Representative Shri Thanedar, a Democrat from Michigan, on May 13 filed Resolution 353 on the House floor, formally seeking the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.

Thanedar’s resolution accuses the President of bribery, corruption, illegally creating an office within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), violating First Amendment rights, disregarding due process, and preparing to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar while traveling overseas.

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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, aimed to reduce federal government spending by $2 trillion but has fallen short of this target. Instead, spending cuts have shrunk to $150 billion, while overall spending increased by $135 billion. Experts and analysts have criticized DOGE for overpromising and underdelivering on verifiable budget reductions. Morgan Stanley's Michael Cembalest noted that although DOGE highlighted some wasteful spending, the full impact of its broad cuts to government departments may take years to evaluate. The initiative's limited progress has been attributed in part to the necessity of Congressional approval, which DOGE could not secure. Critics have described DOGE's mission to eliminate wasteful spending as largely ineffective, calling its budget-cutting efforts a farce.

The National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are facing operational challenges due to ongoing federal budget cuts implemented during the Trump administration. These cuts have led to staff reductions of at least 16% among radar technicians and widespread short-staffing across many NWS offices, partly driven by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-ordered layoffs and voluntary early retirements. As a cost-saving measure, a Silicon Valley startup will replace traditional NOAA weather balloons with AI-powered alternatives. Former NOAA and NWS directors from across the political spectrum have expressed concern that these reductions could degrade weather forecast quality and jeopardize public safety during severe weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes. The impact is already being felt in states like Iowa and Illinois, where weather enthusiasts and officials worry about diminished forecasting capabilities and increased risks. Meanwhile, Japan’s Meteorological Agency is reportedly strengthening its system with advanced AI technologies, highlighting a contrast in approaches to weather prediction.

During National Military Appreciation Month, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has launched its Mission: Military Appreciation campaign, running from May 12 to May 18. The campaign raises funds for veterans and active-duty military through membership drives and contributions to the Truckers For Troops program. Since 2007, this campaign has raised over $800,000 and sent nearly 3,300 care packages to service members and veterans.

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President Donald Trump has initiated a wide-ranging rollback of Biden-era energy efficiency regulations, particularly targeting household appliances such as tankless water heaters, gas stoves, freezers, and refrigerators. On May 9, Trump described these standards as part of an "unnecessary radical green agenda." The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the largest single-day deregulatory action in U.S. history, eliminating 47 regulations in just over 100 days, which is expected to save American consumers more than $11 billion. This deregulatory spree has also resulted in cutting 125,000 words from federal regulations. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has played a key role in this effort, terminating 242 federal contracts worth a potential $646 million and generating immediate savings of $200 million. These contracts included expenditures such as a $118,000 USDA contract for a youth climate corps coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a $23,500 USAID contract for pool and landscaping services. DOGE has also launched a Deregulation Leaderboard that tracks repeals of burdensome or obsolete regulations, with estimated taxpayer savings already reaching $28.7 billion. Additionally, there are reports that the Trump administration is considering scrapping the Energy Star program as part of a broader reorganization of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Senator Elizabeth Warren has proposed a deposit insurance plan aimed at expanding government control over banking institutions. Critics argue that the plan would increase taxpayer risk, encourage reckless banking practices, and undermine reforms introduced under former President Donald Trump's administration, specifically those related to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Warren's proposal, supported by CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, seeks to increase insurance coverage on bank deposits, which opponents claim could lead to more bailouts and bureaucratic expansion. Some Trump administration members have expressed interest in eliminating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and transferring its functions to the Treasury Department, though this would require congressional approval amid narrow Republican majorities. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between efforts to reduce federal oversight and proposals to enhance government involvement in the banking sector.

