President Donald Trump continues to face backlash from his MAGA supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi "to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval" related to the case.
On Friday, Trump will swear in the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, have a signing event for the GENIUS Act and have dinner with Republican Senators.
Trump calls Fed's Powell 'one of my worst appointments'
President Donald Trump on Friday again lashed out at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling on him to lower the interest rate.
Trump wrote in a social media post that the Fed is "choking out the housing market with their high rate, making it difficult for people, especially the young, to buy a house."
Trump called Powell "truly one of my worst appointments" and criticized former President Joe Biden for extending his term.
"And the Fed Board has done nothing to stop this "numbskull" from hurting so many people. In many ways the Board is equally to blame!"
Donald Trump looks on on the day he signs the HALT Fentanyl Act, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., July 16, 2025.
Umit Bektas/Reuters
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Jul 17, 2025, 11:31 PM EDT
Drama in House committee over measures calling for release of Epstein files
Drama played out in a key House committee on Thursday night as lawmakers debated dueling measures dealing with the release of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
During a vote in the House Rules Committee, Republicans voted to advance a non-binding resolution to call for the release of some Epstein files. The rule provides no floor debate for the matter, and it is not subject to Senate passage or approval by the president.
It allows Attorney General Pam Bondi to make public all "credible" documents as well as redact or withhold portions of the Epstein files.
The vote in the committee was 9-4.
During the committee meeting, a screaming match unfolded between Ranking Member Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and GOP Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., over releasing the Epstein files.
U.S. House Rules Committee Ranking Member Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) speaks during a committee meeting after the Senate passes U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 1, 2025.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
"We know who you are hiding," McGovern said in one exchange.
"You're the party of child victims," Scott said in response.
It’s not clear when the measure would be brought up for a full House vote. The resolution, which did not receive Democratic support, would not legally require the Trump administration to act.
Democrats also offered an amendment -- which failed -- to force the release of all materials about the Epstein investigation through a bill sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif.
The wrangling over the Epstein measures delayed moving forward on a vote to approve a White House request to claw back $9 billion from the federal budget, including funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
Jul 17, 2025, 11:15 PM EDT
DHS to start 'initiative' for info sharing on Medicaid benefits
The Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will start an "initiative" to ensure that "illegal migrants are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans," a DHS official said.
The Associated Press first reported the agreement between the departments.
“President Trump consistently promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries," DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.
An official with the Department of Health and Human Services told ABC News the department takes the integrity of the Medicaid program and the protection of American taxpayer dollars extremely seriously.
HHS acted within its legal authority – and in compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them, according to the official.
DHS has also entered into an information sharing partnership with the IRS.
-ABC News' Luke Barr and Michelle Stoddart
Jul 17, 2025, 5:34 PM EDT
Schumer says Trump should fire Vought over less bipartisanship remark
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Trump to fire Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought over his suggestion that Congress should be less bipartisan when it comes to congressional appropriations.
"Russ Vought has now said the quiet part out loud. He said he even wants less bipartisanship in the Congress. He wants to destroy: Destroy the way the Congress works, destroy the balance of power, upend our entire constitution. Russell Vought doesn't believe in this democracy," Schumer said to a group of reporters this afternoon.
Schumer called Vought a "great danger to the American people"
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer gives a statement after a policy luncheon with Democratic senators at the Capitol, July 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
"He wants to impose his right-wing views on America almost unilaterally. He said he will break the law by pocket rescissions, by impoundment. He is a very great danger to the American people, to our democracy, and the things people believe in," Schumer said. "Where are our Republican colleagues? Are they going to let this guy run rampant in one of the most powerful positions in government? Where the Republicans? I'm just furious. Donald Trump should fire Russell Vought immediately before he destroys our democracy and runs the country into the ground."
Schumer dodged a number of questions about how Vought's comments coupled with the GOP move to pass a rescissions package Wednesday would affect how Democrats maneuver in the upcoming government funding fight.
