The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has called on the Department of Justice and the FBI to “immediately investigate” a string of anonymous pizza deliveries sent to judges’ homes.

In the event that the DOJ and the FBI have already initiated investigations, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also asked Attorney General Pam Bondi and Kash Patel for an update on those efforts. 

“In recent months, federal judges and their relatives have received anonymous deliveries to their homes,” Durbin wrote in a letter to Bondi and Patel on Tuesday. “These deliveries are threats intended to show that those seeking to intimidate the targeted judge know the judge’s address or their family members’ addresses. The targeted individuals reportedly include Supreme Court justices, judges handling legal cases involving the Administration, and the children of judges. Some of these deliveries were made using the name of Judge Esther Salas’s son, Daniel Anderl, who was murdered at the family’s home by a former litigant who posed as a deliveryman.”

JUDGE WHOSE SON WAS KILLED REACTS TO SHOCKING ATTACK ON NEVADA JUDGE 

“These incidents threaten not only judges and their families, but also judicial independence and the rule of law,” Durbin wrote. “It is imperative that the Justice Department (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate these anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and that those responsible be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”

Durbin asked that Bondi and Patel provide “information on any steps that DOJ or the FBI have taken to protect the judges and their families who have received anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and to prevent further anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and other threats.” His letter also highlighted “the essential role that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) plays in protecting the federal judiciary and urge you to ensure that the size of the USMS workforce is not reduced.” 

The Democrat said USMS Acting Director Mark P. Pittella reportedly sent a letter on April 15 to more than 5,000 USMS employees offering them the opportunity to resign. 

“In the midst of increasing threats of violence against judges, it is inappropriate and unacceptable to reduce the size of the agency tasked with protecting the federal judiciary and the judicial process,” Durbin wrote. “Accordingly, I ask you to commit to fully supporting USMS and to maintaining or increasing its current number of employees.” 

The letter further asked that Bondi and Patel brief the committee and provide responses to a series of questions by May 20, including how many anonymous pizza deliveries have been sent to judges’ homes or the homes of their family members since Jan. 20 – President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day; whether each matter prompted an investigation and if not, why; and how many suspects have been identified and if there’s any reason to suspect coordination. 

Durbin said any responses with “classified or law-enforcement sensitive material” should be sent to the committee Democrats under a separate cover.

‘60 MINUTES’ SEGMENT PAINTS TRUMP AS THREAT TO COUNTRY’S LEGAL SYSTEM AMID LAWSUIT 

The letter only named one impacted judge – U.S. District Judge Esther Salas. 

Salas’ 20-year-old son, Daniel Anderl, was murdered on July 19, 2020, at the family’s home in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The gunman, who posed as a FedEx delivery driver, also critically wounded Salas’ husband. The suspect was identified as Roy Den Hollander, a self-proclaimed anti-feminist lawyer who previously appeared in Salas’ courtroom. Authorities said Den Hollander died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in upstate New York days after killing Daniel. 

Before the shooting, Salas had handled high-profile cases, including those involving Jeffrey Epstein and the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Teresa and Joe Giudice.

Last month, Salas told news outlets that she and other judges have received strange pizza deliveries at their homes, with at least 10 of them having her son’s name on the order. 

In March, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s family members reported receiving strange pizza deliveries to separate households, Newsweek reported. Authorities said Barrett’s sister also received a bomb threat. 

J. Michelle Childs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit also claimed in a podcast last month that a mysterious pizza delivery had arrived at her door. 

“Federal judges are receiving anonymous deliveries as an intimidation tactic. It’s an ongoing threat… and it’s increasing,” Durbin wrote on X. “Some deliveries are even using the name of a judge’s son who was murdered by a former litigant posing as a deliveryman. Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel must investigate.” 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Judges are facing ongoing and increasing threats… even against their families,” Senate Judiciary Democrats said on X. “Pam Bondi must commit to fully supporting the Marshals Service and—at minimum—maintaining the current size of its workforce.” 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department and the FBI for comment early Wednesday but did not immediately hear back. 

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., has launched a bid to win a Senate seat held by longtime lawmaker Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who announced in late April that he would not seek reelection.

Krishnamoorthi is joining an already crowded field that includes Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has the support of Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., is also reportedly considering a bid of her own. However, Krishnamoorthi enters the race with a sizable $19 million campaign war chest, according to Politico. 

DICK DURBIN, NO. 2 SENATE DEMOCRAT, WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION

In an announcement video posted Tuesday on his campaign’s X account, Krishnamoorthi vowed to stand up to “bullies like Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” though the latter left the White House last week. The congressman portrayed the president as a leader who is “ignoring the Constitution” and is “out for revenge.”

DEMOCRAT REP OPTIMISTIC OF POLICY CHANGES TO KEEP FENTANYL OUT OF US

The congressman highlighted his family background as a first-generation American whose parents “were able to use food stamps and public housing to move us into the middle class.” He also referenced his close ties to former President Barack Obama, saying that he “showed that Illinois will give you a shot even when you have a funny name.” He then touted his A+ rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and F rating from the National Rifle Association.

“I’ll never be quiet while billionaires like Elon Musk and a convicted felon deny the dreams of the next generation for their own egos and personal profit,” Krishnamoorthi said in the video. He also vowed to “make America work for working people.”

Krishnamoorthi was first elected to Congress in 2016 and currently serves as the ranking member of the Select Committee on the CCP. He is also the ranking member on the Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services.

TSA Administrator Adam Stahl explained what Americans without REAL ID should do if they have an upcoming flight, and he addressed concerns about the potential for long lines as a result.

Enforcement of REAL ID went into effect on Wednesday in order for people to fly domestically within the United States and enter some federal buildings, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Stahl told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that people who “do not have a compliant REAL ID will experience possibly additional vetting, additional screening at the checkpoint. Those that do not – We’ll be working pretty aggressively to minimize any sort of impacts to the checkpoint, to travel to the checkpoint.”

REAL ID IS ABOUT TO GO INTO EFFECT. HERE’S HOW IT MAY IMPACT VOTING

He noted that a military ID, a passport, and global entry are alternatives that somebody can use, but if they do not have any of those, they will make their flight.

“You will still get through the checkpoint. You’ll be okay. You may face some additional screening measures, and that’s why we’re really underscoring to folks to please go to the airport early.

He noted that REAL ID’s history stems from 9/11, even though the enforcement of the law has been pushed back several times.

