Explore

House Republicans Press IRS to Revoke Middle East Children's Alliance Tax-Exempt Status

House Republicans Press IRS to Revoke Middle East Children's Alliance Tax-Exempt Status

Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., and the House Ways and Means Committee are urging the IRS to strip the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA), a California-based nonprofit, of its tax-exempt status. The committee alleges that MECA has concerning ties to organizations linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and to Neville Roy Singham's pro-CCP network. In a letter to IRS CEO Frank Bisignano, Smith and all GOP members of the committee called for an investigation and the revocation of MECA's tax-exempt status. The committee's investigation reportedly uncovered alarming connections between MECA and individuals and groups directly associated with the PFLP. Furthermore, the committee highlighted that MECA's annual foreign grantmaking significantly increased after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, with a notable lack of transparency in their financial reporting. For instance, in 2024, MECA reported a $4.4 million foreign wire transfer wi...

Congressmen Walkinshaw and Subramanyam Seek Independent Review of Military Mental Health Care Amid Suicide Reports

Congressmen Walkinshaw and Subramanyam Seek Independent Review of Military Mental Health Care Amid Suicide Reports

Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) are urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent review of mental health care access for service members during deployments. This call comes in response to concerning reports, including suicide attempts among sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and inadequate living conditions aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford. The lawmakers highlighted a fire on the USS Gerald R. Ford that displaced approximately 600 sailors, forcing some to sleep on floors, and noted plumbing and sewage issues. They also cited reports of insufficient food and supplies for the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. The letter from Walkinshaw and Subramanyam specifically requests the GAO to examine mental health screenings before, during, and after deployment, the availability of treatment at sea, the Navy's response to escalating symptoms, and the obstacles encountered in delivering care. Congressman Walkinsh...

IRS Proposes New Nondiscrimination Testing Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs

IRS Proposes New Nondiscrimination Testing Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs

IRS Proposes New Nondiscrimination Testing Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs

Watchdog says Trump can't cancel more than $800M in spending approved by Congress

Watchdog says Trump can't cancel more than $800M in spending approved by Congress

President Donald Trump is not permitted to withhold beyond the end of the fiscal year more than $800 million in spending approved by Congress

IRS Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Imposes Personal Liability for Unpaid Payroll Taxes

IRS Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Imposes Personal Liability for Unpaid Payroll Taxes

IRS Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Imposes Personal Liability for Unpaid Payroll Taxes

GAO Identifies Gaps in Support for Remote Military Installations, Citing Lack of Clear Definition and Staffing Challenges

GAO Identifies Gaps in Support for Remote Military Installations, Citing Lack of Clear Definition and Staffing Challenges

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported that the Department of Defense (DOD) lacks a consistent definition for remote and isolated military installations. This absence hinders the DOD's ability to systematically identify installations facing the greatest risks and to adequately assess critical support services for service members and their families. Remote installations, often located far from population centers or in austere environments, consistently struggle with delivering essential services like healthcare and housing. The GAO's review of nine such installations from fiscal years 2023 to 2025 revealed significant vacancies in critical support service positions, particularly in morale, welfare, and recreation roles. Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, for instance, recorded 428 vacant critical support service positions, and its average hiring time was 407 days, significantly exceeding the DOD's 98-day average. Civilian workforce reductions implemented by the DOD starting in January 2...

U.S. Treasury Department Appoints New Counselor and Issues Tax Strategy Warning

U.S. Treasury Department Appoints New Counselor and Issues Tax Strategy Warning

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced the appointment of Dr. David Zervos as a Counselor in the Office of the Secretary. Dr. Zervos brings extensive experience in global financial markets, central banking, and macroeconomic analysis to his new role. Prior to joining the Treasury, he served as Chief Market Strategist and Head of the Global Macro Division for Leucadia Asset Management at Jefferies LLC. In addition to this key personnel change, the Treasury Department has also issued a cautionary statement regarding certain investment strategies designed to reduce tax liabilities. The department specifically warned against what it described as 'potentially abusive' moves aimed at minimizing tax bills. This warning signals an increased scrutiny on aggressive tax planning strategies. Separately, the Department of Treasury in Italy has outlined its government bond issuance program for the fourth quarter of 2026, indicating ongoing financial activities in international treasury departments.

