Washington, D.C. -
President Obama will name the current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations as the next National Security Adviser, replacing Tom Donilon who has resigned.
Obama is also nominating Samantha Power to replace Susan Rice at the U.N.
Rice's elevation to become the National Security Adviser does not require senate confirmation.
Washington, D.C. -
The federal budget deficit has plunged more than $200 billion, down from an already lower estimate of $850 billion predicted by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO, back in February.
It is also the first time the deficit has been lower than $1 trillion during the recession when the government spent big to reduce the recession effect and attempt to begin economic recovery.
Washington, D.C. -
The Secret Service has intercepted a letter that was addressed to President Barack Obama yesterday that contained a yet to be identified "suspicious substance" according to a press spokesperson at the agency.
The letter is being moved to a secure location where it will be investigated.
The area in which the letter was found (a mail screening center) is being searched to ensure no dangerous substances contaminated the area and the worker who made the discovery has undergone decontamination as a safety precaution.
Washington, D.C. -
Federal authorities say they have recovered a letter sent to U.S. Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) that contained the toxin known as ricin on Tuesday.
The incoming mail facility for the U.S. Capital building and congressional office has been shut.
The substance was first detected on a letter at a remote processing facility that was bound for congressional offices and is under going decontamination.
Washington, D.C. -
The U.S. Postal Service has said that it has stopped pushing to end its Saturday delivery service in order to close budget shortfalls because congress couldn't pass legislation.
The Postal Service is a branch of the federal government but it run like a private corporation without any taxpayer money.
In the past, the USPS operated at a profit, but as the internet boomed as well as digital signatures and new security methods, along with coupon and spam mail, the Post Office began loosing money and now operates with $15 billion in debt hanging over its head.
Washington, D.C. -
President Obama has approved more non-leather aid for Syrian rebels who have been fighting a bloody civil war against the Syrian government, lead by Bashar al-Assad in which an estimated 70,000 people have died so far and 2 million have fled the country.
The decisions was apparently made last week during a national security meeting, but the details have not been finalized yet but is likely to include communications equipment, defensive materials and medicine according to some defense analyst.
Washington, D.C. -
President Obama has sent his version of a federal budget to congress setting off complaints from both sides of the aisle, democrats and republicans, who say his $3.77 trillion budget is unrealistic.
Republicans are upset with the budget proposal because Obama seeks to raise taxes on the richest Americans and democrats don't like the buts to socials security and medicare.
Washington, D.C. -
According to the U.S. Mint, it now costs 2 cents to make 1 penny, so in stead of spending your pennies, go trade them in for cash at your local metal scrap yard?
Ok that won't exactly work out so well for you after you figure in the profit margins for the scrap yard, but as the price of metal has rose, many are saying it no longer makes 'sense' to keep making cents.
Washington D.C. -
The Senate has passed a bill that will extend the nation's debt limit until May 18, increasing the federal debt by an estimated $450 billion to $16.4 trillion.
As part of the deal, a "no budget, no pay" provision seem by some as a gimmick, if congress can not approve a budget in each of their respective chambers by April 15, congress will not be paid until such a budget is passed or until the next congress is seated in two years.
Washington, D.C. -
The U.S. Senate has voted to approve President Obama's nomination of Senator John Kerry as the next Secretary of State, replacing Hillary Clinton after previously announcing she would resigning.
Senator Kerry received well over the 60 votes needed to win confirmation. Only two votes were cast against Kerry.
Kerry ran for president in the 2004 presidential elections against George Bush and lost.