REAL ID DOCUMENTS HELD UP IN MAIL ACCORDING TO AMERICANS WHO ENROLLED BEFORE DEADLINE

DHS noted that REAL ID will assist with immigration enforcement, as those in the country illegally will not be able to fly unless they are flying back to their country of origin.

“This is a law that was passed in 2005 called the Real ID Law. And this was a critical vulnerability that was identified in the wake of 9/11. And this is really all about elevating identity and document integrity. And so, this administration, this secretary feels strongly that this is an important law to enforce and that really, this is critical to ensuring the safety and the security of our skies.”

Stahl also addressed skeptics of the law, who may be concerned that it could be used to keep a closer eye on the American public unnecessarily.

REAL ID REJECTION BY AMERICANS MAY COME DOWN TO ONE SURPRISING FACTOR

“The notion that we are creating some sort of national surveillance system is not true, it’s not correct,” Stahl said, saying the TSA’s main focus is “safety” for travelers.

“This is all about, again, ensuring and elevating document and data integrity to really ensure that we’re ensuring the safety in our skies of our passengers and of the traveling public. So it has nothing to do with a national database. It’s all about elevating document and identity integrity,” he added.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered to help out with the development of the Obama Presidential Center, which has been plagued by huge cost overruns and delays, with the project’s embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies drawing significant attention recently.

Trump, who reshaped city skylines with towering skyscrapers throughout his business career, linked DEI to the problems at the massive Chicago project, which has seen costs spiral from an initial $350 million to $830 million in 2021, with no new updated figures available. 

“Look, President Obama, if he wanted help, I’d give him help because I’m a really good builder and I build on time, on budget. He’s building his library in Chicago. It’s a disaster,” Trump said at the White House alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

OBAMA LIBRARY, BEGUN WITH LOFTY DEI GOALS, NOW PLAGUED BY $40M RACIALLY CHARGED SUIT, BALLOONING COSTS

Trump was speaking about the Biden administration’s CHIPS Act — passed to boost domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing – and its DEI provisions when he pivoted to the Obama Presidential Center. 

“[Obama] said something to the effect, ‘I only want DEI, I only want woke,’” Trump said. “He wants woke people to build it. Well, he got woke people and they have massive cost overruns. A job is stopped. I don’t know, it’s a disaster. And I don’t like that happening because it’s bad for the presidency that a thing like that should happen. He’s got a library that’s a disaster.”

Construction is still under way at the 19.3-acre site which will consist of a 225-foot-tall museum, a digital library, conference facilities, a gymnasium and a regulation-sized NBA court. 

From the outset, the project touted “ambitious goals” for certain construction diversity quotas, with its contracts allocated to “diverse suppliers,” 35% of which were required to be minority-based enterprises (MBEs).

A $40.75 million racially charged lawsuit filed earlier this year by a minority contractor against the project’s structural engineer shined a spotlight on the DEI-driven aspect of the project. The structural engineers claimed the minority contractor lacked sufficient qualifications and experience to perform its work, resulting in delays.

Trump on Tuesday said Obama was paying for prioritizing DEI over meritocracy. 

“And he wanted to be very politically correct and he didn’t use good, hard, tough, mean construction workers that I love Marco,” Trump said, switching into his trademark deeper tone while addressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

MUSK’S DOGE TERMINATES LEASE AT OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY SITE

“I love those construction workers but he didn’t want construction workers. He wanted people that never did it before and he’s got a disaster in his hands. Many millions of dollars over budget and I would love to help him with it or somebody else I could recommend professionals, but it was not built in a professional manner.”

Emily Bittner, the vice president of communications at the nonprofit Obama Foundation, said Trump’s remarks were not based in facts and that the center itself is not involved in the lawsuit, nor did it delay the timeline of the facility which is set to open in 2026. The Obama Foundation oversees the center’s development and will also be housed at the center when it opens. 

“Everyone who sees the Obama Presidential Center is blown away by its beauty, scale and the way it will be an economic engine for Chicago and a beacon of hope for the world,” Bittner told Fox News Digital in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming all visitors to the 19.3-acre campus next spring, to experience a presidential center that not only honors the Obamas’ legacy but also lifts up the next generation of leaders.”

Bittner said the hundreds of workers on site every day are a testament to the center’s progress and added that the project is being funded privately and not by the taxpayer. 

The library at the center will be a digital one and not a physical one like other presidential libraries have, which are federally funded and have size restrictions. 

Obama’s current presidential library is in Hoffman Estates in the northwest of Chicago and is expected to move to College Park in Maryland later this year. 

With REAL ID’s deadline approaching Wednesday, there are still swaths of the country where travelers could run into trouble trying to hit the skies for summer break.

Although at least 12 states are more than 90% REAL ID-compliant, many still have significant portions of their populations who will need a passport to fly.

The states in the proverbial green include Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming as well as Washington, D.C.

Texas reported 98% compliance, Mississippi 97%, Hawaii and Utah 96%, according to a CBS survey.

New Jersey has recently made headlines for its low REAL ID compliance, but it tops the nation in passport ownership, with 69% of residents holding one, according to data from the Center for American Progress and Swift Passport Services.

MARRIED WOMEN FACE REAL ID DOCUMENTATION HURDLES: ‘I CAN’T ACCEPT THIS’

Delaware, California, New York, Massachusetts and Alaska also ranked high.

Though geographically diverse, all the states – except Delaware – serve as major international travel hubs, home to airports like Ted Stevens, Logan, and JFK. The First State, however, is only a short distance from Philadelphia International Airport.

By contrast, the states with the lowest proportion of passport holders tend to be ones without major airports: West Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama.

What effect that may have on REAL ID-era travel remains unclear.

Those states do, however, have regional Amtrak stops like Harpers Ferry, Jackson, Ashland and Birmingham, respectively. REAL ID is not required for intrastate or interstate rail travel.

REAL ID IS ABOUT TO GO INTO EFFECT: HERE’S HOW IT MAY IMPACT VOTING

A REAL ID is an identification that includes a star emblazoned in the upper corner to denote the holder has provided additional identifying documentation like a Social Security card to a government agent. It will be required for air travel and to enter most government or military installations.

The law requiring REAL ID was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, but has been delayed several times by multiple presidential administrations.

Last week, Wingate University political science professor Dr. Magdalena Krajewska – an expert on national ID cards – told the school’s news outlet she was surprised the delays have taken so long.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I feel like all of us who were alive during that time, all of us who witnessed this as it was happening, thought the U.S. would do everything to prevent something similar from happening again,” she said.

