House Republicans have successfully passed a GOP budget blueprint, a significant step towards implementing President Donald Trump's proposed tax breaks and spending cuts totaling $4.5 trillion and $2 trillion, respectively. This move comes amidst strong resistance from Democrats and some discomfort among Republicans.
The passage of the budget resolution was a close call, with House Speaker Mike Johnson barely securing the necessary votes in the GOP majority. The final vote stood at 217-215, with one Republican dissenting and all Democrats opposing the bill. President Trump actively lobbied GOP lawmakers and hosted them at the White House to ensure the resolution's success.
Federal Employees Face Uncertainty Over Reporting Demands
The federal workforce is currently grappling with uncertainty following demands from Elon Musk to report their recent accomplishments. The Office of Personnel Management initially stated that compliance with Musk's directive was not mandatory, but later hinted at potential sanctions for noncompliance in the future.
Employees received an email over the weekend asking them to outline their accomplishments from the previous week in approximately five bullet points. President Trump's comments on the matter suggested a lack of clarity, stating that compliance was somewhat voluntary but hinting at potential consequences for non-participation.
Trump Proposes 'Gold Card' Visa for Citizenship
President Trump announced plans to introduce a 'gold card' visa offering a path to citizenship for $5 million, replacing the existing EB-5 investor visa program. The new 'Trump Gold Card' would provide permanent legal residency and a route to citizenship for investors, aiming to eliminate fraud and streamline the process.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick highlighted the benefits of the proposed gold card, emphasizing its potential to enhance foreign investment and job creation. While the specifics of job creation requirements remain unclear, Trump expressed optimism about the program's potential to reduce the deficit by selling millions of 'gold cards.'
Overall, these recent developments underscore the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration and House Republicans to advance key elements of the President's agenda, despite facing opposition and challenges along the way.
