FIRST ON FOX: A Trump administration official confirmed Thursday that states failing to comply with federal orders to house inmates based on their biological sex can expect “imminent changes” – and Maine “will not be the last” state to have prison funds slashed.

While the Trump administration‘s decision to pull federal funding from Maine’s Department of Corrections due to a transgender inmate being housed in a women’s facility is not an isolated case, similar situations involving transgender inmates in female facilities have occurred across the country.

In addition to Maine, California, New York, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington state allow transgender people to be housed in jail and prison facilities that align with their gender identity. Most provide transgender treatments on the taxpayer dime or through other sources of state funding, though it may vary from prison to prison. Following a consent decree, Colorado is the only state to have housing facilities specific for transgender people. 

MAINE TRANSGENDER INMATE CONVICTED OF MURDERING PARENTS MOVED TO WOMEN’S PRISON

The official, who declined to be identified, explained that while much of prison funding is handled at the state level, states still must comply with their own versions of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which is often modeled after federal standards. As federal changes to those regulations are expected, current PREA guidelines discourage housing inmates in isolation. That, the spokesperson said, has led some states to feel obligated to house transgender women in female facilities, even if they might prefer to create separate spaces.

“I think that that’s a state call. But, right now, states are really not encouraged to make that call,” the official said. “They’re encouraged to put those men with women. So, I think some states will just put these men dressed as women, with the men. Some of them will put them in some sort of separate space. I have no opinion on which is better.”

Prior to Trump’s executive order prohibiting trans procedures and treatments in federal prisons, federal funding was allotted to some Bureau of Prisons facilities to cover cosmetic procedures and treatments that were considered “gender-affirming” for incarcerated men – but not provided to women – such as laser hair removal and other feminine procedures. Guidelines for such services were first earmarked under the Obama administration’s second term, and California was the first state to establish policies granting transgender surgeries to state prison inmates in 2017.

TRANS INMATE IN PRISON FOR KILLING BABY MUST GET GENDER SURGERY AT ‘EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY’: JUDGE

The administration argues this created a clear case of sex-based discrimination, as in the case of Maine, where women in prison were not afforded similar access to those services.

In January, a transgender woman named Andrea Balcer, 24, was moved from the Maine State Prison to the women’s section of the Maine Correctional Institute. Balcer was convicted in 2018 of stabbing both parents to death, along with the family dog, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a crime that was attributed to struggles with gender identity.

“Under Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice is committed to keeping Americans safe and using taxpayer money to ruthlessly and efficiently go after criminals,” a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday. “The Department will no longer fund organizations that promote the invasion of women’s spaces by men and urges states to use commonsense to keep women and girls safe.” 

Another transgender inmate in Maine – convicted of murdering a woman who was found tied between two trees with her throat and wrists slit – was identified by Fox News Digital through court documents as Walter William Moore. Moore goes by “Nikki,” according to the documents, and complained that Maine corrections weren’t doing enough to facilitate his gender transition.

ACLU SUES INDIANA OVER DENIAL OF SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO STRANGLED 11-MONTH-OLD TO DEATH

In January, Moore, who is currently housed in a male facility, filed a complaint against Maine Department of Corrections employees, alleging assault, theft of thousands of dollars in personal property, and denial of requested gender transition treatments. In court testimony, Moore frequently referenced “Nikki,” claiming prison wardens promised gender reassignment surgery, feminine cosmetics, and transfer to a women’s facility. Moore also described a regimen of daily cross-sex hormone treatments and Vitamin B-12 injections.

“Maine, of course, is just blatantly violating the rights of women. And the president has made a note that Maine has no intention to change – they have a governor who is particularly intransigent, and so Maine was first, but Maine will not be last,” the White House spokesperson said. “There will be no federal funding of the abuse of women by the Department of Justice.”

As of February, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) houses 2,198 transgender inmates, including 22 transgender women currently serving sentences in women’s facilities. This figure does not account for state-level facilities, which may also receive federal funding.

The Trump administration is also in court battling the president’s executive mandate to strip federal prisons of gender-transition treatments and housing preferences.

In February, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth – a Reagan-appointed judge – temporarily blocked the transfer of three transgender women to men’s prisons, citing concerns over their safety. Later that month, another judge issued a restraining order preventing the transfer of a transgender woman from a women’s prison to a men’s facility. In March, Lamberth ordered the BOP to return two transgender inmates to women’s facilities and continue their hormone therapy treatments.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Some Democrats expressed opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on the House floor Thursday after only four of them voted in support of the legislation.

