Congress: The Senate & The House

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? Scoop: New GOP crypto PACs

Two new pro-crypto PACs are launching this weekend, led by former NRSC director Jason Thielman and Kristin Walker, a former chief of staff to Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Why it matters: Lummis chairs the new Senate Banking subcommittee on cryptocurrencies, and President Trump has promised to be "the most pro-crypto president" in history.

• The First Principles Digital super PAC will work to elect pro-crypto Republicans, and America First Digital (c)(4) will push for policies that support Bitcoin and digital assets.
• Nearly $4 million has been raised or pledged for the groups.

What to watch: The groups will launch their first, short digital and TV ad over the weekend as Republican senators gather at Mar-a-Lago and the Breakers in Florida for the annual National Republican Senatorial Committee retreat.

• "Promises made. Promises kept. Thank President Trump for fighting for crypto freedom," the ad says.

Zoom out: The leading pro-crypto PAC Fairshake and its affiliated organizations already have $116 million in cash on hand for the 2026 cycle.

— Stef Kight

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Senate confirms Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead powerful White House budget office The Senate confirmed Russell Vought as White House budget director on Thursday night, putting an official who has planned the zealous expansion of President Donald Trump’s power into one of the most influential positions in the federal government. Read more.

Why this matters: The Thursday night vote came after Democrats had exhausted their only remaining tool to stonewall a nomination — holding the Senate floor throughout the previous night and day with a series of speeches where they warned Vought was Trump’s “most dangerous nominee.”

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump administration plans to slash all but a fraction of USAID jobs, officials say   WATCH: Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign   As Trump pushes the limits of presidential power, the courts push back   13 states to sue over DOGE access to government payment systems containing personal data   DOGE was tasked with stopping Treasury payments to USAID, AP sources say   After prayer breakfast, Trump creates task force to root out ‘anti-Christian bias’   Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel   Egypt lobbies against Trump plan to empty Gaza of Palestinians as Israel makes preparations   China lashes out at US ‘coercion’ after Panama declines to renew infrastructure agreement   Trump administration sues Chicago in latest crackdown on ‘sanctuary’ cities   Trump blames ‘obsolete’ US air traffic control system for the plane and chopper collision near DC   Trump promotes misleading claims about federal government’s media subscriptions

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? Johnson vs. Thune

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Kevin Dietsch and Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, and Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Senate Republicans are running a hurry-up offense ahead of Super Bowl Sunday that's putting House Speaker Mike Johnson on his heels. Why it matters: The House is unlikely to reach an agreement on taxes and spending cuts before Johnson and President Trump meet in a New Orleans skybox on Sunday, aides and lawmakers conceded today. That gives Senate Republicans all weekend — and a dinner tonight at Mar-a-Lago — to make their case for a two-bill approach, while House Republicans still debate how much to cut from the federal budget. The latest deadline for Johnson's one-bill plan is "probably closer to Monday," he said this morning. ? "The time to act is now, and Senate Republicans are ready to roll," Majority Leader John Thune said on X, backing up Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Graham released a budget resolution today to funnel hundreds of billions into border security, energy and defense. "I hope the House will move forward soon, but we cannot allow this moment to pass, and we cannot let President Trump's America First Agenda stall," Graham said on X. "This targeted bill on the border, energy, and national security is uniting," Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) posted about the plan. "We're ready to go." Zoom in: Graham has scheduled committee hearings next week to debate and vote on the resolution, on Wednesday and Thursday. Graham argued his bill will provide border funds faster, saying border czar Tom Homan "is running out of the funds necessary" to keep up the Trump team's immigration crackdown. The Senate plan offsets the $342 billion in new spending. Between the lines: Johnson is still claiming he's making progress. "It's going very well, I'm very excited about where we are and the fact that we're going to be moving this forward," he said. Graham's committee timeline will give Johnson and House Republicans until midweek to pass their own resolution. The bottom line: Even if Graham's plan makes it through the Senate, there's no guarantee the House will be on board when its turn comes. Graham was careful not to antagonize Johnson, who can't afford to lose any GOP vote on anything these days. — Stef Kight and Hans Nichols ? Dems dig in   Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Democrats are locking arms against Johnson on government funding, vowing to use the process to try to roll back many of Trump's efforts to upend the federal government. Why it matters: Johnson attempted to shift the blame for a potential shutdown onto House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' shoulders this morning. Johnson told reporters that Jeffries seems "to be trying to set up some sort of a government shutdown" and has been "unresponsive the past two days or so." Jeffries pushed back on that claim. He told us today he's "continuing to negotiate a bipartisan agreement" ahead of the March 14 federal funding deadline. What we're hearing: Coming in and out of a meeting with Jeffries today, several centrists signaled they're firmly behind their leader. "We're not saying we want a government shutdown," said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). "We're with the leader in negotiating but to say there are certain things that are important to us." Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) told us: "I think that the Republican Party won a mandate and have the votes that they need to pass the funding bill. If they can't get the votes themselves, they're going have to talk to Democrats." — Andrew Solender

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? Top '26 targets

Data: Cook Political Report; Chart: Axios Visuals There are 18 toss-up House races coming in 2026, according to the first Cook Political Report ratings of the cycle.

