EXCLUSIVE: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem are both on board with establishing a secretary of the Coast Guard, Fox News Digital has learned.The Coast Guard is the only military service that falls under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security and does not have a top civilian secretary leading the service unlike the Navy, Army and Air Force.However, momentum is building both within the administration and on Capitol Hill to reform the Coast Guard and revamp its standards so that it better aligns with the armed services that fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of War.As a result, Hegseth said that establishing a service secretary would facilitate the Coast Guard's ability to "support the full spectrum of national security operations," according to a Thursday letter Fox News Digital obtained from Hegseth to Noem.PETE HEGSETH MAKES HOMELAND SECURITY TOP MISSION IN FIRST INTERVIEW AS SECRETARY OF WARse"I view the creation of a Secretary of the Coast Guard as a vital step toward strengthening strategic integration and alignment between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of War," Hegseth said in the letter."Furthermore, a Secretary of the Coast Guard would reinforce civilian oversight of the military, a foundational principle of our Constitution," Hegseth said. "A dedicated Service Secretary would promote appropriate executive accountability and policy guidance for the Coast Guard's critical mission set, provide clear leadership and advocacy, and ensure that the Service is effectively advancing the priorities of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the President of the United States."Noem said a secretary for the Coast Guard will allow it to better conduct joint operations with other services. For example, the Coast Guard is teaming up with the U.S. Navy as part of Operation Pacific Viper, which seeks to counter the influx of illegal drugs to the U.S. as part of President Donald Trumps larger effort to crack down on drug cartels.Ultimately, Noem vowed she would work with Hegseth, Trump and members of Congress to create the position."The Coast Guard is the tip of the spear in the fight to protect our Homeland," Noem said in a statement, obtained by Fox News Digital. "Every day, they are taking down drug smugglers, going toe-to-toe with our adversaries in the Arctic and the Pacific, and saving lives. Having a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be essential for President Trumps mandate to rebuild the Service into the finest maritime fighting force in the world."COAST GUARD OVERHAUL TAKES OFF AMID TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION, NARCOTICS CRACKDOWNEfforts to install a secretary of the Coast Guard are also picking up steam on Capitol Hill. For example, Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., spearheaded a provision included in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, which the House passed in July, to create a Coast Guard secretary as well.Installing a secretary of the service will "streamline some of this red tape that we've seen over the years thats slowed progress down" because he or she will report directly to the White House and Congress eliminating multiple layers of bureaucracy, according to Ezell."This person is going to be instrumental in getting things done," Ezell told Fox News Digital in July.Meanwhile, the Coast Guard unveiled its new Force Design 2028 plan to reform the maritime services organizational structure, personnel, acquisitions, contracting and technology in April. Organizational changes in the plan include installing a secretary for the service.HEGSETH VOWS TO RESTORE WARRIOR MENTALITY AND RAISE STANDARDS IN SWEEPING MILITARY TRANSFORMATIONAdditionally, the initiative seeks to build up the Coast Guards force, which currently consists of roughly 43,000 active-duty personnel, and identify which specialties need reinforcement to expand training. The blueprint also calls for a series of changes to better align the Coast Guard with the Department of Defenses standards for physical fitness, body composition and grooming.Historically, the Coast Guard has not enforced fitness standards unless personnel are attached to boat crews of law enforcement teams a departure from the other military services. However, the Coast Guard announced in September that it is rolling out a mandatory, service-wide fitness test in 2026.The Coast Guards Force Design 2028 comes in response to the Trump administrations efforts to tackle illegal immigration and drug smuggling, a DHS official familiar with the plan told Fox News Digital in April."We've been making changes practically daily in the service to really keep moving forward," the official told Fox News Digital in April. "The goal of 2028 is that the transformation of the service will be complete by 2028."

