John Barrasso

FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Ashley Hinson and Sen. Pete Ricketts are rolling out a bicameral bill with bipartisan support that would secure agriculture supply chains in the United States from vulnerabilities and potential Chinese Communist Party exploitation, Fox News Digital has learned.

It becomes a Schumer shutdown at this point

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'Already invested in with taxpayer dollars'

After successfully confirming his most controversial picks for top Cabinet roles, the Senate is on track to push them all past the finish line—and in record time.

President Donald Trump gave his most emphatic endorsement yet of the House’s strategy of one massive bill to advance his legislative agenda and urged the Senate to pump the brakes on its rival two-bill plan.

Vice President JD Vance leaves the Republican Senate luncheon in the Capitol on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

'The Senate is moving at record speed'

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP's re-election arm, is showcasing its "team effort" as it aim to defend and expand its majority in the 2026 midterm elections.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is working with House Republicans to advance a budget bill that would allow Republicans to pass many of Trump's top policy priorities without threat of a Senate filibuster.

'Democrats continue to want to slow things down'

The Senate on Monday confirmed fossil fuel executive Chris Wright to serve as energy secretary, a key post to promote President Donald Trump’s efforts to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He says more fossil fuel production can lift people out of poverty around the globe and has promised to help Trump “unleash energy security and prosperity.”The Senate approved his nomination, 59-38.The centerpiece of Trump’s energy policy is “drill, baby, drill,” and he has pledged to dismantle what he calls Democrats’ “green new scam” in favor of boosting production of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases.“President Trump shares my passion for energy,” Wright said at his confirmation hearing last month, promising that if confirmed, he would “work tirelessly to implement (Trump’s) bold agenda as an unabashed steward for all sources of affordable, reliable and secure American energy.”That includes oil and natural gas, coal, nuclear power and hydropower, along with wind and solar power and geothermal energy, Wright said.Trump’s energy wishes are likely to run into real-world limits, including the fact that U.S. oil production is already at record levels. The federal government cannot force companies to drill for more oil, and production increases could lower prices and reduce profits.Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican, called Wright an innovator who “tells the truth about energy production.”While Wright “acknowledges that climate change is real, he knows more American energy is the solution — not the problem,” Barrasso said, calling Wright’s “energy realism” welcome news.Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Wright “understands that energy policies should focus on making energy abundant and affordable for families” and businesses.“Our nation deserves a champion for American energy and innovation, and we’ve got the Wright guy for the job,” Lee posted on X.Colorado’s two Democratic senators both supported their home-state nominee.“Chris Wright is a scientist who has dedicated his life to the study and use of energy. He believes in science and supports the research that will deliver the affordable, reliable and clean energy” that will lower costs and make the country more secure, Sen. John Hickenlooper said.“While we don’t always agree, we will work together because none of us have four years to wait to act,” Hickenlooper said.Sen. Michael Bennet called Wright a successful Colorado entrepreneur with deep expertise in energy innovation and technology. He pledged to work with Wright to “ensure Colorado continues to lead the country in energy production and innovation.” While acknowledging that climate change is real, Wright said at his hearing that he believes “there isn’t dirty energy or clean energy.” Rather, he said, there are different sources of energy with different tradeoffs.Wright, 60, has been chairman and CEO of Liberty Energy since 2011 and has no prior experience in government. He grew up in Colorado, earned an undergraduate degree at MIT and did graduate work in electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and MIT. In 1992, he founded Pinnacle Technologies, which helped launch commercial shale gas production through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.He later served as chairman of Stroud Energy, an early shale gas producer, before founding Liberty Resources in 2010. As energy secretary, Wright will join Interior Secretary Doug Burgum as a key player on energy policy. Both will serve on a new National Energy Council that Burgum will chair. The panel will include all executive branch agencies involved in energy permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, with a focus on “cutting red tape” and boosting domestic energy production, Trump said. The council’s mission represents a near-complete reversal from actions pursued by Democratic President Joe Biden, who made fighting climate change a top priority. Wright said he would sever all ties across the energy industry if confirmed.

Arizona's senators voted with Republicans to confirm Lee Zeldin as the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Senate confirmed former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin in a bipartisan vote Wednesday afternoon to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during President Donald Trump's second term.

The former New York congressman will lead the agency whose budget and scope the Trump administration is certain to slash.

The key role will help Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations.

Among the roughly 1,500 people pardoned by Trump were more than 200 who pleaded guilty to assaulting police.

President Donald Trump answered questions at a press availability on a range of topics following a White House meeting with top congressional Republicans.

