Heard on the Hill
What we're hearing from people we trust on and around the Hill
CHANGING THE STATE OF THINGS: The State Department is slashing thousands of jobs that are out of sync with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s vision for the department, it announced this week. “Reduction in Force plans have been tailored to preserve critical core functions,” the department noted. “These plans ensure that functions related to security, consular services, and regional desk responsibilities remain fully operational during and after the reorganization process. Care has been taken not to compromise core diplomatic functions, including diplomatic security, passport services and diplomats staffing country desks.”
NEW MEDIA MASTERCLASS: The Republican Study Committee (RSC) made history by hosting the Hill’s first-ever New Media Row this week. The event, first covered by the Washington Reporter, was a “historic day,” RSC Chair, Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas) told the Reporter. “RSC members connected directly with creators, influencers, and major personalities in conservative media reaching tens of millions of people across the country, showcasing the victories House Republicans have secured to deliver on the mandate set by voters on November 5th,” he said.
TASK FORCE MEDIA: Rep. Mark Alford (R., Mo.), the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) Communications Strategy Task Force Chairman, told the Reporter that the RSC is here to make major moves. “In addition to delivering conservative policy wins time after time, we are circumventing the mainstream media to bring our commonsense message directly with the American people,” Alford — himself a former journalist — said. “As the Chairman of RSC’s Strategic Messaging Task Force, I’m proud to work with Chairman Pfluger to bring these innovative strategies to Republicans’ communications operation.”
UNION BUSTING: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) and Rep. Mark Harris (R., N.C.) are calling for Congress to revoke the National Education Association’s (NEA) charter.
BIG NUMBERS: Rep. Mike Haridopolos’s (R., Fla.) fundraising numbers caught our eye. Even before Haridopolos was first elected last year, he was a fundraising powerhouse, and his latest numbers are no exception. He pulled in $435,947 this quarter, and has over half a million dollars on hand. He’s also already given over $250,000 to the NRCC for this cycle.
INCREDIBLE HAUL: Rep. Claudia Tenney (R., N.Y.) is no longer in a competitive district, but that hasn’t stopped her from raising over $1,000,000 across all of her entities in consecutive quarters. The Reporter previously covered how she’s donated almost $500,000 to expand the GOP majority across the country.
COMEBACK KID: George P. Bush raised some eyebrows in D.C. this week when his Restore Trust PAC hosted a cocktail reception at the Old Ebbitt Grill just feet from the White House. Those spotted included Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas), Ralph Norman (R., S.C.) and Craig Goldman (R., Texas), along with John Gizzi, Bonnie Glick, Paul Foldi, Justin Sayfie, Matthew Foldi, Jessica Lycos, and Jorge Delgado.
MANUFACTURING MANIA: The Department of Labor and Small Business Administration jointly announced that the two will work together to support domestic manufacturing and cultivate a pipeline of skilled workers to restore American industrial dominance.
SESAME STREET SCANDAL: The now-infamous hack of Elmo’s X account did Sesame Street and PBS no favors this week when it came time to decision-making on the rescissions package, which clashes federal funding from liberal news outlets. “There’s a joke about cutting funding to Sesame Street and Elmo,” one White House source told the Reporter in the wake of Elmo’s not-safe-for-work hack.
TORCH BEARER: Democrats are trying to flip Rep. Andy Barr’s (R., Ky.) now-open House seat, but a top GOP recruit, Dr. Ralph Alvarado, just joined the race. Alvarado is a Christian, husband, father, physician, and conservative fighter. His team includes two Trump-world veterans: Chip Englander and Michael Antonopoulos, we’re told.
