There are less than two months until the next government funding deadline on March 14, and House lawmakers are growing increasingly concerned about the speed of their progress on spending talks.

‘I think it’s a complete failure for us to not have a topline number,’ said Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla. 

Congressional Republicans have been busy negotiating a massive conservative policy and budget overhaul via a process called ‘reconciliation,’ which allows the party holding both the House and Senate to enact sweeping changes by lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51.

But all the while, Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital are worried about falling behind on the federal appropriations process for fiscal year (FY) 2025, with no topline funding numbers to work from yet and just 19 days left in session until the deadline.

Congress has extended the FY 2025 deadline twice since the period began Oct. 1 – most recently passing a short-term funding extension of FY 2024 funding levels, known as a continuing resolution (CR), in late December.

‘Appropriation bills have to get done. If we end up with another CR, that would be catastrophic. That would mean, in essence, a reduction on defense [funding],’ said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. ‘But for us to start doing it, we need a topline number. But I’m optimistic we’ll get there.’

If nothing is done by March 14, Congress could be forced to contend with a partial government shutdown in the middle of their reconciliation talks – and within the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Other members of the committee suggested they were similarly in the dark about a topline number, but were cautiously hopeful.

‘We are less than eight weeks away from the CR expiring. We need to be able to get those toplines as soon as possible and get to work,’ said Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla. ‘I have full faith and confidence that Tom Cole will be able to make that happen in the next week or two.’

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., has been ‘in consultation’ with his counterparts on a towline number.

Asked about the possibility of another CR, he said, ‘We have several things going on at once – the reconciliation package, raising the debt ceiling, and the appropriations process. So let’s just hope for the best and deal with the worst if we have to.’

Republican leaders have previously been forced to seek Democratic support to pass CRs, which normally hit a wall of opposition among a cross-section of the GOP.

Conservative hardliners told Fox News Digital they’re bracing for another CR or, worse in their eyes, a massive package combining Congress’ 12 regular appropriation bills into one massive ‘omnibus.’

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said he and other conservatives were working on a bill to keep border security operations funded in the event of a government shutdown.

‘We’re running out of time,’ he said, adding that Republicans should ‘probably stay in next week’ instead of flying to their annual issues conference in Miami.

Rep. Keith Self, R-Fla., pointed out that House lawmakers have just over two weeks’ worth of days in session to come up with a plan.

‘I’m very concerned. I’m also concerned that if we screw up the CR on March the 14th, does it poison the reconciliation negotiations?’ Self posed.

But not all conservatives are concerned. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., said he would be in favor of a full-year CR if ‘we write it properly.’

‘You tell me what the topline is, and I’ll tell you whether I’m concerned,’ he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to congressional Republican leaders and the House Appropriations Committee for comment.

As Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, his daughter Ivanka Trump made a bold statement at the inauguration with a re-creation of an iconic Audrey Hepburn gown. 

The first daughter turned heads at the historic event as she wore a black and white custom Givenchy Haute Couture gown, a design originally made for Hepburn for the 1954 film ‘Sabrina,’ to the Liberty Inaugural Ball honoring her father. 

Hepburn’s son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, was not surprised at all that Ivanka drew inspiration from his legendary mother in the major fashion moment. 

‘It is no wonder that growing up in a family which knew our mother as a household name she chose to draw inspiration from her,’ Ferrer told the Daily Mail. 

‘To seek the ultimate elegance and class reference, for an occasion such as this one — the inauguration and the 32nd anniversary of our mother’s passing and, most of all, Martin Luther King’s day. What a cocktail!’

The mother-of-three stepped out hand-in-hand with her husband, Jared Kushner, for a romantic dance during her father’s Liberty Ball event in Washington, D.C., on Monday. 

The elegant ensemble was a strapless black-and-white gown embellished with delicate florals along the bodice and skirt. Ivanka had her hair styled in a sleek up-do and completed her look with diamond jewelry and long black gloves. 

Meanwhile, Ferrer unveiled ties between his mother and President Trump’s family.

He reflected on how Donald and Ivanka’s stepmother, Marla Ann Maples, was on the advisory board of the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund in the early 1990s.