As colder months sneak up on us, now is the time to prepare for a potential dead car battery. A portable jump starter provides peace of mind theyre small, portable batteries you can often fit right in your glove box. Best of all, portable jump starters make it possible to start your car without bulky cables or another car.Shop deals from compact models for everyday drivers to heavy-duty options for trucks and diesel engines.Original price: $124.95TheBoost GB40 is one of Nocos smallest, most portable jump starters. It offers up to 1,000 amps of power, which is strong enough to start a completely dead car, truck, ATV or golf cart battery. You get 20 starts per charge, and the battery recharges completely after just three hours.Also integrated into the jump starter is a small power bank that can help you charge your phone, tablet and other electronics. Theres also a built-in flashlight for nighttime breakdowns. The light has an SOS mode and strobe light mode, an added safety feature that makes sure other cars on the road can see you.BANISH BLACKOUTS WITH THE BEST DEALS ON GENERATORS AND POWER STATIONSOriginal price: $249.95You get double the power of the Boost GB40 in theNoco Boost GB70. Instead of 20 starts on a full battery, you get up to 40 starts thanks to the 2,000 amps of power. There arent any safety concerns with the GB70 due to the patented spark-proof design that makes it safe for car engine novices. The rubberized components keep the cables rust-free, even if exposed to bad weather.This jump starter version also has an LED flashlight with seven different modes, including an SOS and strobe light features. The built-in power bank helps you charge other devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets and more.Original price: $439.95The Boost X GBX155 is one of Nocos most powerful batteries. If you always want to be fully prepared, this is the option for you. Rated for an impressive 4,250 amps, you can start everything from an average car to a diesel work truck, RV or large boat engine. You only get 18 charges on a full battery, but thats because this option is for more heavy-duty engines. You can recharge the battery in just under three hours, but you can gain enough power to jump your cars battery in as little as five minutes.The power bank is more impressive than NOCOs smaller versions. The 60-watt USB-C power bank helps you charge laptops and tablets faster. Additionally, the flashlight is stronger with the same seven light modes.Original price: $59.99With theAstroAI S8 jump starter, you get a compact jump starter without some of the frills other models come with. Easily start dead cars, motorcycles or lawn mower batteries with this pack. It can only handle 6.0 liter gas engines and 3.0 liter diesel engines, so it wont be the best option for work trucks or more high-powered vehicles, but itll definitely get the job done for most cars.Like most other portable jump starters, you also get a portable power bank and an LED light with three different modes. Weighing in at under a pound, you can throw this jump starter anywhere in your car for easy access.Original price: $169.99TheWolfbox jump starter can tackle most vehicle batteries, including cars, trucks, boats and lawn equipment. It supports both gas and diesel engines with capacities under 10 liters. The LCD screen is easy to read and helps you understand your cars battery supply and how much battery remains on the jump starter. As for charging the battery, it takes under an hour and a half, making it a reliable option.It comes with a built-in type-C port and a USB-A port to charge your other electronics, as well as an LED light with SOS, strobe and high-beam modes. Extreme weather doesnt affect this battery; it can withstand below freezing temperatures, all the way up to 104-degree heat.SOLAR CAMPING GEAR TO POWER YOUR OFF-GRID ADVENTURESOriginal price: $109.99Jump start your completely dead battery with thisGooloo A3 jump starter. It works on 12V batteries, and if youre running into any issues, simply press the "BOOST" button for a stronger jump start. The jump starter works in all kinds of weather, from temperatures ranging from -4 degrees to 140 degrees.In addition to the jump-starting features, you also get a cordless air compressor that can help you refill your tire in a pinch. Theres a tire pressure reader and automatic shutoff, so you dont have to worry about under or over filling your tires. A full charge can inflate 135 ball tires, 50 bike tires, 35 motorcycle tires and eight car