The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote as opposed to simply affirming that the voter is a United States citizen on a form. 

The list of eligible documents includes a passport, a government-issued photo ID, a birth certificate and other forms of identification. Only one of them would be needed. Opponents have argued the bill would make it more difficult for women who no longer use their maiden name to vote, whereas proponents say it’s a myth.

Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Calif., said it is a “modern-day poll tax, targeting American women and low-income Americans.” 

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER FULFILLING ELECTION INTEGRITY PROMISE

During the floor debate, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., dismissed that argument.

“Bless my colleagues’ hearts on the other side of the aisle, using women as a ‘gotcha’ for voting. I’ve never had to bring my birth certificate to prove that I was a registered voter. I have an ID that has a different name than my birth certificate,” the Republican said.

“Since we’re using women as bait here, maybe in the next round of debates they can explain to us exactly what a woman is.” 

Other Democrats said it posed serious voter suppression questions. 

DEMS FIGHT BILL TO STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT VOTING DESPITE POLLS SHOWING VOTER SUPPORT

“This bill could force Georgians to pay more than $700 million just to register to vote. Y’all, that’s a poll tax, plain and simple, and it’s blatant voter suppression,” Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga, said on the floor. “Voter suppression by any other name is still voter suppression. This bill violates the 14th, 19th and 24th amendments and … every tenant of a free and inclusive democracy. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this disgrace of a voter suppression bill.”

Still, proponents believe it would help further secure elections from any noncitizens voting in elections. But opponents argue it’s an unnecessary step given the uncommon nature of noncitizens voting and the additional paperwork burden.  

VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT TO VOTE, NEW POLL SAYS

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., posted that it’s a “myth” that “married women’s right to vote” would be restricted.

“The SAVE Act directs states to establish a process for discrepancies, such as a name change, so that individuals can still register to vote,” Edwards tweeted. “This bill lists forms of identification that a voter could provide when registering to vote, but that voter only needs to provide one document, including a driver’s license or any valid government-issued ID card.”

People who are not American citizens are already not legally permitted to register to vote, which essentially makes the legislation an additional safeguard, according to those in favor of it. 

“It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. This could impact almost 150 million Americans,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said in a video Thursday, adding it might be tough for people to get the proper identification like a birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship. “So the SAVE Act is not solving a problem. It’s creating one.”

President Donald Trump supports the bill, and he recently issued an executive order for similar election reforms. The bill made it through the House last year with Republicans and a few Democrats supporting it, but it did not make it through the Senate and could face similar hurdles this time.

All Republicans who were present for the vote supported the act, along with Democratic representatives Ed Case, Jared Golden, Henry Cuellar and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez. The bill is led by two Republicans, Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Utah Sen. Mike Lee. 

FIRST ON FOX — The Food and Drug Administration is phasing out an animal testing requirement for antibody therapies and other drugs in favor of testing on materials that mimic human organs, the FDA announced on Thursday. 

“For too long, drug manufacturers have performed additional animal testing of drugs that have data in broad human use internationally. This initiative marks a paradigm shift in drug evaluation and holds promise to accelerate cures and meaningful treatments for Americans while reducing animal use,” FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, said in comment provided to Fox News Digital. 

 “By leveraging AI-based computational modeling, human organ model-based lab testing, and real-world human data, we can get safer treatments to patients faster and more reliably, while also reducing R&D costs and drug prices. It is a win-win for public health and ethics.” 

HHS AXES MORE THAN $300M IN GENDER, DEI-RELATED HEALTH GRANTS TO CALIFORNIA ALONE

The phase-out focuses on ending animal testing in regard to researching monoclonal antibody therapies, which are lab-made proteins meant to stimulate the immune system to fight diseases such as cancer, as well as other drugs, according to the press release. 

Instead, the FDA will encourage testing on “organoids,” which are artificially grown masses of cells, according to the FDA’s press release obtained by Fox Digital. 

MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR BIDEN-ERA COVID-19 VAX PROJECT HALTED BY TRUMP’S HHS

“The FDA will promote the use of lab-grown human ‘organoids’ and organ-on-a-chip systems that mimic human organs – such as liver, heart, and immune organs – to test drug safety. These experiments can reveal toxic effects that could easily go undetected in animals, providing a more direct window into human responses,” the press release says. 

