Trump administration live updates: Senate passes major housing bill; Rep. Jim Clyburn to run for re-election
This version of Trump Poll Economy Tariffs Congress Elections Dhs Housing Live Updates Rcna262332 - Politics and Government | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
The housing bill, written by Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., aims to increase the U.S. housing supply and expand access to funds for homeownership.
What to know today...
- SENATE HOUSING VOTE: The Senate overwhelmingly passed a sweeping housing bill that aims to increase the U.S. housing supply and expand access to funds for homeownership.
- CLYBURN RUNNING: Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., who at 85 years old is one of the oldest members of Congress, announced today that he will seek an 18th term in Congress.
- SAVE AMERICA ACT: Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that the chamber will vote on President Donald Trump's voting bill next week, a process that is expected to fail in the face of Democratic opposition.
- DEEPLY DISSATISFIED: Nearly 6 in 10 voters say the economic and political systems are stacked against people like them, tying a record high over roughly 40 years of national NBC News polling.
As Trump pressures Congress to pass SAVE America Act, states push their own versions
As a Republican push to pass the SAVE America Act has stalled in Congress, even amid escalating pressure from Trump, efforts are underway at the state level to fill in the gaps.
Lawmakers in a dozen states have advanced legislation this year that would require residents to prove their U.S. citizenship to register to vote or bring photo ID to the polls, according to the Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan group that tracks election legislation. Those requirements are two of the central planks of the SAVE America Act.
Wyden presses Postal Service on effect of postmarking changes on tax returns and mail-in ballots
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is pressing the Trump administration for information related to U.S. Postal Service rules and how they could affect the timing of Americans' tax returns and mail-in ballots.
Wyden noted in a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner that the USPS finalized new guidance surrounding the postmarking process and has closed mail processing facilities. In adopting the final rule in December, the Postal Service noted that moving postmarking to processing facilities, rather than local offices that first receive mail, could result in later dates being marked on the mail.
Wyden said the changes will "result in the delay of items being postmarked and processed, particularly in rural areas." He also said that IRS and election officials in more than a dozen states rely on postmarks to determine if a tax return or ballot has been received on time.
“Voters in my state of Oregon have for 30 years relied on the USPS to cast their ballots with confidence knowing their votes will be counted in a timely manner,” Wyden wrote. “These network changes and corresponding postmarking delays may jeopardize timely ballot delivery in 2026, disenfranchising voters in Oregon and nationwide.”
Wyden asked Steiner a series of questions, including, "What steps are being taken to prevent delays that could affect ballot eligibility or the on-time filing of tax returns?"
Trump warns Iranian World Cup team away from U.S. for ‘their own life and safety’
Trump suggested today that he cannot guarantee the security of Iran’s soccer team if it travels to the U.S. to compete in the World Cup later this year.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran is scheduled to play three opening-group matches in June in U.S. cities: against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and against Egypt in Seattle. But the nation’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said yesterday that the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which resulted in the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials, will preclude Iran’s participation.
300 TSA officers quit as partial shutdown causes travel backups
As the busy spring break travel season gets underway, the Transportation Security Administration says 300 officers have quit since the start of the partial government shutdown. Now, it is causing major backups at security checkpoints at airports across the United States. NBC News’ Tom Costello reports for "TODAY."
Senate passes major housing affordability bill by Elizabeth Warren and Tim Scott
The Senate passed a bill aimed at boosting the supply of housing and bringing down prices, marking a rare bipartisan breakthrough on a major issue.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, written by Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., won 89 votes. Ten senators voted against it.
Senate majority leader Thune plans SAVE America Act vote next week
Thune said that the Senate will vote on the SAVE America Act next week, a process that is expected to fail in the face of Democratic opposition.
"I can really see only two reasons for Democrats opposing this legislation," Thune said. "Either Democrats are just reflexively opposing this proposal because it originated from Republicans, or Democrats believe that there are, in fact, people out there voting illegally and that it’s benefiting Democrats, and they want to keep it going."
"I honestly cannot think of another reason to oppose something so imminently reasonable as requiring people to demonstrate that they’re eligible to vote and that they are who they say they are when they go to the polls," he added.
The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, among other changes to election laws. Noncitizens cannot vote in federal elections, and instances of such votes occurring are considered exceedingly rare.