tires. Another helpful feature is the power bank and LED flashlight, complete with an SOS emergency light.Original price: $79.99For a budget-friendly jump starter, theDB Power Peak has everything you need. You can jump start your vehicle up to 30 times with the 3,000-amp battery. The whole system is compact enough to fit in your glove box, but powerful enough for any daily commuter or truck driver. The LCD screen shows you how much power remains on the battery, and theres also a compass built in if you get into a jam. Also included is a smart USB port that can fully charge your smartphone, tablet and other electronic devices fast.Original price: $159.99DeWalt fans should add thisjump starter to their collection. Its larger than the other models on this list, but it packs more of a punch. If your battery is dead, you can jump start it in seconds. Just connect the clamps, flip a switch and start your vehicle. Its beginner-friendly thanks to a built-in alarm that alerts you if the clamps are on the wrong connections.You get a USB-A and a USB-C port for charging your devices on the go, plus a high-powered LED light so you can work on your car in the dark. The jump starter also features an air compressor with an auto stop feature.For more Deals, visitwww.foxnews.com/dealsWhen youre shopping for a jump starter, you may have a lot of questions about what to look for. Thats why weve answered a few of the most commonly asked questions shoppers have when looking for a portable jump starter.This depends on your engine type, but generally, for most sedans and SUVs, a jump starter with 800 to 1,000 amps will do. Trucks, RVs and diesel engines may need upwards of 2,000 amps.Most portable jump starters offer 15 to 40 starts on one charge. Smaller models may offer fewer starts, but they often charge faster.Look for spark-proof clamps and a reverse polarity alarm that will alert you if your clamps arent in the right position.Yes, portable jump starters dont require the help of another vehicle, so you can more easily jump your car if youre stuck on the side of the road or there are no other cars in the parking lot.If youre anAmazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You canjoin or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

The Trump administration unveiled a proposal on Wednesday to change how H-1B visas are awarded, a program that has become a cornerstone of the tech industry by allowing U.S. companies to hire highly skilled workers from abroad, including software engineers and data scientists.Issued by the Department of Homeland Security, H-1B visas are temporary work permits that have become a vital pathway for U.S. tech companies to recruit global talent.TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S $100K ONE-TIME FEE FOR NEW H-1B VISA APPLICATIONS SPARKS RAGING DEBATEThe proposal is designed to nudge employers toward offering higher salaries or reserving H-1B petitions for jobs that require advanced skills. The rule change, formally published in the Federal Register, comes just days after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data from 2024 through mid-2025, Amazon obtained 19,301 H-1B visas, more than any other major tech company. Microsoft secured 9,914 workers through the H-1B program, while Apple brought in 8,075 employees.Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and HCLTech may be headquartered in India, but each has a substantial U.S. presence that allows them to compete directly for H-1B visas.JD VANCE CALLS OUT BIG TECH FOR FIRING AMERICANS WHILE HIRING CHEAP FOREIGN H-1B VISA REPLACEMENTSCognizant, by contrast, is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, though it originated as part of an Indian company and continues to maintain deep ties to Indias tech sector.Together, these firms illustrate how Indian outsourcing and consulting giants dominate a significant share of H-1B visa approvals alongside major U.S. tech companies.Microsoft declined to comment. The rest of the companies listed in the bar chart did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Since June, the top seven recipients of H-1B visas have all been tech companies, with JPMorgan Chase, Walmart and Deloitte rounding out the top 10.The $100,000 fee a one-time charge applying only to new H-1B petitions will take effect in the next annual lottery, the system the U.S. government uses to select applications once the annual visa cap is reached.The annual cap for H-1B petitions is 85,000, a limit the USCIS said it reached in July.

