DC BUREAU
Our Washington, D.C., bureau reports on congressional delegations and key Supreme Court and administrative decisions that affect our state.
STAFF
Jane directs national coverage, managing staff and freelance reporters in the nation’s capital and assigning and editing state-specific daily and enterprise stories.
Jacob covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. His coverage areas include climate, energy development, public lands and infrastructure.
Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.
Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.
Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.
STORIES
U.S. Senate votes to block student loan relief, White House will veto
The vote forced vulnerable Senate Democrats up for reelection in 2024 to take a public stance on loan forgiveness that Republicans have lambasted as a “bailout.”
U.S. House approves debt limit package, sending it to Senate with just days until default deadline
The bill would suspend the nation’s borrowing limit through Jan. 1, 2025 and set caps on discretionary spending for two years.
New work requirements for some SNAP recipients included in debt limit deal
Work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and other government benefits were a sticking point during the months of stalemate.
Biden, McCarthy broker debt limit deal to avert U.S. default
The agreement would address the nation’s debt limit and include a “historic” reduction in spending, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said.
Treasury secretary pinpoints June 5 as earliest date for U.S. debt default
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said if Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families.
GOP-led states plan new voter data systems to replace one they rejected
A close look at how ERIC was set up and how it operates suggests that building any new interstate partnership from scratch will be a major challenge.
Western lands fight erupts over Bureau of Land Management’s conservation proposal
Supporters say the proposal would lift conservation to the level of extractive uses, a responsible move to protect lands affected by climate change.
Fentanyl-related drugs permanently made criminal under bill passed by U.S. House
The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently categorize lab-made substances with similar chemical structures to fentanyl among the most strictly regulated drugs under U.S. law.
U.S. Supreme Court narrows scope of Clean Water Act
The justices issued separate opinions that showed a 5-4 split in how far they would allow federal jurisdiction to extend, with the conservative majority ruling to significantly narrow federal agency power.
With debt default as soon as a week away, U.S. House jets off for holiday break
Top House Republicans negotiating with the White House did not immediately leave to fly home or head abroad on official trips ahead of the week-long break.
After years of bipartisan spending boosts, U.S. House GOP won’t lift debt ceiling without cuts
The flip in approach has left negotiators struggling to reach the bipartisan agreement needed to avoid a default on the U.S. debt as soon as June 1 that economists say would be catastrophic.
Biden student debt relief plan revoked in U.S. House vote
President Joe Biden said he will veto the measure, arguing it “would weaken America’s middle class.”