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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
The U.S. federal budget deficit is expected to grow significantly over the next two decades because of lower taxes and higher government spending. To fix this problem, experts say the country will need to both raise taxes and reduce some benefits like Social Security.
Key Facts
The budget deficit could equal 120% of the country's total economic output (GDP) by 2036.
By 2046, the deficit may grow to 175% of GDP.
Tax cuts have lowered government revenue.
Increased spending has added to the deficit.
Fixing the deficit will require higher taxes.
It will also require lowering some government benefits.
Social Security is one benefit that may need changes.
A bipartisan political meeting is suggested to find solutions.
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The Senate voted against extending a key U.S. intelligence surveillance program called Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which will expire on June 12. Some Republicans and Democrats opposed the extension due to concerns about spying on Americans without a warrant, and controversy surrounds President Trump's choice for acting director of national intelligence.
Key Facts
The Senate vote was 47 in favor and 52 against a motion to move forward with extending Section 702.
Section 702 allows intelligence agencies to collect foreign communications without a warrant but can also collect some Americans' communications incidentally.
Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the procedural motion to extend the program.
Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat to support moving ahead with the extension vote.
The chosen acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, has faced criticism for his lack of experience and past controversies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate plans to try again to extend the program next week.
President Trump said Pulte’s role is temporary and mentioned investigating "rigged elections," stirring debate.
Some senators called for reforms to require a warrant before accessing Americans’ communications caught by the program.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is facing difficulties as courts and some Republican leaders are rejecting his policies. This pushback is causing the president to spend more time defending his plans than moving them forward.
Key Facts
The Trump administration has introduced several controversial initiatives.
Courts and political institutions are challenging these initiatives.
Some Republican leaders are also expressing disapproval.
This opposition is slowing down the progress of the president’s agenda.
President Trump has focused more on defending his policies than advancing them.
So far, little policy success has been achieved aside from a birthday celebration.
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President Donald Trump claims that Democrats are rigging the primary elections in California while votes are still being counted. These claims are related to the state's ongoing primary races.
Key Facts
President Trump says the California primary elections are being unfairly manipulated.
His claims come as vote counting continues in some California primary races.
The allegations are made against the Democratic Party.
The situation relates to primary elections, which select party candidates for upcoming general elections.
No official evidence has been presented in the report to support the rigging claims.
CBS News is reporting on President Trump’s statements about the California primaries.
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Invasive species that are not native to the U.S. are spreading widely and causing damage to ecosystems, agriculture, and infrastructure. These species lead to economic losses, health risks, and environmental problems, especially as climate changes make it easier for them to thrive.
Key Facts
Invasive species harm agriculture, fisheries, freshwater systems, and can spread diseases to animals and humans.
From 1960 to 2020, invasive species caused about $1.22 trillion in economic damage in the U.S.
Climate change, like warming and extreme weather, helps invasive species spread.
The New World screwworm fly attacks warm-blooded animals and has appeared recently in Texas, threatening livestock.
Feral hogs damage land and crops, causing about $3.4 billion in yearly agricultural losses, and carry diseases harmful to livestock and people.
The golden mussel, newly found in California's water delta, clogs pipes and threatens water systems and fish populations.
Managing invasive species requires strong actions like quarantines and special techniques to stop their spread.
Invasive species change landscapes and increase risks of wildfires.
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Representative Ilhan Omar was the only Democrat to vote against a House bill that gives military aid to Ukraine and adds sanctions on Russia. The bill passed with strong support from both parties, opposing President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy.
Key Facts
The bill provides new military help to Ukraine.
It also imposes sanctions on Russia.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday.
The vote was mostly bipartisan, meaning many members from both parties supported it.
Representative Ilhan Omar voted against the bill, standing apart from other Democrats.
This vote contrasts with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy views.
Ilhan Omar represents Minnesota in the House.
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The US Senate has approved a $70 billion funding bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives, which is expected to pass it before it reaches President Trump’s desk to become law.
Key Facts
The Senate passed the $70 billion funding bill early Friday morning.
The bill provides money for ICE and CBP agencies through President Trump’s term.
This funding adds to $170 billion already given to these agencies in a 2025 tax bill.
Republicans hold a majority in both the Senate (53 seats) and House (217 seats).
Democrats opposed the bill due to concerns about immigration enforcement practices.
The bill was passed using a special legislative process called budget reconciliation.
The Senate held a “vote-a-rama,” where many fast votes on amendments occurred.
The House is expected to vote on the bill next week and likely approve it.
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The Trump administration has cut $3 million in federal funding to Hawaii’s Medicaid fraud control program because it failed to prosecute any fraud cases in four years, despite increased Medicaid enrollment and funding. Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that New York may face similar actions as part of a broader effort to fight healthcare fraud.
