What we covered here
• Defense bill: President Donald Trump has signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes nearly $900 billion in funding for military programs. It also cuts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until unedited videos of strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats are released to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
• Health care subsidies: House Speaker Mike Johnson said “absolutely not” when asked if his handling of health care legislation will cause swing-district Republicans to lose their seats. The expiration of the ACA subsidies is in two weeks, and this will spike premiums for tens of millions of Americans.
• Epstein files: Meanwhile, frustration is mounting inside the Justice Department as it races to redact thousands of pages of files related to Jeffrey Epstein before they must be released tomorrow, multiple sources told CNN.
Our live coverage of the Trump administration has ended. Get the latest here.
Senate leaves for end-of-year recess, Congress will miss deadline to renew ACA tax credits
The Senate has taken its last votes of the year.
With the House already gone, this means Congress will conduct no further business until 2026, and will miss the January 1, 2026, deadline to renew the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Trump signs marijuana executive order while Democrats release more Epstein photos. Catch up on today's news
President Donald Trump signed an executive order today to expedite the reclassification of marijuana while the federal government announced will block transgender care to children by targeting hospitals and doctors that provide it.
It’s been a busy day. Here are the top headlines:
- Transgender care: The federal government will prohibit hospitals from participating in Medicare and Medicaid if they provide care such as puberty blockers and surgeries for transgender minors according to proposed rules from health officials.
- Defense bill: Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes nearly $900 billion in funding for military programs, including a 3.8% pay raise for troops.
- Marijuana order: Several Republican senators expressed their concern about Trump reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, which he signed an executive order on today.
- Epstein files: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more photos from Epstein’s estate — the latest in a series of intermittent disclosures that have fueled significant political intrigue in recent weeks about who may have been associated with the convicted sex offender.
- Research center shutdown: The administration announced it will be shutting down the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the organization responsible for improving weather models and tools that aid hurricane safety.
- ACA updates: The Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium subsidies are expected to lapse at year’s end — sending premiums soaring for millions of Americans in the new year. Trump blamed Democrats for the looming premium spike, even as he again refused to offer a plan for handling the expiration of key enhanced subsidies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said “there could be a path forward” in the new year to extend the subsidies if Democrats are “willing to accept reforms.”
- Federal Reserve: Trump said he’s speaking to “three or four” candidates for chairman of the Federal Reserve, adding former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, whom he spoke to about the job last week, is “great.”
- Tensions with Venezuela: The president said he “wouldn’t mind” notifying Congress before authorizing a land attack targeting drug cartels in Venezuela, but insisted he doesn’t have to, citing the possibility of leaks.
- Netanyahu visit: Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit him at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. He also suggested that Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is welcome to visit.
- Sporting event: The president announced the White House will be hosting the “Patriot Games,” a competition with young athletes across the county, as part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
CNN’s Jamie Gumbrecht, Sarah Owermohle, Andrew Freedman, Bill Weir, Sarah Ferris, Ellis Kim, Tami Luhby, Maureen Chowdhury, Ted Barrett, Annie Grayer, Ellis Kim, Morgan Rimmer, Alison Main, Donald Judd and Betül Tuncer contributed reporting.
Trump signs National Defense Authorization Act
President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday, according to a White House official.
The defense policy legislation authorizes nearly $900 billion in funding for military programs, including a 3.8% pay raise for troops. However, the package also cuts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget by 25% until unedited videos of strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats are released to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
Though the signing was initially listed as open to press pool coverage in the Oval Office, the White House called a lid at 6:32 p.m., about a half hour after Trump was scheduled to sign.
The White House confirmed a list of attendees inside the Oval Office as Trump signed the NDAA, including Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, the adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot on duty in Washington, DC before Thanksgiving – 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom died and US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe is still recovering from injuries.
Trump announces "Patriot Games," a youth athletic competition celebrating country's 250th birthday
President Donald Trump announced the White House will be hosting the “Patriot Games,” a competition with young athletes across the county, as part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said in a video announcement from Freedom 250.
Freedom 250, which was launched Thursday, is a “a national, non-partisan organization leading the Administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” according to a press release.
