations. One GOP senator texted that "our majority is melting down before our eyes."
• Senate Republicans Oppose Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund — Senate Republicans are in open revolt against President Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, leading to the collapse of their own reconciliation bill. The fund, perceived as a slush fund, has caused significant division within the party, prompting Senate Majority Leader John Thune to send senators home until June. This internal conflict highlights the challenges facing the Republican Party in maintaining unity.
• Todd Blanche met with Republican senators over $1.8 billion criminal slush fund — Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Republican senators to discuss Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. Sen. Ted Cruz described the meeting as having "fireworks at an epic level" and "one of the roughest meetings" he had seen in the Senate, with senators "screaming at the AG." The fund has been the subject of intense criticism from GOP senators over its purpose and implementation.

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• Representative Raskin introduces legislation to prohibit taxpayer-funded settlement slush funds — Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) introduced the "No Taxpayer-Funded Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026" in the House, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to pay off anyone claiming to have faced "weaponization" of the law by the federal government, including January 6 rioters. Raskin stated Congress must reassert control over federal spending to prevent what he characterized as "brazen looting of taxpayer funds."
• Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) drafted bipartisan legislation to eliminate the $1.8 billion DOJ weaponization fund and signaled intent to use discharge petition procedures to bypass House leadership if necessary. — Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Suozzi drafted legislation to kill the $1.8 billion DOJ fund created to compensate Trump allies and January 6 defendants. Fitzpatrick sent questions to DOJ Counsel Todd Blanche seeking details about fund eligibility and administration. The representatives indicated they would pursue discharge petition procedures to bring the bill to a House floor vote, circumventing Speaker Mike Johnson's expected opposition. Fitzpatrick has previously used discharge petitions to pass bipartisan bills over GOP leadership objections. The effort reflects bipartisan concern about the fund's legality and fiscal impact.

Supporting reports

• Senate rejects war powers resolution on Iran conflict for seventh time — The Senate voted 49-50 to reject a war powers resolution by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) seeking to end U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict. The measure failed despite growing Republican opposition, with three GOP senators—Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rand Paul (KY), and Susan Collins (ME)—voting in favor. All Democrats except John Fetterman (D-PA) supported the resolution. The Trump administration claims a ceasefire exempts it from the 60-day War Powers Act deadline for congressional authorization.

Supporting reports

• Tennessee House Speaker stripped Democrats from committee assignments — On May 12, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from their standing committee and subcommittee assignments, citing disruption during the special session redistricting vote. Sexton's letter accused Democratic lawmakers of interlocking arms, blocking aisles, and using prohibited props or noisemakers. Rep. Justin Pearson stated the removal affected "me and every Democrat, and therefore every Black elected official in the state legislature." Reps. Justin Jones, Gabby Salinas, and Gloria Johnson confirmed removal. Lt. Governor McNally's office indicated additional actions against participants may be under review.
• Tennessee House speaker removed all House Democrats from standing committees — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, claiming they had behaved in a way "aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes" as they protested the mid-decade redistricting that eliminated Tennessee's only majority-Black, Democratic district. State Representative Justin J. Pearson noted the removal stripped "every Black elected official in the state legislature from any committee we served on" and removed representation for "nearly 2 million Tennesseans."
• Tennessee House Speaker stripped Democratic lawmakers of committee assignments in retaliation for protest — Tennessee House speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, stating they had behaved in a way "aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes" as they protested mid-decade redistricting that eliminated Tennessee's only majority-Black, Democratic district. State representative Justin J. Pearson noted that this action removed "every Black elected official in the state legislature from any committee we served on" and stripped "nearly 2 million Tennesseans from the representation they deserve."
• Tennessee House speaker removes all Democrats from committees — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed House Democrats from their standing committee and subcommittee assignments following their protests during a special legislative session. This action occurred after Republican lawmakers approved a new congressional map that dismantles Tennessee's only majority-Black congressional district by splitting Black voters across three majority-white districts. Committee removal reduces the legislative voice of both the affected lawmakers and their constituents.
• — On May 12, 2026, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, citing their protests against the mid-decade redistricting as disruptive to legislative processes. This action effectively stripped representation from nearly 2 million Tennesseans, including all Black elected officials in the state legislature.