Key Facts
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps low-income Americans with healthcare.
Each state must have a fraud control unit to detect and fight Medicaid fraud, run by the state's attorney general.
Hawaii’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) failed to bring any fraud indictments or convictions in four years.
During that time, Medicaid enrollment in Hawaii rose by 40%, and funding increased by 27%.
Hawaii’s MFCU was decertified and lost federal funding after being found to perform poorly over many years.
Hawaii’s Attorney General says the state has recovered $14 million in civil fraud cases since 2021 and charged two people criminally this year.
Vice President J.D. Vance leads a national task force on healthcare fraud and criticized Hawaii’s program publicly.
The administration is threatening other states, including New York, with funding cuts if they do not aggressively prosecute Medicaid fraud.
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Veteran journalists from the TV show "60 Minutes" said they will stay at CBS despite recent firings of senior leaders and colleagues. They criticized how these decisions were made and said they want to protect the show's tradition of independent and honest journalism.
Key Facts
Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim are veteran correspondents who issued the joint statement.
They criticized the firings of respected colleagues like Tanya and Draggan, calling the actions unjust and lacking explanation.
They said newsrooms should work with collaboration and open discussion, not like dictatorships.
The trio decided to stay to protect "60 Minutes" and continue independent journalism.
They expressed willingness to leave if the news organization does not uphold commitments to integrity.
The statement was shared publicly on social media by NPR correspondent David Folkenflik.
The situation follows the firing of longtime correspondent Scott Pelley and tensions over editorial independence.
The journalists hope new leadership will build trust and honor the show’s legacy.
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Social Security benefits are mostly protected from most private creditors, meaning creditors usually cannot take monthly Social Security payments to pay debts. However, some debts like federal taxes, student loans, child support, and alimony can still lead to deductions from these benefits, so Social Security recipients are not completely safe from debt collection.
Key Facts
Social Security benefits are protected from garnishment by most private creditors under the Social Security Act.
Credit card, medical, and personal loan creditors generally cannot take Social Security payments directly.
The IRS can take part of Social Security benefits for unpaid federal taxes.
Defaulted federal student loans and court-ordered payments like child support can also reduce benefits.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has stronger protections than regular Social Security benefits.
Additional income, savings, home equity, or vehicles might be subject to debt collection depending on state laws.
Banks protect about two months' worth of Social Security deposits when a garnishment order occurs, but extra funds may be temporarily frozen.
Being "judgment-proof" means your current financial situation protects you but is not a permanent shield against debts.
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Twelve Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee voted against a nearly $1.15 trillion defense policy bill, which is unusual since the committee usually works together across party lines. The bill, called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), supports things like pay raises for troops and aid to allies.
Key Facts
Twelve Democrats voted against the defense bill on the House Armed Services Committee.
The bill’s cost is nearly $1.15 trillion.
This committee normally works in a bipartisan way, meaning members usually cooperate across party lines.
The bill is called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
It includes support for troop pay raises.
The bill also provides aid to allies.
Ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) called the bill a “good solid bill.”
The vote occurred late on a Thursday.
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The House of Representatives passed a bill that would reduce funding for a nutrition program helping low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children. The bill cuts benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables and now moves to the Senate for further approval.
Key Facts
The House passed the 2027 Agriculture and Food appropriations bill by a narrow vote of 213-210.
The bill would reduce funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
WIC helps low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five with approved foods and nutrition support.
The bill targets cuts to the fruit and vegetable benefits in WIC, reducing them by about 10 percent.
Around 5.4 million people enrolled in WIC could lose about $141 million in benefits.
House Republicans mostly supported the bill, arguing that $8 billion in funding is enough due to lower participation this year.
Democrats opposed the bill, saying it would hurt vulnerable families during a time of rising grocery prices.
The bill must still be approved by the Senate before it can become law.
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A three-judge appeals court panel discussed a legal challenge related to President Donald Trump’s project to build a ballroom at the White House. Two judges appointed by Democrats questioned the government's claim that Congress already approved the project and whether a preservation group has the right to sue.
Key Facts
The court panel has three judges.
Two judges appointed by Democrats showed concern during oral arguments.
The challenge involves a ballroom construction project at the White House under President Trump.
The government said Congress has approved all necessary permissions for the project.
A preservationist group filed the lawsuit to stop the project.
The court discussed if the preservation group has the legal right to sue.
Judges compared the situation to protecting important historical landmarks.
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President Donald Trump changed his plans several times about sending U.S. troops to Europe, causing confusion and extra costs for the military. These changes disrupted military rotations to Poland, affected troop morale, and raised concerns among NATO allies.
Key Facts
In May, President Trump ordered 5,000 troops to Poland, then reversed to pull the same number out of Europe shortly before.
