Trump budget moves one step forward, Homeland Security continues missteps.

After pressure from Trump, the House passed its version of a budget bill today with a few tweaks. The fight over SALT deductions was resolved by compromise, increasing the allowed deduction to $40,000 for individuals making $500,000 or less. The other changes appear to be a more rapid roll-back of green energy tax incentives and stricter work requirements for Medicaid. However, more changes are likely after the bill goes to the Senate.

Also today, the Supreme Court let stand a ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejecting a bid to establish a Catholic school with state money. The vote by the Court was 4-4 with Justice Amy Coney Barrett recusing herself.

In the you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up category, when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and three congressional Representatives (all Democrats) showed up at an ICE detention center to make an inspection, they were met with resistance. A fracas ensued. Mayor Baraka was arrested for criminal trespass and Rep. LaMonical McIver was later charged with assaulting law enforcement. The criminal complaint against her says she “slammed her forearms” into immigration officers as they attempted to arrest Baraka. The Department of Justice (DOJ) later dropped the charges against Mayor Baraka and the federal judge at Baraka’s hearing, who dismissed the charges with prejudice (meaning they cannot be brought against the defendant again), had some words for the U.S. attorney’s office. U.S. District Judge Espinosa, said the arrest suggested a “worrisome misstep” that culminated in the government’s “embarrassing” retraction of the charge. “Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas,” Espinosa added.

Homeland Security ran afoul of the courts again this week when U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that they violated his order from last month requiring the administration provide sufficient notice before deporting migrants to a country with which they have no ties. One day prior, immigration attorneys rushed to Murphy’s court after learning that a group of migrants was boarded on a flight headed for South Sudan. The judge quickly ordered officials to keep the group of migrants in U.S. custody as he mulled whether it violated his previous ruling. Having decided the flight “unquestionably” violated his order, he said he would leave for another day whether it amounted to criminal contempt. The DOJ noted that the eight migrants remain on board with ICE agents but are all dangerous criminals, having been convicted of murder and in two cases, sexual offenses. The judge said he would work on crafting the most narrowly tailored remedy he could, noting he was mindful of the executive’s authority over national security.

The Pentagon says the Secretary of Defense has accepted the Boeing 747 from Qatar “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” Secretary Hegseth seems to have forgotten about the emoluments clause of the Constitution that requires all significant gifts to be approved by Congress. Although Trump has claimed he accepted the jet because the replacement of the aging Air Force One is behind schedule and not due until at least 2027, the gifted jet from Qatar would face a retrofit that could take years to complete and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, with new power systems, electrical wiring and other technology for secure communications and self-defense needed. Sounds like something DOGE should axe.

And just to show the news isn’t always bad, the Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent that will provide a $25,000 tax deduction for tips. This would advance one of Trump’s campaign promises: “No tax on tips.” Although decreased taxes means increased deficit, at least it gives a tax break to people who actually need it. The bill now goes to the House.

As long as we’re on the topic of taxes, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said he has recordings of business associates of President Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), saying they expect to get favors from him once he is in office. I’m shocked to learn there could be graft in the Trump administration!