Supporting reports

• House Armed Services Committee received Iran war briefing with no clear strategy — Defense and intelligence officials briefed House Armed Services Committee members on the Iran war, with both Republicans and Democrats expressing frustration about lack of clarity and information regarding Trump's strategy. A congressional source stated: "There was no plan, no strategy, no end game shared, and they didn't give any answers." Much of the frustration centered on the prospect of deploying U.S. ground troops into Iran without clear objectives or protection plans.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight Committee chair issues subpoena to Attorney General Bondi — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) formally issued a subpoena requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to appear before the committee on April 14 to testify under oath regarding DOJ handling of Epstein files.
• House Oversight Committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein investigation — On March 17, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and associates, as well as DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Later that day, Democratic committee members walked out of a private briefing with Bondi after she refused to commit to complying with the subpoena and providing a deposition.
• House committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files handling — The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Republican James Comer, formally subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the DOJ for improperly redacting material, withholding names of potential criminals, and exposing survivor personal information. Bondi is required to appear for a deposition on April 14, 2026. The subpoena followed a March 4 committee vote in which five Republicans joined Democrats to authorize it.

Supporting reports

• Senate scheduled to vote on Save America act despite lacking filibuster-proof majority — Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced he will bring the Save America act to a vote next week, despite Senate Republicans lacking the 60 votes required to overcome the Democratic filibuster. Thune's decision to schedule the vote is expected to result in the bill's failure. Conservative supporters have called for Thune to invoke a "talking filibuster" rule change to force Democrats to physically hold the floor, but Thune has not agreed to this procedural change. The bill would require a return to the House for an additional vote if any Senate amendments were made.

Supporting reports

• Senator Thom Tillis opposed confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee pending resolution of Powell investigation — On January 11, 2026, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, posted that there is no longer any doubt that "advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve" and stated that "it is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question." Tillis announced he would "oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved."
• Senator Thom Tillis vows to block all Federal Reserve nominations — Senator Thom Tillis announced he would block all Federal Reserve nominations, including the upcoming chair vacancy, until the DOJ investigation into Powell is "fully resolved." Tillis, a member of the banking committee overseeing Fed appointments, stated on X that the investigation demonstrates the Trump administration is "actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve" and questioned the DOJ's credibility.
• Rep. Bacon expressed concern about DOJ independence in Powell investigation — Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) stated that while he believes the justice system works in the end, the Powell investigation "on the surface, it does appears this is DOJ going after Powell" and emphasized that "the independence of the Fed is vitally important."
• Rep. Lawler opposed pressure on Federal Reserve independence — Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) stated that while he believes Powell was late in addressing inflation and slow in lowering interest rates, "the independence of the Federal Reserve is paramount and I oppose any effort to pressure them into action."
• Republican senators demanded investigation into DOJ weaponization of federal law enforcement — Republican lawmakers publicly demanded an investigation into Trump's Department of Justice for weaponizing federal law enforcement against Federal Reserve Chair Powell. Senator Lisa Murkowski stated the investigation was coercive and noted that cost overruns on federal projects do not constitute grounds for criminal prosecution. Senator Thom Tillis blocked Trump's nominees to the Federal Reserve and Department of Homeland Security until the DOJ's conduct is investigated, also noting that Kristi Noem refused to appear before Congress.
• Sen. Murkowski characterized Powell investigation as coercion attempt — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) stated that after speaking with Chair Powell, the administration's investigation is "nothing more than an attempt at coercion." She called for Congress to investigate DOJ if it believes project cost overruns warrant inquiry, and warned that loss of Federal Reserve independence would destabilize markets and the broader economy. She supported Sen. Tillis's position on blocking Fed nominees.
• Sen. Tillis announced opposition to any Fed nominees pending resolution of Powell investigation — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Banking Committee where Republicans hold a one-seat majority, announced he will oppose confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy, until the DOJ investigation into Powell is fully resolved. Tillis stated the investigation demonstrates that Trump administration advisers are actively pushing to end Federal Reserve independence.
• Former Fed Chairs and economic officials issued joint statement on Powell investigation — All living former Federal Reserve Chairs (Bernanke, Greenspan, Yellen), bipartisan former Treasury Secretaries (Geithner, Paulson, and others), and bipartisan former Council of Economic Advisers Chairs (Hubbard, Mankiw, Romer, Furman) issued a joint statement characterizing the criminal inquiry into Chair Powell as "an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine" Federal Reserve independence. They warned that such actions occur in emerging markets with weak institutions and have no place in the United States.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Khanna reports bipartisan House effort to hold AG Bondi in contempt — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated that the House is moving to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt, with support from Republicans including Rep. Thomas Massie. Khanna indicated that survivors and members of both parties are seeking specific DOJ Epstein materials including FBI witness interviews, Epstein emails, a 60-count draft indictment, and an 82-page prosecution memo. Khanna noted another DOJ Epstein release was expected that afternoon.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Beatty sues to block Kennedy Center name change — Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, sued the Trump administration to block the Center's name change, calling the move a "flagrant violation of the rule of law." The suit challenges the administration's authority to unilaterally alter the name of a congressionally chartered institution.
• Democratic lawmaker sues Trump over Kennedy Center renaming — Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump on Monday challenging the Kennedy Center board's vote to rename the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the "Trump-Kennedy Center." Beatty, an ex-officio trustee, argued the renaming violates federal law requiring congressional approval and alleged she was muted and prevented from speaking during the board vote. The Trump administration announced the "unanimous" board vote last week, and workers have already changed the name on the building's exterior.