A federal judge, Susan Illston, has issued a temporary restraining order blocking major parts of President Donald Trump's plans to reduce the federal workforce and reorganize multiple government departments. The order halts layoffs and restructuring efforts across 21 federal agencies for a two-week period, emphasizing that the president must seek Congressional approval for such sweeping changes. The ruling also affects the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, which was involved in executing the workforce reductions. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is appealing the order and seeking to pause the temporary block. In West Virginia, over 100 employees of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), responsible for health surveillance of coal miners, will be permanently reinstated following lobbying efforts by Senator Shelley Moore Capito and unions. A West Virginia federal judge also ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to restore jobs for federal researchers involved in coal miner health surveillance while legal challenges proceed. Additionally, a hearing is scheduled regarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) plan to reduce its workforce from 1,700 to 200 employees, which Democrats argue is an attempt to dismantle the bureau. The CFPB has also moved to roll back certain Biden-era regulations on enforcement proceedings and financial oversight, consistent with other Trump administration regulatory rollbacks.

Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation into the Trump administration's actions regarding the Library of Congress following the dismissal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. Representative Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, requested an inspector general review into potentially improper communications between the Trump administration and Library employees, as well as the circumstances surrounding Hayden's firing. There are also inquiries into whether the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) or other executive branch entities attempted to access Library data or communications between the Congressional Research Service and Congressional offices. The situation has raised concerns about executive overreach and the independence of the Library of Congress, which is a coequal branch of government. Legal analysis suggests that the President likely has the authority to fire the Librarian of Congress, adding a complex legal dimension to the controversy. The Trump administration is reportedly seeking to install the President’s former personal defense lawyer as a top administrator at the Library, intensifying the dispute.

Russell Vought, currently the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, is set to replace Elon Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) later this month, according to reports citing the Wall Street Journal.

Elon Musk, who led DOGE since its inception, will step down to refocus on his leadership at Tesla. During his tenure, Musk has been credited with uncovering $630 million in fraudulent loans at the Small Business Administration, canceling contracts worth billions, and identifying over $170 billion in fraud, waste, and abuse since the start of Donald Trump's term. Musk's departure comes amid a drop in Tesla's stock, attributed in part to organized boycotts.

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Since President Donald Trump took office four months ago, the growth of the U.S. national debt has reportedly slowed by 92%, according to multiple sources including the Washington Examiner. This slowdown marks the first decline in outstanding national debt since 1957, attributed in part to the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team established under Trump's administration. Despite the reduced growth rate, federal spending increased slightly in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, rising from $1.702 trillion to $1.723 trillion, an increase of $21 billion over three months.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced plans to donate 99% of his estimated $108 billion fortune over the next 20 years, with the goal of closing the Gates Foundation by 2045. This decision comes as Gates celebrates his 70th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the foundation, which has already contributed significantly to global health and education initiatives.

Gates has publicly criticized fellow billionaire Elon Musk for his role in the Trump administration's cuts to US foreign aid through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Gates claims has led to increased mortality among the world's poorest children. Musk's actions, particularly the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), have been a point of contention between the two. Gates also mentioned the influence of philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie and Warren Buffett in his decision-making.

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A group of Republican lawmakers has emphasized their commitment to fiscal responsibility, advocating for spending cuts, deficit reduction, Medicaid reform, and the repeal of the Green New Deal, which they refer to as the 'Green New Scam.' Representatives Mark Harris, Eric Burlison, Chip Roy, and Andrew Ogles have highlighted the need to address waste, fraud, and abuse within Medicaid, particularly criticizing the expansion under Obamacare. They argue that Medicaid's current trajectory threatens federal financial stability and insist that Congress use the reconciliation process to implement reforms. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly exposed internal issues within Medicaid, reinforcing calls for congressional action to curb inefficiencies and prevent misuse of taxpayer funds.

Billboards have appeared across multiple U.S. cities, including Denver, protesting recent job cuts to national parks attributed to funding reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). These advertisements highlight concerns over reduced staffing at parks such as Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. Lawmakers have warned that cuts to funding for critical research in national parks could harm conservation efforts, public safety, and public health, arguing that such measures are counterproductive and costly to the American public.