Thune and Schumer debate DHS funding ahead of vote
Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., debated Department of Homeland Security funding this morning amid the ongoing shutdown and ahead of a floor vote to fully fund the department.
"Democrats are ready to fund FEMA and Coast Guard and most of DHS operations. ... We know very simply that Democrats just want ICE to behave like any police department in America and use warrants and not wear masks, but we don’t have to tie that disagreement up and use people at the airports and American citizens as hostages," Schumer said in remarks on the floor.
Thune said Democrats have had "multiple opportunities" to pass funding at current levels for DHS while negotiations continue over ICE, but criticized his counterparts for not supporting that option.
Schumer asked Thune if he would back a bill to just fund the TSA, and the GOP leader said, "I would support a resolution which will be offered to fund not just TSA but Coast Guard cyber security, CISA, FEMA, other agencies and departments of our government that are essential, not only to national security and homeland security, but to making sure that people can move through our airports in this country."
The Democratic leader responded: "What the leader is saying is he will only fund TSA if we will continue to fund for a short time, for a long time, ICE and Border Patrol, which he knows is gridlocked, which he knows we don’t agree with."
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis slams proposed Republican tactic for SAVE America Act passage as 'lazy and unstrategic'
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a supporter of the SAVE America Act, had sharp criticism for the people in his party demanding leadership use the talking filibuster to force Democrats to oppose the bill.
Tillis said using the talking filibuster would be a “goat rodeo,” adding that none of the Republicans pushing the tactic have laid out a plan for how they will ultimately succeed.
“People on my side of the aisle and people at the far right of the political spectrum are trying to swing for the fences, and they’re not going to succeed,” he told NBC News. “In the process, we are setting up vulnerable Republicans for a more difficult environment than they already have.”
The North Carolina Republican added that he’s “tired” of “Republicans being lazy and unstrategic.”
“It is Republican behavior that I’m most worried about in terms of getting Republicans elected in this, in this cycle,” he said.
Tillis also said that Trump's seemingly holding up his endorsement in the Texas Senate primary over the SAVE America Act is a “mistake” because it forces both candidates to spend millions of dollars on “Republicans on Republican violence.”
Democrats ask Pentagon about Iran school strike and role of AI
More than 75 Democratic members of Congress are asking the Pentagon for detailed information about how the U.S. military is limiting civilian casualties in Iran and what role artificial intelligence is playing in choosing targets.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that was sent this morning and obtained by NBC News, the members singled out a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Iran that killed more than 170 people, most of them children. The strike was in Minab, Iran, in the early hours Feb. 28 as the U.S. and Israel were launching their war on Iran.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, 85, is running for an 18th term in Congress
Longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., one of the oldest members of Congress, announced that he’ll run for an 18th term in the House, breaking with two other former top Democratic leaders — Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer — who have decided to retire.
“In a few minutes, I’m going to sign the paperwork that’s necessary in order to qualify for the Democratic nomination to run again,” Clyburn told a roomful of supporters at an event in Columbia, South Carolina, at the state’s Democratic Party headquarters.
E.U. rejects new U.S. trade probe, promises to 'respond firmly' if deal is breached
The European Union today rejected the premise of the new Section 301 trade probe launched by the U.S. trade representative yesterday and promised it “would respond firmly and proportionately to any breach" of joint commitments reached with the Trump administration in Scotland.
European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said in a statement at a briefing for reporters this morning that “the European Union continues to operate on the basis of the commitments contained in the EU-US Joint Statement, including the tariff ceiling” of 15%. “We expect the U.S. to do the same,” he said.
Gill said it was not entirely clear what would happen next. “We will be seeking further clarity from the US on how the opening of this section 301 investigation would interact with the agreed Joint Statement framework,” he said.
The European Parliament echoed those sentiments, with the chair of its international trade committee tweeting: “Who can guarantee that the final outcome will not mean even higher tariffs for the EU? It is not enough to simply assume — on both sides — that we will end up within the Turnberry framework. We need clarity.”
Police officers say Jan. 6 plaque at Capitol is hidden from the public’s view
Two police officers who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, are seeking to continue their lawsuit over a plaque commemorating their and other officers’ actions that day after it was installed last week “in an area blocked to the public,” their court filing said.