Supporting reports

• Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announced drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated on CNN that he and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) are drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi for her failure to comply with the Epstein Files Release Act. Khanna indicated the decision to move forward has not been made but noted that the question is not whether Democrats would support it, but how many Republicans would. Massie separately stated on CBS that bringing inherent contempt against Bondi is "the quickest way and most expeditious way to get justice for these victims" and does not require going through the courts.

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• Four House Republicans joined Democrats to force vote on Affordable Care Act premium tax credits — Four Republicans in the House of Representatives joined all Democrats to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on extending premium tax credits for purchasing healthcare insurance on the Affordable Care Act markets. This indicated Johnson's weakening power and that Republican lawmakers felt pressure from public concerns about the economy.

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• Representative Massie criticized House Republicans for rubber-stamping Trump — Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) commented on reports of House Republican discontent with Speaker Mike Johnson, stating: "You have a lot of intelligent, hard-working people who gave up a lot of things to be here in Congress, only to find out that all they get to do is come here and rubber stamp whatever Trump wants, and that's kind of humiliating."

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• Trump calls on Republicans to abolish Senate filibuster rule — Donald Trump posted on Truth Social calling on Republicans to invoke the "nuclear option" and eliminate the Senate filibuster rule to end the ongoing federal government shutdown and break the standoff with Democrats. The filibuster currently requires 60 votes to advance most legislation; eliminating it would require only a simple 51-vote majority. While some Senate Republicans expressed openness, others including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator John Curtis reaffirmed opposition to the change.
• Trump called for abolition of the Senate filibuster — Trump posted in all capital letters calling for the Senate to invoke the "nuclear option" and eliminate the legislative filibuster, citing Democratic opposition as justification. The post stated: "BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE STONE COLD 'CRAZY,' THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE 'NUCLEAR OPTION,' GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

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• Republicans maintain House shutdown and refuse Democratic negotiation — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) kept the House out of session during the government shutdown, and Republicans refused to negotiate with Democrats in the normal legislative process. Trump departed for Asia for a week, leaving the shutdown unresolved. This posture indicates a deliberate Republican strategy to avoid compromise and force Democrats to capitulate on their demand for extension of the premium tax credit for healthcare.
• Speaker Johnson canceled House business for the week of October 27, extending a 17-week pattern of minimal legislative activity — Speaker Mike Johnson announced the cancellation of House business for the week beginning October 27, 2025. Over the preceding 17 weeks, the House has convened on Capitol Hill for only 20 days total. This scheduling decision means the House will not reconvene before November 1, when at least 25 states have announced they cannot continue distributing SNAP benefits to over 42 million Americans without federal appropriations. The extended recess occurs amid a government funding impasse between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare subsidies and Medicaid restoration.
• Speaker Mike Johnson held press conference claiming House Republicans are working meaningfully while House remains adjourned. — Speaker Mike Johnson held his daily shutdown press conference, claiming that House Republicans are "doing some of the most meaningful work of their careers in their districts" while the House has been adjourned for 84 of the last 96 days, resulting in only 12 days of legislative work over three months. Members continue to receive full pay and benefits. Johnson's statement contrasts with the Senate, which has continued working, suggesting the House adjournment is not necessitated by the shutdown but rather serves another purpose.
• House Speaker announces no votes scheduled for following week; chamber inactive for six weeks — Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House of Representatives would not conduct business during the following week. The House had not held a vote since September 19, leaving the chamber inactive for six weeks while members remained absent from Washington and did not conduct town halls in their districts.

