White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave updates on the war in Iran and Department of Homeland Security shutdown, during the press briefing Wednesday afternoon.
Later Wednesday, the president is to speak at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual dinner. The event comes one day after Democrats flipped a Florida statehouse seat, which represents Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago.
Here are updates from the Trump administration today.
11:30 a.m. – Melania Trump introduces humanoid robot to international leaders
First Lady Melania Trump walked into her Fostering the Future Together coalition roundtable with a talking humanoid robot called “Figure3” – a nod to advancements in technology, which her initiative is focused on.
Wearing a white pantsuit, which matched the walking robot, the first lady marked the first time a humanoid robot was presented to international leaders in a diplomatic setting.
Melania Trump’s initiative calls for supporting children’s education to advance technology and adapt to artificial intelligence.
11:14 a.m. – Trump suggests he will put National Guard in airports
Trump increased pressure on Senate Democrats to cut a deal, quickly, with Republicans to fund DHS, by threatening to put National Guard members in airports – a similar tactic he used to pressure Democratic state leaders to comply with immigration enforcement last year.
On Truth Social, the president blamed Democrats “for the Airport’s mess” and praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who he deployed to more than a dozen airports, for assisting in security.
“Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference. I may call up the National Guard for more help,” Trump wrote.
10:32 a.m – TSA head says agents are desperate for paychecks
After 40 days without a paycheck, some TSA agents have received eviction notices, defaulted on loans, drained retirement savings, slept in their cars and even sold their blood and plasma for extra money, the TSA acting administrator told members of Congress.
Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill testified that transportation security officers were under enormous stress already, since this is the third shutdown of the fiscal year. She said the funding lapses “significantly undermine” security in the U.S., in addition to hurting individual agents.
At least 480 transportation security officers have left the agency since the shutdown began.
9:40 a.m. – Deal to end DHS shutdown hits a wall
Senate Republicans are trying to negotiate a deal with Democrats while also appeasing the president that will reopen the Department of Homeland Security and pay airport workers, such as TSA agents and air traffic controllers, after funding lapsed more than a month ago.
Momentum toward a potential resolution ended Tuesday evening after Senate Democrats rejected a deal that would have funded most of DHS’s agencies, other than immigration enforcement, because it did not include enough to hold federal agents accountable.
Trump had expressed little support for the deal, telling reporters Tuesday, “I think any deal they make, I’m pretty much not happy with it.”
As senators and the White House try to strike a deal, the House Committee on Homeland Security will hear from FEMA and TSA officials affected by the DHS shutdown at 10 a.m. ET.
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