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? MTG's startling pivot

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is using her perch atop Congress' new DOGE panel to cement her transformation from shunned GOP bomb-thrower to establishment figure.

Why it matters: Despite her reputation, Greene insists she wants to form a "serious" effort to support Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

• Greene met Thursday with Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), her Democratic counterpart on the DOGE-focused Oversight subcommittee, telling us the confab was "cordial."
• "I was explaining to her how the committee is going to work. I chose very serious-minded members," Greene said, adding she hopes the panel's Democrats will "be serious-minded as well."

? "Next week's hearing should be really good. I actually expect it to be pretty bipartisan," Greene told us.

• The hearing's title — "The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud" — suggests Republicans will use it to cheer on Musk's hack-and-slash efforts to reshape the federal government.
• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), one of Greene's picks for the panel, acknowledged Greene's record as a firebrand — including inflammatory and offensive remarks and revolts against GOP leadership — but brushed it off.
• "She'll get criticism," said Burchett, but "if a guy did some of the stuff she did, nobody would even bat an eye. So, yeah, I think she will be just fine."

The other side: Stansbury said her meeting with Greene was "very nice" and predicted there "will be opportunities to do bipartisan work around good government."

• "Myself and the chair are cautiously optimistic," she said, though she warned that Democrats "are not going to take their foot off the pedal in terms of holding Trump and Elon Musk accountable."

Yes, but: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) — who has clashed with Greene at Oversight hearings — is more skeptical of the Georgia Republican's supposed evolution.

• "Marjorie, in my opinion, is Marjorie. And I don't think anyone's ever considered her to be serious," Crockett said.
• In a DOGE subcommittee organizational meeting and two Oversight Committee hearings so far this year, Greene has "not presented herself as serious," she said.
• Greene said of Crockett: "If she's serving on the DOGE committee, I hope she's serious about cutting spending, because the reality is we're $36 trillion in debt."

The bottom line: Both sides of the panel are stacked with some of Congress' most bombastic and ideologically radical members.

• Crockett predicted the first hearing "is going to be a sh**show" and that she doesn't "see anything productive coming out of it."
• "I anticipate full-on combat, because DOGE is clearly the devil right now," she said.

— Andrew Solender and Erin Doherty

Oversight lite

With President Trump back in office, Republicans have moved swiftly to refashion the Oversight panel into a de facto arm of the administration.

• "We're definitely going to be adversarial to wasteful spending, which puts us right in line with President Trump and Elon Musk," said Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas).
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) put it this way: "The administration's done more in two weeks than [Biden] did in four years. ... What's there to investigate?"

Why it matters: The committee is often the home of a presidential administration's toughest scrutiny from Congress. It was a clearinghouse for all things anti-Biden, culminating in an impeachment inquiry.

• That pivot is a central point of tension between the panel's Democrats and Republicans.

Driving the news: Democrats tried Wednesday to subpoena Musk to testify about DOGE's hardball tactics, but Republicans blocked the move.

• Republicans also changed the panel's name from the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform after Trump's election to reflect its new role.

What they're saying: Oversight ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who introduced the motion to subpoena Musk, told us the Republicans' block "exposed the fact that they are not serious about any oversight for the next four years."

• Stansbury called it "indicative of the fact that they are giving Elon Musk carte blanche to do what he wants with federal agencies."

— Andrew Solender

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? Powerboard: The subcommittee bosses

Chart: Axios Visuals

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House Republicans mull taxes on scholarships and changes to student loan programs

As Republicans in Congress look for ways to slash spending, some legislators are floating new taxes on college scholarships, an end to student loan repayment plans and a big hike in taxes on university endowments.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-education-college-loans-532d52c2ccac8b4be459f7797fb63a73?

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? Musk's Hill believers

The GOP's Hill leaders are signaling their eagerness to back up Elon Musk by turning DOGE spending cuts into real legislation.