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• House Speaker Johnson refuses to seat elected representative Adelita Grijalva — House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to seat representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who was elected by voters on September 23, 2025, to fill a vacant House seat. Johnson has offered successive reasons to delay her seating. Without being sworn in, Grijalva has no access to government resources, cannot represent her constituents, and cannot provide the 218th signature needed on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
• House adjourned for 77 of last 89 days to block Epstein files release vote — Speaker Mike Johnson kept the House adjourned for 77 of the previous 89 days, with House Republicans working only 12 days in three months. The stated purpose was to prevent a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Rep. Marjorie Greene publicly disagreed with the shutdown strategy, calling for the House to return to work on appropriations and legislation.
• House Speaker Johnson refuses to call House into session, blocking swearing-in of representative-elect Grijalva — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is refusing to call the House into session, keeping members out of Washington and preventing the swearing-in of representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who was elected on September 23. Johnson claims that keeping the House out of session prevents him from swearing in Grijalva, though speakers have sworn in representatives during pro forma sessions in the past. Grijalva has stated she will be the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
• Johnson dismisses Grijalva lawsuit as "absurd" and "publicity stunt" — House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to the Arizona lawsuit by calling it "absurd" and characterizing it as "a publicity stunt." The lawsuit had noted that Johnson's excuse for delaying Grijalva's swearing-in—that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed swearing in Representative Julia Letlow—was inaccurate; Pelosi had contacted Letlow to determine when she wished to be sworn in.
• Arizona sued House Speaker Mike Johnson to compel swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva — Arizona sued House Speaker Mike Johnson and the U.S. House of Representatives to compel the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election last month. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes argued the delay violates the constitutional rights of the district's 800,000 residents to representation. Democrats said the delay is politically motivated, as seating Grijalva could give Democrats the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition to force a vote for the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
• Arizona and Grijalva sue House of Representatives over refusal to swear in elected representative — The state of Arizona and representative-elect Adelita Grijalva filed suit against the House of Representatives over Speaker Johnson's refusal to swear Grijalva into office, thus depriving her Arizona constituents of representation. Arizona Attorney General Kristin Mayes argued that a duly elected representative who meets constitutional qualifications cannot be denied office simply because the Speaker has decided to keep the House out of regular session. Mayes requested the court authorize someone else to swear Grijalva into office.
• Arizona Attorney General and elected representative sue Speaker Johnson over obstruction of swearing-in — On October 21, 2025, Adelita Grijalva and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives challenging Speaker Johnson's refusal to swear in Grijalva. The lawsuit argues that the Constitution does not authorize the Speaker to deny a duly elected representative her office to prevent her from signing a discharge petition or to strengthen the Speaker's negotiating position on budget matters. Mayes contends that Johnson "has not identified any valid reason for refusing to promptly seat Ms. Grijalva" and that the delay injures Grijalva and Arizona voters by denying representation for a significant portion of the two-year term. The lawsuit requests that if Johnson continues to delay, Grijalva be sworn in by another authorized official.
• House Republican leadership claims Trump exonerated in Epstein files — House Republican leadership, represented by Rep. James Comer, claimed that evidence gathered does not implicate President Trump in any way regarding the Epstein files. Comer stated that public reporting, survivor testimony, and official documents show Bill Clinton had far closer ties to Epstein. The files remain unreleased to the public.
• Arizona sues Mike Johnson to block swearing-in of elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva — Arizona's Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes filed suit against House Speaker Mike Johnson to compel him to swear in Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat elected to Congress on 23 September in Arizona's seventh district. Johnson has refused to schedule her swearing-in since early October, citing the ongoing government shutdown. Grijalva cannot access her office fully or vote without being sworn in. The lawsuit alleges Johnson is denying Arizona's district representation and suspects he is blocking her to prevent her from becoming the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
• Rep.-elect Grijalva blocked from being sworn in — Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva has been blocked from being sworn in by Speaker Mike Johnson, an unprecedented move that prevents her from voting on critical legislation.