Ferrer additionally noted that the Fund hosted a charitable event for Ivanka’s stepsister, Tiffany, on her first birthday. The theme was ‘Breakfast with Tiffany,’ in honor of Hepburn’s 1961 movie, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s.’

He continued to share how Ivanka’s nod to his mother during the inauguration highlights how Hepburn is an ‘anchor’ for many famous figures. 

‘Her elegance, which has its roots in her inner beauty and spirit, is often a reference point, an anchor, for many celebrities, actresses and models in these times in which we appear to have somewhat lost our way.’

— Sean Hepburn Ferrer

‘Over the past 71 years, her legacy has grown to become transgenerational and transnational,’ Ferrer remarked.

‘Her elegance, which has its roots in her inner beauty and spirit, is often a reference point, an anchor, for many celebrities, actresses and models in these times in which we appear to have somewhat lost our way.’

Another tie between the Hepburn and Trump families is Roffredo Gaetani — a count who once had a relationship with Ivana Trump, and who was also the eldest son of Lorian Gaetani, a friend of Hepburn’s.

Meanwhile, Hollywood icon Hepburn captivated hearts during the ‘50s and ‘60s.

After Hepburn achieved fame, she never forgot her past. During the later years of her life, she traveled the world to raise money and awareness for the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a goodwill ambassador.

Hepburn passed away in 1993 at age 63 from cancer.

In 2020, Ferrer and his wife Karin teamed up to write a children’s book titled ‘Little Audrey’s Daydream,’ which explored Hepburn’s tumultuous childhood in Holland and how fantasies of a better future kept her going during horrific times.

Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.

A top national trade organization has sent letters to three departments in the Trump administration advocating for specific policies that the group believes will most effectively achieve President Trump’s goal to ‘unleash American energy’ in the United States. 

The American Exploration & Production Council, a national trade association representing the leading independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States, sent letters to the Department of Energy, Department of Interior, and Environmental Protection Agency with specific guidelines on how to best jumpstart energy production.

In the letter to the Department of Energy, AXPC made several requests including that the department ‘resume timely approval of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals.’

‘U.S. LNG plays a critical role in geopolitical stability and supporting global emission reductions — a fact that has been confirmed numerous times over the past decade,’ the letter states. ‘As the world’s largest natural gas producer, the U.S. is well positioned to meet the dual challenge of supplying the world with affordable, clean, and reliable energy all while reducing global emissions. This misguided permitting pause should be lifted immediately, and DOE should ensure that any public interest study uses well reasoned assumptions.’

Other recommendations to DOE included promoting U.S. energy exports, creating fair access to export authorizations and avoiding unnecessary delays, providing greater certainty for critical energy and infrastructure, and enhancing energy reliability with advanced natural gas storage.

‘Our recommendations focus on policy priorities and actions within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and some Department wide that we believe strike this critical balance and directly impact responsible onshore exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in the United States,’ the letter to the Department of Interior explained. 

‘In alignment with the Trump administration’s goal to ‘Unleash American Energy’, including expanding oil and natural gas production on federal lands, these recommendations aim to support responsible American energy production while maintaining crucial environmental protections and fostering economic growth here at home.’

Recommendations to the DOI include, revoking the BLM’s Conservation & Landscape Health Rule and its implementing instructional memorandums, streamlining drilling permits, replacing the recent resources management plan amendments to align with western states’ priorities, and allowing for the commingling of oil and gas production for greater efficiency and environmental protection. 

In the letter to the EPA, AXPC wrote that its recommendations ‘focus on policy priorities that we believe strike this critical balance and directly impact responsible onshore exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in the United States.’

Some of those recommendations include revising the source performance standards to ‘improve feasibility for emission controls’ and ‘provide greater allowance for alternative technologies and approaches.’

The letter also calls for reforms to the Clean Water Act and modifications to the Greenhouse Gas reporting rule. 

‘America is stronger, the world is safer, and the environment is cleaner when the United States is the world leader in energy production, and that is best achieved with sensible, workable, and durable policies out of Washington,’ AXPC CEO Anne Bradbury told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

 ‘That’s why America’s oil and natural gas producers look forward to working with the Trump administration’s goal of energy dominance and providing affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy for the American people.’

