A new proposal from the Trump administration that defines habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would limit the areas species will have to recover, critics say.

An advance copy of the proposal from the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that was obtained by The Hill writes that habitats are “the physical places that individuals of a species depend upon to carry out one or more life processes. Habitat includes areas with existing attributes that have the capacity to support individuals of the species.” 

When species are endangered, the ESA requires the government to set aside habitat deemed critical for its recovery.

Click Here: cheap nrl jerseys

ADVERTISEMENT

But environmental groups say the new definition being proposed by FWS will allow the agency to block setting aside any land that isn’t currently habitat but might be needed in the future, particularly as the climate changes.

“It sounds kind of innocuous,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, “But what this essentially says is if an area is degraded, if it can no longer support endangered species without restoration, then it couldn’t be protected.”

Take the northern spotted owl, an endangered species that nests in old-growth forest. Its protected habitat includes millions of acres of new-growth forest that are not in use by the owls currently, but could be as they age.

“The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to help endangered species flourish and expand back into their former habitats. If this rule were in place fifty years ago, the bald eagle would have been kept at death’s door in perpetuity, limited to a few square miles here and there. If this administration can’t tell the difference between where an endangered species lives today and where it would live if it were no longer endangered, it has no business rewriting this or any other law,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)

The proposal from FWS stems from a 2018 Supreme Court ruling challenging habitat for the dusky gopher frog.

“The court’s ruling provides the Trump Administration and [Interior] Secretary [David] Bernhardt the opportunity to create a new definition that will help ensure that all areas considered for critical habitat first and foremost meet the definition of habitat. We are proposing these changes on behalf of improved conservation and transparency in our processes for designating critical habitat,” FWS Director Aurelia Skipwith said in a release obtained by The Hill.

ADVERTISEMENT

Habitat set aside for the frog, which includes pine forests, was challenged by Weyerhaeuser Co., a large logging company.

Greenwald said the area set aside for the frog’s recovery otherwise had the unique elements, including ephemeral ponds, needed by the species.

But he sees longer-term impacts if the proposed language is adopted, particularly as climate change wipes out existing habitat and transforms the landscape. 

“Take species threatened by sea level rise created by climate change. Areas they need for survival and recovery in the future may not be habitat right now,” Greenwald said, pointing to coastal wetlands used by birds and other species that will gradually migrate. 

“But this rule will totally preclude that.”

Friday’s proposal is the second major action the Trump administration has taken that critics say will weaken the ESA.

Last August the administration finalized a rule that dramatically scales back America’s landmark conservation law, limiting protections for threatened species and how factors like climate change can be considered in listing decisions. The rule also limits the review process used before projects are approved on their habitat. 

Suits over that rule are still working their way through the courts.

However, the Trump administration changes have been popular with some in the West, who argue the protections can delay or block important projects.

“The Trump administration is making the Endangered Species Act work better for people and wildlife,” Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee Chair John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoLatest Trump proposal on endangered species could limit future habitat, critics say Republicans dismiss Trump proposal to delay election Barrasso nuclear bill latest GOP effort to boost uranium mining MORE (R-Wyo.) said in a release on the latest proposal. 

“By providing clearly defined terms, efforts to protect species can be more focused and more effective. This proposal will provide commonsense protections for endangered species without expanding beyond the habitat they actually depend on.”

But Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, said the latest proposal doesn’t “meet the intent of the Endangered Species Act, which recognizes that areas beyond those that are currently occupied may need to be protected to recover species,” adding the rule will “exclude areas that would be suitable with minimal restoration or those areas that may be needed to recover species in the age of climate change.”

—Update at 3:58 p.m.

More than two dozen Democrats are demanding Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperDemocrats demand Esper explicitly ban Confederate flag and allow Pride, Native Nations flags Trump’s revenge — pulling troops from Germany — will be costly Africa Command ordered to plan headquarters move as part of Trump’s Germany withdrawal MORE allow service members to fly LGBT Pride and Native Nation flags, which were banned when Esper issued a broad flag policy that was intended to target the Confederate battle flag.

“We ask that you immediately revise the new policy on flag display, explicitly ban the Confederate battle flag, and ensure that service members can express support for diversity and inclusion through the display of sovereign Native Nations and LGBTQ Pride flags,” the Democrats wrote in a letter to Esper released Friday.

