#CPB said its end, 58 years after being signed into #law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, would come in an “orderly wind-down.” In a statement, it said the decision came after the passage through #Congress of a package that clawed back its #funding for the next 2 budget years — about $1.1 billion. Then, the #Senate #Appropriations Cmte reinforced that policy change Thurs by excluding funding for the corporation for the first time in >50 years as part of a broader spending bill.

#RussVought, the director of the White House #OMB, said during a #Senate #Appropriations Cmte hearing last week that the admin was considering ways to claw back the funding through a process known as rescission. The admin would formally ask lawmakers to claw back a set of funds it has targeted for cuts. Even if #Congress fails to vote on the request, #Trump’s timing would trigger a #law that freezes the money until it ultimately expires.

“No decision has been made,” Vought said.

#Louisiana v. Callais — a 2022 map w/ 1 majority-Black district was ruled to violate the #VotingRightsAct. The new map, drawn w/ 2 majority-Black districts, was challenged by a group describing themselves as “non-African American” who contend it was unconstitutional racial #gerrymandering. The state says it drew the map not due to #race but to protect #Republican incumbents, such as #House Speaker #MikeJohnson & Rep Julia Letlow, who sits on the House #Appropriations Cmte.

#SCOTUS #law

Indeed, it would be hard to envision what circumstances do not amount to #war that #Congress must authorize if using #military force in #Iran in this set of circumstances does not reach that threshold.

Congress has options…to try to prevent the President from unlawfully using force, including through the #appropriations #power & the #WarPowersResolution of 1973.

She was fired in a two-sentence email from Trent Morse, the deputy director of White House personnel, acc/to a screenshot released by Senator Martin Heinrich of NM, the top #Democrat on the #Appropriations Subcommittee on the #Legislative Branch.

“On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately,”the email said, without citing a cause. “Thank you for your service.”

“We look forward to working with you to restore public access to apportionment data in accordance with statute,” they wrote.

The letter was signed by Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma & Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the #Republican chairs of the #House & #Senate #appropriations cmtes, & the 2 senior #Democrats on those panels, Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut & Senator Patty Murray of Washington.

Woof. This excerpt from Rep #LaurenUnderwood’s (D-IL) questioning basically sums up #DHS Secy #KristiNoem’s appearance before the #House #Appropriations Cmte.

Noem was unable to answer at all whether she believes people in the #US are entitled to #DueProcess.

Noem wrongly claimed no #UScitizens have been deported.

Since #Congress ultimately decides & approves #spending levels, it is significant that Senator #SusanCollins, #Republican of Maine & the chair of the #Appropriations Cmte says she has “serious objections” to #Trump’s proposed #defense spending levels & cuts to programs like the #LowIncome Home #Energy Assistance Program & those that support #biomedical #research.

“Ultimately, it is Congress that holds the #power of the purse,” Collins said.

…#Trump & #DOGE have aggressively flouted #Congress’s power with potentially [definitely] #illegal freezes on spending, & many of the moves have ended up in #court, where judges have at least temporarily reversed some actions.

Trump has frozen or canceled at least $430 billion in funds since taking office, according to an estimate compiled by the top #Democrats on the #House & #Senate #appropriations committees.