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 “deepening alliance” 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. “After a century of fighting to get to this day, lynching will finally be explicitly designated as a hate crime in this country,” the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a statement.
District Judge David Carter said former President Donald Trump “more likely than not” 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 Trump’s 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 “rules-based international order” including in the Asia-Pacific region. “It’s clear that Putin’s war is unacceptable to nations in every region in the world,” Biden said.
Blinken met with the United Arab Emirates’ 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 “speak out” against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wednesday, March 30

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced plans to vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court, offering a key Republican vote to assure confirmation. “After reviewing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s 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,” 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 “ballistic missile propellant-related materials” to Iran’s ballistic missile program.
White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said the U.S. believes “[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.”

Thursday, March 31

Biden ordered the release of up to one million barrels of oil per day from the U.S.’ strategic petroleum reserve to lessen the impact of rising gas prices. “This 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,” 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 “was a useful exchange.”

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 Amazon’s labor practices during severe weather events. “We 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,” said a letter, signed by the committee chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), and sent to Andy Jassy, Amazon’s chief executive.
A Biden administration official announced that the U.S. will work with allies to transfer tanks to bolster Ukrainian defenses in the country’s 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 Guantánamo Bay following a five-year delay from when the repatriation was first arranged. Barhoumi was captured in Pakistan in March 2002 and taken to Guantánamo, where he never faced trial. His case was sidelined by a Trump administration policy that halted transfers.

Sunday, April 3