Why it matters: Musk's slash-and-burn cuts may be undone by the courts. But he's given congressional Republicans a blueprint for what's possible to cut.

• "I think that anything that DOGE does will be factored into what we do up here," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told us.
• "We are going to be codifying a lot of these changes," House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters today, "and what they've uncovered is, frankly, shocking."

Zoom in: DOGE has gone from a meme to a machine in the last three weeks, sparking lawsuits and injunctions.

• Judges have paused Musk's access to Treasury information and blocked more than 2,000 USAID employees from being put on leave.
• More court activity is expected as Musk pounces from one agency to the next in search of DEI initiatives, bureaucratic bloat and other opportunities for spending cuts.

Zoom out: Republicans need to do some serious unifying if they want to pass party-line spending cuts. Ten GOP senators and 34 House members voted in December against the government funding stopgap.

• But DOGE-inspired cuts might help get the House's rowdy Freedom Caucus and senators like Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to vote yes on some bills — as long as specific cuts don't create new GOP "no" votes.

Reality check: Even if the House can pass anything, outside of budget reconciliation, the Senate GOP will need Democratic votes to overcome the 60-vote filibuster for spending bills.

• Democrats are rallying in opposition to President Trump's spending freeze — and are threatening to allow a government shutdown next month. (See more in item No. 2).

The bottom line: Musk's appeals to Congress on deep cuts could force Republicans to justify tough cuts to popular programs, and Democrats to defend funding some unpopular ones.

— Stef Kight and Hans Nichols

? Schumer's shutdown seven

The March 14 funding deadline is becoming a crucial test of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's toughness in the opposition.

Why it matters: If House GOP leaders settle on a partisan funding package, Schumer is indicating he's willing to stand in the way and plunge into a government shutdown.

• Schumer will need to keep seven Democratic senators from joining Senate Republicans on a filibuster vote, if all Republicans support the package.
• "Senate Democrats will use our votes to help steady the ship for the American people," Schumer said today, in a clear warning to Republicans.
• Negotiations are foundering and Republicans haven't made a unified top-line spending offer to Democrats, according to multiple sources.

Zoom out: Senate Democrats up for reelection next year haven't been tested on whether they'll break with their party on a potential government shutdown.

• Some of them have crossed the aisle on hot-button cultural issues, like the Laken Riley Act.
• But Trump's first month in office is making it more difficult for Democrats and Republicans to work together on anything.

The bottom line: A government shutdown vote is a tougher call than a procedural vote on a foreign policy.

• Schumer scored a tactical and strategic victory last month as the Democrats stopped a vote on a pro-Israel GOP bill from coming to the floor. However, it took several emergency meetings to craft the response.
• Now, Democratic leaders are confident a House spending bill that only relies on GOP votes would flop in the chamber, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations.

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

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? Early GOP "no" threat

Sen. Rand Paul told us he "won't vote for" a reconciliation package that is not fully paid for with real spending cuts.

• Why it matters: A "no" from Paul would be an early reminder that even the Senate's safer bet for a quick win isn't a sure thing.

Zoom in: Paul said the Senate package is expected to include $150 billion in new spending on the military and $175 billion for border security.

• Paul doesn't buy the idea of helping pay for the cost by getting rid of Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.
• "The courts have already said that's not happening. It has never taken place," Paul said. "So to get rid of something that's never going to happen is, to me and many others, a fake pay-for."

Between the lines: Thune can afford to lose up to three votes on the bill, so he doesn't necessarily need Paul's vote.

• "I don't think I'm the only one. There are other people in the caucus saying it has to be a real pay-for," Paul told us.

— Stef Kight

? RFK Jr. gliding

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is a "yes" on confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary, she told reporters today.

Why it matters: Thune is within reach of confirming DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Kennedy in the same week. Just a month ago, both nominations were in serious trouble.

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Republicans on collision course as lawmakers proceed with competing spending packages

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are at a crossroads as they look to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda, with House and Senate leaders setting themselves on a collision course as they work to quickly pass a budget resolution before the end of the month.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3804517514014-republicans-on-collision-course-as-lawmakers-proceed-with-competing-spending-packages?

House Republicans work on budget plan

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The outline for a federal budget has yet to be made public, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) earlier statement that a proposal would be released by Monday. However, Johnson said Tuesday that House Republicans are prepared to move forward later this week with a plan to fund the government.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3803785621262-house-republicans-work-on-budget-plan?

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? Scoop ... Dems "pissed" at liberal groups

A closed-door meeting for House Democrats yesterday included a gripe-fest directed at liberal grassroots organizations, sources tell us.

