Category: Federal

  • Trump issues executive order opposing state ESG policies

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    President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order last week directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate and block enforcement of state laws promoting ESG policies. Trump argued such laws conflict with national security and economic interests. The order lays the groundwork for federal legal challenges against state ESG laws. It reverses the dynamic…

  • Nine members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026

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    Since our March 19 update on congressional retirements, three members of the U.S. House of Representatives—one Democrat and two Republicans—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Those representatives include: Additionally, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) announced his candidacy for Colorado governor on April 10. Since Bennet is not up for re-election until 2028, he…

  • Two candidates are running for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire in 2026

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    Voters in New Hampshire will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. Incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who first assumed office in 2009, announced that she would not seek re-election in 2026. According to Inside Elections’ Jacob Rubashkin, “While New Hampshire was already on the Senate battleground,…

  • U.S. House votes to adopt Senate-amended budget resolution

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    On April 10, the House of Representatives voted to adopt the Senate-amended version of budget resolution HCon.Res.14, completing the budget resolution process. The House voted 216-214 in favor of the resolution, with 216 Republicans voting in favor and Reps. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joining 212 Democrats in voting against the resolution. The…

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for April 2025

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from March 2, 2025, to April 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 45 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.2%,…

  • SEC ends defense of climate reporting rules

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    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced last week that it voted to end its defense of the Biden-era corporate emissions reporting rules. The decision indicates the majority of current SEC commissioners do not support the implementation of the rules. Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda said the commission wanted to end its “defense of the…

  • President Trump has yet to appoint any federal judges 72 days into his first year of his second term

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    President Donald Trump (R) had not nominated any Article III federal judges as of April 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. The average number of federal judges appointed by previous presidents through April 1 of his first year in office is also zero. By April 1 of his first term…

  • President Donald Trump (R) issued thirty-three executive orders in March

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    President Donald Trump (R) issued thirty-three executive orders in March, bringing his total to 109. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in March, click here. Trump issued 46 executive orders in January 2025, more than any other month of his presidency. He issued 30 executive orders in February 2025, fewer…

  • President Donald Trump (R) ends March with 47% approval, 51% disapproval

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    At the end of March, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 47% approval. Fifty-one percent of voters disapproved of his performance. The lowest approval rating he’s received during his presidency is 47%, last seen on March 31, 2025. The highest approval rating Trump has received is 54%, last seen on Jan. 22,…