The Senate on Saturday considered some of President Donald Trump's nominations before the August recess.
Earlier this week, Trump issued an executive order slapping tariffs on many of America's trading partners but the new duties are set to go into effect in seven days.
Trump also continues to face questions over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and his relationship with the accused sex trafficker.
Trump says he is putting up money for $200M White House ballroom, dodges question about foreign donations
Trump was asked about the $200 million ballroom construction for the White House and if any of the unnamed donors joining him in paying for the expansion represent donors from foreign countries.
President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Office to speak with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before he boards Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 1, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
"I never even thought of it. But it doesn't matter. I'm putting up my money," he responded.
Aug 01, 2025, 6:01 PM EDT
Trump continues to sow doubt over jobs numbers
Trump continued to sow doubt about jobs numbers making baseless claims that BLS has repeatedly put out numbers that were untrue.
The president said he did the right thing by firing commissioner Erika McEntarfer.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before walking across the South Lawn of the White House to board Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 1, 2025, in Washington.
Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters
"We need people we can trust," he said.
Trump then said he had three people in mind for the job but when asked if he would put someone with labor statistics experience he responded, "I want to put someone who I can trust."
Aug 01, 2025, 4:31 PM EDT
House Oversight Committee chair denies Maxwell's request for immunity, delays deposition
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer officially responded to Ghislaine Maxwell's attorneys' demands, saying he won't grant Maxwell immunity or send her questions ahead of any congressional deposition.
"Your testimony is vital to the Committee's efforts regarding Mr. Jeffrey Epstein, including the 2007 non-prosecution agreement and the circumstances surrounding Mr. Epstein's death," Comer, R-Ky., wrote.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer speaks to the media on his Committee's investigation into former President Joe Biden's cognitive state, July 24, 2025 in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
"These investigative efforts may be used to inform potential legislation to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations."
Comer delayed the previously scheduled Aug. 11 deposition following Maxwell's appeal to the Supreme Court.-ABC News' Lauren Peller
Aug 01, 2025, 4:29 PM EDT
Fed Board member to step down next week
The Federal Reserve Board announced Friday that Adriana D. Kugler will step down from her position as governor of the Federal Reserve Board, effective Aug. 8.
The vacancy will now give Trump a chance to nominate a new governor and further shape the makeup of the board. It comes as the president continued to put pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates.
Adriana Kugler of Maryland, speaks during the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing to examine her nomination to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 21, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Kugler was nominated by President Joe Biden and has served in her position since September 2023. According to the Fed, she "submitted her letter of resignation to President Trump and will return to Georgetown University as a professor this fall." Kugler's term was set to expire at the end of January.