PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST — After 15 months of war that have killed 47,000 people, laid waste to much of Gaza and triggered political fallout around the world, Israel and Hamas have finally struck a cease-fire deal, according to multiple officials.

During the confirmation hearing for Trump's OMB director, Russell Vought in the Senate this week, Senator Patty Murray grilled Vought over whether he will follow the law if confirmed.

If Russell Vought is confirmed as Office of Management and Budget director, he will continue to enact and accelerate the radical, sweeping agenda he began to implement in that same position during the final two years of the first Trump administration.

“Ranking member Durbin, President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the president of the United States,” Bondi replied, avoiding a straightforward answer. “There was a peaceful transition of power; President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”

During the confirmation hearing for Trump's OMB nominee, Russell Vought in the Senate this week, Senator Mark Warner lost it on Vought over his past comments.

President Trump's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget faced a tough grilling from Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Russell Vought downplayed Trump’s moves to strip protections from civil service employees.

Vought, a co-author of Project 2025 who served as budget director in Donald Trump's first term, has signaled he will take a more aggressive approach to helping the president-elect carry out his agenda of shrinking the federal government.

Congress is gearing up for a potential separation of powers fight with the incoming Trump administration over who has the final pull of the purse strings.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for the top budget office, Russ Vought, will face senators on Wednesday for potential confirmation to a crucial post for Trump's goals to reshape and downsize the federal government.

If confirmed, Mr. Vought will be at the center of President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to upend the federal bureaucracy.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians were jubilant to be returning home after months of living in temporary shelter but fearing what might remain of their homes amid the bombed-out ruins.