Tillerson gets first briefings at State Department: spokesman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson visited the State Department on Tuesday for briefings, a spokesman said, a day after the former oil executive narrowly won approval from a Senate committee.
Trump health nominee says he does not back Medicare privatization
(Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told a congressional panel on Tuesday that he does not support the privatization of Medicare and defended his ethics record.
USDA disavows gag-order emailed to scientific research unit
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday that an internal email sent to staff at its Agricultural Research Service unit this week calling for a suspension of “public-facing documents,” including news releases and photos, was flawed and that new guidance would be issued to replace it.
California Governor Brown vows to fight Trump, calls for civility
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – California Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday issued a battle-cry against U.S. President Donald Trump, swearing in a new attorney general expected to take on his administration and vowing to defend the state’s progressive laws against federal intrusion.
Trump health pick favors insurance for people with prior illness
(Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told a U.S. panel on Tuesday that he wants to ensure people with pre-existing conditions have access to health insurance, though he did not specify how…
Trump signs executive orders on manufacturing, infrastructure
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing that the permitting process and regulatory burden for domestic manufacturers should be streamlined to reduce what he called “the incredibly cumbersome, lo…
U.S. Republican ties lower business tax rate to border adjustment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A leading Republican lawmaker warned on Tuesday that Congress will not be able to lower the U.S. corporate tax rate to the 15 to 20 percent range sought by President Donald Trump unless a controversial “border adjustment” proposa…
U.S. Senate panel advances Ross, Chao nominations on voice vote
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Senate committee swiftly approved Republican President Donald Trump’s nominees for commerce and transportation secretaries by voice vote on Tuesday, signaling that they will face little resistance to approval by the full S…
Trump plans to keep Comey as FBI director: source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump intends to keep FBI Director James Comey in his post, a person familiar with the decision said on Tuesday, amid reports that U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies are scrutinizing Trump associates …
U.S. appeals court won’t reconsider Microsoft email seizure ruling
NEW YORK (Reuters) – An equally divided federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to reconsider its landmark decision that the U.S. government cannot force Microsoft Corp and other companies to turn over customer emails stored on servers outside the Uni…