Why it matters: Members of the Steering and Policy Committee — with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the room — complained activist groups like MoveOn and Indivisible have facilitated thousands of calls to members' offices.

• "People are pissed," a senior House Democrat who was at the meeting said of lawmakers' reaction to the calls.
• The Democrat said Jeffries himself is "very frustrated" at the groups, who are trying to stir up a more confrontational opposition to Trump.
• Jeffries' office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Zoom in: "There were a lot of people who were like, 'We've got to stop the groups from doing this.' ... People are concerned that they're saying we're not doing enough, but we're not in the majority," said one member.

• Some Democrats see the callers as barking up the wrong tree given their limited power as the minority party in Congress: "It's been a constant theme of us saying, 'Please call the Republicans,'" said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.).
• "I reject and resent the implication that congressional Democrats are simply standing by passively," said Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.).

The other side: "People are angry, scared, and they want to see more from their lawmakers right now than floor speeches about Elon Musk," Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg told us.

• "Indivisible is urging people who are scared to call their member of Congress, whether they have a Democrat or Republican, and make specific procedural asks," Greenberg said.
• "Our supporters are asking Democrats to demand specific red lines are met before they offer their vote to House Republicans on the budget, when Republicans inevitably fail to pass a bill on their own."
• MoveOn officials declined to comment.

— Justin Green and Andrew Solender

⚡️ Thune's green light

Senate Republicans are seizing on comments by Trump officials to claim they're doing the president's will on reconciliation. "After hearing these two gentlemen today, we're living on borrowed time," Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters after hearing from border czar Tom Homan and OMB chief Russell Vought. Why it matters: The two asked the Senate to fast-track $175 billion in new border money. That matches up with Graham's reconciliation package, which he's bringing to a committee markup tomorrow. Three other Trump Cabinet officials — Homeland Security's Kristi Noem, the Pengaton's Pete Hegseth and Justice's Pam Bondi —also sent a letter to lawmakers asking for more border resources, per a copy we obtained that was first reported by Fox News. Between the lines: Johnson told his leadership team he would not bring Graham's version of a budget reconciliation bill to the House floor. He wants more time to develop a House version. Graham said he also would prefer one big bill, but the Senate and Graham's committee are "moving because we have to." — Stef Kight ? Schumer and Thune's 2026 targets   Data: Cook Political Report; Chart: Axios Visuals

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?? Thune's CODEL threat

Some 20 senators have their bags packed for Munich this weekend, but they are waiting on a final green light from Majority Leader John Thune before heading to Andrews Air Force Base.

Why it matters: Thune has threatened to make the Senate work weekends before, but never with one of the year's most cherished CODELs hanging in the balance.

• In an email to senators, Thune warned they may have to stay in town to vote on President Trump's nominations on Friday, sources familiar with the matter told us.
• That would delay, and potentially cancel, their participation in the annual security conference, where many senators say that simply showing up is one of their most important messages. The conference runs from Friday to Sunday.
• Allies are eager for insight into how Trump and a Republican Congress will handle everything from the war in Ukraine to redeveloping the Gaza Strip.

The other side: "I'm trying to hold the plane hostage," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) joked to us.

• He thinks senators should stay and get more nominations done through Friday.

Zoom out: Senators love their CODELs. They especially love the Munich Security Conference, where they can have weisswurst and sweet mustard for breakfast and helles beer at lunch. Generals and heads of state mill about in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

• For Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who typically leads one of the larger delegations, it is an opportunity to take stock of what has worked and what hasn't.
• His message this weekend will be "to assess why deterrence failed and make sure that never happens again, to make sure that aggression is not rewarded in a fashion," Graham told us.
• He plans to introduce sanctions against Beijing that snap into effect if China invades Taiwan.

Zoom in: Trump has alarmed allies with his unorthodox approach to foreign policy, real estate diplomacy and land acquisitions — and sometimes all three.

• He has threatened significant tariffs on U.S. allies, offered to buy Greenland, make Canada the 51st state, turn Gaza into a "big real estate site" and proposed taking back control of the Panama Canal.
• Senators can expect some awkward questions from foreign leaders on all of the above.

The bottom line: When asked if she's prepared to answer questions on those topics, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said she will "let those speak for themselves."

• "The president obviously has a plan that he's working on, he is visiting with the leaders of many nations," she added. "So I would rather that he take the forefront."
• "I'm infuriated and frustrated by the administration's seeming surrender and betrayal of Ukraine," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) "I imagine that view will find a lot of friends among the Europeans who have committed so much to this fight."