Krajewska added it is important that people also know they don’t need a REAL ID to enter less-secure government locations like a post office.

Democrat Angus King III, a son of U.S. Sen. Angus King Jr.’s, I-Maine, has announced a bid for the Maine governorship.

“I’m Angus King, and if you know my dad, you know my values,” the gubernatorial hopeful said in a campaign video.

His father previously served as governor of the state from early 1995 until early 2003, and has served in the U.S. Senate since early 2013.

SEN. ANGUS KING: A ‘DECLARATION OF CONSCIENCE’ ON DONALD TRUMP’S 100TH DAY

“Ever since the day we met in Skowhegan, I’ve known Angus has something special. He’s always been hard-working, smart, engaged, and caring, and I’m so proud of who he is today and the work he’s set out to do,” Sen. King said, according to Angus King III’s campaign website, which notes that he was born in Skowhegan.

“He’s a builder and an optimist who knows Maine and doesn’t quit until the job is done. He’s been building things to take care of people and make the world a better place throughout his life, and I think his combination of smarts, experience, and character will make him an excellent governor of Maine. In fact, I’m sure he’ll be in the top two governors named Angus ever,” the senator added. 

6 US GOVERNORS TO OPEN TALKS WITH CANADIAN PROVINCIAL LEADERS ON TARIFFS

Current Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is currently serving her second consecutive term, may not run again in 2026.

The Maine constitution stipulates, “The person who has served 2 consecutive popular elective 4-year terms of office as Governor shall be ineligible to succeed himself or herself.”

CENSURED MAINE LAWMAKER URGES SUPREME COURT INTERVENTION AS TRANSGENDER ATHLETE DOMINATES GIRLS’ TRACK MEET

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced a gubernatorial bid earlier this year and is also running as a Democrat.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill will introduce a bill on Wednesday to help Americans with physical issues disqualifying them from military service to find civilian jobs in the armed forces and defense industry.

The Defense Workforce Integration Act is sponsored by Republicans and Democrats in both chambers of Congress.

The proposal, which seeks to support the thousands of Americans with physical issues that disqualify them from service, would target workforce shortages in critical areas, including manufacturing, cybersecurity and defense logistics.

HEGSETH ORDERS ‘HISTORIC’ REDUCTION OF GENERAL OFFICERS IN THE MILITARY

“Oftentimes, the U.S. Department of Defense will invest significant time and resources into military recruits’ training – only for those recruits to be taken out of consideration for medical reasons, many of which do not prohibit them from working to keep our nation safe,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., one author of the bill.

Key provisions of the legislation include directing the Department of Defense to provide information about civilian employment opportunities to people who were medically disqualified from service during initial evaluations.

SUPREME COURT STAYS LOWER COURT RULING, ALLOWING TRUMP TRANSGENDER BAN TO PROCEED

The bill also aims to support service members disqualified early in their careers, expanding on existing Air Force best practices by establishing Army and Navy personnel management programs. These programs would facilitate recommendations to civilian hiring authorities in the Department of Defense, which improves access to the hiring process without guaranteeing jobs.

“Medical issues might prevent some patriotic Americans from active military service, but it doesn’t have to prevent them from finding other ways to serve our country,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a co-sponsor of the bill in the Upper Chamber.

The lawmakers want to turn a potential loss of talent into an opportunity by allowing the Department of Defense to retain people in whom they have already invested resources.

Reuters contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump has some polling problems with his approval ratings sliding into negative territory since he reentered the White House three and a half months ago. But he’s far from alone when it comes to taking a political punch in public opinion.

The opposing Democratic Party’s favorable ratings keep sinking to new lows.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said this past weekend in a “Fox News Sunday” interview that the party’s focus right now is “squarely on making sure that we stand up for hardworking Americans who are being left behind in this Trump economy.”

But many Americans apparently don’t believe that Democrats are up to the task.

KAMALA HARRIS TAKES NEXT STEP IN RETURN TO POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT

The Democrats’ ratings stood underwater in the latest Fox News national poll at 41% favorable and 56% unfavorable in a survey conducted April 18-21.

That’s an all-time low for the Democrats in Fox News polling. And for the first time in a decade, the party’s standing was lower than that of the GOP, which stood at 44% favorable and 54% unfavorable.

The figures were reversed last summer, when Fox News last asked the party favorability question in one of its surveys.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING

The Fox News poll is far from an outlier.

The Democratic Party’s favorable ratings were well in negative territory in a Pew Research national survey – 38% favorable, 60% unfavorable – conducted in early April and at 36% favorable, 60% unfavorable in a Wall Street Journal poll in the field a couple of weeks earlier.

And national polls conducted in February by Quinnipiac University and March by CNN and by NBC News also indicated the favorable ratings for the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows.

But there’s more.

Confidence in the Democratic Party’s congressional leadership sunk to an all-time low, according to a Gallup poll conducted early last month.

The confidence rating for Democrats’ leadership in Congress stood at 25% in the survey, which was nine points below the previous low of 34% recorded in 2023.

The semi-annual Harvard Youth Poll, which was released late last month, indicated that approval ratings for Democrats in Congress among Americans aged 18-29 nosedived.

POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS 15 MONTHS INTO HIS SECOND PRESIDENCY

An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted in mid-April indicated that more respondents trusted Trump (40%) than Democrats in Congress (32%) to handle the nation’s main problems.

And a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted late last month suggested Republicans hold a significant advantage over Democrats on two top issues: the economy and immigration.

The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since last November’s election setbacks, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. And Republicans made gains among Black and Hispanic voters as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party’s base.

Since Trump’s return to power, an increasingly angry and energized base of Democrats is pushing for party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against the president’s sweeping and controversial agenda during the opening months of his second administration.

“What we’ve seen over the last few months is some Democrats taking it upon themselves to tackle what has been a larger brand problem over the past decade and a half,” a Democrat strategist and communicator who’s a veteran of presidential campaigns told Fox News.

The anger not only at Trump and Republicans but also at fellow Democrats appears to be a factor in the party’s polling woes, with the drop in positivity toward the Democrats in the Fox News poll partially being a self-inflicted wound. Party favorability among self-identified Democrats plunged 10 points from last summer (87%) to last month (77%) in the survey.

At the same time, the Republican Party saw a slight improvement among their party faithful: 83% of self-identified Republicans had a favorable view in 2024 vs. 85% in April.

But there’s a silver lining for the Democrats.