The Pentagon canceled a planned rotation of 4,000 soldiers to Poland, confusing allies and troops.
Some troops were told last minute not to travel, while others already in Poland waited for orders to return.
The military spent about $32 million on moving equipment for the canceled deployment.
The Pentagon is still finalizing how to comply with the president’s latest troop deployment order.
The decisions are straining the Army’s budget and causing morale issues among the troops.
NATO allies worry that this unclear policy sends mixed signals to Russia.
The troop movements are partly related to disputes with Germany and issues involving the Iran war.
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The U.S. Treasury's financial crimes division asked banks to watch for payroll fraud and money laundering linked to people living in the country illegally. This follows President Donald Trump's executive order requiring banks to check the citizenship status of their customers more carefully.
Key Facts
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is part of the U.S. Treasury focused on stopping financial crimes.
FinCEN issued a warning to banks about schemes involving identity theft, payroll tax fraud, and money laundering.
These schemes involve hiring people who are not legally allowed to work in the U.S.
The advisory encourages banks to report suspicious activities related to unauthorized workers.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May to make banks verify the citizenship status of their customers more closely.
The goal is to strengthen immigration enforcement through financial oversight.
This action is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration.
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President Donald Trump responded to worries about inflation caused by a recent strong jobs report. He said that good job growth should be seen as a positive sign and believed that stock prices should rise when jobs reports are strong.
Key Facts
A new jobs report showed strong job growth.
Some people are worried this strong jobs report could cause inflation, which means prices going up.
President Trump disagreed with the inflation concerns from this report.
He said strong growth is good for the market and stocks.
Trump shared his views on the social media platform Truth Social.
He referred to a long history of stock prices rising after good economic reports.
The discussion is focused on the U.S. economy and market reactions.
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The United States plans to centralize visa processing in Africa by reducing embassies and consulates handling visa interviews from about 50 to around 20 regional hubs. This will require some applicants to travel farther for visa interviews, but it will not change who qualifies for a U.S. visa or the legal rules for approval.
Key Facts
The U.S. will move routine visa interviews to fewer, larger regional centers in Africa.
Around 50 current visa processing locations will be reduced to roughly 20.
Major cities like Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Accra, and Dakar are expected to host these hubs.
Embassies will remain open for other diplomatic and consular duties.
The change may happen within weeks, but an exact start date is not confirmed.
Visa approval rules will not change; applicants will still follow existing U.S. immigration laws.
Some applicants might face higher travel costs and inconvenience, which could reduce the number of visa applications.
The U.S. State Department has not publicly detailed the reasons, but experts link it to improving efficiency, security, and resources.
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A Jesuit Catholic high school in New Orleans agreed to pay over a million dollars to settle a lawsuit about child sexual abuse by janitors decades ago. The case was settled before a trial set for June, connected to a broader abuse scandal involving the Catholic Church in the area.
Key Facts
Jesuit high school in New Orleans settled a child molestation lawsuit for a seven-figure sum.
The lawsuit involved abuse by janitors in the 1970s.
The plaintiff sued under a fake name about six years ago.
The trial scheduled for June 15 was canceled due to the settlement.
Another related lawsuit is scheduled for trial in September.
The abuse cases are linked to a larger Catholic Church scandal in New Orleans.
The local archdiocese declared bankruptcy in 2020 due to abuse claims and agreed to pay $305 million to survivors.
Depositions revealed that many staff members were credibly accused of abuse, and the school had previously paid multiple settlements related to a known molester janitor.
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A federal judge cancelled several immigration policies made by President Donald Trump after an attack on National Guard members. These policies had stopped immigration agencies from processing applications from people in about 40 countries, but now those applications must be processed again.
Key Facts
A federal judge ruled against some of President Trump’s immigration policies.
These policies were created after a deadly attack on National Guard members.
The policies stopped immigration agencies from processing applications from 39 countries.
The judge’s decision means these agencies must resume handling these immigration applications.
The policy changes happened around the time of last Thanksgiving.
The decision affects immigration processing in the United States.
The ruling reverses restrictions set by President Trump’s administration.
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A US federal judge ruled that the Trump administration illegally stopped processing immigration applications from people in 39 countries affected by travel bans. The judge said this policy left many immigrants waiting indefinitely, despite following legal procedures.
Key Facts
The judge ruled the Trump administration unlawfully blocked asylum, work permit, green card, and citizenship decisions for people from 39 countries.
These countries are in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The ruling came from Chief US District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island.
The case was filed by immigrant groups and labor unions challenging USCIS policies from November.
USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for immigration services.
The judge said the hold on applications caused immigrants to live in legal uncertainty without fault of their own.
The judge found that USCIS violated immigration laws set by Congress and administrative rules.
The decision happened the same day that the US Senate passed legislation to support President Trump’s immigration policies.
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