— Stef Kight and Hans Nichols

? Johnson's $500B question

House conservatives are threatening to tank House Speaker Mike Johnson's reconciliation package tomorrow unless he meets some stiff demands.

• The package out today from Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) seeks at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts to offset $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.
• But Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) have seats on the House Budget Committee and want at least another $500 billion in spending cuts and guarantees on policy changes in writing, Politico's Meredith Lee Hill reports.

The big picture: Johnson is navigating an impossibly slim majority with deep disagreements on what's OK to cut. If he caves to conservatives on deeper cuts, he risks losing moderate and farm-state votes on the other side.

• It's going to be a long few weeks.

— Justin Green

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? Dems prepare to pounce

Speaking of tax cuts: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met today to try to re-create the magic Democrats found in 2017, when they turned Trump's original tax cuts into political poison for the GOP majorities.

• "This is all about clearing the path to cutting taxes for billionaires, and making the American people foot the bill," Schumer said today from the Senate floor.

Why it matters: Grassroots Democrats are demanding to see real action immediately. But top Democrats are eyeing a different date: November 2026.

• Their goal is to develop a unified message ahead of the midterms and take back at least one chamber of Congress.
• They'll have to temper the expectations of activists who want quicker results while also keeping them motivated to support Democrats in the coming campaigns.
• Democratic leaders firmly think their life in the minority will be shorter if they seize on the right messaging opportunities, not every messaging opportunity.

Reality check: Democrats are powerless to stop the GOP's filibuster-proof plans to cut taxes and federal spending. But details of the Republican playbook read like a wishlist for Democratic campaign operatives.

• The $1.5 trillion in spending cuts the GOP is eyeing, in addition to $4.5 trillion to pay for tax cuts, includes hundreds of billions in reduced Medicaid payments and cuts to food assistance and student loan aid.

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

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U.S. House GOP releases budget that raises debt limit by $4 trillion, extends tax cuts

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans released their budget resolution Wednesday, laying out a vision for raising the debt limit and drafting a reconciliation package that is significantly different from the one Senate Republicans released last week.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/02/12/repub/u-s-house-gop-releases-budget-that-raises-debt-limit-by-4-trillion-extends-tax-cuts/?

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Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Trump’s health chief after a close Senate vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in Thursday as President Donald Trump’s health secretary after a close Senate vote, putting the prominent vaccine skeptic in control of $1.7 trillion in federal spending, vaccine recommendations and food safety as well as health insurance programs for roughly half the country.

https://apnews.com/article/rfk-trump-health-secretary-vote-5dbefeef0537dc241e6fb33b8f2a748b?

Chuck's private plea

In private meetings with his in-cycle incumbents, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has asked for a small favor: If you're not going to run, please let me know soonest.

Why it matters: Two Democrats in potentially close races have now honored his request. A third — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) — has yet to make an announcement.

• Schumer craves clarity on the 2026 Senate map, according to people familiar with the matter.
• He also wants time to consider the party's options, allocate resources and develop a comprehensive strategy to eat into the GOP's three-seat majority.

Driving the news: Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) this morning became the second senator in as many months to announce her retirement, following Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in January.

• Both decisions sent shockwaves throughout Washington.

The intrigue: That leaves Shaheen, 78, as the only open question for many senior Democrats.

• She has publicly questioned her future, and multiple sources tell us she hasn't privately indicated whether she plans to run.
• If Shaheen runs, Democrats like their chances of holding onto the seat.
• Should she retire, New Hampshire will be much more expensive for Democrats, drawing resources away from other competitive races.

Zoom out: In other potentially competitive races, there's not much uncertainty around the Democrats' remaining 2026 incumbents.

• Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) are sending strong signals they plan to run for reelection.
• While he's not an incumbent, there's great pessimism among senior Democratic sources that former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) won't try to return to the Senate in 2026.

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

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? Mitch's revenge

For the third time in three weeks, former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell had a scathing explanation after he voted "no" on a Trump nominee.

• "I'm a survivor of childhood polio," McConnell said of his "no" vote today for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary. "I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles."

Why it matters: Freed from his leadership role and with a long history of antagonism between himself and President Trump, McConnell has become one of new Senate GOP leader John Thune's top dissenters.

• McConnell was the lone Republican to vote against Kennedy and DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
• He was joined by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in voting against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. McConnell voted "yes" on the 13 other nominees who have been confirmed.
• McConnell harshly criticized Trump's use of tariffs in an op-ed published yesterday, saying they are "bad policy" and will raise prices.

What they're saying: Trump minced no words about McConnell today in the Oval Office.

