Top United States government News

Changes to food aid in debt bill would cost money, far from savings GOP envisioned

May. 31, 2023 05:55 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican attempt to expand work requirements for federal food aid in debt legislation moving through Congress would increase federal spending by $2.1 billion over 10 years — far from the cuts GOP lawmakers had promised. A compromise on the food aid...

Ahead of House debt ceiling vote, Biden shores up Democrats and McCarthy scrambles for GOP support

May. 31, 2023 05:38 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-fought to the end, the debt ceiling and budget cuts package is heading toward a crucial U.S. House vote as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy assemble a coalition of centrist Democrats and Republicans to push it to passage over fierce blowback from conservatives...

DeSantis looks to connect with voters during 1st full day of campaigning in Iowa

May. 31, 2023 06:08 AM EDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis begins his first full day of presidential campaigning on Wednesday with a four-stop blitz through Iowa, trying to prioritize personally connecting with voters while proving he has the mettle to take on former President Donald Trump. The Florida...

Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US government

May. 30, 2023 20:39 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even with the new spending restraints in the debt limit deal that cut borrowing by $1.5 trillion, the U.S. government's deficits are still on course to keep climbing to record levels over the next few decades. The projections are a sign that the two-year truce...

US Border Patrol chief is retiring after seeing through end of Title 42 immigration restrictions

May. 30, 2023 22:13 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the U.S. Border Patrol announced Tuesday that he was retiring, after seeing through a major policy shift that seeks to clamp down on illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border following the end of Title 42 pandemic restrictions. Chief Raul Ortiz said...

US military complains of unsafe, aggressive move by Chinese fighter jet

May. 30, 2023 20:15 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Tuesday that a Chinese fighter jet flew aggressively close to a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, forcing the American pilot to fly through the turbulent wake. The Chinese J-16 fighter pilot “flew directly in front of...

New US aid package for Ukraine will total about $300 million and include munitions for drones

May. 30, 2023 18:44 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be announced this week will total up to $300 million and will include additional munitions for drones, U.S. officials said Tuesday. The drone ammunition comes after new attacks by unmanned aircraft targeted Moscow. ...

GOP chairman moves to hold FBI director Wray in contempt over Biden doc

May. 30, 2023 23:28 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Oversight Committee said Tuesday he is moving forward with holding FBI Director Chris Wray in contempt of Congress because the department has not turned over a bureau record that purports to relate to President Joe Biden and his family. ...

Most in US say don't ban race in college admissions but its role should be small: AP-NORC poll

May. 30, 2023 14:20 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Supreme Court decides the fate of affirmative action, most U.S. adults say the court should allow colleges to consider race as part of the admissions process, yet few believe students’ race should ultimately play a major role in decisions, according to a new poll. ...

Biden attends memorial Mass to mark 8 years since son Beau's death from brain cancer

May. 30, 2023 10:07 AM EDT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Tuesday’s eighth anniversary of one of the saddest days of his life, the death of his son Beau, by attending a memorial Mass and visiting his gravesite. Biden, his wife, Jill, and other family members prayed for Beau Biden during...

Latest United States government News

Australian general says US warns war crime allegations could prevent work with Australia's SAS

May. 31, 2023 06:13 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The United States has warned that allegations of war crimes against Australian soldiers in Afghanistan could prevent U.S. forces from working with Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment, Australia’s defense force chief said on Wednesday. Gen. Angus...

DeSantis looks to connect with voters during 1st full day of campaigning in Iowa

May. 31, 2023 06:08 AM EDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis begins his first full day of presidential campaigning on Wednesday with a four-stop blitz through Iowa, trying to prioritize personally connecting with voters while proving he has the mettle to take on former President Donald Trump. The Florida...

Zimbabwe summons US deputy ambassador over 'meddling' election tweets

May. 31, 2023 06:00 AM EDT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry has summoned the United States’ deputy ambassador over a series of tweets the embassy sent calling for a peaceful election in a country that has a history of violent and disputed votes. The ministry accused the embassy of...

Changes to food aid in debt bill would cost money, far from savings GOP envisioned

May. 31, 2023 05:55 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican attempt to expand work requirements for federal food aid in debt legislation moving through Congress would increase federal spending by $2.1 billion over 10 years — far from the cuts GOP lawmakers had promised. A compromise on the food aid...

Typhoon Mawar losing strength as it heads toward Japan's Okinawa Islands

May. 31, 2023 05:51 AM EDT

NAHA, Japan (AP) — Typhoon Mawar appeared to be losing force as it headed Wednesday toward Japan's Okinawa Islands, where the United States maintains a significant military presence, after largely skirting Taiwan and the Philippines. After tearing across Guam last week, Mawar...

Ahead of House debt ceiling vote, Biden shores up Democrats and McCarthy scrambles for GOP support

May. 31, 2023 05:38 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-fought to the end, the debt ceiling and budget cuts package is heading toward a crucial U.S. House vote as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy assemble a coalition of centrist Democrats and Republicans to push it to passage over fierce blowback from conservatives...

North Korea spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into the sea

May. 31, 2023 05:29 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s attempt to put the country’s first spy satellite into space failed Wednesday in a setback to leader Kim Jong Un’s push to boost his military capabilities as tensions with the United States and South Korea rise. After an unusually quick...

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo gather in northern town after clashes with NATO-led peacekeepers

May. 31, 2023 05:27 AM EDT

ZVECAN, Kosovo (AP) — Hundreds of ethnic Serbs on Wednesday gathered in a town in northern Kosovo, days after clashes that injured 30 soldiers from a NATO-led peacekeeping force and over 50 Serbs, provoking fears of a renewal of the region's bloody conflicts and prompting the Western military...

Military says Sudan has suspended its participation in talks with paramilitary rival

May. 31, 2023 05:20 AM EDT

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s military has suspended its participation in talks with a paramilitary force it's been battling for weeks for control of the northeastern African country, a military spokesman said Wednesday. The development was a blow to the United States and Saudi Arabia...

Global stocks sink before US Congress votes on deal to avoid debt default

May. 31, 2023 05:02 AM EDT

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets sank Wednesday ahead of a vote by the U.S. Congress on a deal to avert a government debt default, while a downturn in Chinese factory activity deepened, adding to signs that the world's economic activity is weakening. Markets in London, Shanghai,...