Republicans on the Small Business Committees face a deadline to scrap Biden-era rules requiring 10% of federal contract resources go to DEI, even as the USDOT warns Maryland over its handling of Francis Scott Key Bridge contracts.In Congress, the SBIR and STTR programs dubbed "Americas seed fund(s)" help small businesses apply for grants across federal agencies, in commercial and technology sectors, respectively.Ahead of the September 30 reauthorization deadline for both key programs, Sen. Joni Ernst, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, expressed urgency to cut out DEI requirements.Ernst, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital her INNOVATE Act for which Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, also drafted a version earlier this summer would replace any reauthorization legislation and remove requirements for DEI considerations and direct grants based on merit, not politics.DUFFY CLASHES WITH DEMOCRATS OVER DEI FUNDING CUTS, DENIES AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS LET GOErnst also highlighted some of what she considered the more wasteful grants awarded under the current rubric including a $1.4 million NIH appropriation for what was entitled a "Mobile App Promoting Sexual Health for Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men."Another healthcare-related grant she lambasted offered $283,526 for Evidence-Based Parent Training for Diverse Families citing LGBTQ+ people whose "relationships do not fit within heterosexualnorms [and] are increasingly having children or considering" so. The Pentagon and other agencies had similar such grants approved under previous administrations, according to a source familiar.With less than a week before the program sunsets unless Congress acts, a source familiar with the talks said many Republicans back Ernsts push to block such spending and grant rules but acknowledge the math is against them with Democrats united in opposition.BRIDGE COLLAPSE AID BECOMES ECONOMIC WEAPON IN ESCALATING TRUMP-MOORE FEUDWilliams has favored a one-year extension of the current SBIR/STTR program with the clock winding down giving time to focus on promptly reforming it without being under the gun -- but offered a ringing endorsement of both chambers similar legislation."I want to thank Senator Ernst for her partnership when introducing the House version of her INNOVATE Act in July, and remain in lockstep with her on ensuring contracts are awarded based on merit, not DEI," Williams told Fox News Digital."We must ensure there is no lapse in funding for current, deserving SBIR/STTR participants before the September 30 deadline."Meanwhile, across the Anacostia River from the Capitol, Maryland lawmakers got an earful from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy after he learned of that states own rubric for similar contracts.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore faces the daunting task of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the Baltimore Beltway after a freighter struck and destroyed it in 2024 but the Trump administration cried foul at the way Annapolis purportedly is considering who will do the job.Duffy wrote to Moore on Thursday thanking him for working with USDOT on the project but expressed concern that Annapolis may "intend to award contracts for the FSK Bridge project in a manner that relies on race and sex of contractors."He warned the governor of the potential legal ramifications of doing so, citing the Civil Rights Act.On the day it collapsed, then-President Joe Biden separately promised the federal government would cover the entire estimated $1.8 billion cost to make Interstate 695 a full circle once more, while Duffy instead referenced the state as the MDTA controlled the FSK Bridge when it collapsed.When asked about the letter, Moore provided Fox News Digital with a public response to Duffy:"We will continue to work with the Trump Administration to find ways to reduce costs and rebuild faster," Moore said, in part. "We anticipate the price estimation process to be finalized in the coming months, and we will provide regular updates from the Maryland Department of Transportation about the projects status."Moore has repeatedly highlighted progress MDTA has made on the bridge, telling President Donald Trump in an exchange captured by Fox Nation at the U.S. Naval Academy just down the street from the State House that "we will have it done in [20]28.""In the meantime, we will continue to pursue litigation and make substantial financial contributions by way of advance construction costs and insurance settlement dollars to keep the project moving."Moore who announced last week he would seek re-election instead of a potential 2028 Democratic bid added the safety of the new FSK Bridge and "sound stewardship" of Marylanders tax dollars are paramount to both the Port of Baltimore and people across the country.