“The higher favorable rating for the Republican Party is entirely due to Democrats feeling less favorable toward their party than Republicans do toward theirs,” said Democrat pollster Chris Anderson, who conducts the Fox News surveys with Republican Daron Shaw. “This in and of itself is unlikely to translate into midterm success for the GOP as Democrats say they will almost universally vote for their party and independents favor the Democrats as well.”

The Fox News poll indicates that if the 2026 midterm elections were held today, 49% of voters would back a generic Democrat in their congressional district, with 42% supporting the generic Republican candidate.

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

The United States has had 20 years to roll out REAL ID. 

Starting today, passengers must have a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification, like a passport, to travel domestically in the country. 

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill spoke with Fox News Digital about how their home states implemented the final phase of REAL ID, as President Donald Trump‘s administration signaled there would be no deadline extensions. 

“I had to go through all that to get it on my license, and that was a year or two ago,” Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn, said. “Tennessee put that into effect a long time ago. If there’s a hard deadline now, people better get on the stick.”

While some Republican lawmakers expressed concern to Fox News Digital about their constituents not knowing or being able to get a REAL ID in time, most agreed REAL ID was a step in the right direction for national security. 

PANDEMIC, PRICE TAGS AND PRIVACY CONCERNS: WHY IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO IMPLEMENT REAL ID

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called REAL ID a “better way to prove who you are, and make sure there’s less fraud in the country.” 

‘EXPECT WAIT TIMES’: TRUMP ADMIN SIGNALS NO EXCEPTIONS AFTER KENTUCKY ASKS FOR REAL ID EXTENSION

“It’s important that every state does the same thing,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said. “We can’t have some states doing one thing, some states doing the other. This is the United States of America, the last time I looked. We’re going to do it. Let’s all do it the same, do it the right way, take care of business, and go from there.”

Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., told Fox News Digital that Colorado has not had any problems with REAL ID, adding, “Colorado’s gotten a lot of things wrong, but on REAL ID, I think they did a good job.”

Other states have not been as successful in their REAL ID rollouts. 

Kentucky lawmakers, including Kentucky’s Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jimmy Higdon and 27 state Senate leaders, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on April 17 requesting a delay on REAL ID enforcement, citing concerns among Kentuckians “who are still unable to access driver’s licensing services due to limited appointment availability and long lines for walk-ins.” 

The Trump administration confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital that states would need to comply by the May 7 deadline, despite Kentucky’s delay request. 

“What I’m concerned about is that constituents who may not be aware of the REAL ID requirement or that didn’t have time to get their REAL ID, will show up at an airport to go on a flight and realize they can’t fly domestically anymore without that REAL ID,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said. 

Malliotakis said she has been trying to get the word out to her community that passengers will either need to get a REAL ID or travel with their passport starting Wednesday. 

“I think the government needs to be more proactive and do advertisements. I would urge DHS and TSA to be doing that to get the word out there, so people can get their REAL ID as soon as possible,” she added. 

However, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., took the criticism a step further, telling Fox News Digital that REAL ID “has not really been talked a whole lot about in Congress, and we’re starting to get questions from constituents.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“We want to make sure that people have the ability to make accommodations, but the question is whether or not we even need this. We haven’t even had that debate in Congress. We should,” Schmitt added, despite Congress passing the REAL ID Act in 2005. 

Rep. Dale Strong, R-Ala., had a different take. “Get the yellow star on your driver’s license, it’ll help you down the road.”

The Catholic Church announced that priests will be excommunicated if they follow a new Washington state law requiring clergy to report confessions about child abuse to law enforcement.

“Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession — or they will be excommunicated from the Church,” the Archdiocese of Seattle said in a statement. “All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.”

“The Catholic Church agrees with the goal of protecting children and preventing child abuse,” the statement added, noting that it “remains committed to reporting child sexual abuse, working with victim survivors towards healing and protecting all minors and vulnerable people.” 

The new law — signed by Democrat Gov. Bob Ferguson last week — added “members of the clergy” to a list of professionals who are required to report information that relates to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement, and the measure does not provide an exception for information offered at a confession booth.

DOJ INVESTIGATING ‘ANTI-CATHOLIC’ WASHINGTON STATE LAW REQUIRING CLERGY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE

Priests in the Catholic Church have been bound by the absolute seal of confidentiality, an obligation that requires them to keep anything learned in confession a secret.

The Archdiocese of Seattle said its policies already require priests to be mandatory reporters unless the information is received during confession.

“While we remain committed to protecting minors and all vulnerable people from abuse, priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” its statement said.

UTAH BILL WOULD PROTECT CLERGY MEMBERS WHEN REPORTING CHILD ABUSE TO POLICE

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into the law for possible violations of the First Amendment’s religious protections.

“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said.

“Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals,” she continued. “We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation.”

The bill will go into effect on July 26.

Washington is one of just five states that does not explicitly or implicitly require clergy to report suspected child abuse or neglect, a federal report shows, according to Fox 13. Most states exempt information obtained through confession from mandatory reporting, but Washington now joins just a handful of states that do not provide such exemptions.

“This new law singles out religion and is clearly both government overreach and a double standard,” the Archdiocese of Seattle said. “The line between Church and state has been crossed and needs to be walked back. People of every religion in the State of Washington and beyond should be alarmed by this overreach of our Legislature and Governor.”

After 20 years of delays, the REAL ID deadline to fly commercial in the United States has landed. Here are five things to know before flying. 

On May 11, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act into law to enhance national security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Passed by the U.S. Congress, the act set federal standards for issuing identification cards, like driver’s licenses. 

In addition to the compliance requirement to board a federally regulated commercial aircraft, beginning May 7, 2025, American adults will need a compliant ID to access certain federal facilities and enter nuclear power plants, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

After the REAL ID deadline, state-issued driver’s licenses or IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant will no longer be accepted as a valid form of identification at airports. 

REAL ID ‘UNNECESSARY IN KEEPING US SAFE,’ GOP LAWMAKER SAYS AS DEADLINE LOOMS

NO ‘REAL ID’ APPOINTMENTS OPEN IN NEW JERSEY AS RESIDENTS SOUND OFF: ‘GET WITH THE TIMES, NJ’

Starting May 7, travelers can only use their state-issued ID or license to fly within the United States if it is REAL ID-complaint. However, there are several other forms of identification that will still be accepted for domestic travel, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Travelers unsure if their ID is accepted can check with their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and check for a star on the upper top portion of their card, signaling REAL ID compliance. 