The FDA will also encourage the use of AI while testing drugs, including building computer modeling that can predict a drug’s behavior, Fox Digital learned. 

The phase-out will include updating its guidelines to recognize research conducted on organoids and through AI.

“Companies that submit strong safety data from non-animal tests may receive streamlined review, as the need for certain animal studies is eliminated, which would incentivize investment in modernized testing platforms,” the FDA explained in its press release. 

HHS SLASHES OVER $350M IN GRANT FUNDING FOR GENDER IDEOLOGY, DEI RESEARCH PROJECTS

The FDA is slated to also work with fellow federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Toxicology Program and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to “accelerate the validation” of the new testing standards and will hold a public workshop later this year to further discuss the matter. 

“For patients, it means a more efficient pipeline for novel treatments. It also means an added margin of safety, since human-based test systems may better predict real-world outcomes. For animal welfare, it represents a major step toward ending the use of laboratory animals in drug testing. Thousands of animals, including dogs and primates, could eventually be spared each year as these new methods take root,” Makary said. 

DOGE Chief Elon Musk says the organization is set to save the U.S. government more than $150 billion in cuts to waste and fraud in FY 2026.

Musk made the comment during a public Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday. 

“We anticipate savings in FY 26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion. And, I mean, and some of it is just absurd. Like people getting unemployment insurance who haven’t been born yet,” Musk said.

“People ask me how are you going to find waste and fraud in a government? I’m like, well, actually, just go in any direction. That’s how you find it. It’s very common. It’s, as a military would say, a target-rich environment,” he continued.

TRUMP SAYS HE’LL ‘TAKE A LOOK’ AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS

“So, I think we’re doing a lot of good, and in excellent collaboration with the Cabinet, to achieve these savings. And it will actually result in better services for the American people. And then we’re going to be spending their tax dollars in a way that is sensible and fair and good,” he added.

DOGE SLASHES NEARLY $1M FOR ALPACA FARMING IN PERU, OTHER QUESTIONABLE GRANTS IN LATEST WASTEFUL SPENDING CUT

Thursday’s Cabinet meeting comes less than a day after DOGE announced the cancelation of 108 “wasteful contracts” on Wednesday.

DOGE said the contacts had a ceiling value of $250 million and a savings of $70 million. 

The problem contracts included a $14,000 commitment by the Department of Health and Human Services for an “executive transformational leadership training program.”

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Another was a $5.2 million contract with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the human resources agency for the federal government, to “provide strategic advisory and assistance to improve and transform current processes and organizational systems.”

FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan duo of House lawmakers is moving to ensure the U.S. government is free from Chinese-made technology after President Donald Trump hiked tariffs against Beijing.

Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, is leading the Securing America’s Federal Equipment (SAFE) Supply Chains Act alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.

It would impose new guardrails on the technology the U.S. government is able to purchase by forcing a federal agency or office to only purchase it from “original equipment manufacturers” or “authorized resellers,” according to the bill text obtained by Fox News Digital.

TRUMP SAYS HE’LL ‘TAKE A LOOK’ AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS

The bill targets U.S. government technology purchased through the “gray market,” an alternative channel for purchasing and selling genuine goods without the authorization of the manufacturer.

Fallon said his bill “dovetails” with Trump’s hawkish stance on China.

“With the rising threat posed by Chinese aggression, not only in the Indo-Pacific, but here at home by means of artificial intelligence and cyberattacks, it’s critical that the Department of Defense secure its vital infrastructure,” Fallon explained to Fox News Digital. 

“In order to do so, we must ensure that the U.S. military only purchases electronic equipment from approved vendors that are free from adversarial, particularly [Chinese Communist Party], influence.”

He praised Trump’s “bold leadership” in the U.S. “breaking its dependency on Communist China.”

“The SAFE Supply Chains Act dovetails with this endeavor and is in the best interest of U.S. national security,” he said.

The White House said Thursday it had imposed 145% in new tariffs on China, up from the 125% Trump announced the day before.

DONALD TRUMP’S ALLIES, SUPPORTERS AND DONORS, LED BY ELON MUSK, PUSH TO END TARIFF WAR

While hiking rates on China, Trump said he would reduce tariffs on other countries that did not retaliate against the U.S. to his baseline of 10%.

“Look, for years we’ve been ripped off and taken advantage of by China — and others, in all fairness — but by China, there’s a big one. And it’s just one of those things,” Trump said Wednesday.

