DOGE’s Musk Speaks Directly to GOP Lawmakers: BGOV Starting Line

Yesterday Trump, Today Musk

President Donald Trump had his say. Next his government-slashing guru, billionaire Elon Musk, weighs in with a private briefing for House Republicans.

“There’s a lot of excitement about what DOGE is doing and some questions, and he’ll be able to answer the questions of members there,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said.

Musk’s government cost-cutting effort — the Department of Government Efficiency — is being felt across the country, and House members are fresh from face-to-face constituent interactions during last week’s district work period.

Some of them were stung by viral town hall exchanges with angry constituents — so many of those, in fact, that the GOP leadership has been encouraging the rank and file to switch to tele-gatherings. Read More

More on the DOGE Front:

• Trump Seeks to Put Federal Properties Up for Sale
• Trump’s FDA Staff Cuts Weigh on Agency’s Drug Oversight Work
• Trump Aims to Cut IRS Workforce in Half by End of Year
• Trump’s Reduction in Force Push Raises Mine Safety Concerns
• How Elon Musk Muscled His Way Into the FAA’s Modernization Plans

Some Action Items From Last Night’s Speech:

• Trump Calls for End to $52 Billion Chips Act Subsidy Program
• Trump Seeks Revival of US Shipbuilding to Counter China
• BGOV Tech Brief: Trump Endorses Deepfake Porn Ban

Don’t Like it When Trump Loses in Court? Change the Law

As Trump racks up court losses, the House Judiciary Committee is eyeing legislation that would curb the scope of future judicial rulings.

The committee today is to mark up Rep. Darrell Issa’s bill (H.R. 1526) that would narrow the authority of lower courts so that they’d no longer be able to issue nationwide or statewide injunctions. Instead, injunctions would apply only to the parties in each particular case.

The committee’s also marking up another bill (H.R. 1702) from Issa (R-Calif.) that would add more federal trial judges (last year’s version was vetoed), along with measures related to criminal prosecutions of presidents and vice presidents (H.R. 1789) and judicial review over agency actions (H.R. 1605)
— Suzanne Monyak

See Also:

• Trump-Fired Worker Appeals Panel Member to Keep Her Position
• Trans Youths Halt Trump’s Order to Bar Gender-Affirming Care
• White House Walks Back Cuts to New Federal Workers After Ruling

Plus, check out our exclusive tool tracking litigation challenging Trump’s executive orders and actions.

Taking on Big Blue Cities Over Migrant Policy

Two Republican chairmen will use their podiums today to register strong views on how Democratic-led cities have handled migrants.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has posted a video drumroll for its hearing on what Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) called the “misguided and obstructionist policies” of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City.

Mayors of the so-called sanctuary cities are to answer lawmakers’ questions about limitations on their cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

At the same time, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will meet to vote on a subpoena for documents from the Massachusetts Port Authority. Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wants details on how migrants were allowed to shelter inside Boston Logan International Airport last year.

Also, it’s nomination hearing day for Jayanta Bhattacharya, Trump’s choice to lead NIH. Check out the Capitol Hill schedule in BGOV’s Congress Tracker

Tariff Movement

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters to expect an announcement today on the Canadian and Mexican tariffs. Mexico’s president had already scheduled a Sunday announcement of planned counter-measures.

• Trump Mulling Canada, Mexico Tariff Compromise, Lutnick Says
• Trump’s Tariffs Set to Raise Prices of Heat Pumps, EVs, Solar
• Trump’s Tariffs Risk Driving Record Food Costs Even Higher
• Why Trump’s Tariffs Could Drive Up US Gasoline Prices: QuickTake

SCOTUS Case Could Upend Regulatory Process

The Supreme Court hears arguments today that will help the justices address a decades-long feud about what the nuclear industry should do with its spent fuel while it waits for Congress to establish a permanent repository.

Alexis Waiss reports that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission argues that the Atomic Energy Act gives it the authority to license temporary private storage away from nuclear reactors, and affected states disagree.

An NRC brief says that if it loses this case, the administrative process would be flipped on its head by encouraging aggrieved parties to skip licensing proceedings and “ambush the agency by calling its authority into question once that proceeding is over.”

Congress stalled on a permanent nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev.

The material has to go somewhere, so the NRC approved licenses for private storage sites in west Texas and southeast New Mexico.

In its court challenge, Texas argues it has a right to protect the Permian Basin—the “world’s most productive oil field and the only source of safe water for hundreds of miles.” Read More

Before You Go

Trump’s comments about tariffs and the price of eggs could use a little context, and some of what he said to Congress last night was false. Here’s a fact check. Read More

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