đ30 Minutes ago in Washington, D.C. House Passes Massive Defense Bill, Senate Next - the phdailynews.org
The House of Representatives has officially passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a decisive 312-112 vote, authorizing a historic $901 billion budget for the War Department. This legislative victory came after a high-stakes procedural standoff where key Republicans, including Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tim Burchett, and Lauren Boebert, ultimately shifted their positions to support the measure. The bill, a consolidation of House and Senate versions, is now moving toward the Senate for rapid approval before reaching President Donald Trump for his final signature. Speaker Mike Johnson characterized the bill as a win for military readiness and conservative reform, pointing to a 4 percent pay raise for enlisted personnel and the total removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military framework.
Beyond personnel raises, the NDAA aims to modernize the Pentagon by slashing $20 billion from programs deemed obsolete. However, the path to passage was not without internal friction. Hardline conservatives expressed frustration over the inclusion of $400 million in recurring annual funding for Ukraine. Additionally, the final text omitted a ban on the Federal Reserve creating a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a provision heavily supported by Jim Jordan to protect financial privacy. The legislation also curtails executive power by forbidding the President from reducing troop counts in Europe or South Korea and prohibiting any pauses on lethal aid to Ukraine. In a move toward institutional transparency, the bill mandates that the FBI disclose investigations into federal candidates and restricts the travel budget of War Secretary Pete Hegseth until certain strike footage near Venezuela is released. National security regarding China remains a focal point of the legislation. The NDAA empowers the Treasury Department to screen and potentially block U.S. investments in high-risk Chinese technologies. It also bans the Pentagon from acquiring biotechnology or critical minerals from foreign entities of concern, specifically targeting China. To bolster global oversight, the State Department will station Regional China Officers to track the Belt and Road Initiative. Finally, the bill addresses historical military mandates by repealing the 1992 and 2002 authorizations for the Iraq war. However, social compromises were evident, as the final draft excluded in vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage for military families and refrained from preempting state-level artificial intelligence regulations, reflecting the delicate political balancing act required in a divided chamber.
Judge Tosses Wolff Suit, Clearing Path For $1B Melania Claim HH
Wolff filed suit against Trump seeking to block her from suing him for $1 billion for alleged defamatory claims he made regarding her association with Jeffrey Epstein.
âItâs an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,â said Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, an appointee of President Donald Trump.
Vyskocil said she would not be âdrafted to oversee an abusively presented spat,â yet she recognized that both sides have a âreal dispute.â
Last year, the first ladyâs lawyer issued Wolff a letter demanding he delete the statements he made about Trump and threatening that she would have âno alternativeâ but to sue him if he didnât.
That spurred him to sue her in state court in October.
Trumpâs lawyer, Alejandro Brito, had the complaint moved to federal court, where Vyskocil declared that while federal court does have jurisdiction, she was declining to exercise it and âdismisses this case to be litigated like any other.â
A Melania Trump spokesperson said that the first lady âis proud to continue standing up to, and fighting against, those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct.â
The 56-year-oldâs lawyer previously claimed that Wolffâs statements caused her âoverwhelming reputational and financial harm.â
The first lady has denied any association with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of child sex trafficking.
âThe lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,â the first lady said in an April press conference.
âThe individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation,â she added at the time.
Wolff claimed in his lawsuit that the president and first lady âhave made a practice of threatening those who speak against themâ with costly legal actions âto silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments and North Korean-style confessions and apologies.â
He added that some of his statements were taken out of context and some were protected speech, including a statement he made that claimed the Trumps have a âsham marriage, trophy marriage,â that his lawsuit says was a âfair and justifiedâ opinion.
It also said in his lawsuit that Wolff never accused the first lady of being involved with criminal activity associated with Epstein.
The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer, titled âMelania Trump âVery Involvedâ in Epstein Scandal: Author,â which was based on an interview with Wolff, after the outlet received a letter from Brito.
In the interview that formed the basis for the retracted piece, Wolff said he reported that the first lady was âbehind the scenesâ dealing with the situation at the White House, but was not involved criminally.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Melania Trump at the time for coming out against Epstein.
âMelania Trump stands with Epstein victims,â Mace said, citing the first ladyâs advocacy for legislation addressing the distribution of fake intimate images. âThe truth will prevail.â
Democratic lawmakers also commented following the statement.
Rep. Robert Garcia called for a public hearing, writing, âWe agree with First Lady Melania Trumpâs call for a public hearing,â Garcia said. âWe encourage Chairman Comer to schedule a hearing immediately.â
Garcia said the remarks renewed attention on the broader investigation.
In her remarks, Melania Trump called on Congress to take action.
âNow is the time for Congress to act,â she said.
She urged lawmakers to allow victims to testify under oath.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the authorâs opinion.
Change Of Plans - President Trump Picks Popular Fox News Personality For Key Position Of Surgeon General descript HH
Trump Nominates Nicole Saphier As Surgeon General Pick
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Dr. Nicole Saphier to serve as U.S. surgeon general after withdrawing the stalled nomination of Casey Means. The move places a prominent physician and media figure at the center of the administrationâs public health agenda.
âI am pleased to announce that I am nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier to be the next SURGEON GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,â Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump praised Saphierâs medical background and her work in cancer treatment and prevention. He highlighted her role guiding patients through diagnoses and promoting early detection.
âNicole is a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention,â Trump said.
He also pointed to her ability to communicate complex medical issues to the public.
âShe is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans,â Trump said.
Saphier is a radiologist who has served as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in New Jersey. She is also a regular contributor on Fox News and Fox Business, where she has commented on a range of public health issues.
Her nomination follows the withdrawal of Casey Means, whose confirmation effort faced months of resistance in the Senate. Means, a wellness entrepreneur aligned with the administrationâs âMake America Healthy Againâ initiative, had drawn scrutiny over her medical background and positions on vaccines.
Trump placed blame on Sen. Bill Cassidy for the failed nomination. Cassidy, a physician and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, had raised concerns during the confirmation process.
âHopefully all of the Great Republican People of Louisiana⊠will be voting Bill Cassidy OUT OF OFFICE in the upcoming Republican Primary!â Trump wrote in a separate post.
Cassidy has been a key Republican voice on health-related nominations and policy matters. His position on the committee gives him significant influence over whether nominees advance to a full Senate vote.
Saphier now enters the confirmation process as the administration seeks to fill one of the nationâs most visible public health roles. The surgeon general serves as the federal governmentâs leading spokesperson on public health and medical issues.
governmentâs leading spokesperson on public health and medical issues.
Her nomination comes as the administration continues to emphasize its broader health policy agenda. Trump has framed the effort around prevention, communication, and reshaping public trust in health institutions.
If confirmed, Saphier would take on a high-profile position responsible for addressing national health challenges and advising the public on medical issues. The timeline for Senate consideration of her nomination has not yet been announced.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
