Author

Jennifer covers the nations capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.
勛圖tv is part of , the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Iowa senator pitches Elon Musk on $1 trillion in federal spending cuts
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 25, 2024
WASHINGTON Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst began proposing ways to cut government spending to the Trump team this weekend, but shell need to convince her colleagues in Congress if her ideas are going to have any chance of taking effect like ending the manufacture of pennies and nickels and curbing overpayments for Pentagon […]
Former Florida AG Pam Bondi gets Trumps latest nod for attorney general
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - November 21, 2024
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday evening he plans to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his newest pick for U.S. attorney general. Trumps announcement came just hours after another Floridian, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew as Trumps expected nominee for the countrys top law enforcement job. Gaetz was tapped to be nominated […]
Matt Gaetz bows out as Trumps pick for attorney general
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - November 21, 2024
WASHINGTON Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz announced Thursday hes withdrawing as President-elect Donald Trumps planned nominee for attorney general days after securing the appointment. Gaetzs path to Senate confirmation was highly unlikely following years of investigations about alleged drug usage and payments for sex, including with an underage girl. He submitted his resignation to […]
Trump picks Dr. Oz to run mammoth Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 20, 2024
WASHINGTON Former TV personality and onetime U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz could become the next administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an expansive government agency that is responsible for large swaths of the countrys health care. President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Oz on Tuesday, writing in a statement […]
Biden administration asks Congress for $98.4B in disaster aid after stormy year
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 18, 2024
WASHINGTON The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve $98.4 billion in emergency spending to bolster the federal governments response and recovery efforts following a series of natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton that devastated parts of Southeastern states. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Agriculture would receive the bulk of […]
Trump taps vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. to lead Department of Health and Human Services
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 14, 2024
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday he plans to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services, another controversial candidate who could face a challenging confirmation process in the U.S. Senate given his non-scientific beliefs about public health, including his anti-vaccine stance. I am thrilled to announce Robert […]
How will Republicans handle 7 key issues with their trifecta control of 勛圖tv?
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - November 14, 2024
WASHINGTON Republicans in the Nov. 5 election took over the White House, the U.S. Senate and as of late Wednesday, the House, after calls were made in enough races to project a majority. They are expressing high hopes for unified control of government. But before theyll be able to celebrate enacting sweeping changes to […]
Republicans clinch 218 seats in U.S. House, scoring trifecta control in 勛圖tv
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 14, 2024
WASHINGTON Republicans will hold on to their majority in the U.S. House and regain control of the Senate when Congress convenes in January, setting the party up to potentially make major policy changes during the next two years. The GOP hadnt clinched the 218 House seats needed for a majority until late Wednesday, when […]
Trump to pick Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general amid ethics probe
By: Ashley Murray and Jennifer Shutt - November 13, 2024
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz as the next attorney general of the United States, an unexpected pick as the Florida Republican remains the subject of a congressional ethics investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts. House Speaker Mike Johnson […]
South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune elected as next majority leader for Republicans
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - November 13, 2024
WASHINGTON Republicans on Wednesday elected their leadership teams for the next Congress, opting for a new slate in the Senate while reelecting many of the same lawmakers in the House. South Dakota Sen. John Thune will become that chambers next majority leader, marking the first time since 2007 that Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell hasnt […]
U.S. House GOP claims mandate on immigration, lower food prices, ‘end to the wokeness’
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 12, 2024
WASHINGTON U.S. House Republican leaders said Tuesday voters have given them a mandate to enact as much conservative policy as possible once they gain unified control of the federal government in January, but declined to provide details about exactly what policies theyd seek to enact. The American people want us to implement and deliver […]
Trump pressures three senators vying to be U.S. Senate GOP leader
By: Jennifer Shutt - November 11, 2024
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump is making demands of the next Senate Republican leader ahead of a closed-door election this week, writing on social media that whoever is chosen should recess the chamber early next year so he can appoint whoever he wants without having to go through the confirmation process. Any Republican Senator seeking […]