“When you get an order, you move out fast and don’t ask questions.”
That’s what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a retiring four-star admiral concerned about the legality of killing people in boat attacks, even though the command’s top lawyer shared his concerns. Now a different admiral who gave the order has been summoned to Capitol Hill tomorrow amid bipartisan furor over what is being called a potential war crime.
At the FDA, the top drug regulator quit after only three weeks, saying the plans to bypass career scientists may be illegal. Today, twelve former commissioners published a joint rebuke calling the agency’s claims a misrepresentation of science. Tomorrow, a vaccine advisory committee Kennedy packed with loyalists meets to vote on changing the childhood immunization schedule. The new chair is an anti-mRNA vaccine critic with no policy background.
Congress is moving on the boat strikes. Make sure they move on vaccines too. Call your senators and representative today on both.
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FDA's top drug regulator retiring after three weeks, citing concerns that Commissioner Makary's plans to speed approvals and exclude career scientists may be illegal.
Today’s GovBrief News
Trump says Omar should be "thrown the hell out of our country" and barred from Congress in second consecutive day of anti-Somali tirades.
Source: Mediaite
December 3, 2025
US restricts visas for Nigerians involved in violence against Christians weeks after Trump ordered Pentagon to plan potential military action over religious persecution claims.
Source: The Associated Press
December 3, 2025
Illinois signs law establishing state vaccine guidelines and expanding access for children as Pritzker calls federal changes "QAnon-inspired conspiracy theories."
Source: NBC Chicago
December 3, 2025
Trump rolls back Biden fuel economy standards requiring 50.4 mpg by 2031 months after GOP eliminated all penalties for noncompliance.
Source: Roll Call
December 3, 2025
Treasury Secretary Bessent threatens to "veto" Federal Reserve regional presidents who haven't lived in their districts three years, escalating White House pressure on independent agency.
Source: The Independent
December 3, 2025
Hegseth ousted four-star admiral commanding Caribbean operations after he raised concerns about legality of boat strikes, telling him "don't ask questions."
Source: The Wall Street Journal (gift link)
December 3, 2025
Pentagon knew survivors were in the water but launched second strike "to sink the vessel," information withheld from Congress until recently.
Source: The Associated Press
December 3, 2025
Pentagon watchdog finds Hegseth violated regulations and endangered troops with Signal chat, as Pentagon calls finding a "total exoneration."
Source: CBS News
December 3, 2025
New York AG James challenges authority of acting US attorney appointed through Bondi's procedural move that other courts have ruled unlawful, blocking subpoenas tied to Trump cases.
Source: Spectrum News
December 3, 2025
ICE launches operations in Minneapolis and New Orleans one day after Trump's anti-Somali tirade, as New Orleans logs lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years.
Source: NBC News
December 3, 2025
Admiral who ordered strike on boat survivors briefs Congress Thursday in classified session that could determine whether Hegseth faces accountability.
Source: The Hill
December 3, 2025
House Judiciary subpoenas Jack Smith for closed-door testimony Dec. 17 after rejecting his offer to testify publicly about Trump investigations.
Source: UPI
December 3, 2025
Trump pardons Democratic Rep. Cuellar on bribery and money laundering charges, claiming he was prosecuted for opposing open borders, not the alleged $600,000 in bribes.
Source: The Hill
December 3, 2025
Six EPA employees fired for signing letter accusing agency of "recklessly undermining" its mission are appealing to MSPB, alleging First Amendment violations and political retaliation.
Source: Government Executive
December 3, 2025
Trump pardons entertainment executive Tim Leiweke five months after his own Justice Department charged him with rigging bids for Texas arena contract.
Source: Deadline
December 3, 2025
Trump renames US Institute of Peace after himself months after gutting the agency, firing its board, and taking over its building in what a federal judge called an illegal seizure.
Source: CNN
December 3, 2025
Trump waives $15.5 million in restitution for private equity executive convicted of defrauding thousands of investors in $1.6 billion scheme.
Source: Politico
December 3, 2025
Twelve former FDA commissioners publish joint rebuke of vaccine memo in New England Journal of Medicine, saying claims "misrepresent both the science and the regulatory record."
Source: Ars Technica
December 3, 2025