Don’t panic! Be sure to travel with a passport or another accepted identification card, if you have one. 

The TSA advises that passengers, including those with TSA Precheck, who present identification at a TSA checkpoint that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have an alternative ID form will be informed they are noncompliant and could be directed to a separate area at the airport for potential additional screening.

A TSA officer can ask noncompliant passengers to complete an identity verification process, which includes name and current address confirmation. Once your identity is confirmed, passengers can enter the screening checkpoint but might be subject to additional screening. 

TSA will not allow passengers to enter the security checkpoint if they do not provide the acceptable identification, decline to cooperate with the additional identity verification or if a passenger’s identity cannot be confirmed. 

While REAL IDs are not required to travel if a passenger has alternative accepted identification, they are recommended under the REAL ID Act. 

To obtain a REAL ID, travelers can visit their state’s DMV with documentation proving their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of residency and lawful status. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the country, so minors will not need a REAL ID to fly.

President Donald Trump is fighting several new battles at once with a flurry of initiatives that are causing consternation around the globe.

And that’s not even counting the trade war he launched.

Hollywood is in a state of panic, and bewilderment, over Trump’s vow to slap 100% tariffs on any film made outside the United States – even if they’re American-made movies.

Some countries, such as Canada – not yet the 51st state, though Trump made the pitch to visiting Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday before they held their meeting – offer lucrative incentives to lure American filmmakers, with shoots in Toronto made to look like New York or L.A. 

CARNEY SAYS CANADA IS NOT FOR SALE, TRUMP REPLIES, ‘NEVER SAY NEVER’

Gavin Newsom urged Trump to support a $7.5 billion federal tax incentive for the film industry, far larger than California’s own $330 million credit. 

Trump called Newsom “grossly incompetent” for allowing the film industry “to be taken away from Hollywood.”

I would blame streaming services most of all; people have gotten accustomed to watching movies and TV shows on their phones and laptops, whether it’s Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Max, Hulu or others.

And naturally, Trump and the blue-state governor, who obviously has presidential aspirations, would wind up in a blame game.

Trump also wants to rebuild the infamous Alcatraz prison.

The San Francisco island, called “the Rock,” was used as a federal jail from 1934 until 1963, when it was shut down because of the massive costs. Gangsters such as “Machine Gun” Kelly and Al Capone, who Trump frequently likes to cite, were held there.

“When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm,” Trump posted.

Since those breaking out had to swim a mile in frigid waters to reach San Francisco, there has never been a successful escape. Most have died.

TRUMP ORDERS FEDS TO REOPEN ALCATRAZ TO HOUSE ‘AMERICA’S MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT’ CRIMINALS

But I view this move as largely symbolic. It’s hard to imagine that Trump will be able to foot the bill – though Pam Bondi insists it will save money – and the island will remain a tourist attraction.

And then there’s the tale of Pope Donald.

Trump is now trying to dismiss the AI image, which I’m sure you’ve seen.

“You mean they can’t take a joke? You don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media? The Catholics loved it.”

“I had nothing to do with it,” Trump said. “Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope, and they put it out on the Internet.”

So he’s both minimizing the picture and distancing himself from it – not an easy maneuver.   

But Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich asked him why the controversial image was later posted on the official White House account. Trump retreated to saying he wanted to have “some fun.”

TRUMP POSTS AI IMAGE OF HIMSELF AS POPE AMID VATICAN’S SEARCH FOR NEW PONTIFF

Many Catholics, especially in the leadership, are livid over what they see as sacrilegious.

Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi posted: “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the global right enjoys being a clown.”

The New York State Catholic Conference, as noted by the Washington Post, posted: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”

The bishop of Springfield, Ill. wrote: “The Bible tells us, ‘Make no mistake: God is not mocked’ (Galatians 6:7). “The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. By publishing a picture of himself masquerading as the Pope, President Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy…”

Meanwhile, Trump did something else this week that may have surprised people.

He took the same position on the abortion pill mifepristone as the Biden administration. 

In a court filing, the Trump team asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit from three conservative attorneys general aimed at seriously restricting access to the pill. 

SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE’S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY’S HOTTEST STORIES

And it was filed in Texas before Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has a history of opposing abortion, as deputy counsel of a conservative, deeply religious law institute.

Doesn’t that mirror the accusation by the right against liberals, that a single judge can impose his or her will on the country by careful venue-shopping?

Trump, of course, takes credit for the end of Roe v. Wade by appointing the three Supreme Court justices who comprised the 6-3 conservative majority.

The administration’s filing does not deal with the merits of the case. It makes a procedural argument that the suit does not meet the legal standard to be heard by a Texas court. 

Judge Kacsmaryk, relying in part on an 1873 law, ruled that the AGs of Idaho, Missouri and Kansas can continue their lawsuit because “plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm if the motion is not granted. At least two women died from chemical abortion drugs just last year.” 

If the Trump administration succeeds on appeal, it would at the least slow down restrictions on a drug that the FDA first approved in 2000.

Abortion may have faded quite a bit as a front-line political issue. But Trump still has the ability to surprise – and to drive the news agenda.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California announced charges Tuesday against five illegals in an alleged human smuggling attempt gone wrong that resulted in at least three deaths, including a 14-year-old boy from India.

According to the attorney’s office, witnesses observed an overturned panga boat at a beach in Del Mar, California, on Monday. The statement said bystanders and San Diego lifeguards attempted rescue efforts, and law enforcement officials recovered three bodies, including a 14-year-old boy identified in court records as “P.P.B.”

The boy’s mother and father and two others were rescued and are hospitalized. The father is in a coma. The deceased child’s 10-year-old sister is still “missing at sea” and presumed dead.

Two Mexican nationals, Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna, 30, and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva, 36, were arrested at the beach and were charged with bringing in aliens resulting in death and bringing in aliens for financial gain. They face possible death sentences or life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the first charge and penalties of ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and a $250,000 fine for the second.

TRUMP SAYS MEXICAN PRESIDENT IS AFRAID OF CARTELS AFTER SHE REJECTED HIS OFFER TO SEND US TROOPS TO MEXICO

U.S. Border Patrol agents later identified two vehicles involved, apprehended the drivers and recovered eight of the remaining nine migrants missing from the boat, leaving only the 10-year-old child unaccounted for.  

The U.S. attorney’s office charged the three Mexican nationals caught allegedly transporting the migrants — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33, Gustavo Lara, 32, and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa, 31 — with transportation of illegal aliens. They face maximum sentences of ten years in prison and $500,000 fines.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

Rojas-Fregoso, identified as having previously been deported Dec. 19, 2023, is also facing an additional two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said “the drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business.”