Senator Collins Criticizes Trump Administration's 'Illegal' Spending Cuts, Citing OMB Director Vought

Senator Collins Criticizes Trump Administration's 'Illegal' Spending Cuts, Citing OMB Director Vought

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has publicly stated that the Trump administration's decision to cancel nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending is illegal. The White House announced these cuts, which target programs for immigrant services, diversity initiatives, and other domestic spending, describing them as focused on 'the most harmful government spending.' Senator Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, asserted that the action was taken without warning or consultation and represents an attempt by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 'undermine Congress’s Constitutional power of the purse.' The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has also deemed this maneuver, known as a 'pocket rescission,' illegal. This move comes despite Collins having voted to confirm OMB Director Russell Vought, who had previously expressed views that the law constraining presidential authority over spending was unconstitutional.

IRS Unveils New Tax-Filing App Amidst Cybersecurity Concerns, Fox Business Host Stuart Varney Questions Security

IRS Unveils New Tax-Filing App Amidst Cybersecurity Concerns, Fox Business Host Stuart Varney Questions Security

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a new tax-filing app, replacing its predecessor, IRS2Go, which debuted in 2011. The new app is designed to function more like a banking application, allowing taxpayers to conduct business directly within the app without being redirected to a browser. It enables users to check refund statuses and make payments from mobile devices. Both the new and old versions of the IRS app utilize ID.me, a digital wallet technology also used by other state and federal money transfer services. While the IRS claims the new app is '100% secure' and tracks anonymized identifiers and usage data, concerns have been raised regarding data privacy and potential vulnerabilities to artificial intelligence-fueled online scams. Fox Business host Stuart Varney questioned IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano about these security concerns, particularly regarding AI systems that can exploit app vulnerabilities.

GAO Report Reveals Significant Oversight Lapses in Navy's Shipyard Optimization Program

GAO Report Reveals Significant Oversight Lapses in Navy's Shipyard Optimization Program

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has identified critical shortcomings in the U.S. Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). The program, projected to cost over $200 billion and span more than 50 years, lacks regular evaluation of its costs, risks, and performance. The GAO found that the Navy has not established a framework for periodic reviews of SIOP's validated requirements, objectives, and performance parameters. Furthermore, specific steps and timing for annual reviews of the program's mission readiness, affordability, and sustainability are absent. The report also noted that the Navy has not fully documented the roles, responsibilities, and collaborative relationships of key SIOP project-management organizations. These deficiencies could lead to Congress making decisions based on incomplete information, potentially risking billions in taxpayer dollars. The Navy has agreed with all three recommendations made by the GAO and has outlined steps for their implementation...

President Trump Cancels Nearly $1 Billion in Congressional Spending, Drawing Lawmaker Criticism

President Trump Cancels Nearly $1 Billion in Congressional Spending, Drawing Lawmaker Criticism

President Trump has moved to cancel almost $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, marking the second time his administration has used a 'pocket rescission' tactic. The White House announced late Friday that it was calling off $567 million for services benefiting refugees, asylees, and other migrants through the Department of Health and Human Services. An additional $50 million for other immigrant and non-citizen aid programs, $70 million in 'Woke International Education' grants and fellowships, and $56 million in Housing and Urban Development programs are also being rescinded. The administration justified these cuts by stating President Trump is committed to eliminating 'wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens.' This maneuver, where the president notifies Congress shortly before the fiscal year ends that he does not wish to spend appropriated funds, is controversial. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, and Representative Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat, both critici...

Federal Tax Credit Program Offers Significant Scholarship Funding for K-12 Education

Federal Tax Credit Program Offers Significant Scholarship Funding for K-12 Education

Beginning in 2027, a new federal tax credit program will allow individuals to claim a tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations will then use the funds to provide scholarships for eligible K-12 students, including those attending Jewish day schools. Unlike a charitable deduction, which reduces taxable income, this credit directly reduces a donor's tax bill dollar-for-dollar. While the credit is nonrefundable and cannot be combined with a charitable deduction for the same contribution, any unused amount can generally be carried forward. The program is projected to generate substantial scholarship funds, with one estimate suggesting $18.8 billion if 10% of eligible donors participate. However, states must choose to participate and submit lists of qualified scholarship organizations for their residents to benefit. As of a September 14 update from the IRS, states with significant Jewish communities and day schools, such as New York, ...