Washington Policy Pulse

• National debt hit $40.25 trillion, up $2.39 trillion year-over-year and rising at $75,863 per second.
• Trade gap widened in August to 60 percent...

Over $38 million in federal LIHEAP funding is being released early to help low-income Maine households and seniors cover soaring home heating oil...

Rep. Bruce Westerman's recent comments reveal key gaps in the legislative calendar still facing lawmakers.

• Farm Bill remains unresolved after House...

The Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act would expand federal penalties under Section 1362 to cover willful theft or damage of copper,...

The Justice Department stopped enforcing National Firearms Act registration and approval rules for silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled...

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) are circulating a letter urging members to pledge recognition of state-certified election winners...

With Congress adjourned until after the November midterms, lawmakers face a compressed timeline to advance FY 2027 appropriations before the December...

• Republicans target five House districts with national PAC spending and issues like immigration and taxes to blunt expected Democratic gains.
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Senators Schmitt (R-MO) and Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act to make willful theft or damage of copper,...

84% of voters view AI as a threat to American workers, with large shares believing the Trump administration and Congress are not addressing the risks.

A fictional scenario explores how a hypothetical war with Iran might force Congress to reclaim its constitutional role, with direct effects on competitive races such as Virginia's 2nd district.

The Supreme Court’s 2026–2027 term features three employment cases that could tighten employer defenses, curb agency penalty power, and expand...

Congress is advancing proposals to restrict automated license plate readers over surveillance and data concerns, while law enforcement stresses their...

USDA and HHS rolled out targeted changes to child nutrition programs with direct effects on families and administrators.

• Harvest to Hallways...

Bipartisan lawmakers are demanding legal justification from Secretary Hegseth for ending tenured appointments at military academies, questioning its...

In competitive 2026 House and Senate races, two-thirds of Republican candidates have broken with President Trump on policy or played down ties to him. This highlights a clear pattern of separation in battleground contests.

• War profiteering spotlight: Sen. Murphy says U.S. traders like Vitol are charging “enormous” fees while benefiting from CENTCOM security in the...

Voters evaluating Alaska's lone House seat should focus on how candidates view Congressional power versus executive authority.

• Checks and balances:...

A Justice Department lawyer told the First Circuit that Harvard has no entitlement to federal research billions, declaring “There’s no First Amendment...

Two key federal updates target different borrower groups.

• Interest rate discount extended: Enroll in autopay by December 31 for a 1% reduction...