Feb 15, 2018

100+ White House officials lacked permanent clearance as of November

Haley Britzky

Photo: Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images

More than 100 White House staffers lacked permanent security clearances as of last November, CNN reports, and its unclear whether those officials have gained clearance since. They included Jared Kusher, Ivanka Trump, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and White House Counsel Don McGahn.

Why it matters: The clearance process came under scrutiny after it emerged that Rob Porter was unable to get full clearance due to domestic violence accusations. And having interim clearance can "hamper a staffer's ability to perform essential functions of the job," per CNN.

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Bob Herman

Hospitals are starting to get their coronavirus cash infusion

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios

The federal government is sending $64 billion to hospitals, post-acute facilities and other medical providers to help cope with the coronavirus fallout.

Yes, but: Even though more funding is coming, safety net and rural hospitals fear they are getting a raw deal from the way some of the money is being distributed.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Health
Alexi McCammond, Margaret Talev

Biden, Sanders work toward truce on big issues

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Joe Biden isn’t about to become Bernie Sanders, but he’s signaling that there’s potential for more common ground on issues such as health care, student debt, climate change and more in the weeks ahead.

What to watch: As Biden courts Sanders' endorsement, their teams will hold policy discussions in the next few weeks with the expectation that Biden will incorporate some elements of Sanders' agenda, a person familiar with those plans tells Axios.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Jonathan Swan

Some Trump aides eye May 1 start to coronavirus reopening

President Trump was flanked at yesterday's briefing by HHS Secretary Alex Azar (far left), Vice President Pence and Dr. Deborah Birx. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump's aides, encouraged by virus data showing fewer deaths than once projected, are working behind the scenes to deliver on his vow to reopen America "sooner rather than later."

What to watch for: A senior White House official said there’s a lot of internal energy pushing for May 1, because that's the end of the White House's "30 Days to Slow the Spread."

Go deeperArrow3 hours ago - Politics & Policy