Two Pennsylvania teens are facing charges after prosecutors said they drove their friends on dangerous TikTok-inspired stunts, killing one and causing what are expected to be lifelong injuries to another.The incidents were unrelated to one another and involved different stunts, but both happened in Northampton County, 85 miles west of New York City and 80 miles north of Philadelphia.In one case, a 17-year-old died on June 1 while riding on top of a folding table tied to the back of his friend's car, according to Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta. Prosecutors said the friend recklessly drove too fast and "whipped the rider sitting on the table into another parked vehicle, resulting in [his] death," Baratta's office said in a statement.VICTIM'S GIRLFRIEND AMONG 9 TEENS ARRESTED IN 16-YEAR-OLD'S BEACH TOWN MURDERThe victim in that case was identified as David Nagy, 17, FOX 29 Philadelphia reported.In the other case, a 19-year-old woman allegedly drove through a parking lot with her 20-year-old friend "surfing" on her trunk on March 18. The woman on the trunk fell off and suffered "catastrophic head injuries that will be permanent in nature," Baratta's office said.Neither teen is accused of "criminogenic thinking," meaning they are not accused of planning to hurt their friends. However, Baratta said, they are allegedly criminally culpable because the incidents were "so grossly negligent and reckless.""The families did have a closeness and a trust with these close friends I mean they knew them very well," Baratta told reporters at a news briefing attended by FOX 29. "That's what's so heartbreaking in this case."MINIVAN PLOWS THROUGH CROWD AT PENNSYLVANIA FESTIVAL, INJURING THREE PEOPLEBaratta added that neither driver has a criminal record and neither victim's family is "calling out for incarceration." As a result, he said his office won't seek jail time for either of them if they agree to plea deals.He said the families want to use the cases in the hope that other teens will make better decisions.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"These families are seeking accountability and hope that these charges will result in deterrence for other youth who may find themselves attracted to the thrill of mimicking dangerous social media challenges that have the potential to injure others," his statement said.The dangerous stunts are not just limited to Pennsylvania. A similar car surfing stunt in Utah left a 15-year-old girl with a severe brain injury last year.

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel praised Erika Kirk during his show on Tuesday for forgiving her husband's alleged killer, emotionally telling the audience it was an example everyone should follow."There was a moment over the weekend, a very beautiful moment. I dont know if you saw this. On Sunday, Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him. That is an example we should follow," Kimmel said."If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. Thats it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply, and I hope it touches many. And if theres anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that," he added.The late-night host's show returned on Tuesday after ABC parent company Disney briefly suspended him over remarks he made about Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter, seemingly falsely suggesting he was a MAGA supporter. He addressed the remarks during Tuesday's show, insisting that he never intended to make light of the assassination and felt the killer didn't represent any ideology.WHY ABC BRINGS BACK JIMMY KIMMEL TODAY AFTER ITS DEBACLE OVER FREE SPEECHAt the start of his show, Kimmel thanked his fellow late-night talk show hosts, including Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and David Letterman, along with right-leaning critics such as Clay Travis and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for supporting him or criticizing the situation around his show's removal.He went on to address the remarks that led to his suspension."Ive been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight, and the truth is, I dont think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference," Kimmel said. "If you like me, you like me. If you dont, you dont. I have no illusions about changing anyones mind. But I want to make something clear, because its important to me as a human, and that is you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man."LIBERALS RAGE AS ABC PULLS JIMMY KIMMEL OFF AIR FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN COMMENTSErika Kirk said during her husband's memorial service that he "wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.""Our Savior said, 'Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.' That young man I forgive him," she said. "I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it's what Charlie would do."Many public figures and commentators praised her words on social media and other media platforms.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE"Right now, just talking about the memorial service yesterday, no doubt so many people deeply moved across the country by Erika Kirk forgiving, for doing what Jesus Christ asked his followers to do. To pray for your enemies, to love your enemies, to pray for those who persecute you," MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said Monday.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPErika Kirk has been named CEO of Turning Point USA in place of her late husband.Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.

