Scot Bertram, Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be defense secretary goes to the Senate floor

Here are 3 big things you need to know—

 

One — President Trump has taken his first actions of his second term in the White House. Trump signed nine executive orders to cheers from his supporters in front of a sold-out crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.  He rescinding almost 80 of former President Biden's executive actions, and signed orders that included a regulatory freeze, one that requires federal workers back in office five days a week, and a withdraw from the Paris Climate Treaty.  

 

Two ---- The U.S. Senate has passed the Laken Riley Act.  It now moves to the House after garnering 64 votes in the upper chamber.   The bill is aimed at expanding the federal government's mandate to detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. The Laken Riley Act is named after a Georgia nursing school student who was murdered last year by an illegal immigrant.

 

And number three —   The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to send Pete Hegseth's nomination to be defense secretary to the Senate floor.  All 14 Republicans voted in favor of Hegseth, while all 13 Democrats voted against.  The nomination now moves to the full Senate. If all Republicans vote “yes,” Hegseth will be the nation’s next Defense Secretary.