• "Well, I feel sorry for Mitch," Trump said, claiming that McConnell "wanted to stay leader."
• Trump accused McConnell of not being "equipped mentally" and letting "the Republican Party go to hell."

Between the lines: McConnell, 82, is up for reelection in 2026. He has not announced whether he intends to run.

• The controversial "no" votes only further fuel expectations he will retire.

— Stef Kight

? Dems' shutdown strategy

House Democrats are largely keeping quiet on what they'll demand from Republicans to help stave off a government shutdown.

• "Why would we want to start serving up unilateral concessions when they fight with each other like ferrets in a phone booth?" asked Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee.

Why it matters: House Speaker Mike Johnson will almost certainly need Democratic votes to keep the government open — key leverage that the liberal grassroots are demanding Democrats use to rein in Elon Musk and DOGE.

• Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), a close ally of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, said the funding deadline is "an opportunity" to "end the illegal and unconstitutional things" DOGE has been doing.

State of play: Johnson is reportedly eyeing a stopgap spending measure that would keep the government funded until September.

• But with Republicans in control, Democrats have locked arms around a message that federal funding is a responsibility that falls entirely on the GOP's shoulders.
• "They have chosen to walk away," Jeffries said at a press conference today, "and they have a responsibility to govern in connection with March 14 and beyond."

— Andrew Solender

? GOP tax standoff

House and Senate Republicans are barreling toward a showdown on how much extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts should cost.

• A group of senators, led by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), today threatened to vote against any tax package that doesn't make all of Trump's 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act "permanent."

Why it matters: That's code for using a "current policy" baseline to say extending the tax cuts should cost zero.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is also for making the 2017 cuts permanent.
• The House reconciliation package gives House GOP tax writers the authority to add at least $4.5 trillion to the deficit, roughly the amount that extending the Trump tax cuts will cost if Congress settled on a "current law" score.

Zoom in: Republicans have long questioned why the CBO treats tax cuts differently than spending increases under the reconciliation process.

• They also note CBO often gets its estimates wrong. Post-TCJA revenues were $1 trillion higher than CBO projections.
• Democrats and outside groups counter that tax cuts lead to lost revenue and the CBO should continue to account for the lost revenue to the Treasury.

The other side: A recent report by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates extending Trump's tax cuts and enacting his new ones will cost the Treasury between $5 trillion and $11 trillion over 10 years.

— Hans Nichols

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Scoop: Senate Dems target Trump and DOGE on counterterrorism

Top Senate Democrats are demanding the Trump administration reveal whether its federal hiring freeze has impacted national security operations, Axios has learned.

https://www.axios.com/2025/02/14/senate-democrats-trump-doge-treasury-terrorism?

McConnell tests the strengths and limits of his power opposing a trio of Trump’s Cabinet nominees

WASHINGTON (AP) — No longer in charge, Sen. Mitch McConnell has been speaking his mind, the long-serving GOP leader rejecting President Donald Trump’s more high-profile Cabinet nominees — alone at times, among the Republicans, casting his no votes.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-mcconnell-rfk-hegseth-gabbard-34279ff1ab29ce5c5c5c6d2408a080f7?

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? Schumer's weekend plotting

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is summoning his caucus for a rare Saturday conference call ahead of a potential reconciliation "vote-a-rama" next week.

Why it matters: Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) budget package includes some $175 billion in border security spending, presenting a potential political minefield for Democratic senators.

• But Schumer also wants to look for opportunities to force Republicans to play defense by offering his own amendments to make them squirm.
• Senators want to discuss where they should stick together in opposition to the GOP and when they can allow their members to break ranks, according to people familiar with the matter.

? Senate Majority Leader John Thune might call Graham's budget package to the floor next week, which would lead to a "vote-a-rama" — in which senators can offer amendments for some 50 hours to score political points.

Zoom out: Schumer has given his members broad leeway on some controversial issues around immigration, like the Laken Riley Act.

• Democratic activists are demanding their elected lawmakers mount a more forceful response to President Trump's dismantling of the federal government.
• But the reality for incumbent Democrats is that they don't have any immediate way to stop Trump, short of appealing to the federal courts.
• Senate Democrats staged an all-night talk fest last week to protest the confirmation of Russ Vought as Office of Budget and Management director. He was confirmed on a party-line vote.

Zoom in: Many lawmakers are deeply frustrated — and even "pissed" — with progressive pressure campaigns demanding they do more to oppose Trump, as we've reported.