Democrats have mocked the athletic competition online, comparing it to “The Hunger Games.”
During the video, Trump also highlighted his plans for a new arch monument in the nation’s capital, saying that “construction will start in the very near future.”
“We are the only major place without a triumphal arc. A beautiful triumphal arc, one like in Paris, where they have the great, a beautiful arc. They call it the Arc de Triomphe, and we’re going to have one in Washington, DC, very soon,” Trump said.
A UFC fight on the South Lawn is another idea of Trump’s that will materialize for the 250th celebration and take place on his birthday, June 14.
“On Flag Day, we will have a one-of-a-kind UFC event here at the White House. It’ll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it’s going to be something special,” Trump said.
Jeffries says he believes DOJ will comply and release Epstein files by Friday's deadline
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters he believes the Department of Justice will release the Epstein files by Friday’s deadline, warning if they don’t follow the law, “there will be strong, bipartisan pushback.”
“Based on my conversations with some of the top Democrats who’ve been working on this matter, related to full and complete disclosure of the Epstein files, we do expect compliance,” said Jeffries. “But if the Department of Justice does not comply with what is federal law at this point, there will be strong, bipartisan pushback.”
Jeffries called the renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, “the latest foolishness to come out of the Trump administration.”
“Are you kidding me? How does that help deal with the affordability crisis in this country? These people are pathetic, they are sycophants, and these are individuals right now who are bending the knee to a loser. The Republicans are losers,” he said, noting that “only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center.”
Congress enshrined the Kennedy Center name into law and experts have told CNN the board’s decision to rename it now is likely unlawful, though it’s unclear whether anyone would have standing to challenge the move.
The House Democratic Leader also called on Speaker Mike Johnson to cancel recess and keep the House in town to vote on extending the expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, after a discharge petition garnered enough bipartisan support to force a floor vote by the beginning of January.
“There’s no reason why Mike Johnson can’t bring that bill to the floor immediately. House Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown. And that’s a shame,” said Jeffries.
Trump says Netanyahu may visit him in Mar-a-Lago. He says Egypt's Sisi is also welcome
President Donald Trump said today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit him at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. He also suggested that Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is welcome.
While a formal meeting has not been arranged, Trump said Netanyahu “would like to see me.”
Adding that there is now “peace in the Middle East,” Trump said of Netanyahu, “Yeah, he’ll probably come to see me in Florida.”
Trump, speaking at an event in the Oval Office, was then asked if he’d like to see the Egyptian leader visit him in Florida.
“I’d love to have him. El-Sisi, he’s a friend of mine, I’d love to have him,” the president said, without indicating he’s spoken to the Egyptian leader about a visit.
Johnson dismisses concerns from endangered GOP members over health care
House Speaker Johnson said “absolutely not” when asked if his handling of health care will cost his party seats in the midterms.
“Absolutely not,” he said when asked by CNN if he was concerned about the potential of swing-district Republicans losing their seats.
Johnson also defended his decision not to delay recess and vote on the extension of the enhanced ACA subsidies rather than dealing with it when they return in January.
“The only way to do that is to go through the rules process and fast forward it. Everybody knows those rules. Everybody knew it all along, and they made the decisions that they made,” he said, rolling his eyes when he asked about canceling recess.
“They’re playing a political game,” Johnson added, speaking of the Democrats. “We’re solving problems, and you’ll see that demonstrated in the first part of next year, as well continuing our affordability agenda. It is the Republican party that has solutions.”
House Republicans narrowly passed a package that instead would allow small businesses — as well as self-employed people — to band together across industries to buy coverage through association health plans in an effort to lower premiums. It would also, once again, provide federal funding for the cost-sharing subsidies that lower-income Obamacare enrollees receive to reduce their deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for care.
House Republicans would also require pharmacy benefit managers, which act as middlemen between drugmakers and insurers or employers, to provide employers with data on the price of drugs, the rebates they receive from manufacturers and other operations.
While considered a win for leadership, some Republicans complain it falls woefully short of tackling rising prices in 2026.
