Monday, March 28
- President
Joe Biden released a budget blueprint proposing a total of $5.8 trillion
in federal spending in the fiscal year 2023, leaving an expected deficit
of $1.15 trillion. The blueprint increases military budgets as well as
providing funds toward education, public health, local policing and
housing. It also calls for higher taxes on the wealthy.
- The
United States and the Philippines began joint military drills lasting 12
days, involving 9,000 Filipino and American soldiers, as a display of the
Òdeepening allianceÓ between the two nations, per Philippine military
chief General Andres Centino, even as outgoing
Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte signaled
support towards China. The exercises cover maritime security, amphibious
operations, live-fire training, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief.
- The
Honduran Supreme Court rejected an appeal by former President Juan Orlando
Hernandez to block his extradition to the United States, where he is
wanted on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
- Secretary
of State Antony Blinken began a tour of the
Middle East in an effort to shore up strained relations between the U.S.
and its allies in the region. The tour started in Morocco, which is in
conflict with Algeria over a sovereignty dispute in the western Sahara.
Both parties are pressuring the U.S. to take stronger action on the
matter.
Tuesday, March 29
- Biden
signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into
law. ÒAfter a century of fighting to get to this day, lynching will
finally be explicitly designated as a hate crime in this country,Ó the
Senate Judiciary Committee said in a statement.
- District
Judge David Carter said former President Donald Trump Òmore likely than
notÓ committed a crime in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020
presidential election. The judge made the comment as part of a ruling on
whether TrumpÕs lawyer, John Eastman, must release documents and testimony
to the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the
Capitol.
- Biden
met with the prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien
Loong, and spoke at the White House to warn that
the war in Ukraine threatens the Òrules-based international orderÓ
including in the Asia-Pacific region. ÒItÕs clear that PutinÕs war is
unacceptable to nations in every region in the world,Ó Biden said.
- Blinken met with the United Arab EmiratesÕ de facto
leader Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
along with senior Moroccan officials, to vow support against attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen, as well as to urge regional
allies to Òspeak outÓ against RussiaÕs invasion of Ukraine.
Wednesday, March 30
- Sen.
Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced plans to vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson, BidenÕs nominee to the Supreme
Court, offering a key Republican vote to assure confirmation. ÒAfter
reviewing Judge Ketanji Brown JacksonÕs
extensive record, watching much of her hearing testimony, and meeting with
her twice in person, I have concluded that she possesses the experience,
qualifications and integrity to serve as an Associate Justice on the
Supreme Court,Ó Collins said in a statement.
- The
Treasury Department imposed sanctions targeting an Iran-based procurement
agent named Mohammad Ali Hosseini and his
network of companies that it accuses of providing Òballistic missile
propellant-related materialsÓ to IranÕs ballistic missile program.
- White
House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield
said the U.S. believes Ò[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is being
misinformed about how badly the Russian military is performing and how the
Russian economy is being crippled by sanctions because his senior advisers
are too afraid to tell him the truth.Ó
Thursday, March 31
- Biden
ordered the release of up to one million barrels of oil per day from the
U.S.Õ strategic petroleum reserve to lessen the impact of rising gas
prices. ÒThis is a wartime bridge to increase oil supply until production
ramps up later this year. And it is by far the largest release from our
national reserve in our history,Ó Biden said.
- Jared
Kushner, the son-in-law and senior advisor to former President Donald
Trump, gave a six-hour interview to the House committee investigating the
Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cali.) said
the interview Òwas a useful exchange.Ó
Friday, April 1
- Department
of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
announced that the Biden administration will revoke Title 42, a
contentious border policy that prevents most asylum seekers from applying
for protection in the U.S., on May 23, although expulsions of adults and families
will continue until then.
- The
New York Times reported on a recent Department of Fish and Wildlife
Service decision to allow the importation of six elephant trophies into
the U.S. from Zimbabwe, which will be the first African elephant carcasses
allowed into the country in five years.
- The
House Committee on Oversight and Reform opened an investigation into
AmazonÕs labor practices during severe weather events. ÒWe are concerned
by recent reports that Amazon may be putting the health and safety of its
workers at risk, including by requiring them to work in dangerous
conditions during tornadoes, hurricanes and other extreme weather,Ó said a
letter, signed by the committee chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.),
and sent to Andy Jassy, AmazonÕs chief executive.
- A
Biden administration official announced that the U.S. will work with
allies to transfer tanks to bolster Ukrainian defenses in the countryÕs
eastern region in response to a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Saturday, April 2
- The
U.S. military delivered Sufyian Barhoumi, 48, back home to Algeria from Guant‡namo Bay
following a five-year delay from when the repatriation was first arranged.
Barhoumi was captured in Pakistan in March 2002
and taken to Guant‡namo, where he never faced trial. His case was
sidelined by a Trump administration policy that halted transfers.
Sunday, April 3