• The budget process will allow Democrats to go on record defending policies that Trump and Republicans plan to cut.
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Schumer have been strategizing on how to draw attention to the GOP's proposed tax cuts and their efforts to trim spending from entitlement programs like Medicaid.

— Hans Nichols

✂️ Johnson's toughest jobs

Chart: Axios Visuals Three House Republicans are on the hook for all but a sliver of the spending cuts in the reconciliation package that made it out of committee last night. Why it matters: Conservatives want even deeper cuts. But the options get very slim very fast if Medicaid caps or SNAP work requirements trigger a revolt among moderate Republicans. Energy and Commerce: The best source for big savings is Medicaid. Options include cutting federal matching spending, creating a per capita spending cap, starting work requirements or changing payments to providers. Education and Workforce: The likely target is cutting Biden-era student loan programs. Agriculture: The likely target is work requirements for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. The bottom line: "If a bill is put in front of me that guts the benefits my neighbors rely on, I will not vote for it," first-term House Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr. of Pennsylvania posted today. — Justin Green Go deeper: Tomorrow we're sending a special edition of Hill Leaders that's focused on Energy and Commerce.

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? Scoop: Dems squeeze Treasury

Senate Democrats are pushing the Trump administration to explain whether DOGE and the federal hiring freeze have affected national security.

• Two of Schumer's top-ranking members — Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for Banking and Mark Warner (D-Va.) for Intel — signed onto a letter today to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as we scooped this afternoon.

Zoom in: Warren and Warner — joined by Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), are focused on the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which tracks terrorist financing and is responsible for enforcing a wide range of government sanctions.

• The letter asked if Treasury has frozen or eliminated roles on the team, despite an order signed by President Trump exempting national security jobs from the freeze.

— Stephen Neukam

? Thune: "He's a team player"

Senate GOP leader John Thune, to Fox News about his predecessor Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has voted against three Trump nominees and put out scathing statements against the choice to nominate them:

• "He's got views on some of these nominees that maybe don't track exactly with where I or other Republicans have come down, but we respect his positions on these, some of these noms, and I know that on a lot of big stuff ahead of us, he's going to be with us. He's a team player."

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Medicaid's hatchet man

Rep. Brett Guthrie's (R-Ky.) crusade to revamp Medicaid stretches back to his days as a state legislator. He's about to get his best chance.

Why it matters: The new Energy and Commerce chair has been given the lion's share — $880 billion — of at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts for Speaker Mike Johnson's budget reconciliation package.

Zoom in: Guthrie's quickest path to $880 billion is to revisit an idea blocked by the late Sen. John McCain in 2017 — a "per capita cap" on federal funding for state Medicaid programs.

• Per capita caps would likely result in less money for states, forcing them to make up the difference by raising taxes or cutting spending elsewhere.
• "I dealt with it. That's why I care about this. ... It just overwhelmed state budgets," Guthrie told us of his experience in the Kentucky Statehouse.

But cutting Medicaid has real political risks: Johnson himself stated this week that "Medicaid has never been on the chopping block."

• President Trump recently said he didn't want people's Medicaid benefits "affected" and instead wanted to target "abuse or waste" in the program.
• And House GOP moderates are warning they could have issues with voting for deep Medicaid cuts.

The bottom line: "I've always said that we need to reform Medicaid, even if it wasn't part of reconciliation, because the program is unsustainable," Guthrie told us.

• "It depends on what we can get 218 votes for."

— Victoria Knight

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? AI battle lines

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

The AI revolution is creating a new battleground over fossil fuels and climate on Energy and Commerce. Why it matters: AI's rise has prompted fears across the tech and energy industries about energy shortages and spikes in climate-warming emissions. Democrats want zero-carbon power to jumpstart AI. Republicans counter that coal, oil and natural gas are more than up to the task. On the Democratic side, keep an eye on Reps. Kathy Castor (Fla.), the ranking member on the Energy Subcommittee, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), who joined the committee this year. Among Republicans, watch Energy Subcommittee Chair Robert Latta (Ohio), Rep. Julie Fedorchak (N.D.), a former state utility regulator who is new to the panel this year, and Rep. Troy Balderson (Ohio). Balderson introduced a bill last week that encapsulates what Republicans would like to do: Prioritize fossil fuels and nuclear over wind and solar for connection to the power grid. In particular, Ocasio-Cortez's massive social media presence, coupled with her high-profile advocacy for a Green New Deal, lend her supersized influence as a junior committee member. What we're watching: Nuclear could be the common ground. Latta is a longtime nuclear energy booster, and Castor cited the power source, particularly advanced reactor technology, as a potential area for collaboration. — Nick Sobczyk, Daniel Moore and Maria Curi

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? Powerboard: Subcommittee chiefs

Chart: Axios Visuals

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Where does Rick Scott now stand on in-state tuition waiver for Dreamers that he signed into law?