FATHER WHOSE SON DIED FROM FENTANYL WARNS OVERDOSES ‘CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE’ AS STATES FIGHT DEADLY CRISIS

Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego, said “yesterday’s heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed.”

“Human smuggling, regardless of the route, is not only illegal but extremely dangerous. Smugglers often treat people as disposable commodities, leading to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, as we saw in this case,” Gibson said. 

“The HSI, along with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and other partners from the Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths.”

Top officials with the Trump administration are expected to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this week in Switzerland, marking the first major talks between the two countries since President Donald Trump ignited a trade war based on tariffs on imports.

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOT DROP TARIFFS TO GET CHINA TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Jamieson Greer, a trade representative, are expected to represent the U.S. as they meet with their Chinese counterparts in Geneva.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The meeting comes as the U.S. market worries over the effects of Trump’s tariffs on prices and supply continue to increase.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump’s new special envoy to the Middle East was sworn in by Secretary of State Marco Rubio Tuesday in an Oval Office ceremony.

Speaking before the swearing-in, Trump praised Witkoff, who was instrumental in securing an extended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the return of 33 hostages, including two Americans, who were being held by Hamas. 

Trump said Witkoff has “been with me, more or less, one way or the other, every step of the way,” adding that he has “absolute confidence and support and trust” in his Middle East envoy’s ability to secure key deals in the realm of foreign diplomacy, such as ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas and between Ukraine and Russia. 

Though Witkoff is a real estate businessman by trade, Trump said he “quickly established himself as one of the toughest, smartest and best negotiators in the business,” which is why he chose him for the important role of special envoy to the Middle East.

TRUMP’S GOODWILL TESTED AS PUTIN IGNORES PEACE EFFORTS DURING WITKOFF’S VISIT

“As a businessman, he’s admired and respected by all, and now Steve is putting his talents to work for America’s special envoy to the United States and making a lot of progress. Our country is blessed to have a negotiator of such skill and experience who really selflessly steps up to the plate, puts himself forward all the time,” the president said.

Trump did note there was somewhat of a learning curve for Witkoff when it came to foreign government relations but said he has been “figuring it out” at a lightning pace. 

“It takes him about an hour to figure it out,” Trump said. “After that, he’s brutal. He does a great job.” 

NEXT US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR? HERE’S WHO TRUMP MIGHT PICK TO REPLACE WALTZ

Trump noted Witkoff has already been active over the last several months, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders from Iran. 

“He’s working tirelessly to end the bloody and destructive conflicts,” said Trump, touting Witkoff’s success so far in negotiations with various world leaders.

After the ceremony, Trump took questions from reporters, addressing a range of topics, including the just-announced ceasefire between the U.S. and the Houthis. When asked about conflicting reports indicating the Houthis do not plan to stop attacking Israel, Trump said that the terror group’s surrogates have indicated “very strongly” that “they want nothing to do with [the United States].”  

Trump was also asked questions about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and, in particular, about the release of the remaining 21 living hostages. 

“This is a terrible situation. We’re trying to get the hostages out. We’ve gotten a lot of them out,” Trump told reporters, noting it is also just important to find and return the bodies of those already killed by Hamas. 

TRUMP’S SPECIAL ENVOY ON PUTIN’S CONTINENTAL ASPIRATIONS: ‘I JUST DON’T SEE THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE ALL OF EUROPE’

He shared that two weeks ago a couple whose son died as a hostage came to him and said, “Please, sir, my son is dead. Please get us back his body.” 

“They wanted his body. He’s dead,” Trump said from the Oval Office after Witkoff’s confirmation. “They know. He said they wanted his body as much as you would want the boy if he was alive. It’s a very sad thing.”

Trump also commented on Iran and its potential development of nuclear weaponry. The president said definitively that “they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.”

“This is really crunch time. I would tell you, for Iran and for their country, this is a very important time for Iran. This is the most important time in the history of Iran, for Iran, and I hope they do what’s right,” Trump told reporters. 

“I’d love to see a peace deal, a strong peace deal. … We want it to be a successful country,” he added. “We don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that. But they can’t have a nuclear weapon. And if they choose to go a different route, it’s going to be a very sad thing. And it’s something we don’t want to have to do, but we have no choice.” 

FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration’s Health and Human Services Department (HHS) sent out reinstatement notices to staff members who were part of a federal healthcare program for 9/11 survivors, following a reduction in force at HHS and its subagencies as part of Trump’s efforts to optimize the federal government. 

The administration announced in mid-February that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would face cuts that would reduce the agency’s workforce by roughly one-tenth. As part of that reduction in force, 16 workers at the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) were let go, an HHS official confirmed. 

The move spurred concern from both Democrats and Republicans.

TRUMP FOE LETITIA JAMES LEADING CHARGE ON NEW MULTISTATE LAWSUIT OVER HHS CUTS 

New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, whose district in the Hudson Valley is home to many 9/11 first responders, reportedly indicated after the cuts that he was actively communicating with the Trump administration about them. 

“This political chaos is jeopardizing the healthcare of heroes,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., added in a Sunday statement about the 16 fired WTCHP workers.

After political pressure in early April, the Trump administration eventually restored WTCHP Administrator Dr. John Howard to his role as head operator of the program, according to Lawler, and today all the staff members at WTCHP who were let go as part of the administration’s DOGE efforts have been reinstated. 

One of the 16 total staffers who were swept up in the cuts had already accepted a resignation buyout offered by the Trump administration.

“We appreciate the department’s swift action to address these notices and return critical program staff to work to help assist and provide ongoing services,” Howard said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We’re ready to serve the more than 133,000 responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks who are served by this program along with other critical programs in NIOSH.” 

NEW HHS REPORT SHEDS ADDITIONAL LIGHT ON RISKS OF GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS

The federal program, which is housed within the (CDC), was established by Congress in 2010 as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. It is operated by the CDC’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

The program was developed to provide healthcare services to 9/11 victims, first responders and others involved in support services during the attacks who were exposed to harmful contaminants that day, as many were forced to inhale toxic dust and debris as they attempted to save lives. 