Tuesday’s filing argues that the “decision to install the plaque in a part of the Capitol hidden from the public fails to comply with the text law.”
“Honor is a social — that is, public — recognition,” their lawyer, Brendan Ballou, wrote. “Hidden from all visitors, the current location is no different than the basement the plaque was kept in for years.”
Senate to vote on major housing bill that could face an uphill climb in the House
The Senate is slated to vote on sweeping bipartisan legislation today that aims to increase the U.S. housing supply.
The bill would incentivize housing development in certain communities; increase access to funding and loans for housing; address housing accessibility for rural areas, the homeless population and military veterans, and ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.
The measure is sponsored by the leaders of the Senate Banking Committee, Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., and ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
The House would have to vote on the Senate version before it goes to Trump's desk, but the president has been vocal about wanting the upper chamber to focus on the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, among other changes to voting laws.
Trump said last weekend that he wouldn't sign any bills until the SAVE Act passes Congress.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told House Republican leaders and committee chairs at their annual retreat earlier this week that Trump wants the SAVE America Act to be a top priority, brushing aside a GOP fight over the housing bill, according to one of the lawmakers in attendance.
Johnson‘s office did not comment.
Asked to comment on reporting that Trump told Johnson to focus on passing the SAVE Act instead of on Republican infighting over a Housing bill, White House spokesman Davis Angle told NBC News that was “not accurate whatsoever,” saying in a statement that the president "has been laser-focused on making housing more affordable."
U.S. will permanently close the consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, its closest mission to Afghanistan
The State Department will permanently close the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which has been America’s closest diplomatic mission to the Afghan border and was a primary operations and logistics point before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
The department notified Congress this week of its intent to close the consulate and said it would save $7.5 million per year, while not adversely affecting its ability to advance U.S. national interests in Pakistan, according to a copy of the notification obtained by The Associated Press yesterday.
New York man charged with making threats to Trump and ICE agents
A man from Binghamton, New York, has been charged with making threats to Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the Justice Department said this week.
Jeffrey Scott Hamm Jr., 32, allegedly posted comments on YouTube threatening violence against the president, ICE agents and Trump supporters, the DOJ said in a news release.
FBI Director Kash Patel reposted the release today on X.
“This Office, together with the FBI, will pursue anyone who makes such threats swiftly and aggressively. The defendant would have been better off saving his breath; now he’ll have plenty of time to reflect on his words while facing the consequences for them in federal court,” John Sarcone, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, said in a statement.
Hamm appeared in court Feb. 27 and was ordered to be detained while he awaits further proceedings. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, the DOJ said.
UFC fighters to train FBI students and staff this weekend
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced it is sending mixed martial arts fighters to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, this weekend to hold a training seminar for students and senior FBI staff.
The current and former UFC athletes "will provide insight into how they train for competition, as well as demonstrate specific techniques and tactics, offering a unique perspective to the students as they prepare to enter the field office,” the company said in a news release.
The UFC is planning to hold several matches on the White House South Lawn on June 14 as part of the Trump administration's celebration this year of the nation's 250th anniversary. The fights fall on Flag Day and the president's 80th birthday.
Trump tries to navigate Iran war and rising gas prices at first rally since strikes began
Trump delivered a mixed message yesterday about the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran in his first remarks at a political rally since strikes began less than two weeks ago.
“You know, you never want to say too early you won,” Trump told supporters at a packaging plant in Hebron, Kentucky. “We won. The first hour, it was over.”
But moments later, he suggested that the U.S. mission is not complete, a characterization underscored by the ongoing use of American force in Iran.
“We don’t want to leave early, do we?” he asked rhetorically. “We’ve got to finish the job.”
Johnson told Republicans that Trump said no one cares about housing bill, priority should be SAVE America Act
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told House Republican leaders and committee chairs at their annual retreat earlier this week that Trump wants the SAVE America Act to be a top priority, brushing aside a GOP fight over a housing bill, according to one of the lawmakers in attendance.
The lawmaker said Johnson told members that, in his private conversation with Trump stressing the importance of the SAVE America Act, the president said “no one gives a (bleep) about housing.” Johnson did not repeat the curse word himself but made it clear that Trump used one, the lawmaker said.
