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DOGE asks public for ‘insights’ on potential waste at SEC

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul joined ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss the need for a gold reserve audit at Ft. Knox and his decision to vote against the Republican budget bill.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is continuing its efforts to find potential wasteful government spending and asking members of the public for their “insights” on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC, which was established in the 1930s, regulates securities markets in the U.S.

The seal of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at SEC headquarters. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters Photos)

“DOGE is seeking help from the public! Please DM this account with insights on finding and fixing waste, fraud and abuse relating to the Securities and Exchange Commissions,” the Elon Musk-run group wrote Monday on X from an “affiliate” account focused on the agency.

FROM RETURN-TO-OFFICE TO FEDERAL LAYOFFS, HOW TRUMP POLICIES ARE AFFECTING DC HOUSING MARKET: REPORT

The post has notched 1.9 million views and over 16,000 likes to date. Musk posted an emoji of a smiley face with sunglasses in response to it.

The Elon Musk-led group’s appeal to Americans regarding the SEC comes as DOGE has also asked for input from the public on other federal agencies about potentially “reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, along with any helpful insights or awesome ideas.”

DOGE has set up “DOGE affiliate” accounts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the State Department, NASA, Social Security Administration and multiple other federal agencies.

ELON MUSK’S DOGE PREPARES TO AUDIT US GOLD RESERVES AT FORT KNOX AFTER URGING BY SEN. RAND PAUL

President Donald Trump used an executive order to form DOGE not longer after he took office on Jan. 20. He and Musk have both said the goal of the department is to significantly pare back spending and boost efficiency within the federal government.

President-elect Donald Trump walks with Elon Musk before viewing the launch of a SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, Nov. 19, 2024. (Brandon Bell/Pool via / Reuters)

Overall, DOGE is looking to trim $2 trillion in government spending, with Musk telling Stagwell Inc. CEO Mark Penn early last month that it had a “good shot at getting” $1 trillion.

WHAT HAS DOGE CUT SO FAR?

“DOGE is saving the Federal Government approx. $1 billion/day, mostly from stopping the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, deletion of DEI and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations, all consistent with the President’s Executive Orders,” the group said in late January.

The group has said it will soon add a page to its website detailing the “description/amount of each cost reduction” it makes within the federal government. As of Monday afternoon, that webpage said, “Receipts coming over the weekend!”

Eric Revell contributed to this report.

February 17, 2025
City of Philadelphia asks Eagles fans to ‘celebrate responsibly’ at parade after slew of chaotic turns

The Philadelphia Eagles will travel throughout downtown Philly on Friday to celebrate their Super Bowl win with their fans, and over a million people are expected to attend.

However, there appears to be cause for concern from city officials amid the chaos that has occurred in the city throughout the team’s recent victories.

Numerous arrests have been made after both the Super Bowl and NFC championship victories in the Broad Street area.

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Fans are seen throwing towels into the air after a laundry truck purportedly was looted in Philadelphia following the Eagles’ Super Bowl win. (Sam Hartson/FreedomNewsTV)

It Is the second parade for the Birds in the last seven years, and the city issued a message to the Eagles fans earlier this week.

“The parade route has been thoughtfully planned for the safety and security of all attendees. With large crowds expected, we ask everyone to celebrate responsibly and respectfully, making this a moment Philadelphia can be proud of,” a press release read.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker added, “While City offices and buildings will be closed to allow everyone to join the festivities, our focus will remain on keeping all Philadelphians safe.”

A shooting left one dead at last year’s Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally.

Eagles fans celebrate the Super Bowl victory on South Broad Street on Feb. 9, 2025. (Imagn)

A.J. BROWN SAYS WINNING SUPER BOWL ‘WASN’T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE;’ LOVE FOR GAME ‘COMES WHEN I DOMINATE’

Scenes of chaos erupted in Philadelphia on Sunday night following the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, with fans in team colors seen setting fires, smashing light poles and chanting, “F— the Chiefs!”

Footage captured by FreedomNewsTV purportedly showed a crowd looting a laundry truck and tossing towels into the air. Police then were seen responding to a fire as a pile of the laundry was set ablaze.

In another clip, two individuals were seen toppling a light pole. Once it hit the ground, a crowd rushed around it and started smashing it with their feet. Then members of the crowd picked the pole up and started carrying it through the city’s downtown area.

Videos also showed fans climbing on top of light poles, street signs, bus stops, trucks and trees. In one scene, fans re-enacted the Eagles’ signature “tush push” play.

Eagles fans celebrate the Super Bowl victory in Philadelphia on Feb. 9, 2025. (Kaitlyn McCormick/Cherry Hill Courier-Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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The Philadelphia Police Department told Fox News Digital that it arrested 47 people during the demonstrations, including on charges of vandalism and assaulting a police officer.

After the NFC title game, an 18-year-old fan died days after falling from a lamp post.

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February 14, 2025
House lawmaker makes fun of Dems, asks for therapy dogs

A House lawmaker Thursday jokingly suggested making therapy dogs a permanent fixture in committee hearings after voicing his concern about the “mental stability” of Democrats a day earlier.

On Wednesday, as Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform discussed wasteful government spending, Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., asked about bringing in therapy dogs for his Democratic colleagues amid back-and-forth sparring between both sides.

Crane asked committee Chair James Comer, R-Tenn., about bringing in the animals.

GOP LAWMAKER SCRAPS WITH DEMOCRAT IN HEARING OVER TRANSGENDER ‘SLUR,’ BATHROOM RIGHTS: ‘NOT GOING TO HAVE IT’

Rep. Eli Crane at a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on Thursday, where he mentioned three beagles in the chamber. (House Committee on Oversight and Reform)

“I’m worried about their mental stability,” said Crane.

On Thursday, the committee met to discuss taxpayer money funding “gender-affirming care” for animals. The hearing, “Transgender Lab Rats and Poisoned Puppies: Oversight of Taxpayer Funded Animal Cruelty,” featured a witness from the White Coat Waste Project.

In attendance were three beagles that were allegedly part of experiments conducted on the watch of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

WEST POINT DISBANDS GENDER-BASED, RACE CLUBS IN TRUMP’S DEI SWEEP

A beagle sitting on the floor during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing Thursday. (House Committee on Oversight and Reform)

“It was just yesterday in an Oversight hearing that I asked Chairman Comer if we could get some therapy dogs up here because of some of the meltdowns that were going on,” Crane said. “I had no idea I’d walk into this hearing today and see three beautiful beagle puppies.

“And I have noticed that my mood has already improved. So, thank you guys for bringing them,” he added. “I think we should make it mandatory.”

At Thursday’s hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., laid out how public funds were being used for animal experiments.

“Last year, the White Coat Waste Project exposed more than $10 million in taxpayer funds that were spent creating transgender mice, rats and monkeys,” Mace said. “These DEI grants funded painful and deadly transgender experiments that forced lab animals to undergo invasive surgeries and hormone therapies at universities across the country.”

A pair of beagles at a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on Thursday. (House Committee on Oversight and Reform)

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Before yielding to ranking member Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, Mace said wasteful government spending on animal cruelty is a “nonpartisan issue.”

“The U.S. government spends in excess of $20 billion a year conducting experiments on animals,” Mace said. “We spent over $1 million to find out if female rats receiving testosterone therapy were more likely to overdose on a date rape drug. That’s what your taxpayer dollars were being spent on.”

Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.

February 7, 2025
Chiefs’ Travis Kelce asks reporters, ‘Why are you guys leaning into this whole ref thing?’

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was asked on Monday night if he had a question for the media as reporters gathered at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

Kelce swung for the fences.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce talks to the media during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night at Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2025. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

“Why are you guys leaning into this whole ref thing?” Kelce asked. “You know what I mean? Like, why are you guys leaning into it? That’s all I got though.”

Alleged favoritism from NFL officials to the Chiefs has been a major topic of conversation since Kansas City defeated the Houston Texans in the divisional round. Two questionable penalties called in favor of the Chiefs sparked the conversation on social media.

But after a few head-scratchers in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills, the social media chatter was taken from the keyboard to the Roger Goodell press conference on Monday.

Goodell threw cold water on the notion that there was any favoritism toward the Chiefs.

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“Why are you guys leaning into this whole ref thing?” Travis Kelce asked reporters. (James Lang-Imagn Images)

“This sort of reminds me a little bit of ‘the script,’ right? That I write a script and I have a script for the entire seasons,” he said. “I think a lot of those theories are things that happen in social media, and they get a new life.… Nobody wants it to be their theory.

