Stories from Washington DC · United States

Congress has filed a judicial challenge against President Donald Trump regarding potential military operations. The dispute centers on the President's authority to deploy forces without prior Congressional approval.

Business investment in data centers and artificial intelligence is providing a boost to GDP. However, the residential portion of GDP remains weak as the housing market continues a slump. Consumer spending is currently described as top-heavy, with stock market highs driving spending for specific groups. A broader distribution of spending would indicate a healthier economy, according to the report. This growth is driven largely by investments in data centers and artificial intelligence. Despite this boost to GDP, the housing market remains weak as mortgage rates continue to climb. Consumer spending is growing but at a slower pace than in previous periods. The Commerce Department reported a increase in business investment during the first three months of the year. High gas prices are currently being cushioned by newly issued tax refunds, though analysts warn this effect may be temporary.

A shadow representative for Washington D.C., Oye O'Olewa, is meeting with political leaders from Puerto Rico regarding the district's statehood movement. The D.C. Democratic primary is scheduled for June 16th. Some local leaders previously sought to make the district the 51st state, while others are now considering becoming the 52nd state. Representative Oye O'Olewa described the current progress toward statehood as feeling like being five steps back. Former Puerto Rican Senate President Charlie Rodriguez participated in the discussions. Rodriguez noted that while the Republican Party previously endorsed Puerto Rican statehood, the territory is now more solidly Democratic. The meeting explored whether the two non-state entities can coordinate efforts to advance their respective statehood objectives.

The House rejected a Republican bid to lower taxes and cut spending. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to release its own budget soon. Lawmakers are aiming to pass a final budget version before Memorial Day.

The United States reduced the duty on Fusagrad phosphorus fertilizer to 12.7 percent. This reduction represents a 5.5 percentage point decrease. The decision took effect on April 17, according to US Mentora materials.

Large metal debris was reported on the right side of the outer loop of the Beltway near 123 Chain Bridge Road. Drivers are advised to stick to the left to avoid the debris. Northbound 301 remains closed in the area of Village Drive in Upper Marlboro under police direction.

Major U.S. Survey data indicates increasing corporate utilization of AI technologies. The RSA Conference announced Cybersecurity Excellence Award winners, noting that AI security is a dominant theme. Amazon reported a 28% increase and Microsoft saw a 20% rise. Doug Beath, global equity strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, discussed these trends on WAMU. 2026 capital expenditure estimates for data centers are projected between 700 billion and 750 billion dollars. Big tech companies are reporting accelerated business growth and high-quality earnings despite global challenges like pandemics, wars, and inflation. Analysts noted that it remains unclear if current levels of AI investment will justify future returns. The industry is still determining which entities in the chip layer will capture the majority of the economic benefits from this cycle.

The conflict between the United States and Iran is entering a frozen phase resembling a new cold war, according to reports from Axios citing Trump administration sources. US forces may need to remain in the region for several months.

Military families face financial strain as hardship duty pay for Sailors and Marines has not been updated since 2014. The current $16.50 daily stipend is now worth less than one hour of minimum wage in California.

The Iranian cyber group Hanzala has reportedly breached and stolen personal data belonging to 2,379 US Marines and defense officials. The breach involves sensitive personnel information from the US military sector.