Happy New Year 2025

Tag: tapped

7 lawmakers tapped for panel probing JFK assassination, Epstein, UFOs

Seven House Republicans have been named to a new task force dedicated to weighing the declassification of some of the U.S.’ most infamous “secrets.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., as expected, will lead the explosive panel – formally known as the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. It will operate under the House Oversight Committee and its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.

The list, though short, signals House GOP leaders are letting the conference’s conservative wing take the wheel on this investigation.

In addition to Luna, the task force will also include members of the often rebellious House Freedom Caucus such as Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Eric Burlison, R-Mo.

FBI UNCOVERS THOUSANDS OF UNDISCLOSED RECORDS CONNECTED TO JFK’S ASSASSINATION

Seven House Republicans have been named to a task force on “federal secrets.” (Fox News Digital/Getty/AP)

Also on the panel is Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who has made headlines on several culture war issues over the last year.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who frequently collaborates with Luna on issues relating to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) in Congress, is on the panel as well, as is first-term Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas.

“Bad day to be a classified government secret,” Mace wrote on X.

SCOOP: KEY CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DRAWS RED LINE ON HOUSE BUDGET PLAN

Rep. Nancy Mace is part of the new federal secrets task force. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project)

Burlison wrote on the site, “A Government cloaked in secrecy has been a tool for control.”

Luna pledged to seek “truth and transparency” in a written statement announcing the task force last week.

She pledged to “give Americans the answers they deserve” on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jeffrey Epstein’s client list, COVID-19, UAPs, and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Luna said when announcing the list of members, “We have assembled a team of dedicated leaders who have consistently fought for transparency and full disclosure.”

The task force will answer to House Oversight and Accountability committee Chairman James Comer. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Our mission is simple: to ensure these documents are released swiftly and in their entirety, giving the American people the truth they deserve,” Luna said.

Comer said of the list, “Ensuring government transparency for the American people is a core mission of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.”

“The Republicans on Rep. Luna’s task force are steadfast champions of transparency, and I am confident they will vigorously pursue and deliver the truth on critical issues,” Comer said.

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]

February 18, 2025
Fox News Politics News Letter: Ex-college football coach tapped by governor

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.

Here’s what’s happening…

–Tulsi Gabbard faces next test in confirmation battle with key Senate hurdle

-Trump says he ordered firing of military academies’ Board of Visitors

-ICE arrests homeless illegal immigrant who asked to be detained or else he would ‘go out and commit crimes’

A ‘born leader’ in Ohio

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Monday that he is nominating former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel to serve as the state’s lieutenant governor.

“Jim Tressel is Ohio values,” DeWine said at a news conference announcing the nomination of Tressel to replace former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who DeWine appointed to the U.S. Senate last month.

“He’s a hard worker and shares that vision (I have) for the future of Ohio. He has the ability to pull people together. He has the ability to lead. He will enable me to be assured that if something happens to me, he can walk in and be governor that day and that would be seamless.”…Read more

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, Left, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. right (Getty/AP)

White House

TRADE WARS: Here’s how Trump’s tariffs on China could impact drug pricing and other healthcare costs…Read more

STUDY FUNDS: Trump sparks backlash after cutting billions in overhead costs from NIH research grants…Read more

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a $9 billion spending cut in response to a new mandate from the Trump administration. (Alamy/Getty Images)

OVERRULED: Trump DOJ calls judge’s DOGE order ‘anti-constitutional’…Read more

World Stage

‘SERIOUS S—‘: Iran’s campaign trail threats against Trump more serious than publicly reported, book claims…Read more

‘DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENT’: Egypt planning ’emergency’ Arab summit on Palestinian territory as Trump insists US ‘own’ Gaza…Read more

‘TRUMP WAS RIGHT’: 5-figure ad buy urges states to crack down as China floods market with illicit vapes…Read more

Side-by-side of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping (Getty)

Capitol Hill

RADIOACTIVE RECALL: AZ Senate leader urges Burgum to reverse Biden-Obama ‘land grabs’ on uranium sites…Read more

SO MUCH WINNING: The confirmation juggernaut: How Trump is getting everything he wants in building his Cabinet…Read more