“I understand it. I think it reflects a lot of the fans’ passion. I think it’s also a reminder for us on how important officiating is. I think the men and women officiating the NFL are outstanding. They have the highest possible standards. That’s a ridiculous theory for anyone who might take it seriously, but at the end of the day, it’s something we always have to continue to work on, how we make our officiating better at all times.”

Chiefs team owner Clark Hunt also dismantled the theory.

“You almost have to laugh at it, because you know how everybody in the NFL wants to compete to win, and that’s true of our guys as well. The referees are doing the best job that they can. If you look at the stats or a lot of stats, that shows that we’ve been on the wrong side of calls as often as we’ve been on the right side.” Hunt said in an interview with NFL Network.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“There’s definitely no conspiracy, right? It’s the nature of the game. And when you start having a lot of success, people like to start making excuses for why you’re having the success.”

Fox News’ Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 4, 2025
State Farm asks California to approve rate hikes after wildfires

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California homeowners, already devastated by last month’s wildfires, could see their insurance rates go up by more than 20% if they’re covered by State Farm.

California’s largest private insurer, State Farm, is seeking a 22% average rate increase for homeowners. In a letter urging the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to “immediately approve” the request, State Farm said the hikes would help “avert a dire situation.”

An aerial view of homes which burned in the Eaton Fire on Jan. 19, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)

CALIFORNIA INSURANCE CRISIS: LIST OF CARRIERS THAT HAVE FLED OR REDUCED COVERAGE IN THE STATE

The insurer is looking to increase rates by 22% for non-tenant homeowners, 15% for renters and condo owners, and 38% for rental dwellings. In its open letter to the CDI, State Farm says the increased rates would go into effect on May 1, 2025.

“As of February 1st, State Farm General (Fire only) has received more than 8,700 claims and has already paid more than $1 billion to customers,” the insurer wrote in a press release on its website. “State Farm General will ultimately pay out significantly more, as collectively these fires will be the costliest disasters in the history of State Farm General.”

Homes burn as powerful winds drive the Eaton Fire on Jan. 7, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (David McNew/Getty Images / Getty Images)

WILL HURRICANES AND WILDFIRES CAUSE INSURANCE PRICES TO RISE NATIONWIDE?

The insurer added that it must increase current rates to ensure it could pay possible future claims. Additionally, State Farm announced that rates for Californians would be going up because the “risk is greater” in the Golden State.

“We look forward to working alongside regulators, policymakers and industry leaders on creating a sustainable insurance environment in California – one that balances risk and increased rates, ensures long-term market stability and keeps insurers like State Farm General a vital part of California’s future,” the company said.

State Farm faced backlash at the height of the wildfires over a March 2024 announcement that it would discontinue coverage of 72,000 home and apartment policies in the summer. In March 2024, the insurer issued a letter to the CDI, saying the depletion of State Farm’s capital was “alarm signaling the grave need for rapid and transformational action.”

A firefighting plane makes a drop on the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)

STATE FARM, OTHER INSURERS SLAMMED FOR DROPPING COVERAGE

While insurers can and do receive approvals for larger increases — State Farm secured a 20% increase in home and auto premiums in January 2024 and subsequently requested a 30% increase for home policies last summer — the process can be time-consuming and the size of rate hikes approved by the regulator may not be sufficient for insurers to continue offering policies while preserving their financial stability.

The January 2025 wildfires only highlighted California’s ongoing insurance crisis as several providers had already fled the state, stopped writing new policies or otherwise reduced their risk exposure in the Golden State. This includes Allstate, Nationwide, and Farmers.

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As of Tuesday, according to Cal Fire, the wildfires burned more than 57,600 acres and destroyed over 16,200 structures.

February 4, 2025
Trump DOJ asks Supreme Court to freeze student debt, environment cases

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joins ‘The Bottom Line’ to discuss President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and reaction to Harrison Butker’s commencement speech.

President Donald Trump’s Justice Department on Friday asked the Supreme Court to freeze a handful of cases, including a challenge to one of former President Biden’s student loan bailouts.

Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris filed several motions Friday asking the court to halt proceedings in the student loan case and three environmental cases while the new administration will “reassess the basis for and soundness” of Biden’s policies.