President Donald Trump has dismissed the three Democratic commissioners serving on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a move that critics say effectively cripples the independent agency responsible for protecting consumers from hazardous products. The commissioners, appointed during the Biden administration, contend that Trump lacks the authority to remove them. The firings followed a visit by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal agency led by Elon Musk focused on government operations. One CPSC commissioner was reportedly removed after opposing DOGE, triggering legal challenges and further controversy within the administration. Observers and consumer advocacy groups argue that these actions align with efforts to weaken regulatory oversight and prioritize corporate interests over public safety. Additionally, reports have surfaced alleging that DOGE is compiling sensitive data, raising concerns about surveillance. Federal employees who spoke out after being dismissed by DOGE now face investigations. Meanwhile, a Trump official has been named to take over DOGE from Elon Musk, a development expected to provoke opposition from Democrats.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has clarified that no air traffic controllers were fired, countering reports suggesting otherwise. In fact, Duffy stated that more air traffic controllers have been hired, emphasizing that all safety positions have been retained. During a discussion, when asked if Elon Musk directly requested cuts to air traffic controllers, Duffy responded that there were broader conversations about which positions would be preserved. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby praised Duffy's management, calling him the "leading gold star" for handling the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) process.

A laid-off scientist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who was part of the lead poisoning team affected by recent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, has volunteered to assist Milwaukee in addressing its lead contamination crisis in public schools. Despite offering his expertise freely to help trace children exposed to lead, the scientist faces bureaucratic and institutional challenges, including uncertainty from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding his volunteer status. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of Health (MDH) reported that 38 of the 53 communities affected by manganese contamination have submitted proposals for loans through the state's Drinking Water Revolving Fund to mitigate the issue.

Democratic lawmakers have expressed strong opposition to Elon Musk's leadership of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), criticizing mass firings of Department of Labor (DOL) employees and the closure of field offices, which they say hinder workers' access to necessary resources. Committee Democrats are demanding explanations from Secretary Chavez-DeRemer regarding these actions. Additionally, concerns have been raised about DOGE’s management of a "master database," with Oversight Democrats launching an investigation into potential risks to privacy and national security. Polling indicates that a substantial majority of Democrats—around 71%—support a hypothetical law to imprison Musk, reflecting widespread disapproval of his involvement in federal government operations. Representative Don Beyer highlighted the adverse effects of Musk and former President Donald Trump's policies on federal employees and local communities, emphasizing the struggles faced by families. Overall, criticism centers on the impact of Musk and DOGE's actions on the federal workforce and public welfare.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted SpaceX approval to increase the annual number of Starship launches from its Starbase facility in Texas to 25, up from a previous cap of five. This decision follows an environmental assessment that found no significant impact on the quality of the human environment from the increased launch frequency.

The approval is seen as a step forward for SpaceX's ambitions to make space travel more affordable and to support U.S. national security. The increased launch cadence is expected to contribute to the development of Starship, which is designed to be a fully reusable transportation system capable of missions to Earth's orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

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The House DOGE Subcommittee held a contentious hearing on transgender participation in women's sports, with significant focus on USA Fencing's policies. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, clashed with Democrats over the issue, with Greene demanding the resignation of USA Fencing Chairman Damien Lehfeldt for allowing biological males to compete in women's fencing events, in line with President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at protecting women's sports.

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A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in April 2025 finds that an increasing share of Americans, particularly older adults and Democrats, are not confident that Social Security will be available to them in the future.

The poll shows that about 3 in 10 U.S. adults aged 60 or older are 'not very' or 'not at all' confident that Social Security benefits will be there when needed, up from about 2 in 10 in 2023. Among Democrats aged 60 or older, about half now express a lack of confidence, compared to only about 1 in 10 in 2023. In contrast, about 6 in 10 Republicans aged 60 or older are 'extremely' or 'very' confident, up from about one-quarter in 2023.

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