DC BUREAU

Our Washington, D.C., bureau reports on congressional delegations and key Supreme Court and administrative decisions that affect our state.

STAFF

Jane Norman

DC Bureau Chief

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 Fischler

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

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

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Jennifer Shutt

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

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 Figueroa

DC Bureau Reporter

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

STORIES

Food benefits for low income families at risk in a government shutdown, White House says

BY: - September 25, 2023

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday that WIC recipients could feel the impact of the shutdown within days.

A defiant Sen. Menendez says he will not resign from U.S. Senate

BY: - September 25, 2023

During his first public appearance since federal prosecutors accused him of corruption, Sen. Bob Menendez hit back at Democrats calling for him to step down and vowed to fight the charges in federal court.

Menendez steps down temporarily as U.S. Senate committee chairman amid federal charges 

BY: - September 22, 2023

Federal prosecutors indicted Sen. Bob Menendez on Friday with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

Biden administration to create new gun violence prevention office

BY: - September 22, 2023

There have been 506 mass shootings this year alone, according to Gun Violence Archive, an organization that tracks gun violence in the U.S.

‘If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war’: Zelenskyy asks Congress to help Ukraine

BY: and - September 21, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers to reiterate the need for continued aid to support his country’s fight against the Russian invasion.

Shutdown inches closer as U.S. House GOP fails to pass defense bill, lawmakers exit D.C.

BY: - September 21, 2023

The bill's failure came less than a day after House GOP lawmakers gathered in a room in the Capitol basement to broker a path forward.

Biden administration offers temporary protection to Venezuelan migrants 

BY: - September 21, 2023

The move comes after multiple requests from cities like New York City that have struggled to house asylum seekers.

U.S. Senate confirms a military nominee, the first since Tuberville blockade began

BY: - September 21, 2023

Alabama Republican Tommy Tuberville started blocking military appointments seven months ago to protest Defense Department abortion policies.

U.S. attorney general defends Hunter Biden investigation under questioning by House GOP

BY: - September 20, 2023

Attorney General Merrick Garland said he has kept his promise to “not interfere with” special counsel David Weiss’ investigation into Hunter Biden.

A ‘disaster’ nears: Millions of federal workers’ paychecks would be on hold in a shutdown

BY: - September 20, 2023

A shutdown looms as House Republicans struggle to produce a short-term plan to fund the government past the end of the month.

Former U.S. Capitol Police chief blames intelligence failures, not Trump, for Jan. 6 attack

BY: - September 20, 2023

Capitol Police were under-prepared for the violence on Jan. 6, 2021, because the FBI and others did not share intelligence ahead of the attack, the former Capitol Police chief said Tuesday.

U.S. House GOP spending bills falter as Congress struggles to avoid a shutdown

BY: and - September 19, 2023

Republicans remain unable to reach consensus on a short-term government funding bill as well as a path forward for the dozen full-year government spending bills.