The letter was organized by Democratic Reps. Anthony BrownAnthony Gregory BrownDemocrats demand Esper explicitly ban Confederate flag and allow Pride, Native Nations flags Trump tweets key GOP lawmaker has committed to not changing Confederate base names Overnight Defense: Senate passes annual defense policy bill that sparked Trump veto threat | Military has considered two waivers for transgender troops since ban MORE (Md.), Jackie SpeierKaren (Jackie) Lorraine Jacqueline SpeierDemocrats demand Esper explicitly ban Confederate flag and allow Pride, Native Nations flags Overnight Defense: Pompeo pressed on move to pull troops from Germany | Panel abruptly scraps confirmation hearing | Trump meets family of slain soldier House passes amendment barring funding for transgender troops ban MORE (Calif.) and Chris PappasChristopher (Chris) Charles PappasDemocrats demand Esper explicitly ban Confederate flag and allow Pride, Native Nations flags Trade groups make lobbying push to be included in small business loan program Expanding tax credit for businesses retaining workers gains bipartisan support MORE (N.H.) and co-signed by 31 other House Democrats.

ADVERTISEMENT

Asked for comment on the letter, Pentagon spokesperson Jessica Maxwell told The Hill that “as with all congressional correspondence, we will respond directly to the authors of the letter.”

At issue is a policy Esper released earlier this month as military leaders clamored for a ban on the Confederate flag after symbols and tributes to the Confederacy became a flashpoint of nationwide protests against racial injustices and police violence.

The new policy does not explicitly ban the Confederate flag. Rather, it specifies which flags are allowed, a list that does not include the Confederate banner, effectively banning it.

The policy attempts to walk a fine line between removing a symbol that stokes racial tensions and not drawing the ire of President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he will ban TikTok from operating in the US Trump’s 2019 financial disclosure reveals revenue at Mar-a-Lago, other major clubs Treasury to conduct policy review of tax-exempt status for universities after Trump tweets MORE, who has defended the display of the flag as a free speech issue.

But because the policy is broad, it also bans other flags that service members like to display, such as sports teams’ flags and the Jolly Roger pirate flag.

ADVERTISEMENT

Advocates have also raised the alarm the policy hits the LGBT Pride flag.

In their letter, the Democrats raised concern about both the Pride flag and Native Nations flags, which they said “support diversity and inclusion.” For the Pride flag, specifically, an implicit ban “only serves to create a discriminatory environment for LGBTQ service members,” they added.

“While we applaud the department for taking steps to remove the Confederate battle flag from our military bases, the action unnecessarily avoids a clear rebuke of this oppressive symbol while simultaneously limiting how service members can freely express themselves in line with our values,” they wrote.

The lawmakers also highlighted support in the military and Congress for an explicit ban of the Confederate flag. Before Esper’s new policy, the Marines had banned the flag, and the Navy said it would follow suit.

The House also included in its version of the annual defense policy bill a ban on the Confederate flag at all Pentagon property.

Click Here: Bape Kid 1st Camo Ape Head rompers

“The department must have the strength and courage to be able to simultaneously stand against a symbol of hate and oppression in the Confederate battle flag while allowing the display of support for civil rights, equity and justice,” the lawmakers wrote. “We do not honor or display the Parteiflagge of Nazi Germany on our military bases, and any decision on the Confederate battle flag must likewise be unequivocal: it must be banned outright.”

Updated at 2:33 p.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell: 15-20 GOP senators will not vote for any coronavirus deal McConnell: Dropping liability protections from coronavirus deal ‘not going to happen’ Stimulus checks debate now focuses on size, eligibility MORE (R-Ky.) said Friday that more than a third of Republican senators will not vote for any coronavirus relief package, underscoring division with his caucus. 

“I think there are 15-20 of my guys that are not going to vote for anything. … It’s a statement of the obvious that we will not have everybody on our side,” McConnell told WHAS, a Kentucky radio station. 

McConnell’s estimate comes as congressional Democrats and the administration are struggling to reach an agreement after days of talks about a potential fifth coronavirus package as cases climb across the country and an economy bludgeoned by the pandemic. 

ADVERTISEMENT

McConnell, during the radio interview, said the two sides were “light-years apart,” the latest sign that Congress and the White House are not close to a quick deal. 

