Trump admin updates: Trump wants Senate to cancel August recess to work on nominees

Trump also suggested the Senate cancel long weekends.

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: July 20, 2025, 5:25 PM EDT

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 signed the GENIUS Act -- the first major federal cryptocurrency bill -- into law.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jul 17, 2025, 2:02 PM EDT

Leavitt defends Bondi, Justice Department over Epstein controversy

Leavitt was asked about President Donald Trump's claims that the Jeffrey Epstein controversy was a "hoax" perpetuated by the Democrats and she doubled down on the president's comments.

The press secretary maintained that the administration did a thorough job with the probe.

"It was this president who directed the Department of Justice and the attorney general to do an exhaustive review of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which they did," she said. "The attorney general and the FBI, led by Pam Bondi, Dan Bongino, Kash Patel, these are great patriots, some of the most trusted voices in the Republican Party movement."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, July 17, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

Jul 17, 2025, 1:34 PM EDT

Bondi goes to Alcatraz for briefing after Trump's order to reopen infamous prison

Attorney General Pam Bondi is going to Alcatraz on Thursday to receive a briefing on the facility.

Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will tour the prison and surrounding island, discuss facilities with Park Police and direct staff to collaborate on necessary planning to reopen the facility, according to a Justice Department official.

PHOTO: Alcatraz prison complex located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay near San Francisco, California, U.S. July 17, 2025.
Attorney General Pam Bondi on a boat to visit the Alcatraz prison complex located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay near San Francisco, July 17, 2025.
KGO

President Donald Trump announced on May 5 that he was ordering federal agencies to rebuild and reopen the notorious maximum security prison. Alcatraz closed more than 60 years ago, in part because it was considered too expensive to maintain.

"The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote in the May announcement.

Jul 17, 2025, 9:01 AM EDT

Attorney General Pam Bondi visiting Alcatraz: Officials

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are in California Thursday making a visit to the notorious former federal prison Alcatraz, officials confirmed to ABC News.

It’s unclear whether they will open up their visit to any media, but Bondi is being accompanied by a Fox News correspondent on the visit.

The visit comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s directive to reopen Alcatraz as a prison 60 years after it was shuttered, a move Democrats have attacked as a massive waste of money and resources at a time where the federal Bureau of Prisons is already under major strain to maintain existing facilities.

-ABC News' Alex Mallin

Jul 17, 2025, 4:58 AM EDT

Senate narrowly approves $9 billion budget clawback for foreign aid and public broadcasting

The Senate narrowly approved a White House request to claw back $9 billion from the federal budget, including funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.

The final vote on Thursday morning was 51-48. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted with Democrats against the rescissions bill. Sen. Tina Smith did not vote after being admitted to the hospital.

PHOTO: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, heads to the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, heads to the chamber as Senate Republicans push President Donald Trump's request to cancel about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The bill would rescind funding allocated for the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, related agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The bill now returns to the House with a deadline for final passage by Friday.

-ABC News’ Justin Gomez

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