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• Republican congressional leaders refuse to negotiate with Democrats on government reopening — Republican congressional leaders are refusing to engage in negotiations with Democrats to reopen the federal government, instead attempting to force Democrats to comply with Republican demands without discussion or compromise. This occurs despite 78% of Americans, including 59% of Republicans, supporting the Democratic demand for an extension of the tax credit that lowers healthcare premium costs on Affordable Care Act markets. More than three-quarters of those insured through ACA markets live in states that voted for Trump.

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• House Speaker Delays Swearing-in of New Representative — House Speaker Mike Johnson postponed the swearing-in of newly elected Arizona representative Adelita Grijalva, which has been interpreted as a delay tactic regarding a vote on releasing files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
• House Speaker Johnson delays House return and swearing-in of newly elected Arizona representative — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent House members home until October 14, delaying the return to session that was scheduled for Monday. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) noted that Johnson appears to be delaying the swearing-in of newly elected Arizona representative Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat. Grijalva has indicated she will sign a discharge petition that needs only one more signature to force a House floor vote on instructing the Department of Justice to release files from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's actions.
• Speaker Johnson delayed swearing in newly elected congresswoman — Speaker Mike Johnson has delayed the swearing in of newly-elected Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva, whose vote is needed to bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the floor for a vote. Grijalva won her election in a landslide two weeks prior, but Johnson has not sworn her in despite southern Arizona being without representation for seven months following the death of the previous representative. Johnson told Meet the Press the delay "has nothing to do with that" and called it "totally absurd," but his office has not responded to requests for comment on when he will swear her in.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed Republicans are working to fix healthcare while sending House home until October 14 — Speaker Johnson stated on camera that "Republicans are the ones concerned about healthcare. Republicans are the party working around the clock everyday to fix healthcare. This is not talking points for us: we've done it." However, Johnson simultaneously sent the House home until October 14. The statement appears to refer to Republican cuts to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in their July budget reconciliation bill, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will increase the number of uninsured Americans by 10 million by 2034.
• Speaker Johnson delays House return and blocks Epstein files vote — Speaker Mike Johnson kept the House on recess for a second consecutive week, stating he would not call the chamber back into session until government funding is restored. He also announced he would not swear in newly elected Democratic representative Adelita Grijalva until the House returns. Republican Thomas Massie accused Johnson of using the recess to delay a discharge petition vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related files, which Massie said had reached 218 signatures—enough to force a floor vote.
• House Republicans blocked swearing in of Arizona Democrat — House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, refused to swear in Arizona's newly elected Democrat, Adelita Grijalva. This decision is seen as an effort to prevent Democrats from obtaining the final vote needed to release the Epstein files.
• Speaker Johnson claimed he votes with Trump because "that's my party" — During a CSPAN call-in program, a caller asked Speaker Mike Johnson if he had ever voted against anything Trump has proposed in terms of policy. Johnson responded: "I typically vote with President Trump because that's my party."
• Speaker Johnson refused to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva and blamed Chuck Schumer — During a CSPAN call-in program, a caller asked why Speaker Johnson had sworn in other members during pro forma sessions but refused to swear in Adelita Grijalva. Johnson blamed Chuck Schumer and stated that two Florida members had their families and supporters in town, so "as a courtesy to them, went ahead and administer the oath." He stated this had "zero to do with Epstein" and was "for maximum transparency." Rep. Marge Greene subsequently stated on CNN that the House should be in session and that Grijalva "does deserve to be sworn in," and questioned whether the delay was to avoid a discharge petition. Rep. Ro Khanna stated on MSNBC that the House is not even holding votes to pay troops because they are "so concerned about swearing Grijalva in" and that "the only reason they're not doing this is because of the Epstein files."
• House Speaker Johnson cancels fourth week of House session — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced cancellation of another week of House sessions, marking the fourth week he has kept House members away from their jobs since September 19. The extended recess prevents the House from working on the overdue budget, necessary appropriations bills, extension of healthcare premium tax credits, and swearing in Representative Adelita Grijalva, whose vote would provide the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