Rick Scott has yet to comment on legislation signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday that repeals the availability of in-state tuition rates for undocumented students at Florida colleges and universities.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/02/14/where-does-rick-scott-now-stand-on-in-state-tuition-waiver-for-dreamers-that-he-signed-into-law/?

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Dems prep for legal meltdown

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Top Democrats on the Hill suspect President Trump will ignore one of the many major court rulings coming his way — and are gaming out legal and political responses behind the scenes, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Why it matters: Federal judges are the main obstacle to Trump's efforts to remake the federal government. Trump has said he'll obey court rulings. But he, Vice President Vance and Elon Musk have questioned whether the judicial branch should be able to stop the executive. At least two House Republicans are planning efforts to impeach specific judges. ? Zoom in: Democrats are meeting with state attorneys general, top lawyers, litigation firms, constitutional experts and advocacy groups, multiple top lawmakers told Axios. "Looking into all the implications and all the strategies ... is officially a big part of what we're doing," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). State of play: Ousted officials, Democratic state attorneys general, and other plaintiffs have raced to sue the Trump administration to block efforts to push out thousands of federal workers and shut down agencies. Attempts to end birthright citizenship, offer "buyouts" to federal employees, give DOGE access to sensitive systems, and shut USAID have all been blocked by federal judges. ? Reality check: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) — co-chair of the House Democratic litigation task force leading the effort, and a former Jan. 6 committee member — cautioned against "leaping to catastrophic thinking." "There are a lot of intermediate steps that can be taken by courts to force compliance with their lawful orders," Raskin said, including placing liens on bank accounts. Keep reading.

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Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program.

https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-work-requirements-congress-republicans-90ec1119f1d95de067c76f79eec7fa87?

? Scoop ... Schumer's new scheme

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to use this week's budget votes to force Republicans to choose between defending tax cuts for billionaires or defying President Trump and Elon Musk.

• "It unifies Democrats from one end to the other. It is simple. It is easy to state. And it's true," Schumer told us.

Why it matters: After weeks of getting pummeled, Schumer is clearly relishing the prospect of changing the subject and forcing Republicans to play defense.

• Schumer wants to turn the "vote-a-rama" on the Senate GOP's budget bill — expected Thursday or Friday — into a parade of tragic decisions by Trump and Musk — all in service of making the rich even richer.
• Look for amendments on Trump's proposed tax cuts, the president's funding and hiring freezes and Musk's deep cuts to federal agencies.
• You can also expect an amendment blocking the GOP from changing tax rates if they cut funding from Medicare or Medicaid.

Zoom in: None of these Democratic-forced amendments will pass. But Schumer's goal is to make GOP senators own as much of the cuts and freezes as possible, or put them on the wrong side of a president who demands total loyalty.

• Democrats have been on their back feet as Trump and Musk fire federal workers, cut off foreign aid and rewire the country's bureaucracy.
• Democratic lawmakers feel powerless and are "pissed" at Democratic activist groups.
• Schumer and Jeffries huddled last week for a strategy session on how they could pick a couple of issues — such as cuts to Medicare and tax breaks for the wealthy — to re-create the magic of 2018.

?Now Schumer has an opening to cast DOGE and the congressional GOP in the harshest possible light.

• That includes programs highlighted by DOGE and those — like Medicaid — targeted by congressional Republicans.

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

? Thune's power move

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is defying Speaker Mike Johnson's warning by moving ahead today on a $300 billion budget bill.

• "It's time to act," Thune posted on X.

Why it matters: Johnson is clinging to a one-bill, mega-MAGA package to overcome his tiny House majority and pass President Trump's priorities.

• With the House on recess this week, he's threatened to block any Senate-passed budget bill until the House finishes its own package.

⚡️ But the Senate wants a quick win — especially on the border — before tackling the complicated and expensive tax issues.

• Top Trump officials have bolstered the Senate's argument, raising the alarm about the need for more border cash.

Johnson didn't directly respond to Thune's challenge but posted that the House remains "laser-focused on sending our bill to President Trump's desk."

• "It's time to act on ALL of the powerful mandates the American people gave to [Trump] in November," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) posted shortly after Thune's comments.
• "All of Trump's priorities in one big, beautiful bill start moving when we pass" Rep. Jodey Arrington's (R-Texas) budget, Scalise wrote.

— Stef Kight