President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, will appear for questioning Tuesday on Capitol Hill, in a public confirmation hearing that Democrats will use to interrogate his limited management experience, allegations of illicit and inappropriate conduct, and...

Cabinet confirmation hearings will provide an early glimpse at how Senate Republicans will handle Donald Trump's wishes in his second term.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is forming his kitchen cabinet — an inner circle of advisers outside of elected leadership, Axios has learned. Why it matters: A new leader means new alliances and new voices with influence.Zoom in: Thune is naming four senators as his counselors, a Senate GOP leadership aide tells Axios. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who helped give Thune his majority as NRSC chair last cycle.MarkWayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a Trump ally and vocal supporter of Thune's leadership bid from the start.John Cornyn (R-Tex.), who ran against Thune for leader, and was also a part of McConnell's leadership circle.Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who was praised for leading the the effort of re-writing the RNC platform last year — in a Trump-like style.Zoom out: The unofficial advisory board are invited to join the elected Senate GOP leadership team in regular Monday leadership meetings in Thune's office.Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)GOP conference chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)Policy chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.)Vice chair of policy James Lankford (R-Okla.)NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.)

New Senate Majority Leader John Thune has tapped four GOP allies to advise him as he leads the upper chamber.

Pete Hegseth must be approved by the GOP-led Senate Armed Services Committee before he can go before the full Senate for confirmation.

Opinion: Congress has a simple tool it could use to rid the state of something guaranteed to permanently damage its economy and way of life.

Republicans penned a letter to the Bureau of Land Management calling on appointees who have announced their intent to join ENGOs after the administration to recuse themselves from pending business.

With a GOP trifecta assuming power in January, House Speaker Johnson said the permit reform can wait while lawmakers focus on adopting a stopgap funding bill.

Robert Kennedy, Jr., nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, arrives for his meeting with Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., in the Hart Senate Office Building on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.

McConnell delivered remarks at the lunch event before he fell

The veteran Kentucky senator stepped down from his perch as the top Republican senator after he froze up in front of cameras last year.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon on Tuesday, the latest in a series of medical incidents for him in recent years

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell fell and scratched his face after a party lunch on Tuesday but is “fine” after returning to his office. That's according to a senator who was with him when it happened. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso,...

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) fell on Tuesday while coming out of a regular lunch with Republican senators at the Capitol.The big picture: McConnell has had multiple health scares in the past few years, including freezing in front of reporters. Medical personnel were seen entering and leaving his office on Tuesday.McConnell is "fine," incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said at Tuesday's regular GOP press conference.McConnell left the lunch Tuesday shortly before he fell in a room that's outside the Senate chamber, incoming Senate GOP whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) told Axios and other reporters on Tuesday.McConnell was able to walk back to his office after the fall, and has a scratch on his face, Barrasso said.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) received medical attention after falling following a Republican lunch meeting Tuesday. He was spotted walking back to his Capitol office followed by a medical team and escorted by Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who hosted the lunch meeting. Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.), who led the [...]

The president-elect said Friday that Hegseth’s academic and military background will serve him as a leader.

GOP Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy spoke to Fox News Digital about the issues he plans to prioritize when he is sworn in as a member of the Senate next month.

In the month since the presidential election, some things are starting to become clearer though many questions remain.What Can Be Expected on Day 1President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that on Day 1 he plans to immediately reverse pauses on all liquified natural gas (LNG) export permits to accelerate oil and gas production and “lower energy prices.” Trump will push for more oil drilling on federal land and we also expect that the administration and Congress to move quickly on revamping DOE’s role in LNG export licenses under the Natural Gas Act. Trump also repeatedly promised on his campaign trail to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change once again, meaning the US would not have to abide by any “nationally determined contribution,” the non-binding 10-year national climate plan that the US is supposed to submit by a February 2025 deadline.Trump’s next likely targets include the recently finalized Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methane fee on... Read the complete article here...©1994-2024 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. All Rights Reserved.

Lawmakers are rebranding their deficit reduction efforts as a “Department of Government Efficiency,” but many are clueless about the new brand.

Hegseth told Megyn Kelly he thinks the allegations against him are part of a smear campaign by his opponents and are a "ridiculous narrative."

Penelope Hegseth emailed the accusations to her son six years ago, the New York Times reported.

Police in California released a report with graphic new details on sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary (he has denied the accusation).

As President-elect Donald Trump digs in on his pick of Matt Gaetz for attorney general, Republican senators are divided over how much information they will demand to move his confirmation — and how much to push back on Trump as he demands that they qui...

A reporter takes a picture of the name plate of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the Rayburn House Office Building.

CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Chris Wright is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking.