Latest from Mary Clare Jalonick | AP
Republicans narrowly approved the tax bill on Thursday. Illinois representatives voted along party lines.
Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie to push President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts over the top.
Confirming Hegseth despite a grave series of allegations against him appears to provide a measure of Trump’s political power and ability to get what he wants from the GOP-led Congress, and of the potency of the culture wars to fuel his agenda at the White House.
The whole process this time concluded swiftly and without unrest. One by one, a tally of the electoral votes from each state was read aloud to polite applause in the House, no one objected and results were certified.