Fallon’s bill has a counterpart in the Senate led by senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Gary Peters, D-Mich.

Veterans heckled Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., for stolen valor claims during remarks at a veterans rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Wednesday.

As Walz welcomed the veterans to the Capitol for the annual “Veterans Day on the Hill,” he was met by a fiery crowd who called him a “coward” and criticized him for sympathizing with China, according to footage captured by KSTP.

“Coward! You sympathize with the Chinese!” some veterans holding American flags and “take action” signs shouted at the Democratic governor as he welcomed them to the Capitol. 

“Sir, you’re welcome to come… Let me finish!” Walz replied as he tried to ease tensions while another veteran shouted: “Shut your f—— mouth!” 

WISCONSINITES KICKED OUT AND DENIED ENTRY TO THIS DEMOCRAT’S ‘FAKE TOWN HALL’

“Woah, hey – there’s some passion in the building, which is a good thing,” Walz said before beginning his address. 

VETERANS INCREASINGLY CALLING OUT WALZ’S MILITARY RECORD: ‘SHAMEFUL’

Footage of the hecklers disrupting Walz’s remarks has gone viral on social media, with conservative influencers celebrating the criticism. 

Walz faced accusations of stolen valor during the 2024 presidential election for inconsistencies describing his military service. 

Walz is a veteran, having served in the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery after transferring from the Nebraska National Guard in 1996. He retired as a master sergeant in 2005.

The former vice presidential candidate was accused of stolen valor for retiring just months before his battalion deployed to Iraq as war raged in the Middle East following the 9/11 attacks. Walz put in his papers for retirement at least five months before his battalion received deployment orders, according to the Minnesota National Guard.

Walz was also discovered to have claimed several times that he retired as a command sergeant major, which is not accurate – he reverted to his previous rank upon retirement because he did not complete the necessary corresponding coursework, the National Guard has said.

Walz’s decades-long ties to China also came to light when Vice President Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate last summer. He worked briefly in China as a teacher, traveling to Guangdong in 1989 for a teaching-abroad program to teach English and American history. 

He was initially believed to have made dozens of trips to China over his lifetime, but a campaign spokesperson later tried to walk that number back and said he made approximately 15 visits to China. He also boasted about Minnesota hosting several top Chinese leaders in a letter unearthed by Fox News Digital.

UNEARTHED LETTER REVEALS WALZ BOASTED ABOUT MINNESOTA HOSTING ‘NUMEROUS SENIOR CHINESE LEADERS’

The 2024 campaign trail brought Walz’s inconsistencies regarding his background into the national conversation. Walz said he “misspoke” when he claimed he visited Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and incorrectly claimed his family used in vitro fertilization. Walz laughed off the missteps, calling himself a “knucklehead.”

The Commanders’ Task Force and Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers hosted the rally in the Rotunda that erupted in boos for Walz on Wednesday. The annual event is designed to streamline communication between Minnesota elected officials and veterans. 

Once the fury settled, Walz committed to upholding budget protections for veterans during his remarks, in light of Minnesota budget negotiations and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leading efforts to cut spending and lay off federal employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

Walz did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

The State Department upgraded the travel advisory for El Salvador on Tuesday, now ranking the Central American nation as safer than several European countries. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele’s leadership as “crucial in improving the security of his country for foreign travelers.” 

“Gang activity, violent crime, and murders in El Salvador have significantly dropped,” Rubio wrote on X, announcing the U.S. travel advisory for El Salvador has been updated to “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.” 

FEDERAL JUDGES IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS BLOCK TRUMP DEPORTATIONS AFTER SCOTUS RULING

The travel advisory says “gang activity has decreased over the last three years,” and “this has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders.” 

“Keeping Americans safe overseas is our highest priority,” Rubio wrote. 

Many media users noted that the travel advisories for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden all remain at “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.” 

The State Department warns of the increased risk of “terrorism” in all countries. For France and Spain, “civil unrest” is also considered a concern for American travelers. 

“El Salvador just got the U.S. State Department’s travel gold star: Level 1: safest it gets,” Bukele wrote. 

PAM BONDI WARNS MIGRANT CRIMINALS ‘WE’RE COMING AFTER YOU’ AFTER SUPREME COURT LIFTS STAY ON DEPORTATIONS

“EL SALVADOR NOW SAFER THAN MOST OF EUROPE,” one X user, who has millions of followers, wrote. In reaction to the contrast, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire heading the Department of Government Efficiency, responded, “Wow.” 

