Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Government staff cuts reach CDC, prompting outcry from Georgia Democratic senator
The Trump administration is reportedly slashing the workforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation's premier disease-fighting agency, by nearly 1,300 positions. Published February 14, 2025
Vance chastises Europe over threat from ‘within,’ rails against censorship, migrant flood
Vice President J.D. Vance scolded European leaders on Friday for failing to address unchecked migration or uphold free speech principles and democratic values. Published February 14, 2025
New HHS chief RFK Jr. says he will address physical and ‘spiritual’ health crisis
Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says many Americans confront both a "health crisis" and a "spiritual" one, crises that leave them disconnected from others and fuel alcoholism, suicide and drug addiction. Published February 14, 2025
RFK Jr. gets final approval to ‘go wild,’ vows to ‘solve the childhood chronic disease epidemic’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after his confirmation Thursday, giving him license to "go wild" on health and putting the last of President Trump's contentious nominees in place so his Cabinet can reset the federal government. Published February 13, 2025
Trump aims trade fight at Europe, U.K. and India: ‘This should have been done years ago’
President Trump signed an order Thursday that calls for reciprocal tariffs on friendly and rival nations alike, saying too many places are taking advantage of duty-free treatment in the U.S. even as they tax American goods that flow across their borders. Published February 13, 2025
Senate confirms Brooke Rollins as agriculture chief
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Brooke Rollins, a longtime policy aide to President Trump with a farm-town background, to lead the Agriculture Department. Published February 13, 2025
RFK Jr. overcomes odds, is confirmed as HHS secretary
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, sweeping aside concerns about his past vaccine skepticism to let him "go wild" on health under President Trump. Published February 13, 2025
White House defends decision to block AP reporter, likens ‘Gulf of Mexico’ usage to lying
The White House is defending its barring of an Associated Press reporter from an Oval Office event over the wire service's refusal to use the Gulf of America title. Published February 12, 2025
RFK Jr. cruises toward confirmation after clearing early Senate vote
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a Senate test vote on Wednesday, placing him on the path to confirmation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after a difficult vetting process that focused on his vaccine views. Published February 12, 2025
Senate panel advances Jamieson Greer as U.S. trade rep
The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday advanced Jamieson Greer's nomination to serve as U.S. trade representative, a role of outsized significance, given President Trump's penchant for using tariffs as a bargaining tool with foreign nations. Published February 12, 2025
Trump presses for lower interest rates even as U.S. inflation edges up to 3% in January
President Trump said Wednesday he thinks interest rates should come down, injecting himself into the debate around Federal Reserve decisions just as the government was reporting that U.S. inflation for January remained well above the Fed's preferred target. Published February 12, 2025
Kremlin expects the return of a Russian prisoner for releasing Marc Fogel
The Kremlin said Wednesday it expects a Russian citizen detained in the U.S. to be returned as part of the deal that secured American teacher Marc Fogel's release. Published February 12, 2025
Ford Motor Co. says tariff threats are causing ‘chaos’ in industry
Foreign officials outlined broad plans to retaliate over U.S.-imposed tariffs on key metals and Ford Motor's chief executive on Tuesday said levies -- both real and proposed -- are causing "chaos" as the world grapples with President Trump's shock-and-awe trade policy. Published February 11, 2025
Trump ally Steve Bannon pleads guilty in build-the-wall scheme, won’t get jail time
Former Trump aide Steve Bannon pleaded guilty Tuesday to engaging in a scheme to defraud fundraisers who contributed to an online effort to build a border wall. Published February 11, 2025
EU pledges to fight back after Trump imposes steel tariffs
The president of the European Commission is condemning President Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on foreign steel and aluminum and pledging to retaliate. Published February 11, 2025
Trump slaps tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports
President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all nations on Monday as part of an early-term blitz on trade. Published February 10, 2025
Trump: Palestinians would not have the right to return to Gaza
President Trump said that Palestinians would not have an automatic right to return to Gaza, sparking new confusion over his redevelopment plans for the war-torn strip between Egypt and Israel. Published February 10, 2025
Budget Director Russ Vought suspends operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
White House Budget Director Russ Vought is suspending operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent agency that has been criticized by conservatives as being unaccountable. Published February 10, 2025
Trump, Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba start off on friendly footing
It's official: President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba really like each other. Published February 7, 2025
Trump maintains tariffs on cheap parcels from China
President Trump is temporarily delaying his decision to end a tariff exception for low-cost shipments from China to individuals in the U.S. Published February 7, 2025
