Congress Returns to the Capitol After August Recess; Trump Admin. to Defend Tariffs at Supreme Court | NTD Good Morning

Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week to tackle important bills on national security as well as on crime and violence in U.S. cities. The Trump administration is working with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) to pass a “Comprehensive Crime Bill,” which is expected to address issues like cashless bail and increased police funding. Congress will also have to pass government funding for fiscal year 2026 before the end of September, or else face a government shutdown.

The Trump administration is heading to the Supreme Court to defend the sweeping tariffs struck down by a lower court. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the tariffs are critical to fixing trade deficits and fighting fentanyl, and he’s preparing a legal brief to underscore the urgency. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is calling it the most important economic case in U.S. history. Meanwhile, the administration is also weighing a national housing emergency measure that could ease tariffs on building materials.

Trump urged drug companies on Monday to make public the data on COVID vaccines that they've shared with him to clear up uncertainties over the drugs’ effectiveness. The president is demanding an answer as, he says, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "being ripped apart" over the question. Just last week, the CDC director was fired over disagreements on vaccine policy with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Several officials have also stepped down in protest.