Musk has been a vocal critic of mass migration in Western Europe, and the billionaire earlier this year campaigned on behalf of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany ahead of national elections in February. 

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, will welcome Bukele to the White House on April 14 for an official working visit to discuss “El Salvador’s partnership on using their supermax prison for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members, and how El Salvador’s cooperation with the United States has become a model for others to work with,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Tuesday’s press briefing. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the Terrorism Confinement Center, abbreviated CECOT, in El Salvador, where the Trump administration so far has sent more than 200 people removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. 

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is introducing legislation that would allow American victims of terror groups to hold the organizations that fund those groups accountable in a court of law. The Texas Republican is reintroducing the Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act, which is similar to a bill he introduced during the last Congress. That version had the backing of then-Sen. Marco Rubio.

As of now, Americans are able to sue foreign governments in specific cases outlined in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), but they are unable to sue international organizations, which enjoy immunity under the International Organization Immunities Act (IOIA). However, the LIABLE Act would create an exception in the IOIA, allowing Americans to sue organizations that knowingly provide support or resources to terrorist groups.

TRUMP CUTS US OFF FROM UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, BANS UNRWA FUNDING

“UNRWA has knowingly provided salaries and materials to Hamas for decades. That support enabled Hamas to arm itself, create its vast underground terrorist infrastructure, and launch its October 7th atrocities on Israel,” Cruz said in a statement on the original piece of legislation introduced in 2024. “That attack included the murder and kidnapping of dozens of Americans. The victims and their families deserve the ability to hold UNRWA accountable in court for its support of Hamas and for what happened on October 7th.”

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a major target of this legislation. UNRWA has faced accusations of aiding Hamas before, during and after the terror group carried out its Oct. 7 massacre. In August 2024, the agency fired nine workers who were allegedly involved in the attacks, which left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage.

“The legislation is premised on a false narrative that was debunked more than a year ago by the U.S. National Intelligence Council, which confirmed that UNRWA is not aligned in any way with Hamas,” William Deere, Director of UNRWA’s Representative Office in Washington, told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital did not provide Deere with a copy of the updated legislation and used the 2024 bill as a reference in its request for comment.

“The report also noted that Israeli dislike of UNRWA serves to mischaracterize its assessments of the agency resulting in distortions. Rhetoric equating UNRWA with Hamas is factually incorrect, disrespectful, and dangerous to the UNRWA workforce providing health, education and social services in the multiple conflict zones across the Agency’s five operating areas,” Deere said.

CRITICS SAY UN’S GLOBAL COMMS OFFICE PROMOTES ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), identified Hamas Nukhba commander Mohammad Abu Itiwi, who was involved in the Oct. 7 massacre, as a former UNRWA employee.

U.N. watchdog organization U.N. Watch published a report in November 2023 that detailed instances of UNRWA teachers celebrating the Oct. 7 attacks on their personal social media accounts. One such example was Rawya Halas, Director of the UNRWA Khan Younis Training Center, who called one of the alleged Oct. 7 perpetrators a “hero” and the “prince of Khan Younis.” Halas was featured in an UNRWA campaign just weeks after the deadly attacks in Israel.

However, alleged ties between UNRWA and Palestinian terror groups, like Hamas, were uncovered long before Oct. 7, 2023.

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In 2008, Reuters reported that UNRWA science teacher Awad al-Qiq allegedly built rockets for Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The outlet reported at the time that al-Qiq’s family denied he was involved in terrorism, but militant leaders hailed him as a martyr and the head of PIJ’s “engineering unit.” 

The U.S. paused its funding to UNRWA in 2024 under then-President Joe Biden, prior to the completion of the agency’s investigation into its staff’s possible involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks. In 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that pulled U.S. funding from several U.N. organizations, including UNRWA.

The White House slammed Democrats for playing “partisan games” and calling for an investigation into alleged insider trading after President Donald Trump paused customized reciprocal tariffs for 90 days on Wednesday. 

“It is the responsibility of the President of the United States to reassure the markets and Americans about their economic security in the face of nonstop media fearmongering. Democrats railed against China’s cheating for decades, and now they’re playing partisan games instead of celebrating President Trump’s decisive action yesterday to finally corner China,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in comment to Fox Digital when asked about Democrats claiming Trump manipulated the market. 

Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., wrote a letter on Thursday to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, as well as Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, calling for an investigation into potential insider trading. 

“This sequence of events raises grave legal and ethics concerns. The President, his family, and his advisors are uniquely positioned to be privy to and take advantage of non-public information to inform their investment decisions,” the senators wrote. 

TRUMP SAYS HE’LL ‘TAKE A LOOK’ AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS

Trump, ahead of pausing the reciprocal tariffs, posted to Truth Social, “BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well. The USA will be bigger and better than ever before!” and “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.” The president had previously said he would not pause tariffs but was open to negotiating with other nations. 

Trump paused only the higher, customized tariffs he placed on nations that historically installed trade barriers on U.S. goods, with nations across the world instead facing a lower 10% tariff on goods, as the Trump administration and world leaders hash out negotiations for the reciprocal tariffs. 

DONALD TRUMP’S ALLIES, SUPPORTERS AND DONORS, LED BY ELON MUSK, PUSH TO END TARIFF WAR

China, however, was not part of the tariff pause and was instead hit with a higher 125% tariff after retaliating with its own additional tariffs against the U.S.

“I’m going to do my best to find out,” Schiff, who has long been a Trump foe, told Time of investigating the president for alleged insider trading. “Family meme coins and all the rest of it are not beyond insider trading or enriching themselves. I hope to find out soon.”

CHARLIE GASPARINO BREAKS DOWN TRUMP’S TARIFF PAUSE: ‘THIS IS WHAT FORCED THE HAND’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the customized tariffs were paused due to Trump wanting to be “personally involved” in negotiations as dozens of nations contacted the White House to strike deals.

“We’ve had more than 75 countries contact us. And I imagine after today, there will be more. So it is just a processing problem. Each one of these solutions is going to be bespoke. It is going to take some time. And President Trump wants to be personally involved. So, that’s why we’re getting the 90-day pause,” Bessent said during a gaggle with the media outside the White House on Wednesday afternoon. 

Trump added on Wednesday that he was watching the volatile bond market, calling it “tricky” and making people a “little queasy,” but denied it persuaded him to change course on customized tariffs. 

“I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippy. You know, they we’re getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid, unlike these champions, because we have a big job to do. No other president would have done what I did. … I know the presidents, they wouldn’t have done it, and it had to be done,” Trump added in his remarks. 

President Donald Trump said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has “done an excellent job” and called her a “very good person” during remarks on Wednesday.

“We’re honored to have, uh, Gretchen Whitmer,” he said before going on to praise the Democratic governor.

The president apparently made the comments while Whitmer was in the Oval Office.

TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL’ TAX AGENDA SCORES MAJOR VICTORY IN HOUSE DESPITE GOP REBELLION THREATS

The president’s glowing remarks stood in stark contrast to his assertion last year that she is a “terrible governor.”

“President Trump will always put party aside to put America first! As the President has said, he is a president for all Americans, and is willing to come to the table with any state officials that want to make America greater,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday.

“Governor Whitmer recognizes that the President is flooding Michigan with more jobs, new investments, and economic prosperity—great achievements every governor should want for their state.”

HARRIS LAUNCHED ‘DARK-ARTS OPERATION’ AGAINST OPPONENTS FOR VP SPOT IN 2020, NEW BOOK CLAIMS

Whitmer backed then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 White House contest.

But the governor met with Trump on Wednesday.

“At the White House today, Governor Whitmer had a meeting with Speaker Hall and President Trump to discuss the northern Michigan ice storm, investing in Michigan’s defense assets, like Selfridge Air National Guard Base, tariffs and the importance of creating good-paying American jobs and bringing back critical supply chains, and keeping our Great Lakes clean and safe,” a Whitmer spokesperson noted in a statement, referring to Wednesday.

“Governor Whitmer thanks President Trump for his acknowledgements on protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp, his work on Selfridge, and his openness to our request for help in northern Michigan. 

GRETCHEN WHITMER SOUNDS OFF ON PUSH TO CONDEMN US SUPREME COURT’S GAY MARRIAGE RULING: ‘HELL NO’

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“This morning, the governor delivered a speech in Washington, D.C. about the devastating effects tariffs were having on Michiganders — from companies increasing prices and laying off workers to retirement accounts being wiped out. This afternoon the 90-day pause was announced, and that is a step in the right direction and will provide relief to so many businesses across the state, but we remain concerned about tariffs that will hurt American auto companies,” the statement noted.  

