Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Feds to pay $144.5 million for role in Texas church shooting
The federal government has agreed to pay victims of a 2017 church shooting in Texas $144.5 million to compensate them for the Air Force's failure to flag the shooter as someone who shouldn't be able to buy a gun. Published April 5, 2023
Using facial recognition for unemployment benefits discriminates against minorities, audit finds
After pushing unemployment agencies to crack down on fraud, the Labor Department's inspector general now says the method states turned to - facial recognition - ends up discriminating against minorities. Published April 4, 2023
Ted Cruz: Democrats see Mayorkas as scapegoat, will be gone within 6 months
Sen. Ted Cruz said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas won't last six months in his job after Democrats have decided to blame him for the chaos at the border. Published April 4, 2023
College student charged with threatening to kill member of Congress for ‘coming for the gays’
A New Hampshire college student appeared in court Monday on charges of threatening to kill a member of Congress after authorities say he made a drunken phone call warning he would retaliate against the lawmaker for "coming for the gays." Published April 3, 2023
IRS shut down employees’ suggestion box after deciding it cost too much
IRS leaders say they care about staffers' feedback, but the tax agency axed its employee suggestion program in 2021 and has yet to come up with a replacement, according to an inspector general's report Monday. Published April 3, 2023
Trump indictment follows Democratic playbook, says former House GOP Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has indicted former President Donald Trump, is following a well-trod Democratic playbook. Published April 3, 2023
Migrants now allowed to select gender preference without proof under new DHS guidance
Homeland Security's legal immigration agency will now allow applicants to select a gender of their choice without having to provide supporting documentation that matches. Published April 1, 2023
More than 1,000 illegal immigrants rushed border in El Paso, officials say
More than a thousand illegal immigrants rushed the border in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday and into Thursday, officials said, blaming what they called "false information" fed by smugglers. Published March 31, 2023
Countdown to cuts: Social Security has enough money in trust fund for only 10 more years
The Social Security Administration said Friday that its main trust fund will run out of money in 2033, leaving the program with no reserves and forcing an immediate 23% cut in benefits unless Congress acts to shore up the program before then. Published March 31, 2023
Weaponization hearing finds at least 20 White House employees involved in tech censorship
Louisiana's attorney general called Thursday for federal employees to be fired, lose their retirement benefits and face civil lawsuits if they are found to have pressured tech companies to censor opposing viewpoints. Published March 30, 2023
NIH spent billions on overseas animal testing but didn’t police anti-cruelty standards
The National Institutes of Health sent $2.2 billion to labs outside the U.S. to conduct animal testing over the last decade but didn't follow up to make sure they were complying with American standards on preventing cruelty, according to a new audit Thursday. Published March 30, 2023
GOP lawmakers say China must be punished over soaring illegal immigrants
Republican House members prodded the Biden administration Thursday to slap sanctions on China for refusing to cooperate in taking back its illegal immigrants, saying the U.S. should start refusing to dole out visas to would-be Chinese migrants. Published March 30, 2023
Inspector general dings DHS over money spent on migrant welcome program
Homeland Security misspent money on its program to pay local nonprofits to welcome illegal immigrants caught and released into the country, according to an inspector general's report that dinged the department for failing to oversee how the money was spent. Published March 30, 2023
AG Garland tells Congress he needs controversial spying power to keep China in check
Attorney General Merrick Garland made an impassioned plea Wednesday for Congress to renew a controversial government spying authority, warning that if the "Section 702" powers go away the U.S. will suffer in its ability to keep track of China's efforts to undermine the country. Published March 29, 2023
Agents’ busy weekend: 6 miles of border, nearly 300 illegal immigrants, 35 different nationalities
Border Patrol agents in the Imperial Beach region of California reported a hectic night last weekend, nabbing 290 illegal immigrants over a 13-hour stretch. Published March 29, 2023
U.S. Marshals told not to arrest protesters outside justices’ homes, documents reveal
Deputy U.S. marshals assigned to guard Supreme Court justices last year were directed to try not to make arrests, according to documents a U.S. senator revealed Tuesday, contradicting Attorney General Merrick Garland's assurances to Congress. Published March 28, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans urge DHS Chief Mayorkas to resign in acrimonious hearing
Calls to resign rained down on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday as he insisted the border was secure, while struggling to answer questions about illegal immigration and the flow of deadly fentanyl. Published March 28, 2023
Attorney General Garland: Too early to call Nashville shooting a hate crime
Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday that it's too early for the Justice Department to say whether the horrific shooting at a Christian school in Nashville should be considered a hate crime. Published March 28, 2023
Mayorkas ‘not aware’ cartels use illegal immigrants to distract border agents
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday told Congress he's unaware that cartels use illegal immigrants to flood the border and sneak over dangerous contraband. Published March 28, 2023
House GOP to subpoena State Department for secret Afghanistan documents
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul said Monday that he has signed a subpoena to force the State Department to turn over a secret cable revealing diplomats' urgent plea to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2021 not to follow through on President Biden's troop-withdrawal plans. Published March 27, 2023