Trump “wouldn’t mind” notifying Congress ahead of a land strike in Venezuela but insists he doesn’t have to
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he “wouldn’t mind” notifying Congress before authorizing a land attack targeting drug cartels in Venezuela, but insisted he doesn’t have to, citing the possibility of leaks.
“I wouldn’t mind telling them, but, you know, it’s not a big – I don’t have to tell them, it’s been proven, but it wouldn’t, I wouldn’t mind at all,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office Thursday. “I just hope they wouldn’t leak it. You know, people leak it. They are politicians, and they leak like a sieve. But I’d have no problem doing that.”
Trump has teased at the possibility of a land operation in Venezuela for months, publicly hinting or outright promising US military action on land at least 17 times, according to a CNN analysis of his appearances.
But in a series of interviews published by Vanity Fair earlier this week, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said a possible land strike in the country would require notifying Congress, in contrast with the president’s claims.
“If he were to authorize some activity on land, then it’s war, then [we’d need] Congress. But [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] and [Vice President JD Vance], to some extent, are up on the Hill every day, briefing,” Wiles told Vanity Fair.
CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report
Top Oversight Democrat vows to use “every tool available” to enforce DOJ release of Epstein files
The top Democrat on the House Oversight committee is vowing to use “every tool available” to ensure the Justice Department releases the full Jeffrey Epstein case files tomorrow.
Rep. Robert Garcia told reporters Thursday he’s hopeful the Department complies with last month’s law requiring the release, but was unsure given the administration’s “past behavior.”
“I want to give them the benefit of the doubt that tomorrow we’re going to get all the files. But if we look at past behavior, I’m not sure that’s going to happen. We may get a partial release. We may get highly redacted information that doesn’t tell us much,” he said.
The California Democrat said an Oversight committee subpoena, paired with last month’s law, meant the Justice Department required full, not just partial, disclosure.
“We, we will use every tool available to us, including – if we need to go to the courts and if we need to take legal action to get the files released, we’re prepared to do that, but we’re going to see what happens tomorrow,” he said.
Garcia, who spoke with reporters after he and Oversight Democrats released new images that the Epstein estate turned over, said they’ve reviewed around 75% of the 95,000 pictures they received in the production. He expects all the pictures to be reviewed by next week, with plans to release more to the public after.
He noted committee members are still having discussions about releasing some of the more “disturbing” images. “We’re having conversations about the best way to deal with those, and talking to the lawyers and the survivor groups, because we want to be very cautious of the trauma that the survivors are going through,” he said.
Trump will again tout rosy economic outlook in next stop on affordability tour
President Donald Trump suggested he will again tout his economic successes during a speech in North Carolina on Friday, as he tries to convince voters that he’s making progress in addressing their cost-of-living concerns.
Trump previewed the remarks on Thursday, telling reporters that he plans to emphasize that his administration is “bringing prices down” and blame his predecessor for driving up costs.
“We inherited a mess,” he said. “It drove prices up and now we’re bringing those prices down. But I’ll be talking about that.”
The message, he added, would hew closely to the themes of the triumphant primetime address he delivered on Wednesday night.
But Trump said he also plans to talk about a range of other non-economic issues, including the border and his deployment of the National Guard to Washington, DC, and various other cities.
“We’ve become, in 10 months, the hottest country anywhere in the world,” he said. “And we were, and I say it all the time, we were a dead country one-and-a-half years ago.”
Trump ahead of weekend talks: "I hope Ukraine moves quickly, because Russia is there"
President Donald Trump on Thursday previewed this weekend’s Ukraine talks with Russian officials in Miami, saying, “I hope Ukraine moves quickly, because Russia is there.”
“Well, they’re getting close to something, but I hope Ukraine moves quickly. I hope Ukraine moves quickly, because Russia is there,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “And you know, every time they take too much time, then Russia changes their mind.”
Trump’s special Steve Witkoff is meeting with Russian officials in Miami on Friday, CNN reported earlier Thursday.
Trump on Thursday said negotiations have been “a little bit more difficult than we thought, but there’s a chance we can get this done, maybe soon.”
