Capitol agenda: Brace for sharper shutdown pain

Congress is just days away from a significant escalation of shutdown pain. But with President Donald Trump in Asia all week, there’s little hope of an immediate breakthrough. Come Nov. 1, SNAP benefits will be halted for over 40 million people, troops will miss their next paychecks and millions of Americans will see sharp premium […]

6 ways the shutdown is about to get worse

The government shutdown gets uglier at the end of this week. With President Donald Trump traveling abroad and Congress still deeply divided over a path to fund federal agencies, a pileup of deadlines on and around Nov. 1 is set to put many U.S. households at risk of new hardship: Popular programs that provide nutrition […]

Trump administration won’t tap emergency funds to pay food aid

The Trump administration won’t tap emergency funds to pay for federal food benefits, imperiling benefits starting Nov. 1 for nearly 42 million Americans who rely on the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, according to a memo obtained by POLITICO. USDA said in the memo that it won’t tap a contingency fund or other nutrition programs to […]

Senators eye sanctions vote after Trump targets Russian oil

The bipartisan authors of sweeping Russia sanctions legislation are hoping the Senate is finally ready to consider their bill after President Donald Trump hit Moscow’s energy sector with penalties this week. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally and coauthor of legislation taking aim at Russian oil and gas revenue, said Congress “should continue […]

Obamacare ‘auto-enrollees’ are key target as Republicans formulate tax-credit extension plan

As Republicans formulate a plan to potentially extend key health insurance subsidies that are at the center of the government shutdown fight, House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie warned in an interview Tuesday that any extension would “absolutely” need to include a crackdown on so-called “phantom” Obamacare enrollees. The move is sure to spark […]

101 Republicans to defend community finance program from Trump cuts

More than 100 Republican lawmakers are expected to sign on to a letter pushing back on the Trump administration’s move to eliminate a popular, bipartisan community development finance fund that helps small businesses and home buyers access capital in areas of the country underserved by big banks. The congressional Republicans are pressing the Trump administration […]