DRAGGING DOGE DOWN: Schumer reveals Dem counter-offensive against Trump’s DOGE audit…Read more

WOLFPACK: More than 100 lawmakers join Congressional DOGE Caucus…Read more

SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Dems flirt with government shutdown threat despite past furor over spending cliff…Read more

(Getty/Fox News Illustration )

TEAM EFFORT: Senate GOP campaign committee looks to streamline operations to hold majority in 2026…Read more

CRACKING DOWN: House, Senate lawmakers move to slap limits on NGOs aiding illegal immigrants, amid Trump funding crackdown…Read more

X FACTOR: Elon Musk embraces X platform as key tool in DOGE transparency amid onslaught of attacks from Dems…Read more

UPSTATE SHOWDOWN: NY GOP fumes Dems ‘could give a s—t’ about democracy as Stefanik seat targeted in new bill…Read more

Across America

‘STRENGTH IS OUR UNITY’: Hegseth bans transgender people from joining military, pauses gender care to follow Trump guidance…Read more

‘WASTEFUL SPENDING’: Department of Veterans Affairs cancels $178K in subscriptions to Politico Pro…Read more

CUTTING MORE WASTE: Interview with nonprofit calling out National Human Trafficking Hotline for wasting government funds on ineffective system…Read more

‘CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS’: The Impoundment Control Act takes center stage in Washington…Read more

NEW BIG APPLE BALLOTS?: 800,000 non-citizens could soon be voting in New York City’s elections…Read more

Voters received an “I Voted” sticker after casting their ballot. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

REVAMPING FEMA: ‘Get rid of FEMA the way it exists today,’ says Sec. Noem…Read more

‘KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE’: Blue-state lawmakers consider bill to roll back sanctuary policies…Read more

SCHOOLED: Russ Vought offers one-word response after his alma mater deletes message congratulating him on confirmation…Read more

Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

This article was written by Fox News staff.

February 10, 2025
Russ Vought, tapped as CFPB’s acting director, directs bureau to issue no new rules, stop all investigations

Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought is now also the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he has directed staff to not issue any new rules, to suspend effective dates of all final rules and to stop any new investigations.

Vought, also a Project 2025 author, was named acting director of the CFPB on Friday.

“I am honored that President Trump designated me as Acting Director of the Bureau on February 7, 2025,” Vought said in an email to CFPB colleagues obtained by RealClearPolitics. “As Acting Director, I am committed to implementing the President’s policies, consistent with the law, and acting as a faithful steward of the Bureau’s resources.”

He issued several directives that, effective immediately, must be followed by all employees, contractors and other CFPB personnel “unless expressly approved by the Acting Director or required by law,” according to RealClearPolitics.

RUSSELL VOUGHT CONFIRMED TO HEAD GOVERNMENT’S LEADING BUDGET OFFICE AFTER DEMS HOLD 30-HOUR PROTEST

Russell Vought speaks during a Senate Budget Committee hearing on his nomination, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The directives include not approving or issuing any proposed or final rules or formal or informal guidance and for the bureau to suspend the effective dates of all final rules that have been issued or published but have not gone into effect.

Vought also ordered the bureau not to “commence, take investigative activities related to, or settle enforcement actions.” CFPB must not open any new investigation in any manner and must cease any pending probes, he said.

The acting director said the CFPB shall not issue public communications of any type, including research papers.

Russell Vought is sworn in during the Senate Banking Committee nomination hearing in the Dirksen Senate Building on January 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

Additionally, the CFPB must not approve or execute any material agreements, including those related to employee matters or contractors, and must not make or approve filings or appearances by the bureau in any litigation except to ask for a pause in proceedings.

The bureau was also told to cease all supervision and examination activity and to cease all stakeholder engagement.

Vought also sent a letter to the Federal Reserve requesting no money for the CFPB’s third quarter of fiscal year 2025.

