President Trump has repeatedly called for a “merit-based” immigration system that his administration claimed will benefit thousands of highly-skilled migrants. But, as the AP reports, the Trump administration has made choices that are making it more difficult for skilled foreigners to obtain and retain work visas in the United States.
Why it matters: As Axios' Steve LeVine reported last week, the added difficulties to working in the U.S. — and simply, the uncertainties around the future — are causing the highly-skilled foreign workers that Trump covets to look elsewhere for jobs. One of the main beneficiaries? Canada.
At his confirmation hearing for Secretary of State, CIA Director Mike Pompeo will vow to rebuild Foggy Bottom — implicitly conceding shortcomings by his predecessor, Rex Tillerson. In the other big spring fight that'll consume both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, look for Democrats to aggressively challenge Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel in her confirmation hearing to succeed Pompeo.
The big picture: Dems plan to use these hearings to uncork numerous frustrations with President Trump and his administration — including/especially questions about Russia, and objections to incoming national security adviser John Bolton, who isn’t subject to confirmation.
Here's how badly President Trump was defeated in his goal of reining in federal spending. His budget proposal called for deep spending cuts, except for a big increase in defense. Instead, as this visual shows, the omnibus spending bill he signed last week boosts spending in all major categories, including defense — leading to the $1.3 trillion budget Trump complained about.
Note: Defense, State and Foreign Operations, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding includes base and Overseas Contingency Operations funding. Data: Democratic Committee on Appropriations; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios
After a week punctuated by Trump administration exits and tensions with Russia and North Korea, lawmakers and politicos took to the Sunday shows to make sense of it all.
One key quote: When asked by CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" whether he was fired or resigned from his post heading the Department of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin simply replied, "I did not resign."
Ohio Governor and 2016 presidential candidate John Kasich blasted President Trump's Easter morning Twitter rant that saw him withdraw support for a DACA deal, saying that "[a] true leader preserves & offers hope" for "innocent children who call America home."
The backstory: Before heading to an Easter service in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump unleashed a series of tweets on immigration, declaring, "These big flows of people are all trying to take advantage of DACA. They want in on the act!"
When Jared Kushner took on his role as a top adviser to President Trump, changes were also in store for the rest of the family, including his once-imprisoned father Charles and his younger brother Josh, according to a New York Times profile.
Why it matters: Jared's ascension to the highest ranks of government shined a spotlight on the business practices of the family's New York real estate business, creating concerns about potential overseas entanglements, the crown jewel of their real estate empire, and their business practices with vulnerable tenants.
President Trump tweeted on Easter morning that Senate Republicans should invoke the nuclear option — killing the 60-vote rule in favor of a simple majority to pass legislation — to move on immigration reform instead of striking a DACA deal with Democrats.
He's said this before. The president called for the same move in January to end the government shutdown.
FirstEnergy Solutions Corp., a coal and nuclear power generator, has filed for bankruptcy, per Bloomberg. Just last week, the company made the decision to close three nuclear facilities in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The big picture: After the plant closure announcement, FirstEnergy Solutions controversially petitioned Energy Secretary Rick Perry for an emergency order that would allow coal and nuclear generators in the Northeast to meet their operating costs.
Interviews with 23 senior White House officials and outside advisers depict a West Wing where President Trump — without aides to reel him in — is "calling his own shots," report the Washington Post's Phil Rucker and Robert Costa.
The big picture: This past week, as Trump went about his days, "nowhere to be seen was John Kelly, the beleaguered White House chief of staff and overall disciplinarian — nor were the handful of advisers regarded as moderating forces eager to restrain the president from acting impulsively, who have resigned or been fired."