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• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs issues report on DOGE violations — The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC), led by top-ranking Democrat Gary Peters (D-MI), issued a report on September 25 documenting that DOGE violated the law and created unprecedented privacy and cybersecurity risks. The report found that DOGE created databases containing highly sensitive personally identifiable information on every American with little oversight, that administration officials could not identify who was in charge of significant policy changes, and that the secrecy surrounding DOGE prevented congressional oversight and public accountability.

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• Massie and Khanna file discharge petition to force Epstein files vote — Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are pursuing a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on releasing the Epstein files, bypassing Speaker Johnson's blockade. The petition requires 218 signatures to succeed. According to Politico, the effort is "quickly picking up steam." GOP leaders have an understanding with White House officials that the House will wait to address the matter until after the August recess to give the administration time to release documents on its own.

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• Speaker Johnson blocks bipartisan Epstein files release resolution before August recess — Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not bring a bipartisan resolution to release the Epstein files to the House floor before the August recess. The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and is supported by at least 7 Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Greene. Johnson stated his belief that "we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing." The resolution is certain to pass if brought to a vote.
• House Republicans call early recess to avoid voting on Epstein files release — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives announced it would end its legislative week one day early, moving the final votes from Thursday to Wednesday, ahead of the five-week summer recess. Democrats accused Republicans of fleeing to avoid politically difficult votes on amendments demanding release of Jeffrey Epstein case documents. Speaker Mike Johnson defended the decision as protecting victims, while the GOP majority declined to directly address whether the Epstein issue prompted the early departure.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members home without voting on Epstein files release — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent members of the House of Representatives home early for their summer break without holding a vote on whether to release the Epstein files. The House will not reconvene until September 2, effectively postponing any legislative action on the matter.
• Speaker Johnson shut down the House to block Epstein files vote — Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home early for summer recess and canceled all scheduled votes and business to prevent a bipartisan vote on releasing Epstein-related documents. House Republicans lost control of the floor due to bipartisan pressure. Rep. Thomas Massie's discharge petition will ripen in September, forcing a vote unless the Trump administration releases documents satisfying Republican concerns by August. Johnson stated he would wait until August to give the Trump administration time to release the documents.
• Speaker Mike Johnson sent House home until September to avoid Epstein files vote — Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home until September to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson claimed that release may not be necessary upon return because DOJ was working on releasing grand jury transcripts. However, the DOJ conceded it had no legal basis to unseal the transcripts, and the court denied the request. Judge Robin Rosenberg noted the court's "hands are tied" by the government's own concession that criminal procedure laws forbid unsealing grand jury testimony except in narrow circumstances.

