President Donald Trump is hosting his first Union speech. A soldier was arrested for selling secrets to China. The state is suing the government over mass shootings.
Trump hosts the first Union speech
On March 4th, President Donald Trump held his first coalition speech since taking office on January 20th.
Trump has planned for next year, highlighting tariffs, tax cuts, military growth and strengthening border security.
Rep. Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, was taken from Congress for Heckling during Trump’s speech and has since been criticized.
The state of union speeches dates back to constitutional framing, and has evolved over the years, but traditionally held once a year, but not defined by law.
Washington’s Department of Justice on January 9, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
US military arrested for selling military information to China
Two American soldiers and former soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of selling military secrets to China, the country’s Justice Department announced on March 6.
Two soldiers stationed at a joint base in Louis Muchod, Washington, Jian Zhao and Li Tian, are accused of conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property.
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Zhao, the battery supply sergeant, is further accused of conspiring to send defensive information to buyers. He is said to have conspired to collect classified hard drives, several marked “secrets” and “top secrets”, and computers that correspond to secret documents and encryption negotiated with Chinese individuals.
US Personnel Administration in Washington on February 14, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
A coalition of 20 states sues the US government over mass shootings
Almost half of the country’s attorney generals sued the US government over mass shootings of workers.
Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, tasked with reducing federal spending and workforce size, targets federal employees with less than two years of employment.
The Attorney General has accused the government of being on the “Roughshod” and has not followed the correct procedure, including a 60-day notice.
The Attorney General says the campaign has harmed tens of thousands of probation employees and leaves them unemployed without prior notice.
Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.), House Minority Leader, Capitol Hill, Washington, on November 19, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
Congress approaches shutdown without budget contracts
Less than a week has passed to avoid government shutdowns, Congress is struggling to enter into spending contracts on an annual budget before the March 14th deadline.
The plan proposed by Republicans has set a vote on March 11th, but Democrats seem to be in harsh opposition.
Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York and a minority leader, says the Republicans’ current budget plan is inconsistent with previous spending contracts, dubbed the 2023 Fiscal Liability Act, which are already in place in existing law.
The fiscal year began on October 1st, but Congress has so far failed to agree to that year’s permanent budget.