Trump’s nominees in all three departments have signaled that they intend to implement new policies and guidelines that significantly increase oil and gas production while easing regulations at the same time. 

‘When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn’t reduce demand. It just shifts production to countries like Russia and Iran, whose autocratic leaders not only don’t care at all about the environment, but they use their revenues from energy sales to fund wars against us and our allies,’ DOI secretary nominee Doug Burgum said in his opening statement at his confirmation hearing. 

‘President Trump’s energy dominance vision will end those wars abroad and will make life more affordable for every family in America by driving down inflation. And President Trump will achieve those goals while championing clean air, clean water and protecting our beautiful lands.’

Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ future remains unclear months after her election loss to now-President Donald Trump.

As she grapples with navigating next steps, Harris has spoken with family and close friends, including the one other person who has been in her exact position: Hillary Clinton, New York Magazine reported. The two have reportedly spoken several times since Harris’ defeat.

Some have speculated that she will stage a gubernatorial run next year in California, as her close friend, Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, is limited on terms and can’t run again. Others think she still has her eye on the Oval Office and will launch another bid for the presidency. Shortly after the election, Harris reportedly told advisors not to make any plans that would preclude her from seeking the presidency in 2028, according to New York Magazine.

The former vice president has not spoken directly about her future, but she has hinted that she’s not done with politics. Last week, just days before the end of her time as then-President Joe Biden’s VP, Harris addressed a room of staff as she participated in the decades-long tradition of signing her desk drawer. During her brief remarks, Harris said she would not ‘go quietly into the night,’ saying that ‘our work is not done.’

The comments she made to staff echoed a message from her concession speech in which she told supporters, ‘While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.’

After her 2020 bid for the presidency failed, Harris was given a clear path forward as Biden’s pick to be his running mate. While Biden seemed to imply that he would be a one-term president, he announced his re-election campaign in April 2023.

However, after a disastrous debate that highlighted ongoing issues, Biden made the historic decision to drop out of the race in July 2024. This was just one week after a gunman nearly killed Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.

Shortly after dropping out of the race, Biden endorsed his VP, moving her to the top of the ticket. Some believed this move could have hurt her prospects, as voters saw her nomination as a coronation, in stark contrast to the ‘save democracy’ message channeled by the Democrats.

Harris and Clinton have more than election losses in common. Both were backed by a long list of Hollywood A-listers, whose endorsements ultimately did not help. Not even Taylor Swift could make the ‘Harris Era’ happen.

‘The outcome of this election is not what we hoped, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,’ Harris said in her concession speech. ‘But hear when I say … the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.’

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would penalize doctors who do not provide life-saving care to infants born alive after an abortion attempt.

All but one Democrat voted against the bill, which passed 217 to 204, with all Republicans in favor. One Democrat, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, voted ‘present.’

The bill directs health care practitioners to operate with the ‘same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence’ for a baby born with a heartbeat after an abortion as during a normal birth. Doctors who run afoul of the rule would be fined or given up to five years behind bars.

House GOP leaders lauded the bill, with Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., telling Fox News Digital, ‘Requiring medical care for babies born alive after a failed abortion isn’t controversial, it’s common sense.’

‘The fact that Democrats would rather support infanticide than vote in favor of this bill shows how extreme and out-of-touch their party has become,’ Emmer said.

Democrats have argued that the bill is redundant, given existing laws against infanticide and murder, and could imperil the lives of women seeking late-term abortions due to medical emergencies while unfairly penalizing doctors.

‘No one goes through pregnancy and all that comes with it…and then after eight or nine months of that is like ‘nah, I don’t want to do this,’’ Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said during debate on the bill, adding that late-term operations made up about 1% of abortions. ‘It is because of a serious fetal abnormality or the health of the mother.’

She said the bill was ‘not based on science or reality.’

Several Democrats who spoke out against the bill themselves went through emergency abortion procedures with a nonviable pregnancy.

Among them was Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., who said the bill would allow women to ‘die on the operating table because doctors are scared of going to jail.’