Trump acknowledges ACA premiums set to "skyrocket" absent a deal in Congress
President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed Democrats for a looming spike in health care premiums, even as he again refused to offer a plan for handling the expiration of key enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
“This could be done rapidly if the Democrats would come along,” he said in the Oval Office. “They’re going to decide, do they want to do the right thing or do they want to be beholden to the insurance companies?”
Trump has largely stayed out of the debate over the expiring subsidies, declining to endorse any of a litany of Republican proposals or provide any more specifics on how lawmakers should translate into policy his demands for funneling more federal aid directly to Americans.
Trump also cast doubt on bipartisan efforts to temporarily extend the current subsidies to allow more time to negotiate a more permanent deal, questioning “why we have to extend.” But he acknowledged that without a deal in Congress, ACA premiums were set to “skyrocket.”
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s Medicare and Medicaid chief, later downplayed the potential for higher health care premiums, arguing that ACA plans remain “a good deal.”
“The American people appreciate these ACA plans are already subsidized,” he said. “I just want to emphasize that the ACA [plans] are not imploding.”
Trump says he’s narrowed picks for next Fed Chair to “three or four” candidates
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s speaking to “three or four” candidates for chairman of the Federal Reserve, adding former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, whom he spoke to about the job last week, is “great.”
“He’s been there a long time, somebody that I was very involved with in the sense of his career, and he’s a fantastic man,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I met him yesterday, again.”
During his Wednesday night address to the nation, Trump said he’d soon announce the next Fed chair, whom he previewed as “someone who believes in lower interest rates, by a lot, and mortgage payments will be coming down even further.”
Trump also called Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, who has been floated as a possible candidate, as “a fantastic person,” but declined to say if he’d interviewed her for the post.
Pressed in a follow-up exchange, Trump said he planned to make the decision “over the next couple of weeks.”
“I mean, I don’t know (about) before the end of the year, but pretty soon,” he added.
Several Senate Republicans disagree with Trump on reclassifying marijuana
Several Republican Senators expressed their concern about President Donald Trump reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, which he is expected to do through executive order today.
“I, quite frankly, just disagree with the President on this one,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said Thursday, “My state has neither recreational nor medical marijuana, and, quite frankly, like it that way.”
The expected order would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug, which the Drug Enforcement Administration defines as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” to a Schedule III drug, which the DEA defines as having “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” sources have told CNN.
“I’m not so sure that’s a good decision, but we’ll see how it plays out,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch ally of Trump, told reporters.
Graham said he spoke with the President this morning about social media and Venezuela, but the two did not discuss the executive order.
Republican of North Dakota John Hoeven said he does not support the reclassification.
“I’m going to wait and see what actually happens with that before I comment,” Sen. Eric Schmitt added.
House Democratic leader calls on speaker to schedule immediate vote on enhanced Obamacare subsidies
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that House lawmakers should stay in Washington until they address the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire in two weeks, spiking premiums for tens of millions of Americans next year.
“We want to make clear to Mike Johnson that the American people deserve a vote on the Affordable Care Act tax credit legislation, and deserve that vote today. No more excuses, no more delay, no more burying your head in the sand,” he said at a press event Thursday.
House Republicans on Wednesday approved a narrow package designed to lower health care costs for some Americans in the coming years, but it did not address the issue of the expiring enhanced subsidies that were passed during the pandemic to help people afford premium costs.
Lawmakers are expected to leave Capitol Hill this week for their holiday recess.
Health officials outline new rules and warnings to block transgender care for US youth
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other health officials said Thursday that the federal government will block hospitals and doctors from providing transgender care to children, saying, “this is not medicine, it is malpractice.”
“These procedures fail to meet professionally recognized standards of care,” Kennedy said. “Medical professionals or entities providing sex-rejecting procedures to children are out of compliance with these standards of health care.”
At an event this morning, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the proposed rules would prohibit hospitals from participating in Medicare and Medicaid if they provide care such as puberty blockers and surgeries for transgender minors.
Major mainstream medical associations have supported gender identity care and agree that it’s the gold standard of clinically appropriate care that can provide lifesaving treatment for children and adults. Professional medical organizations do not recommend surgery for children as a part of care, and research shows that it’s rare among transgender or gender-diverse teens.