President Donald Trump is making “America’s showers great again.”

On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order ending a Biden-era conservation measure that placed “excessive regulations” on water pressure.

The restrictions were previously imposed by former President Barack Obama. While Trump attempted to loosen the water-saving measures during his first term, his efforts to restore “shower freedom” were eventually reversed by former President Joe Biden. 

“I like to take a nice shower, take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump said as he signed an executive order at the White House. “I have to stand in the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet. Comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous.”

LARRY KUDLOW: TRUMP IS MAKING SHOWERS GREAT AGAIN

“What you do is you end up washing your hands five times longer, so it’s the same water,” he added. “And we’re going to open it up so that people can live.”

During the Obama-Biden administration, the former presidents “aggressively” limited the amount of water that could be discharged from appliances such as showerheads, washing machines and toilets, the White House said. 

“These changes served a radical green agenda that made life worse for everyday Americans,” the White House said in a statement.

TRUMP REVERSES BIDEN CRACKDOWN ON LIGHTBULBS AND DISHWASHERS, RETURNING TO ‘COMMON SENSE STANDARDS’

With the new executive order, Trump will be resetting the definition of “showerhead” from a 1992 energy law, which sets a simple 2.5-gallons-per-minute standard for showers.

“The Order frees Americans from excessive regulations that turned a basic household item into a bureaucratic nightmare,” the White House said. “No longer will showerheads be weak and worthless.”

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PRO-ENERGY AGENDA WILL UNLEASH AMERICAN JOBS AND ENERGY SECURITY

The White House added “these appliances worked perfectly fine before Biden’s meddling piled on convoluted regulations that made those appliances worse.” 

The U.S. Department of Energy previously said conservation standards would significantly cut energy waste and harmful carbon pollution while also saving Americans billions of dollars per year on energy and water bills. 

“Almost every U.S. household has a water heater, and for too long outdated energy efficiency standards have led to higher utility bills for families,” said former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a 2024 statement.

EXCLUSIVE – After President Donald Trump made surprising gains in solid-blue New York in 2024, one Republican congresswoman capitalized on the momentum with an aggressive fundraising campaign in the Empire State. Her goal is to flip some districts to red in the upcoming midterms and help her party’s goal of expanding the House majority in 2026.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., has already hauled in more than $1 million in donations in the first quarter, with more than $223,000 of that being transferred to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s war chest. She attributes those seven-figures to 5,500 donations from more than 2,400 donors.

Tenney told Fox News Digital that she believes the 2026 election will be a “referendum” on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who created what she described as a “catastrophic powder keg” in the state prison system. New York Attorney General Letitia James, she added, “Is extremely unpopular and has engaged in malicious prosecution and lawfare.

“We’ll have the weakest governor that we’ve had in a long time on the Democratic side facing a Republican,” Tenney said. 

BILL MAHER SUGGESTS ANDREW CUOMO’S NURSING HOME SCANDAL MAY COST HIS NYC MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

Tenney, the founder of the House Election Integrity Caucus, attributed her gains in 2022 and 2024 to “aggressive advocacy” and grassroots efforts geared toward Republicans and Democrat-leaning moderates. 

In addition to sending more Republicans from New York to the House of Representatives, Tenney hopes to challenge the governor’s seat and several statewide offices. She also believes that Republicans have a chance at the New York City mayoral race. 

Hochul’s predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is seen as the top contender for the mayor’s race. He has already reported big campaign dollars and favorable public polling. Meanwhile, current mayor Eric Adams has decided to run in the June primary as an independent. Fellow Democrats have turned on Adams for cooperating with the Trump administration on curtailing illegal immigration. 

Tenney was elected to the state legislature in 2010 when Cuomo began his first term as governor. Within a year, Tenney said, Cuomo “reversed all the policies that he said he was going to run on,” and instead implemented policies that she called “catastrophic.” 

SECOND COVID NURSING HOME DEATH’S CASE AGAINST CUOMO TOSSED

“Trump did well in New York in 2024. He got his best numbers, his best turnout that he’s had in the two prior races. But I think that the referendum is on Kathy Hochul and the down-ballot Democrats who are still very unhinged, still talking about things that are 80-20 wins for Republicans,” Tenney said. She said Democrats remain focused on issues proven to flop with voters, such as forcing biological males into women’s sports and unchecked illegal immigration. 

