Trump responds to our reporting, that White House attorneys are weighing whether to issue mass pardons to junior staffers, as allies push them to protect lower-ranked officials from prosecution and other legal challenges.

Link here: washingtonsun.com/whitehouse/whi…

SCOOP: White House lawyers weigh preemptive pardons for large numbers of junior admin staff, as MAGA allies press for protections for lower ranking aides

Under discussion is pardons everyone in certain policy, like deportation

Does not seem imminent
washingtonsun.com/whitehouse/whi…

@statedeptspoxd our story.

Prior to publishing, we asked the State Department, in writing, to respond to allegations that “employees are being directly asked who they voted for in 2016, 2020 and 2024 before they receive promotions, and are told directly that if they have any history of donating to Democrats that they will not be eligible for the role.” The State Department did not in any way deny that those incidents occurred. Instead, it said that the department values “fidelity,” that it “will not tolerate . . . people using their positions to actively undermine the duly elected President’s objectives,” and that it prioritizes “merit and reward[s] demonstrated performance on behalf of Administration priorities.”

After the story was published – and after members of Congress raised concerns based on the story – the State Department gave additional comment denying the “premise” of our reporting. We published this after-the-fact statement in full. And since publishing, we have heard from additional sources familiar with top State officials asking foreign service officers about their voting and political contribution histories.

ICE extended this week a contract worth up to $982 million with the company hired to process medical claims for detainees.

Acentra Health started processing claims for health providers caring for detained immigrants after nearly a year-long lapse.

washingtonsun.com/immigration/ic…

“Top officials in the State Dept made clear that only candidates who voted for Trump would be eligible for mid-to-upper level foreign service roles [+] their campaign donation history would be examined & any donation to Democrats would be disqualifying”

washingtonsun.com/administration…

SCOOP: The State Dept has started asking career diplomats up for promotion if they voted for Trump in 16, 20, 24.

Federal law prohibits politically based hiring for career staff.

State tells @washingtonsun it's screening for "fidelity" and execution of the president's vision👇

@washingtonsun @anna_c_kramer This is part of what current and former State personnel describe as an effort to remake the senior ranks of the department. We reported yesterday State is forcing out its most veteran diplomats: washingtonsun.com/administration…

@washingtonsun @anna_c_kramer State Department adds “The Department does not make personnel decisions based on participation in outside groups or demographic quotas, but rather on the ability of individuals to advance the national interests of the United States.”

Big story via @EricM_Katz

Top officials at State made clear that only candidates who voted for President Trump would be eligible for the mid-to-upper level foreign service roles. They also told candidates that their campaign donation history would be examined and any donation to Democrats would be disqualifying.

Banger from @EricM_Katz

washingtonsun.com/administration…

New: The State Dept is pushing out its most veteran diplomats by freezing/downgrading jobs + asking them to retire. It's replacing them with more junior staff deemed loyal to the admin.

Staff say this is weakening relationships abroad + creating worse policy outcomes. Details👇

The State Department is aggressively trying to force out its most senior foreign service officers they view as standing in the way of their agenda, as they recruit and promote staff viewed as more politically loyal, per @EricM_Katz
washingtonsun.com/administration…

👀 Trump admin looking at resuming wage and other garnishment for delinquent student loans post-midterms

Read @jstein_sun and @kadiagoba 👇

Scoop: Healthcare.gov premiums for benchmark plans are set to rise 11% on average in 2027. It's the 2nd year in a row for double-digit spikes but not nearly as bad as last yr's 30%. Insurer participation is down 14%. washingtonsun.com/health/aca-pre…

NEW: Is a new swing state emerging (way) up north?

On Alaska’s big shift left the last 26 years, which has some Ds pointing to it as a better medium-term option than Iowa, Florida or Ohio.

Mark Begich: “I believe it is turning purple. I can feel it.”

washingtonsun.com/campaigns/alas…

Why isn’t the federal vaccine committee meeting during the worst measles outbreak in 35 years? I spoke with state health departments and public health experts to find out. Read my latest with the @washingtonsun

washingtonsun.com/health/acip-me…

big education scoop from @EricM_Katz washingtonsun.com/administration…

SCOOP: The Education Department is making plans to offload student loans from its purview.

The Federal Student Aid office would be an independent agency. The goal is to spin it off within a year, which employees say will sow chaos for 45M borrowers

washingtonsun.com/administration…

FSA is Education's largest office and the effort is the Trump admin's latest step to dismantle the department. Full details: washingtonsun.com/administration…