The Latest Breaking News from McClatchy Washington Bureau

Offshore drilling made easier with Trump's rollback of environmental standards

WASHINGTON _ Interstate pipeline and offshore drilling projects are more likely to receive federal approval if President Donald Trump's changes to longstanding environmental standards go into effect, two administration officials told McClatchy on Thursday.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 9, 2020

On the brink of war with Iran, Trump steps back

WASHINGTON _ Six days of fear over full-scale war with Iran broke into relief on Wednesday as President Donald Trump said he would refrain from hitting back over Tehran's strikes on military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 8, 2020

Tax hitting nonprofits, religious institutions has been eliminated under 2020 budget deal

WASHINGTON _ Your pastor can park at his special space again without having to pay the federal "church tax."

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 8, 2020

State Department says Giuliani was freelancing in Venezuela

WASHINGTON _ Donald Trump's personal lawyer went rogue when he attempted back-channel diplomacy with embattled Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, according to Elliott Abrams, the senior State Department official in charge of Venezuela policy.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 7, 2020

Congress wants small airports to have special mothers' rooms

WASHINGTON _ Coming soon to many of the nation's smaller airports: mothers' rooms.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 6, 2020

EPA sees California progress on clean air backlog after threats to highway funding

WASHINGTON _ California is cooperating with the federal government to clear a backlog of reports on its implementation of the Clean Air Act, likely avoiding cuts to highway funding threatened by the Trump administration late last year.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 6, 2020

Pelosi plans war powers resolution over Iran. Here's how Congress could limit Trump

WASHINGTON _ Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced plans to vote on a war powers resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the resolution could limit President Donald Trump's actions in escalating tensions with Iran.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 6, 2020

10 Republicans sign onto senator's rule-change proposal to dismiss Trump's impeachment

WASHINGTON _ Ten Republican senators have signed onto Sen. Josh Hawley's proposal to change the Senate rules to enable the chamber to dismiss President Donald Trump's impeachment.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 6, 2020

Pentagon chief says 'no decision whatsoever' to leave Iraq after memo confusion

WASHINGTON _ The United States has made "no decision whatsoever" to pull troops out of Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday after a Defense Department memo to an Iraqi military official surfaced discussing moving U.S. forces.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 6, 2020

Boy Scouts sex abuse lawsuit could open floodgates for more victim claims

WASHINGTON _ For nearly three years starting in 1993, several Boy Scouts members were subject to sexual abuse at the hands of an assistant scoutmaster in their Gainesville, Fla., troop, one of the scouts says in lawsuit.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Jan 6, 2020