Tenney said it’s important for Republicans to continue to deliver wins on their side, vowing to use her position on the House Ways and Means Committee to extend Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and “start our road to prosperity and begin the Golden Age.” Tenney also sits on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, which oversees the energy sector – another focal point for Republicans, especially in Tenney’s district. 

Tenney said “people are worried about rising energy costs and the policies in New York State put forth by Hochul and the Democrats,” which are driving up energy costs for seniors. 

“That is a looming, really catastrophic issue that is facing New York,” Tenney said. “And the Democrats have compromised our state on that issue, and it’s going to prevent us from having prosperity, energy, and energy security as well.” 

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Tenney believes that the new, post-2024 environment has given Republicans an opportunity in her home state. 

” I don’t want to turn the lights out on New York State. It’s my home state. It is the state I love. I love my district and my communities. We want to make New York Great Again,” she said. “The only way to do that is to start replacing some of these Democrats with Republicans who are common sense and who care about preserving and protecting New Yorkers and are concerned about the future of New York.” 

In 1957, rockabilly singer Bob Ehret repeated, “We’ve got to stop the clock, baby; to spend more time with you” – and in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle strongly considered the benefits of doing so, in a way.

Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Daylight Saving was grounded in good-faith efforts to reduce energy consumption, but that instead it has led to increased auto accidents in the dark, workplace issues, and objections from the agriculture sector that relies on early-morning sunlight.

“We find ourselves adjusting our clocks… springing forward and falling back in the fall. For many Americans, this biannual ritual is a minor inconvenience… But when we take a closer look at the implications of changing the clocks, its impact on our economy, our health and our everyday lives, we can see that this practice is more than an annoyance,” Cruz said.

“The idea was simple. Fewer hours of darkness meant less electricity consumption for lighting and heating.”

TRUMP’S DAYLIGHT SAVINGS PLAN

However, unlike the early 1900s, when the U.S. economy was heavily reliant on energy consumption tied to daylight hours, today’s effects from sunrise and sunset timings are “de minimis,” he said.

Cruz, along with Massachusetts neurology physician Dr. Karin Johnson, spoke about the health concerns associated with changing the time twice a year and with the permanence of Daylight Saving Time, versus Standard Time.

“Research has shown that the abrupt shift in time, especially the spring transition when we lose an hour of sleep,” Cruz said, as Johnson spoke about the effects on people’s circadian rhythm, vascular system and sleep deprivation.

The panel also hosted an official from the National Golf Course Owners Association, as he and other lawmakers spoke of the increased revenue from evening tee times and other tourist activities only possible during daylight hours.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Lisa Blunt-Rochester of Delaware agreed that it was time to consider a “permanent time for our country.”

She noted a bill from then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to abolish DST stalled in the House.

“This body [then] took a harder look at how time changes work state-by-state,” she said.

“What works in my home state of Delaware may not work in Washington state, but I know I speak for many Americans when I say it’s time. It’s time to figure this out.”

‘I CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE OF RACING THOUGHTS AT NIGHT — HOW CAN I STOP THEM?’: ASK A DOCTOR

Witnesses to the hearing noted that it is indeed southern states like Florida and Texas where the negative effects of a permanent Daylight Saving Time would be most felt.

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., spoke about his work shifting Daylight Saving Time twice to help assuage some of the issues that were brought up each time, including better guaranteeing trick-or-treating happens at worst at dusk.

Markey quipped that his decades-long work on this issue earned him the nickname “the Sun King.”

“We need to stop the clock,” Blunt-Rochester said. “We know that changing the clock disrupts sleep, which can lead to negative health outcomes. Several studies have noted issues with mood disturbances increase hospital admissions, and even heart attacks and strokes.”

Lock The Clock movement founder Scott Yates testified about the flawed history of DST, noting a time during the 1970s energy crisis that the Nixon administration briefly made DST permanent.

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Nixon signed the law in December 1973 while embroiled in Watergate – but it took effect the first week the following year – Jan. 6, 1974.

“So you can imagine, the worst Monday of the year already is the one after the holiday break where you have to go back to school and everything – to have an extra hour of sleep robbed away right before that. You can understand why it was so unpopular and why it was repealed,” Yates said, noting that months later, Nixon resigned.

The burglary by the “Plumbers” at the Watergate Hotel also notably occurred during nighttime hours.

“So maybe – if we had more daylight, the Watergate break-in doesn’t happen,” Cruz quipped in response.

“And history would be different.”