Thune says it may be possible to extend ACA subsidies in the new year if there are "reforms"
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a fierce critic of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire in two weeks, said “there could be a path forward” in the new year to extend them if Democrats are “willing to accept reforms” to that program and embrace other GOP health care policies they have been demanding for years.
There are a handful of Republican bills that have been introduced that could form the basis of what Thune is talking about, including one sponsored by Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Bernie Moreno of Ohio that would extend the enhanced ACA subsidies for two years and include income caps and minimum premiums.
Thune also rejected House Democrats’ bill that is expected to get a vote early next year via a discharge petition that would extend the Covid-era ACA subsidies for three years: “I’m not ruling anything out, but I guess what I’m saying, is a failed program that’s rife with fraud, waste and abuse, is not happening,” he said.
On a separate subject, Thune indicated he thinks the administration has the financial “discretion” to give bonuses to service members — something President Donald Trump talked about in his address to the nation Wednesday — without getting congressional approval.
“How they decide to use that is probably somewhat a function of their discretion, but there was certainly money in there designed to benefit the troops,” he said of the Pentagon’s budget.
House Democrats unveil more photos from Epstein’s estate as deadline to release DOJ files nears
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate today — the latest in a series of intermittent disclosures that have fueled significant political intrigue in recent weeks about who may have been associated with the convicted sex offender.
The five photographs, released without additional context by the members of the panel, include a Ukrainian passport with a female notation, philosopher Noam Chomsky on a plane with Epstein, and Bill Gates posing for a photograph with a woman whose face was redacted by Democrats on the panel.
The images also include a screenshot of a snippet of a text conversation in which a person is discussing sending girls.
“I don’t know try to send someone else. I have a friend scout she sent me some girls today. But she asks 1000$ per girl. I will send u girls now. Maybe someone will be good for J?” the series of messages reads. The individual then sends a detailed description including name, “18 y old,” height, measurements, weight, a note on the Schengen area and a “departure city.” Many of the details are redacted, though the age, a check mark next to Schengen and Russia are all visible.
There is no context provided around this conversation, and it is unclear who the participants in the messaging exchange are.
Democrats noted the estate did not provide any context around the images shared with the committee and said they have publicized them as they were received, aside from their redactions.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is required to release a massive trove of investigative documents related to Epstein by tomorrow.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Thursday — the latest in a series of intermittent disclosures that have fueled significant political intrigue in recent weeks about who may have been associated with the convicted sex offender. CNN’s Annie Grayer reports.
Enhanced Obamacare subsidies are set to expire at month’s end. Here’s where things stand
The Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium subsidies are expected to lapse at year’s end — sending premiums soaring for millions of Americans in the new year.
And while the House is expected to vote in January on a Democratic proposal to extend them for three years, the effort faces significant hurdles in the Senate.
Meanwhile, House Republicans approved a narrow package yesterday in a 216-211 vote. The plan is designed to lower health care costs for some Americans in the coming years but ignores the expiring enhanced Obamacare subsidies.
The measure will be sent to the Senate, which is not expected to vote on it before lawmakers leave Washington for the holiday recess.
Here’s what to know about the health care subsidies battle:
- GOP passes narrow health care plan: Speaker Mike Johnson and his team were aggressive in pushing their health care plan, which would allow small businesses — as well as self-employed people — to band together across industries to buy coverage through association health plans in an effort to lower premiums. It would also provide federal funding for the cost-sharing subsidies that lower-income Obamacare enrollees receive to reduce their deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for care.
- Band of centrist Republicans defect: A bloc of House GOP centrists, led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Mike Lawler, made the ultimate hardball play against Johnson — agreeing to help Democrats effectively seize control of the Republican agenda by forcing a vote on their own bill on the looming Obamacare subsidies cliff.
- Meanwhile, health care costs expect to spike for millions: If the enhanced subsidies lapse, enrollees will see their annual premium payments increase by 114% — or about $1,000 — on average in 2026, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. Roughly 2 million more people are also expected to be uninsured next year if the subsidies end, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