Republicans, meanwhile, argued the bill would stop babies from being ‘left to die in a closet, alone and discarded like medical waste,’ as Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., said during debate.

‘These precious babies, fellow Americans, deserve protection because they are alive,’ said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.

The vote comes after Democrats tanked the bill in the Senate earlier this week. The legislation failed to pass a procedural hurdle that needed 60 votes to allow for debate on its final passage.

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to declassify files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. 

Trump had promised to release the previously-classified documents during his 2024 campaign following decades of speculation and conspiracy theories about the killings. 

‘Everything will be revealed,’ Trump told reporters as he signed the order in the Oval Office of the White House.

During his first administration, Trump had promised to release all the files related to John F. Kennedy, but an undisclosed amount of material remains under wraps more than six decades after Kennedy was killed Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. The primary suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed two days later by Jack Ruby. 

After appeals from the CIA and FBI, Trump blocked the release of hundreds of records. Trump said at the time the potential harm to U.S. national security, law enforcement or foreign affairs is ‘of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure.’

‘I have now determined that the continued redaction and withholding of information from records pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not consistent with the public interest and the release of these records is long overdue,’ Trump’s order states. ‘And although no Act of Congress directs the release of information pertaining to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have determined that the release of all records in the Federal Government’s possession pertaining to each of those assassinations is also in the public interest.’

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., praised the declassification of the JFK files. 

‘Our government, led by corrupt bureaucrats, has hidden this information from the American people for far too long. Americans deserve to know the truth, whether it makes the government look good or not,’ she said in a statement. ‘As part of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I want to continue to deliver transparency to Americans. The truth belongs to the people, and we won’t rest until they have it.’

Trump’s promise to also release outstanding documents related to King and former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy leaves questions as to how the president-elect will speed up the releases.

Robert F. Kennedy, then a Senator from New York, was on the presidential campaign trail as a Democratic candidate when he was fatally shot on June 5, 1968 by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles shortly after securing his party’s nomination.  

Under the Martin Luther King Jr. Records Collection Act, the remaining files pertaining to King are not due for release until 2027. King was fatally shot by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

The deaths of King and John F. Kennedy have spawned conspiracy theories over the years, many of which allege government involvement or cover-ups.  

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he supports the delay of all of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees who do not have unanimous support in the Senate.

Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., filed cloture on John Ratcliffe’s nomination for CIA director, Kristi Noem’s nomination for Homeland Security secretary and Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary on Tuesday. But a last-minute objection from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., held up a vote on Ratcliffe, triggering hours of debate that could delay confirmation votes on Trump’s national security nominees late into the week and possibly into the weekend.

‘I don’t think it’s too much to ask to make sure that we have a full, real debate that lasts two days on the Senate floor,’ Murphy said on the Senate floor, adding that Democrats have ‘serious concerns’ about Trump’s CIA pick. 

The Senate voted to confirm Ratcliffe, 74-25, on Thursday afternoon. 

Asked on Thursday if he supports slowing the confirmation process for Trump’s nominees down, Schumer indicated that he does.

‘Look, there are some nominees like [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio that got broad support, but a detailed discussion – I have some doubts about Mr. Ratcliffe, particularly when I asked him how he’d react if Tulsi Gabbard were put in charge of him in the DNI,’ Schumer said, referring to Trump’s pick to lead the Office of National Intelligence. 

‘For a day or two, or a few hours to examine these nominees who have such power thoroughly, absolutely,’ he added. ‘Our idea is to let the whole truth come out if they try to rush them through. We don’t want that to happen.’ 

Thune on Tuesday expressed frustration with Democrats over their delay tactics.

‘Do we want a vote on these folks on Tuesday or vote on them on Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Because that’s what we’re going to do. This can be easy or this can be hard,’ Thune said. ‘This is about America’s national security interests, and we’re stalling, so that’s not going to happen.’

Ratcliffe was approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee by a bipartisan vote of 14-3. Because of that, Thune said the vote to confirm him ‘shouldn’t be hard.’

‘Democrats and Republicans, in a very big bipartisan fashion, agree that he is very qualified for this job,’ Thune said, adding that he isn’t sure what stalling accomplishes.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.