Its hard to believe the NFL season is nearly a quarter of the way finished and there are still a lot of questions about which team is the cream of the crop in the regular season.There are plenty of teams looking to remain undefeated. The Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers started the season 3-0.There are also several teams in search of their first win. The New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints have been winless so far.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMJaxson Dart is expected to make his first career start for the Giants, too.There are plenty of storylines to follow going into Week 4. Read below for the schedule.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Two million illegal immigrants "have been removed or have self-deported" from the United States since Jan. 20, putting the Trump administration on pace to break records, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced.In less than 250 days, an estimated 1.6 million illegal immigrants have voluntarily self-deported, while 400,000 were removed by federal law enforcement, the DHS said this week, describing the situation as a "new milestone.""The Trump administration is on pace to shatter historic records and deport nearly 600,000 illegal aliens by the end of President Donald Trumps first year since returning to office," the department said. "DHS has made it clear: the era of open borders is over. For four straight months, United States Customs and Border Protectionhas released zero illegal aliens into the country."DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the numbers prove "President Trumps policies and Secretary [Kristi] Noems leadership are working and making American communities safe."ICE DETAINERS IN TOP SANCTUARY CITY HAVE SKYROCKETED UNDER TRUMP COMPARED TO BIDEN'S 4-YEAR TERM: DHS"Ramped-up immigration enforcement targeting the worst of the worst is removing more and more criminal illegal aliens off our streets every day and is sending a clear message to anyone else in this country illegally: Self-deport or we will arrest and deport you," she added.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has received more than 150,000 job applications in recent weeks, with all new job gains going to Americans since Trump took office, according to the DHS.OPINION: TRUMP IS TARGETING NONVIOLENT AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. AMERICANS ARE STARTING TO NOTICE"Deportation capacity continues to ramp up as Secretary Noem negotiates new detention facilities such as Alligator Alcatraz, Speedway Slammer, Cornhusker Clink, and Louisiana Lockup," the department also said. "All of these successes will make arresting, detaining, and deporting illegal aliens more efficient and streamlined than ever before paving the way to continue the surge in deportations."Just days into Trumps second term in office, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, "deportation flights have begun," releasing photos of migrants boarding military aircraft."President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences," she said at the time.

FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to know the exact cost of a partial government shutdown as GOP and Democratic leaders are at an impasse to keep the government open.Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, called on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide a detailed report on the sprawling impact that a partial government shutdown could have, including payments throughout the federal government and the possible broader economic impact.The House GOP passed its short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), last week, but the bill was later blocked by Senate Democrats. For now, Republicans and Democrats in the upper chamber are at odds on a plan to keep the government open.And the deadline to fund the government by Sept. 30 is fast approaching.TOP HOUSE DEM FIRES BACK AT TRUMP'S 'UNHINGED' SHUTDOWN REMARKS AMID COLLAPSE OF GOV FUNDING TALKSErnst, who chairs the Senate DOGE Caucus named after tech-billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, laid the fault of a potential shutdown on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in her letter to CBO Director Phillip Swagel."The same politicians who whined and complained about the Department of Government Efficiency laying off unnecessary bureaucrats just a few months ago are now forcing a government-wide shutdown themselves to expose who is and isnt an essential employee," she wrote.Ernst requested a sweeping economic operational impact analysis from the agency, including how a shutdown could affect back pay costs for furloughed non-essential employees, military pay, congressional pay and the broader economic impact that the government closing could have on the private sector.TRUMP CANCELS MEETING WITH SCHUMER, JEFFRIES OVER 'RIDICULOUS DEMANDS' AS FUNDING DEADLINE LOOMSSpecifically, she wanted to know how businesses could be impacted by a temporary stoppage of government services, like loans, permits and certifications, and how companies and businesses could recoup losses after a shutdown ended.She also wanted information on lost efficiencies in the government and the costs that could accrue from unfulfilled procurements or allowing contracts to lapse, and whether the burden of keeping national parks open would fall onto the states or if theyd be shuttered, too.The CBO did provide an analysis of the cost of the last time the government shuttered in 2019, when Schumer and President Donald Trump were at odds on providing funding to construct a wall at the southern border. That 35-day shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, and no funding for a border wall was granted.The report, published in January 2019, found that the shutdown saw roughly $18 billion in federal spending delayed, which led to a dip in that years first quarter gross domestic product of $8 billion. The report noted roughly $3 billion of that would not be recovered.THUNE SLAMS DEMOCRATS' 'COLD-BLOODED PARTISAN' TACTICS AS FUNDING DEADLINE NEARSIt also found that federal workers who received delayed payments and private businesses were the hardest hit."Some of those private-sector entities will never recoup that lost income," the report stated.It remains unclear whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Schumer can strike a deal. After Trump canceled a planned meeting Tuesday with Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., both Democrats blamed the president for the looming shutdown.However, Democrats asking price for a short-term funding extension is too high for Republicans.They want permanent extensions to Affordable Care Act subsidies, a full repeal of the "big, beautiful bill's" health care title, which includes the $50 billion rural hospital fund, and a clawback of the canceled funding for NPR and PBS."Once again, Donald Trump has shown the American people he is not up to the job," Schumer said. "It's a very simple job: sit down and negotiate with the Democratic leaders and come to an agreement, but he just ain't up to it. He runs away before the negotiations even begin."

