The Latest Breaking News from Russ Vought

Lawmakers show little urgency to end shutdown as it enters its third week - Roll Call

Lawmakers show little urgency to end shutdown as it enters its third week - Congress

Roll Call · Oct 14, 2025

Trump directs Pentagon to shift funds to make payroll for troops - Roll Call

President Donald Trump said Saturday his administration will make sure military personnel get paid Wednesday when their checks are due.

Roll Call · Oct 11, 2025

Democrats refuse to fold over shutdown as Republican outrage builds

Party sticks to its guns on healthcare and says it’s willing to hold out – much to the delight of its progressive supporters

The Guardian - US · Oct 11, 2025

Stopgap fix or separate bill may be needed to unlock shutdown pay - Roll Call

A draft memo from White House budget office arguing there’s no obligation to give back pay to furloughed workers may have some legal merit.

Roll Call · Oct 8, 2025

Scoop: White House memo says furloughed federal workers aren't entitled to backpay

A move to deny backpay to up to 750,000 furloughed workers would dramatically escalate Trump's pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown.

Axios · Oct 7, 2025

House speaker claims Democrats aren’t serious about shutdown negotiation

Mike Johnson adds Trump does not want permanent job cuts as talks between parties stalled over weekend

The Guardian - US · Oct 5, 2025

Trump adviser: Layoffs will start if shutdown negotiations are "going nowhere"

Kevin Hassett put the onus on Democrats, saying it's "common sense to avoid layoffs like that."

Axios · Oct 5, 2025

Feds Suspend Billions for Chicago Transit Projects Amid 'Race-Based Contracting' Concerns

Local leaders expressed alarm at the decision, with Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) calling it "a very bad day for public transit in the country when it becomes weaponized"

Latin Times · Oct 4, 2025

What is Donald Trump doing while the government is shut down? Shamelessly living his ‘incredibly weird’ dream

But according to the White House, the president just "loves to have a bit of fun."

We Got This Covered · Oct 4, 2025

Shutdown drags on amid talk of side deals to get stopgap unstuck - Roll Call

Senators left town for the weekend after more unsuccessful votes to reopen the government, but bipartisan talks provided a glimmer of hope.

Roll Call · Oct 3, 2025