The Supreme Court was expected to hear oral arguments for these cases in March or April and issue decisions later this term. But Trump’s DOJ requested that the high court halt all written brief deadlines, which would put them on indefinite hold.

BIDEN’S LATEST ROUND OF STUDENT LOAN HANDOUTS BRINGS ADMIN TOTAL TO MORE THAN 5 MILLION

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in the Rotunda of the US Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/FP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Under former President Joe Biden, more than 5 million Americans had their student debt canceled through actions taken by the Department of Education. But Biden’s actions faced numerous legal challenges, with GOP critics alleging he went beyond the scope of his authority by acting without Congress.

In this case, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had blocked the Biden administration’s borrower defense rule, which would have expanded student debt relief for borrowers who were defrauded by their schools. The court found that Biden’s rule had “numerous statutory and regulatory shortcomings.” Biden appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case earlier this month.

NEW YORK REPUBLICAN PROPOSES TO SLASH STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES

Activists attend a rally outside of the White House to call on U.S. President Joe Biden to cancel student debt on July 27, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Now, that case is on hold, and it is possible the Trump administration will revoke the rule change, rendering the issue moot.

The three environmental cases have to do with regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency during the Biden administration that were challenged.

Biden canceled student loan debt for more than 5 million Americans. (REUTERS/Bonnie Cash / Reuters Photos)

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It is not unusual for a new presidential administration to reverse its position on legal cases inherited from the prior administration. After Biden took office, the DOJ asked the Supreme Court to freeze a challenge to Trump’s attempt to use military funds to construct a border wall. Biden halted the spending and the court dismissed the case.

The Biden administration took similar action with a case that challenged Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. The Supreme Court eventually tossed the case as moot after Biden rescinded the policy.

January 25, 2025
Texas Gov. Abbott asks government to reimburse $11B spent on border security

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is requesting that the federal government reimburse his state more than $11.1 billion for taxpayer money spent on securing the southern border during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

Abbott, who sent letters to U.S. Congressional members on Thursday, said the Biden administration’s “refusal to do its job the last four years” resulted in the crisis at the southern border that has spilled into the rest of the country.

“President Biden’s policies left Texas and the rest of America defenseless against an unprecedented infiltration of violent criminals, known terrorists, and other hostile foreign actors, like the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua,” the governor wrote.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN INTRODUCES BILL TO REIMBURSE TEXAS FOR BILLIONS SPENT TO SECURE BORDER

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the federal government to reimburse his state for the more than $11 billion of taxpayer money it has spent on border security over the past four years. (REUTERS/Callaghan O’hare)

In response to the federal government’s lack of action at the border, Abbott took matters into his own hands and launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021, which deployed the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to the US-Mexico border.

Operation Lone Star has reduced illegal immigration into Texas by 87% over the past four years, proving the “effectiveness of President Donald Trump’s border measures,” according to Abbott, who added that his efforts have shone a national spotlight on the crisis.

The governor outlined that the operation has also resulted in the apprehension of more than half a million illegal immigrants, stopped more than 140,000 illegal attempts to enter the US, made more than 50,000 criminal arrests, seized more than half a billion lethal doses of fentanyl, built more than 240 miles of border barriers and established the only National Guard base along the Texas-Mexico border.

“In short, Texas stepped up where the federal government refused and in doing so, protected all Americans from President Biden’s dangerous policies,” Abbott wrote.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS RENEW PUSH TO REIMBURSE TEXAS FOR ‘OPERATION LONE STAR’ BORDER SECURITY PUSH

Though he is proud of the operation, Abbott noted that its success came with a high price tag of more than $11.1 billion, which has been, and continues to be, paid by Texas taxpayers when it “should have been the federal government’s responsibility.”

In a document breaking down the costs, Abbott said that prior to the Biden administration, the state of Texas spent approximately $800 million every two years to supplement federal efforts at the border.

Illegal immigrants pass through coils of razor wire while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, in March 2024. The wire was placed by the troops as part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s “Operation Lone Star” to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. ( John Moore/Getty Images)

“The burden that our State has borne is a direct result of a refusal by the federal government to do its job,” Abbott wrote. “The work that Texas has done through Operation Lone Star has protected and will continue to benefit the entire country.”

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House Republicans have introduced bills in the past requesting Texas be reimbursed for the billions spent on border security, but legislation has never been passed.

January 24, 2025