“This negotiation is going to be tough,” he added. “At the moment there’s not much movement.” 

But GOP divisions have also been in the spotlight after several senators trashed their own party’s package, which was unveiled Monday. Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyMcConnell: 15-20 GOP senators will not vote for any coronavirus deal Trump plans to order Chinese company to sell TikTok’s US operations: reports Hillicon Valley: Trump raises idea of delaying election, faces swift bipartisan pushback | Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google release earnings reports | Senators ask Justice Department to investigate TikTok, Zoom MORE (R-Mo.) called the bill a “mess,” while Sen. Ben SasseBenjamin (Ben) Eric SasseMcConnell: 15-20 GOP senators will not vote for any coronavirus deal CNN chyron says ‘nah’ to Trump claim about Russia Chamber of Commerce endorses Ernst for reelection MORE (R-Neb.) argued that the negotiations were being carried out by “two big government Democrats.”

McConnell, asked why a sizable portion of his conference is opposed to another bill, noted the growing size of the country’s debt after Congress has already appropriated nearly $3 trillion in the previous four coronavirus bills. 

“Their argument’s not irrational. … They don’t think we ought to pass another one of these bills. I don’t agree with that,” McConnell said. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Asked what those GOP senators would say to voters, McConnell added, “I think everybody’s got to make their best call here.” 

If 20 Republicans voted against an eventual coronavirus deal, that means McConnell would need support from at least 27 Democratic senators to get the bill over a 60-vote procedural threshold and pass it in the Senate. McConnell said during an interview with PBS “Newshour” earlier this week that “about 20 of my members think that we’ve already done enough.” 

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenators press Postal Service over complaints of slow delivery Meadows, Pelosi trade criticism on stalled stimulus talks Lincoln Project targets Senate races in Alaska, Maine, Montana with M ad buy MORE (D-N.Y.) has referenced the GOP divisions as he’s called for the administration to make progress on a larger fifth package. Republicans offered a package of roughly $1 trillion, while the bill passed by House Democrats was around $3 trillion. 

“One Senator said: ‘There are a hundred problems with the plan.’ Another: ‘It’s a mess. I can’t figure out what this bill is about.’ … Those would be harsh criticisms if they came from Democrats. But those quotes weren’t from Democrats, those were Republican senators talking about their own party’s plan,” Schumer said during a speech from the Senate floor this week.

The previous four bills passed the Senate with either no opposition or only a handful of “no” votes. 

But McConnell has repeatedly acknowledged that he expects the next deal to be more contentious. 

“What’s happened here is that the political environment has deteriorated significantly. … We’re four months closer to the election,” he said. 

Click Here: Bape Kid 1st Camo Ape Head rompers

TGIF!  Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our newsletter.

ANOTHER ESA ROLLBACK? A new proposal from the Trump administration that defines habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would limit the areas species will have to recover, critics say.

ADVERTISEMENT

An advance copy of the proposal from the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that was obtained by The Hill writes that habitats are “the physical places that individuals of a species depend upon to carry out one or more life processes. Habitat includes areas with existing attributes that have the capacity to support individuals of the species.” 

When species are endangered, the ESA requires the government to set aside habitat deemed critical for its recovery.

But environmental groups say the new definition being proposed by FWS will allow the agency to block setting aside any land that isn’t currently habitat but might be needed in the future, particularly as the climate changes.

“It sounds kind of innocuous,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, “But what this essentially says is if an area is degraded, if it can no longer support endangered species without restoration, then it couldn’t be protected.”

Take the northern spotted owl, an endangered species that nests in old-growth forest. Its protected habitat includes millions of acres of new-growth forest that are not in use by the owls currently, but could be as they age.

“The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to help endangered species flourish and expand back into their former habitats. If this rule were in place fifty years ago, the bald eagle would have been kept at death’s door in perpetuity, limited to a few square miles here and there. If this administration can’t tell the difference between where an endangered species lives today and where it would live if it were no longer endangered, it has no business rewriting this or any other law,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)

The proposal from FWS stems from a 2018 Supreme Court ruling challenging habitat for the dusky gopher frog.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The court’s ruling provides the Trump Administration and [Interior] Secretary [David] Bernhardt the opportunity to create a new definition that will help ensure that all areas considered for critical habitat first and foremost meet the definition of habitat. We are proposing these changes on behalf of improved conservation and transparency in our processes for designating critical habitat,” FWS Director Aurelia Skipwith said in a release obtained by The Hill.

