Thursday morning news: January 30, 2025

Laken Riley Act » At the White House for the first time in his second term, President Trump signed a bill into law on Wednesday.

TRUMP: We’re going to sign this in honor of Laken Riley.

The president heard there at a signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act.

The law states that people who are in the United States illegally and are accused of theft or violent crimes must be detained. Such a law would have saved the life of the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student for whom the bill was named. She was attacked and murdered last year by a Venezuelan national in the country illegally.

Before the signing, Laken Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, thanked President Trump, Congress, and:

PHILLIPS: Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, because without his sacrifices, Laken’s story would have ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us. But because of him we can continue living knowing that we will see Laken again.

Criminal immigrants to be sent to Guantanamo » President Trump, minutes earlier, spoke to reporters about a range of issues, including plans to send hardened criminal illegal immigrants to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The president said he’s signed an executive order instructing the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare a 30,000 bed detention facility at GITMO:

TRUMP:  To detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Some of them are so bad we don't even trust the countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back. So we're going to send them out to Guantanamo.

The US military base there houses a facility known as the Migrant Operations Center on Guantanamo. It has long been used to detain migrants interdicted at sea.

The center is separate from the well-known GITMO detention facility used for suspected terrorists.

Trump rescinds federal grant order » President Trump on Wednesday also sought to clear up confusion surrounding an earlier executive order to temporarily freeze federal funding for most federal grants and loans.

A federal judge put that order on hold.

Trump explained he had called for a short-term pause:

 TRUMP: Only for us to quickly look at the scams, dishonesty, waste and abuse that's taken place in our government for too long.

He said it in no way affected things like “Social Security, Medicare, or other entitlements that Americans depend on.”

The White House, though, later announced that the president had rescinded that order.

RFK, Jr. » Meantime, at the Capitol:

AUDIO: This hearing will come to order. I thank my colleagues and Mr. Kennedy for being here today.

Members of a Senate panel grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the president’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee were not shy in voicing their skepticism about his qualifications. Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden:

WYDEN:  Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Kennedy assured the panel that he believes vaccines play a critical role in healthcare.

He also said if he’s confirmed, he wants to make America healthy again.

KENNEDY:  We will make sure our tax dollars support healthy foods. We will scrutinize the chemical additives in our food supply. We will remove financial conflicts of interest from our agencies.

Kennedy is seeking to lead the agency that oversees vaccine recommendations as well as food inspections and health insurance for millions.

Zeldin confirmed » The Senate on Wednesday also confirmed former GOP Congressman Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

AUDIO:  The yeas are 56. The nays are 42. The nomination is confirmed.

Zeldin has vowed to protect access to clean air and water, while also scaling back regulations, restoring U.S. energy dominance, and revitalizing the US auto industry.

Bob Menendez sentenced » A federal judge has sentenced former U.S. senator from New Jersey Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison after his conviction last year on corruption charges.

The longtime Democratic lawmaker told reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse:

MENENDEZ:  Regardless of, uh, the judge's comments today, I am innocent and I look forward to filing appeals on a whole host of issues.

A jury found the 71-year-old Menendez guilty of accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: a president’s power to pardon is under scrutiny. Plus, a former police officer discovers his life’s purpose after tragedy. 

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