SENATE DEMOCRATS SPEAK ALL NIGHT AGAINST TRUMP OMB NOMINEE, DELAYING CONFIRMATION VOTE

Russell Vought testifies during the Senate Banking Committee nomination hearing in the Dirksen Senate Building on January 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Pursuant to the Consumer Financial Protection Act, I have notified the Federal Reserve that CFPB will not be taking its next draw of unappropriated funding because it is not ‘reasonably necessary’ to carry out its duties,” Vought wrote on X. “The Bureau’s current balance of $711.6 billion is in fact excessive in the current fiscal environment. This spigot, long contributing to CFPB’s unaccountability, is now being turned off.”

This comes after Vought was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

Fox News Digital has reached out to CFPB for further comment.

February 9, 2025
Trump looks to enforce trans inmate crackdown as new acting federal prisons chief tapped

A new interim director has been tapped to lead the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) as President Donald Trump looks to enforce a crackdown on transgender inmates in facilities that do not match their biological sex.

William W. Lothrop was named the new BOP director after Colette Peters resigned on Inauguration Day. It’s unclear when the Trump administration will appoint someone to permanently fill the role.

“As we face ongoing challenges, including staffing shortages and operational issues, I am committed to working alongside you to find real solutions that strengthen our facilities,” Lothrop said in the statement. “We will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners and stakeholders to maintain robust programming and support services for inmates.”

TRUMP’S ‘TWO SEXES’ EXECUTIVE ORDER COMES ON HEELS OF SCOTUS ACCEPTING ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO LGBT AGENDA

Trump signs executive order stating there are only “two-sexes.” (Getty Images)

On his first day in office, Trump announced a temporary hiring freeze for federal positions and reversed former President Joe Biden’s ban on private prisons. His executive order, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” defines sex strictly as male or female, based on biological characteristics, and mandates that federal agencies adopt this definition in their policies and practices.

The order specifies that individuals should be housed in federal prisons according to their biological sex rather than their gender identity, which will apply to the 2,300 transgender inmates currently housed in federal prisons across the U.S. It also halts federal funding for transgender procedures and treatments for inmates.

“The Attorney General shall ensure that the Bureau of Prisons revises its policies concerning medical care to be consistent with this order, and shall ensure that no Federal funds are expended for any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex,” the order reads.

PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST PROSECUTED BY BIDEN DOJ REACTS TO TRUMP PARDON: ‘I WANT TO GIVE HIM A HUG’

During the Biden administration, several U.S. states allowed transgender inmates to be housed in facilities that align with their gender identity. (Getty Images)

During the Biden administration, several U.S. states implemented policies allowing transgender inmates to be housed in facilities that align with their gender identity. In 2021, California became the first state to enact a policy permitting transgender inmates to request housing based on their gender identity. Since then, the state has seen a significant increase in such requests, with a 234% rise in the transgender inmate population.

In January 2022, New York state revised its policies to allow transgender individuals to choose their prison housing. And Colorado reached a legal settlement to house biological men in women’s facilities last year, which was part of a case involving 400 transgender women.

Fox News Digital has previously reported multiple cases of male inmates, serving sentences for sexual assault, murder and other violent offenses, in federal prisons being transferred to women’s facilities. Many of them have received taxpayer-funded medical procedures to medically transition genders.

Lothrop, who was formerly the BOP deputy director, is replacing Peters, who was appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 and touted as a reform-minded outsider tasked with rebuilding an agency plagued for years by staff shortages, widespread corruption, misconduct and abuse.

‘SCARED’ AND ‘TRAUMATIZED’ WALZ’S SUPPORT FOR TRANS WOMEN IN MINNESOTA WOMEN’S PRISON ‘ENDANGERING’ INMATES

In January 2022, New York state revised its policies to allow transgender individuals to choose their prison housing. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images)

The agency has nearly 36,000 employees and is responsible for more than 155,000 federal inmates. The BOP director is not subject to Senate confirmation, according to the legal news service Law 360. During her tenure, Peters appeared before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and spoke about the challenges the BOP faced, but she had trouble getting results.

During the end of Trump’s campaign, he pledged he would crack down on left-wing gender ideology and ran a successful ad campaign attacking his opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, for her role in ushering in sex change procedures for incarcerated people in California.

“Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” the narrator of Trump’s campaign advertisement said.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and BOP for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.

January 27, 2025