Category: Federal

  • John Ratcliffe confirmed as director of the Central Intelligence Agency

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm John Ratcliffe as director of the Central Intelligence Agency on Jan. 23, 2025. The Senate voted 74-25 in favor of his nomination with all 53 Republicans and 21 Democrats voting in favor. This was the second member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. …

  • Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee holds confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins for secretary of Agriculture

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    The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee held a confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins for secretary of Agriculture on Jan. 23, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Rollins must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can be…

  • No members of Congress have announced 2026 retirement plans since Dec. 19

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    Since our last update on Dec. 19, no members of the U.S. Congress have announced plans to not seek re-election in 2026. That means the total number of congressional retirements for 2026 remains at one. The last incumbent to announce their retirement was Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who said he would not seek re-election to…

  • Senate Budget Committee holds confirmation hearing for Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget

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    The Senate Budget Committee held a confirmation hearing for Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 22, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on his nomination. Vought must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination…

  • Marco Rubio confirmed as Secretary of State

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Marco Rubio as secretary of state on Jan. 20, 2025. The Senate voted unanimously in favor of his confirmation. This was the first member of Trump’s Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. Rubio is the first Latino to serve as U.S. secretary of state. Trump announced on Nov.…

  • Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee holds confirmation hearing for Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs

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    The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs on Jan. 21, 2025. The committee scheduled a meeting for Jan. 23 to vote on Collins’ nomination. Collins must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can be put up for a confirmation vote…

  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearing for Elise Stefanik for U.N. ambassador

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    The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Elise Stefanik for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Jan. 21, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Stefanik must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can…

  • 196 bills on the administrative state introduced in 2025 sessions so far

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    Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Legislation Tracker captured 196 bills introduced in the 2025 legislative session as of Jan. 17. Legislators in 28 states and Congress filed bills, including policy proposals related to oversight of regulations, judicial deference to agencies, agency use of artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance, regulation budgets and limitations, cost-benefit analysis requirements, agency appointment processes,…

  • The Food and Nutrition Service issues final rule for SNAP work requirements

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    On January 16, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 final rule went into effect. This rule reaffirmed requirements laid out in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) with three main provisions governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — previously called food stamps. These…

  • Summary of the Trump administration’s history on Medicaid work requirements

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    Donald Trump (R) was inaugurated as president for his second term on January 20, 2025. During his first term, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) invited states to apply for Section 1115 waivers, which, if approved by CMS, allow states to implement work requirements and other conditions for Medicaid. Between 2018 and 2020,…