Ever since comedian Jimmy Kimmels brief suspension from his ABC late night show occurred last week, Democrats have been rending their garments and wailing at the skies that freedom of speech in America is dead. But where were they when Google was quashing free speech on orders from the Biden administration during COVID?On Tuesday, Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee that not only exposed the massive effort by Joe Bidens administration to make them censor conservative voices, but also promised to offer those creators reinstatement on their platforms.GOOGLE TO REINSTATE BANNED YOUTUBE ACCOUNTS CENSORED FOR POLITICAL SPEECHIt's too little, too late, but it's better than nothing.This happy news means that conservative figures such as current FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Trump ally Steve Bannon, and podcasters like Tim Pool will all be able to apply to use YouTube again. While they never should have been banned to begin with, the first step in Google fixing its problems is admitting it has one.According to the letter,first obtained by Fox News Digital, the Biden administration "conducted repeated and sustained outreach to Alphabet and pressed the Company regarding certain user-generated contentthat did not violate its policies."The letter goes on to add, "Biden Administration officials continued to press the Company to remove non-violative user-generated content."It is an extraordinary admission that builds upon a mountain of evidence that COVID contrarians, who mostly turned out to be right, by the way, were severely censored by big tech, at the insistence of Bidens executive branch.So, how is it possible then, that CNNs Jake Tapper could appear on another late night show this week, and call the Kimmel suspension, "the most direct infringement on free speech by the government that Ive seen in my lifetime," when Biden was bullying every social media and video platform in America just four years ago?For Tapper and his ilk, the brief punishment given to Kimmel for blatantly lying to his audience by claiming Charlie Kirks assassin was MAGA, outweighs dozens if not hundreds of conservative voices being silenced at the behest of a Democrat president.What is even more amazing about all this is that in the case of Kimmel and ABC, the Federal Communications Commission has a legitimate role to play in regulating the publicly owned airwaves, Biden had no authority to bully social media companies.Lack of authority did not stop Biden, though. First, through the release of the Twitter files after Elon Musk bought that platform and renamed it X, and now with the admissions from Google, we can clearly see that censorship over COVID, at the behest of the state, was vast and widespread.This didnt just harm conservative or COVID contrarian creators by silencing them and cutting off their ability to make money from their content, it harmed every American who was denied the ability to consume that content.As I outline in my book, "Charade, The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation," in the first six months of COVID, any quibble with Covidian orthodoxy could get an account banned. Merely questioning the all-powerful Dr. Anthony Fauci could be enough to bring the hammer of censorship down.Where was Jake Tapper then?Where were all the liberal journalists and those unsung heroes, Hollywood celebrities, who claim the American experiment is ending because Kimmel missed four shows, when COVID censorship was running roughshod?Now Kimmel is back on ABC, which strongly suggests that FCC Chair Brendan Carr didnt strong-arm the network, after all, and even though Sinclair and Nexstar continue to preempt the show, they are giving Kimmel a chance to stop insulting conservatives and resume broadcasting on their stations.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWhere was this generosity of spirit and love of free speech when journalists like Alex Berenson and scientists like Dr. Scott Atlas were not only censored for over a year, but also berated and trashed by the same liberals crying over Kimmels free speech?Jake Tapper and Democrats like him should remove the gigantic, censorious plank in their own eye, before criticizing the splinter that is Jimmy Kimmels slap-on-the-wrist punishment from ABC.The left was all but gleeful when their Gatling gun of cancellation was firing on all cylinders during COVID. They didnt care who was hurt by it, they didnt care about the First Amendment or democratic principles. They just cheered it on.So, spare us, Jake Tapper, you had a chance to stand against government censorship when it really mattered during COVID, and you blew it. Maybe, just sit this one out.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS