The Senate on Thursday confirmed Doug Burgum to be Interior secretary in a bipartisan vote.
Why it matters: Burgum will lead President Trump's efforts to expand oil and gas drilling on public lands and deal with any energy-related fallout from the administration's funding freeze.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called President Trump's desire to buy Greenland in the "the national interest" of the U.S. during an interview Thursday.
The deadly American Airlines crashat DCA Wednesday evening is reupping long-held concerns about overcrowding at the airport and understaffing among air traffic controllers.
The big picture: Just last year, Congress added more long-haul flights to DCA despite fears they would jeopardize safety. The airport saw at least two near-misses in 2024.
President Trump ordered a review of all federal aviation hiring and safety decisions in response to Wednesday night's deadly air collision near Washington.
Why it matters: The order shows Trump is doubling down on his claim, without evidence, that DEI policies were a factor in the crash. His memo explicitly mentions "diversity equity and inclusion," and reflects how anti-DEI efforts are a centerpiece of his second administration's policy.
The deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport outside D.C. Wednesday marks the deadliest air carrier crash in the U.S. since November 2001, when a passenger jet crashed in Queens, New York killing 265. Another 265 were killed in airplane crashes during the 9/11 terror attacks.
The big picture: Fatal crashes of commercial aircraft in the U.S. have become uncommon in the 21st century, as regulations have increased, technology has advanced and safety measures and controls have improved.
Why it matters: The legal challenge comes just days before the beginning of Black History Month in a state that was the center of the Civil Rights Movement.
President Trump and his allies are blaming diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for contributing to the tragic plane crash outside of D.C. Wednesday night, without providing any evidence of a link between the two.
Why it matters: Trump repeatedly cited DEI policies, a favorite boogeyman, at the Federal Aviation Administration as having some role in the plane collision during White House remarks. He also blamed Democrats who advanced inclusive workplace policies.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg swiftly shot back against President Trump's criticisms of him during a Thursday press conference, less than a day after a deadly plane collision outside Washington D.C.
Why it matters: Buttigieg's comments represent one of his strongest public rebukes of Trump since he took office last week.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff told Axios in an interview at the end of his trip to the Middle East that rebuilding Gaza could take between 10 and 15 years.
Why it matters: The Trump administration wants to see the ceasefire continue and Gaza stabilized so it can move forward with its ambitious plans for the Middle East, which include getting a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel and trying to get a deal with Iran on its nuclear program.
President Trump on Thursday named Chris Rocheleau as acting administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a fatal plane crash near Washington, D.C.
The big picture: Rocheleau worked at the FAA for more than two decades and most recently served as an executive at a professional aviation association. He'll be tasked with handling the immediate response to the collision.
Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee voted Thursday to approve President Trump's budget chief nominee in the midst of a boycott by the panel's Democrats.
Why it matters: Democrats are sounding the alarm on Russ Vought, Trump's pick to head the Office of Management and Budget, after an order from the office this week to freeze all federal aid and grants.
President Trump after briefly offering condolences and sharing plans to investigate a deadly plane collision outside D.C., took partisan hits against former presidents Obama and Biden.
The big picture: Trump said the White House had "strong opinions" on the collision, railed against his political opponents and blasted the FAA's diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
After being pressed by senators from both parties to call Edward Snowden a traitor, Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly refused during her confirmation hearing on Thursday morning.
Tulsi Gabbard trimmed her confirmation hearing opening remarks, leaving out a line accusing the intelligence committee of leaking information to build up the Russia investigation against President Trump, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The last-minute cuts could be read as an attempt to soften Gabbard's image as the embattled nominee faces an uncertain path to confirmation.
FBI director nominee Kash Patel on Thursday split with President Trump over his blanket pardon of Jan. 6 rioters, telling lawmakers he rejects any violence against law enforcement.
Why it matters: The rebuke of the pardon is the most high-profile yet in MAGA world. Patel will need the support of both moderates and conservatives to be confirmed.
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.3% annualized rate in the final three months of 2024, the Commerce Department said on Thursday — closing out a year of strong growth.
Why it matters: Despite some lost momentum at the end of the year, President Trump still inherits an economy expanding at a healthy clip, even as interest rates and inflation remain elevated.
Commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick shot down Project 2025's recommendations to break up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Why it matters: Project 2025, a governing blueprint that President Trump distanced himself from on the campaign trail but has since tapped into for ideas and personnel, called for the Commerce Department agency to be dissolved.
People in the U.S. are leveraging TikTok, the app President Trump vowed to save because it's been friendly to him, to alert people of ICE agent sightings.
Why it matters: The goal is to undermine immigration enforcement's aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigrants by using TikTok's algorithm, which is known for its ability to rapidly share information in real time.
OpenAI's Sam Altman is making the rounds in D.C. on Thursday in an attempt to show unity with President Trump and announce a new initiative to make sure the government has the most capable AI.
Why it matters: Tech companies see an opportunity in the new Trump administration to shape AI policy.
Pro-crypto PAC Fairshake, and its affiliated organizations, are ready for the 2026 midterm congressional elections with $116 million in cash on hand, the group announced Thursday.
Why it matters: Fairshake turned heads on both sides of the aisle in 2024 by assembling a campaign war chest of $169 million.
Health providers and researchers got a reprieve of sorts on Wednesday when the White House rescinded a memo that froze many federal funding sources. But the turnabout didn't entirely make clear what happens next.
The big picture: The whiplash from President Trump's executive orders and directives over the first week and a half of his term portends a tense four years for a heavily regulated sector that's very dependent on federal funding.
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s first confirmation hearing threw off the expected sparks on Wednesday, but his exchanges with lawmakers didn't resolve key questionsabout how he'd perform as the nation's top health official.
Why it matters: Beyond flubbing basics on Medicare and Medicaid and making factual errors about the biggest programs he would oversee, the controversial nominee backtracked on past stands regarding vaccines and abortion and was vague on how closely he'd hew to President Trump's policies.
A workforce discombobulated by chaotic recent events receives an email with the subject line "Fork in the Road." Inside, a deadline to quit or commit to the new mission.
Why it matters: If Musk's takeover of Washington is anything like his takeover of Twitter, federal workers — and Americans more generally — had better buckle up. His "slash first, ask questions later" management style has already been reflected in some of President Trump's biggest moves.
False rumors and panic have hit cities coast to coast after federal authorities began a nationwide immigration crackdown, prompting advocates and community leaders to warn people to seek reliable sources of information and keep calm.
Why it matters: Misinformation can ripple through already tense communities, leading to people staying home from work and school.
President Trump is pushing legal boundaries by design — testing the limits of his own power and the willingness of a conservative high court to enhance it.
Why it matters: Trump's shock-and-awe agenda is setting in motion multiple future Supreme Court showdowns. These legal challenges threaten to scuttle some of his priorities and delay parts of his swift, decisive show of force.
Former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of federal charges related to accepting bribes that prosecutors said were tied to Egypt and Qatar.
The big picture: The 71-year-old maintained his innocence but was found guilty on all 16 felony counts and was sentenced alongside New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were also charged in the case, per a Department of Justice statement.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued guidance Wednesday instructing federal agencies on how to carry out President Trump's executive order targeting transgender protections.
The Democratic Party is the most unpopular it's been in polling that dates back to 2008, according to a new survey from Quinnipiac University.
Why it matters: Democrats are struggling to repair their image with voters after a bruising 2024 election that put President Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of both houses of Congress.
House Republicans are actively exploring how they can score the deficit cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts by using multiple sets of accounting standards.
Why it matters: Depending on the standard, the cost of extending Trump's signature Tax Cut and Jobs Act for 10 years could be $4.6 trillion ... or $0.
Why it matters: The base is loving the party's muscular signs of life and wants more. Phone lines lit up in Democratic offices on Wednesday, sources told Axios.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is aiming to be the first Republican in decades to sponsor major, pro-union labor reform, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: GOP leaders see an opportunity for a new, working-class coalition, which includes more union outreach. It's a major shift, and fault lines are already forming over President Trump's pro-labor Cabinet nominee, former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