The program, which was extended in 2015, is slated to run until 2090 and aims to ensure that patients directly affected by the 9/11 attacks in New York, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, have zero out-of-pocket costs for any health complications that came as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

“The chaos we see throughout the administration we’re seeing 10 times over at the World Trade Center program,” Schumer said over the weekend ahead of the reinstatements, according to New York’s Spectrum News NY1. “We hear people are being fired, then we hear they’re being restored; then we hear they’re being fired, then they’re being restored.”

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed legislation that would largely ban Styrofoam containers, dubbing it “textbook government overreach.”

House Bill 477 would phase out the use of the containers by 2030, but starting in 2028 for restaurants and the hospitality industry. Introduced by Democrat state Rep. Marilyn Marler, the legislation garnered some bipartisan support in the Republican-majority legislature.

WATCH: RED STATE GOV URGES FIREARMS MAKERS TO DITCH COLORADO AMID ITS ANTI-GUN PUSH

“Our state should remain a sanctuary for freedom and free enterprise, and let high taxes, high spending, and hyper-regulation remain a feature of deep blue, progressive states,” the Republican wrote in his veto letter, citing how various blue states like California and Washington have imposed similar regulations.

“Frankly, I was surprised to receive House Bill 477 which dictates to restaurants, food establishments, bakeries, resorts, hotels, and others what they can and can’t use to package food and drinks,” he continued.

Proponents of the legislation argued that the material poses a health and environmental risk, and many places have already stopped using Styrofoam, according to KTVQ. 

CUTTING THE ‘GREEN TAPE’: CONSERVATION GROUP OFFERS TOP 10 WAYS FOR DEPT OF INTERIOR TO STREAMLINE

The bill stated that polystyrene foam “is a material that causes environmental harm and poses a threat to fish and wildlife; and whereas, styrofoam takes up space in landfills and contributes to the need for costly expansions borne by taxpayers; and whereas, styrofoam threatens the right of each Montanan to a clean and healthful environment.”

The proposal included a few exceptions but would require an application for using the foam as it relates to “transportation; construction; health; or safety.”

“Finally, if policymakers are trying to get rid of Styrofoam, which I’m not, why only target restaurants and food-service establishments? Why not packaging supplies? Though I’m not advocating such an approach, targeting one industry that uses Styrofoam and not another seems inconsistent with the purported purpose of House Bill 477,” the governor wrote.

GOP GOVERNOR RALLIES AROUND HISTORIC PROPOSAL TO SLASH STATE’S INCOME TAX: ‘I AM OPTIMISTIC’

“The state banning Styrofoam is costly government overreach,” Gianforte said, saying it would cost taxpayers an estimated $300,000 through a new Montana Department of Environmental Quality program and could create additional costs for consumers if businesses are forced to make the switch.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I enjoy hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess,” he said in a video posted to X on Monday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to merge the responsibilities of the Palestinian Affairs Office into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in an effort to continue a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that was put in place by President Donald Trump during his first term in office.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced Rubio’s decision during a press briefing Tuesday.

“Secretary Rubio has decided to merge the responsibilities of the office of the Palestinian Affairs Office fully into other sections of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem,” Bruce said. “This decision will restore the first Trump-term framework of a unified U.S. diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the U.S. ambassador to Israel.”

She added that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will begin to make the necessary changes to implement the merger over the coming weeks.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVERRULES TRUMP POLICY ON PALESTINIANS

“The United States remains committed to its historic relationship with Israel, bolstering Israel’s security and securing peace to create a better life for the entire region,” Bruce said.

The Biden administration established the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs in 2022 after reversing Trump’s closure of the consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem during his first administration.

TRUMP OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL’S CAPITAL CITY, ORDERS EMBASSY MOVE FOR US

Biden’s move was viewed by some as rewarding the Palestinian leadership after a wave of terrorism during which two Palestinians wielding an ax and knife murdered three Israelis in the town of Elad in May 2022.

The first Trump administration helped to negotiate groundbreaking agreements, called the Abraham Accords, in 2020 to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

US SERVICE MEMBER SETS HIMSELF ON FIRE OUTSIDE ISRAELI EMBASSY IN DC

The Israeli government vehemently opposed a reopening of the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem because it would undercut the holy city as the undivided capital of Israel.

The U.S. Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calls for it to remain an undivided city. 

Trump, in 2017, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the following year.

Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.

Lawmakers spoke out to Fox News Digital on Tuesday as chaos ensued at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

“Our team has reached out to the FAA to get answers on what steps they’re taking to resolve this situation,” said Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee — who also represents the Garden State where the airport is located.

“Your family deserves to know that when you fly, you’ll be safe and you’ll get there on time. We’ll keep pressing to make sure it happens,” Kim said.

Across the aisle, West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito lamented the “very outdated” air traffic control system and spoke of the shortage of controllers writ large.

DUFFY CONFIRMATION HEARING MARKED BY BIPARTISANSHIP, PLEDGE TO VISIT HELENE-DEVASTATED STATES

“[That] makes for the turmoil we’re seeing at Newark,” Capito told Fox News Digital.

“I would like to see more accountability at FAA, which is why I have proposed to Commerce Committee Chairman Cruz’s team a public facing dashboard to show FAA’s progress in updating their systems as well as hiring more controllers.”

While Democrats like DNC Chairman Ken Martin mocked USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy over the latest air-travel-related crisis, Capito countered that the Wisconsin Republican recognizes the challenges America’s skies face.

“I support his efforts to finalize a plan that I hope to review soon,” she said.

NEW JERSEY DEMS SEEK TO BAR IMPRISONED BOB MENENDEZ FROM PUBLIC FUTURE OFFICE, AS GOP TARGETS HIS PENSION

 Martin tweeted that “in case you missed it, Sean Duffy, there were near misses at DCA [Ronald Reagan-Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Va.], air traffic control screens are going dark at Newark, and America’s air travel system is falling apart under your and Donald Trump’s watch.”

“Anyway, hope the tacos were good,” he said, apparently referring to a photo Duffy posted on X posing with steak tacos his wife prepared for dinner by his “#LatinaWife.” 

Late Tuesday, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., a former Newark mayor himself wrote a lengthy letter to Duffy saying that given, “the serious consequences for our nation’s aviation system, it is critical that the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) take all necessary steps to identify and address the underlying causes of the ongoing flight disruptions.”

“I appreciate that the USDOT has already responded to this ongoing situation by identifying the importance of technology upgrades across the entire air traffic control system, and I am committed to supporting these efforts in Congress.”