Supporting reports

• House advances Trump tax-and-spending bill through procedural votes — The House of Representatives advanced Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" through procedural votes on July 2–3, 2025, after Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered an 8-hour-44-minute floor speech opposing passage. The bill, which passed the Senate on July 1 with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote, includes $3.3 trillion in deficit spending through 2034, extends 2017 tax cuts, allocates $45 billion for ICE detention and $14 billion for deportation operations, imposes new Medicaid work requirements, and sunsets green-energy incentives. Speaker Mike Johnson secured final Republican holdouts to advance the measure toward a final House vote.
• House passes Trump tax-and-spending bill with permanent tax cuts, deportation funding, and safety-net cuts — The U.S. House of Representatives passed Trump's comprehensive tax-and-spending legislation on Thursday, following Senate passage on Tuesday with VP Vance's tie-breaking vote. The bill extends 2017 tax cuts permanently (benefiting high earners disproportionately), allocates $45bn for ICE detention and $14bn for deportation operations, funds $50bn+ for border fortifications, cuts Medicaid (affecting ~10.6m people) and SNAP (affecting ~8m people), phases out clean-energy tax credits, raises the debt ceiling by $5tn, and increases the deficit by $3.3tn through 2034. The bill now awaits Trump's signature.
• Trump budget bill passage with immigration enforcement expansion and social benefit cuts — The House passed Donald Trump's budget reconciliation bill on Thursday, July 3, 2025, with no Democratic support and only two Republican defections (Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick). The bill expands immigration enforcement funding to $170 billion (making ICE larger than the FBI, DEA, and Bureau of Prisons combined), cuts Medicaid expansion, reduces SNAP benefits, allows the tipped-worker tax break to sunset in three years while making billionaire tax cuts permanent, and removes subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats issued widespread condemnation, citing projected deaths and loss of healthcare access.
• Hakeem Jeffries delivers record-breaking House floor speech opposing Trump tax bill — Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for more than eight hours on the House floor beginning shortly before 5am on Thursday, July 3, 2025, breaking the previous record of 8 hours 32 minutes set by Kevin McCarthy in 2021. Using the "magic minute" tradition that allows House leaders unlimited speaking time after floor debate concludes, Jeffries opposed Trump's $4.5 trillion tax-and-spending bill, reading stories of Americans who would lose healthcare, food assistance, and other benefits. He characterized the legislation as a "crime scene" and "abomination" that will harm millions while benefiting billionaires.
• House passes Trump tax-and-spending bill with 218-214 vote — The US House of Representatives passed Donald Trump's sweeping tax-and-spending bill on Thursday with a narrow 218-214 vote after weeks of negotiations. The legislation extends 2017 tax cuts permanently, creates new exemptions for tips and overtime pay, allocates $170 billion to immigration enforcement and border wall construction, and cuts Medicaid and SNAP benefits. The Congressional Budget Office projects it will add $3.3 trillion to the national debt through 2034 and cost millions of people their healthcare and food assistance benefits.
• Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered record-length floor speech opposing budget bill — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-VA) delivered the longest floor speech in House history, lasting all night and into Thursday afternoon, opposing the budget bill. He criticized the bill's impact on the poor and sick, concluding with a statement about hypocrisy: "You got some people in this town who go to church and pray on Sunday, and then they come to Congress and prey on the American people."
• House Republicans adopted Senate budget bill without amendments after Trump summoned Freedom Caucus members to Oval Office — House Republicans voted to adopt the Senate's budget bill following a marathon debate session. Despite weeks of public complaints from Freedom Caucus members that the Senate version was "horrible" and promises to make significant changes, the House passed it unchanged. Trump summoned the dissenting Republicans to the Oval Office, where they received signed merchandise and photos; they emerged agreeing to support the bill. Only two Republicans voted against it: Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The bill adds nearly $4 trillion to the debt and cuts Medicaid, Medicare, and nutrition assistance.
• Congressional passage of budget legislation with expansions to law enforcement and detention infrastructure — The House of Representatives passed a budget bill described as containing provisions for expanded law enforcement capacity, detention facilities, and enforcement quotas. The legislation was characterized by commentators as regressive and dangerous. The bill reportedly allocates resources toward building what critics describe as a sophisticated law enforcement apparatus with detention infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms tied to quota systems. The passage occurred despite stated opposition from advocacy groups and public awareness campaigns.
• House passes "One Big Beautiful Bill"; Trump administration announces legislative victory — The White House issued a press release announcing that the House of Representatives passed legislation titled the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which the administration characterizes as delivering "the largest middle-class tax cut in history," border security measures, military funding, and other provisions. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the bill represents "the biggest legislative win of President Trump's two terms" and that Trump "looks forward to signing" it into law. The release does not provide the bill's actual text, specific provisions, or legislative details.
• House and Senate pass Trump's tax-and-spending bill with narrow Republican majorities — Republicans passed a sweeping budget bill extending 2017 tax cuts, increasing the debt limit by $4 trillion, and adding work requirements to Medicaid and Snap. The House passed it 219–213 on Thursday after Speaker Johnson held the vote open for seven hours—the longest recorded—while Trump pressured holdouts via phone calls and social media. The Senate passed it 50–50 with Vice President Vance breaking the tie. The bill faced opposition from fiscal conservatives and moderates over deficit concerns and Medicaid cuts, resolved through targeted state benefits and executive order promises.