Section
Government & Politics
Federal policy, Congress, and the agencies that shape the nation.
Congress Heads Into August Recess With a Fall Funding Fight Waiting
As the House left town and the Senate worked through a light week of votes, lawmakers deferred the hardest spending decisions to a crowded autumn calendar.
Michigan's Marquee Senate Primary Takes the National Stage in a Final Debate
Days before Michigan's primary, the leading Democratic contenders clashed in a closely watched debate for an open Senate seat that could help decide control of the chamber.
Appeals Courts Split Over Trump's Mail-In Voting Order, Teeing Up a Supreme Court Fight
Dueling federal appellate rulings within days of each other left the fate of the president's vote-by-mail executive order in the Supreme Court's hands, months before the November midterms.
Congress Clears Stopgap Budget Deal, Averting a Shutdown by Two Days
A bipartisan continuing resolution keeps federal agencies funded through the fall, but leaves the biggest spending fights unresolved until after the summer recess.
A Loaded Supreme Court Term: The Cases That Could Reshape Federal Power
From agency authority to digital privacy, the docket taking shape for the fall could redraw the boundaries between Washington and the states.
States Harden Election Systems Ahead of a High-Turnout Midterm
Officials are upgrading equipment, expanding paper trails, and running tabletop drills as they prepare for the fall vote.
White House Signs Executive Order Overhauling Federal Hiring Rules
The order shifts many civil service positions toward skills-based assessments and away from degree requirements, a change agencies will phase in over 18 months.
National Parks Draw Record Crowds, Straining a Stretched Budget
Visitation hit new highs this season, testing the Park Service's ability to maintain trails, staff entrances, and protect fragile landscapes.
Three Years In, the Infrastructure Push Is Rebuilding Bridges Coast to Coast
A national repair program has moved from planning to concrete, with thousands of bridge projects now underway from Pennsylvania to Oregon.