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Today’s top stories
Senate Democrats must choose between a government shutdown and voting for a bill they hate, as they face a deadline today to pass a budget. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said last night he would vote to keep the government open, signaling a path for the Senate to pass a six-month spending bill passed by the House that would fund the government through September. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the announcement “a huge slap in the face,” and said there’s a “deep sense of outrage and betrayal” across the Democratic Party.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 11: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a press conference following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Schumer answered a range of questions during the press conference. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Win McNamee/Getty Images/Getty Images North America
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Win McNamee/Getty Images/Getty Images North America
- 🎧 Democrats are not happy with this bill, which was written without their input, NPR’s congressional correspondent Dierdre Walsh tells Up First. But they say both of their options — avoid a shutdown or block the bill and trigger one — are terrible. The GOP has a 53-seat majority in the Senate but needs 60 votes to get around a filibuster. Schumer’s support could give undecided Democrats cover to vote yes on the bill, Walsh says.
President Trump is expected to visit the Justice Department today, where he will deliver a speech outlining his vision for the department. His visit comes as his administration has spent the last several weeks demoting attorneys who worked on cases related to Jan. 6 and firing officials who investigated the president.
- 🎧 Historically, presidents have kept their distance from the DOJ, NPR’s justice correspondent Ryan Lucas says. That’s because for decades there’s been a norm, respected by both Republican and Democratic administrations, that the department is independent and free from political interference. During his speech, Trump is expected to address restoring law and order, removing violent criminals from communities, and ending what the White House says is the weaponization of justice against Americans for their political leanings.
Two federal judges yesterday ordered federal agencies to reinstate thousands of workers who were recently fired. In Maryland, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar issued a 14-day stay in a case brought by 20 Democratic attorneys general. They argued that federal agencies falsely told probationary employees they were being fired because of their performance when, in fact, agencies didn’t evaluate them. Bredar ordered 18 federal agencies to reinstate probationary workers fired through what he called “illegal RIFs,” or reductions in force, by Monday at 1 p.m. EDT, for a period of 14 days. His ruling came hours after District Judge William Alsup ordered the Trump administration to reinstate workers fired from six federal agencies, calling the mass firings “a sham.” The administration has filed an appeal.
The NPR Politics team is recapping each Friday morning everything you need to know about the Trump administration’s first 100 days. From geopolitical volatility to a government shutdown standoff, the continued slashing of the government and mixed messaging on the measles, here are five takeaways from everything that has happened in the past week. Subscribe to the NPR Politics newsletter for more updates and analysis.