Asked to comment on reporting that Trump told the speaker to focus on passing the SAVE America Act instead of Republican infighting over a housing bill, White House spokesman Davis Ingle told NBC News in a statement tonight that it “is not accurate whatsoever.”
Ingle said that Trump “has been laser-focused on making housing more affordable,” while adding that the president “has made clear publicly that passing the SAVE America Act is Congress’s most urgent priority right now.”
Johnson’s office did not provide a comment.
The conversation between Johnson and Trump, first reported by Punchbowl News, comes as Republicans have splintered over how to pass the voting overhaul bill known as the SAVE America Act. It also comes as the Senate is working on a housing bill that has run into some conservative resistance, after the House passed its own bipartisan package aimed at bringing down the cost of housing.
Trump has threatened to not sign any other legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act.
Epstein’s longtime accountant gives closed-door testimony to House Oversight Committee
Richard Kahn, who was Jeffrey Epstein’s accountant, testified for roughly six hours yesterday before the House Oversight Committee in its Epstein probe.
Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said Kahn named five people who paid Epstein, “and that was Les Wexner, Glenn Dubin, Steven Sinofsky, the Rothschilds and Leon Black.”
Comer noted that the committee previously questioned Wexner and that Black will be deposed “very soon.” No one named by Kahn has been accused by the authorities of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Asked about Kahn’s comments today, a spokesperson for Black pointed to a law firm’s report from 2021 that referenced Black’s payments to Epstein.
“As has been documented in the independent Dechert Report, an investigation which Mr. Black asked for, it indicated that he paid Epstein for tax and estate planning work and he had no awareness of Epstein’s criminal activity,” Whit Clay said in an email.
Devon Spurgeon, a spokesperson for Dubin, denied that he had ever paid Epstein, adding that Dubin “was not a client of his in any way.” Spurgeon said that Epstein was an investor and client of Dubin’s, and that Dubin “has never, never, ever paid anything.”
Sinofsky declined to comment. Representatives for Wexner and the Rothschilds did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., described Kahn as a “fixer,” saying Epstein’s crimes were deeply intertwined with his own finances. He said Kahn’s name appeared on shell companies used to move money, including payments tied to tuition and victims.
Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., said Epstein’s trafficking operation “would not have been possible without Richard Kahn.” Walkinshaw said he does not find it credible that Kahn had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, arguing that if Kahn was unaware, he was “willfully ignorant.”
Subramanyam also told reporters that a “person who was an accuser of Donald Trump was given a settlement by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate,” citing Kahn’s testimony.
A spokesperson for Kahn did not immediately respond to a request for comment this evening.
Comer, meanwhile, told reporters that Kahn testified never having seen transactions involving Trump or his family with Epstein.
Trump has not been accused by authorities of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
First 6 days of Iran war cost $11.3 billion, Pentagon tells Congress
Defense Department officials told senators in a closed-door this week that they estimate the first six days of the war in Iran cost more than $11.3 billion, according to three sources familiar with the briefing.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told reporters today that he believes the amount is even higher, as the current figure does not include every aspect of the war.
“I expect that the current total operating number is significantly above that,” Coons said. “If all you’re looking at is the replacement cost for the munitions used, it’s already well beyond $10 billion.”
Reached for comment, a Pentagon spokesperson said: “We do not comment on closed-door discussions or matters. Regarding the cost of Operation Epic Fury, we won’t know the cost until the mission is complete.”
Trump launches next phase of trade war with new investigations of key partners
The Trump administration announced yesterday that it will launch a wave of tariff-related investigations into more than a dozen U.S. trade partners, the next phase in Trump’s sweeping global trade wars.
In a process that is likely to result in a fresh round of tariffs in the near future, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is opening the formal probes into major trade partners that include the European Union, Mexico and China — each of which ranks among the top five sources of U.S. imports.
Poll: Voters who say economic and political systems are stacked against them tie a record high
Nearly 6 in 10 voters say the economic and political systems are stacked against people like them, tying a record high over roughly 40 years of national NBC News polling.
According to the latest NBC News survey, 59% of registered voters agreed that those systems are stacked against them, while 38% disagreed with that sentiment and 3% were not sure. The share who agreed with that notion tied a high point in April 1992, a record set after NBC News began polling this question in 1988.