“However, I ask that you also immediately direct additional staff and resources in order to restore regular operations at EWR in the days ahead. This is of particular importance as the busy summer travel season approaches, which will put further pressure on EWR and the region’s airspace. Specifically, I request that you take additional steps to address the staffing shortages at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, which have contributed significantly to the repeated suspension and interruption of flight operations at EWR.”

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., another committee member, told Fox News Digital that maintaining America’s “busiest and most advanced airspace in the world” requires a skilled workforce and dependable tech.

“The radar outages at Newark put Air Traffic Controllers in an impossible situation, endangered incoming flights and demonstrate the urgent need for modernization of our systems,” said Moran, who along with Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., also introduced the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act to bolster that workforce sector.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital later Tuesday that as a “member of the Senate Transportation Committee this is deeply concerning to me. The Biden administration spent years funding anything other than important upgrades and updates to outdated FAA technology.”

“I think many of us will be asking questions about how this occurred and how we can work with Secretary Duffy and Chairman Cruz to fix it. The flying public deserves to know that they are safe and secure when flying in American airspace,” Lummis said.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said: “The ongoing situation at Newark Airport is yet another example of the tremendous strain our aviation system is under—something I’ve been raising the alarm on for years—and it further underscores the urgent need to invest in updated air traffic control systems and equipment, not cut FAA’s funding and workforce.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“As Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I have questions about both Newark and the recent incident near the Pentagon. Congress needs answers. The safety of the flying public depends on it.”

In a lengthy statement obtained by Fox News and Fox Business, the FAA acknowledged that “several major airlines are facing ongoing flight disruptions at New Jersey’s Newark-Liberty International Airport as the facility contends with ongoing staffing and technology issues.”

“Last week, air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility in Philadelphia lost radar and radio signals while directing planes to Newark for nearly 90 seconds, causing significant delays and flight cancellations that remain ongoing,” the statement continued, going on to reference the longstanding issues cited by Capito.

“We are working to ensure the current telecommunications equipment is more reliable in the New York area by establishing a more resilient and redundant configuration with the local exchange carriers. In addition, we are updating our automation system to improve resiliency,” the agency said.

Sen. Thom Tillis’ office brushed off concern that a left-wing court could select an interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia after the North Carolina Republican bucked President Donald Trump’s pick for the role, putting the onus on the Trump administration to select a successor and avoid involvement from federal judges. 

Tillis, R-N.C., sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is overseeing the confirmation process of Ed Martin, Trump’s pick to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Martin has served as interim U.S. attorney since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration but is facing a May 20 deadline to be confirmed. 

Martin met with Senate lawmakers Monday, and Tillis told reporters Tuesday he wouldn’t support the nomination. The committee, composed of 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats, has not yet scheduled a vote on Martin’s nomination. 

“I’ve indicated to the White House I wouldn’t support his nomination,” Tillis told reporters Tuesday. 

DEADLINE LOOMS ALLOWING LEFT-WING COURT TO SELECT US ATTORNEY AS STATE AGS URGE CONFIRMATION OF TRUMP PICK

If an interim U.S. attorney is not confirmed by the Senate within 120 days, however, judges on the federal district court for that district could name a new interim U.S. attorney until the role is filled. Trump antagonist Judge James Boasberg, an Obama-appointed judge at the center of legal efforts targeting Trump’s deportation efforts, is the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 

When asked if Tillis is comfortable with the left-wing court picking an interim U.S. attorney, his office told Fox New Digital it is the office’s understanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi can pick an acting replacement, bypassing involvement from federal judges. 

TRUMP NOMINATES JAN. 6 DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR TOP PROSECUTOR ROLE IN DC

“Our understanding is that if the Senate does not confirm a U.S. attorney before an acting U.S. attorney’s term expires, the attorney general can still pick the next acting replacement as long as it is done before the original appointment expires under 28 USC 546,” a spokesman for Tillis’ office told Fox News Digital Tuesday. 

Tillis’ office referred Fox News Digital to 28 U.S. Code § 546, which says, “If an appointment expires under subsection (c)(2), the district court for such district may appoint a United States attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled. The order of appointment by the court shall be filed with the clerk of the court.”

Martin previously worked as a defense attorney and represented Americans charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, which Tillis took issue with when speaking with reporters Tuesday. 

“Mr. Martin did a good job of explaining the one area that I think he’s probably right, that there were some people that were over-prosecuted, but there were some, 200 or 300 of them that should have never gotten a pardon,” Tillis said. “If Mr. Martin were being put forth as a U.S. attorney for any district except the district where Jan. 6 happened, the protest happened, I’d probably support him, but not in this district.”

TRUMP NOMINATES JUDGE TO SERVE AS NEXT US ATTORNEY FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

Tillis previously has railed against the Jan. 6 protests, when Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol after the 2020 election. Tillis criticized Trump in January when the president granted clemency to more than 1,500 Jan. 6 criminal defendants upon taking office.

“Anybody who committed violence, like the violence in Kenosha and the violence in Portland before them, should be in prison — period, full stop,” Tillis said after the pardons. “That segment of pardons — I’m as disappointed as I am with all the pardons that Biden did.”

Trump and his administration have rallied support for Martin as his confirmation process comes down to the wire. 

“His approval is IMPERATIVE in terms of doing all that has to be done to SAVE LIVES and to, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.

FEDERAL PROSECUTOR VOWS TO PROTECT DOGE STAFFERS FROM ANY ‘THREATS, CONFRONTATIONS’ TARGETING MUSK TEAM

“Ed Martin will be a big player in doing so and, I hope, that the Republican Senators will make a commitment to his approval, which is now before them.”

Fox News Digital exclusively reported Monday that 23 state attorneys general additionally sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, calling on lawmakers to swiftly confirm Martin as U.S. attorney.

“To put it bluntly, the District of Columbia is broken,” the letter, sent Monday, states. “And four years of alleged corruption, mismanagement, and derelictions of duty in the U.S. Attorney’s Office under President Biden’s appointees are in many ways to blame. The District should be made safe again. The District should have a U.S. Attorney who replaces the rule of lawfare with the rule of law. Ed Martin is the man to achieve those goals. We strongly encourage the Senate to confirm him at the earliest possible date.” 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I am proud to lead this effort to support Ed Martin because he’s a proven leader who is already devoting all of his time to restoring the rule of law in our nation’s capital,” Indiana Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, who spearheaded the letter, told Fox Digital of his support for Martin. 

“His bold actions have had an immediate impact, which sent the disreputable D.C. news media into a full-blown meltdown. The Senate must act swiftly to confirm him and ensure his critical work continues uninterrupted.”