Habitat set aside for the frog, which includes pine forests, was challenged by Weyerhaeuser Co., a large logging company.

Greenwald said the area set aside for the frog’s recovery otherwise had the unique elements, including ephemeral ponds, needed by the species.

But he sees longer-term impacts if the proposed language is adopted, particularly as climate change wipes out existing habitat and transforms the landscape. 

“Take species threatened by sea level rise created by climate change. Areas they need for survival and recovery in the future may not be habitat right now,” Greenwald said, pointing to coastal wetlands used by birds and other species that will gradually migrate. 

“But this rule will totally preclude that.”

Read more on the proposal here. 

SKIPPING STONES: The House passed a broad spending package on Friday for fiscal year 2021 with amendments that include a measure blocking the construction of the controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska.

The overall spending package for the 2021 fiscal year passed Friday would cost $1.3 trillion. It encompasses defense; labor, health and human services, and education; commerce, justice and science; energy and water; financial services and general government; and transportation and housing and urban development.

An amendment, offered by Rep. Jared HuffmanJared William HuffmanOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Latest Trump proposal on endangered species could limit future habitat, critics say | House-passed spending bill would block Pebble Mine construction | Interior sends 100K pages of documents to House House-passed spending bill would block Pebble Mine construction OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA rule extends life of toxic coal ash ponds | Flint class action suit against Mich. officials can proceed, court rules | Senate Democrats introduce environmental justice bill MORE (D-Calif.) would prohibit using funds provided by the legislation to issue approval for the project. 

The passage of the bill comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s completion of an environmental impacts assessment of the Pebble Mine, bringing it one step closer to construction. 

The government assessment determined that the controversial project “would not be expected to have a measurable effect on fish numbers and result in long-term changes to the health of the commercial fisheries in Bristol Bay,” something environmentalists have raised concerns about. 

Critics of the assessment said that it underestimated the potential for harm to water and fish. 

A number of other environmental amendments were also recently added onto the approximately $49.6 billion in energy and water spending. 

For example, amendments from Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) would prohibit the government from rejecting grant applications because they use the phrases “global warming,” “climate change,” or “sea level rise.”

Overall, the water and energy section would provide $41 billion for the Energy Department’s budget, an increase of about $2.3 billion over last year, and provide $7.63 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers.

The legislation faces negotiations with the Republican-led Senate during which some of the provisions could be lost. 

Read more about the Pebble amendment here and read more about the entire spending package here. 

NOT EXACTLY LIGHT READING: The Interior Department said on Friday that it delivered 100,000 pages of documents to Congress to be “consistent with our ongoing transparency” and to accommodate oversight requests from Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva. 

The department’s press secretary tweeted a picture of multiple boxes appearing to contain the documents. 

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWS ABOUT NEWS: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is immediately canceling its paid subscription to one of the largest environmental trade publications, E&E News.

The move takes effect Aug. 1 and will end EPA employees’ free access to the Washington-based publication, which provides in-depth coverage of the agency and related government agencies alongside a wide variety of environmental issues.

“EPA has decided to cancel its desktop subscription to E&E News,” Associate Deputy Administrator Doug Benevento wrote in an email to employees on Thursday.

“Over the next two years, EPA would have spent $382,425 to receive” various E&E newsletters, Benevento said, noting that the money will instead be used to purchase subscriptions and access to other publications.

He did not name the other publications.

ADVERTISEMENT

The American Federation of Government Employees, the EPA employee union, described the cancelation as a retaliatory move that would hurt agency employees.

“By cutting @EPA staff off from @EENewsUpdates, #EPA is stopping EPA scientists from getting E&E’s impeccable & in-depth press coverage of EPA’s union busting moves & #AFGE’s efforts to counter them, thereby retaliating against both E&E News & the union,” the union tweeted.

EPA has been one of the Trump administration’s most vocal agencies in pushing back against critical press coverage.

The agency often issues press releases denouncing coverage from outlets like E&E, The New York Times and The Hill.

A press release in March was titled “EPA Corrects the Record after Reckless Reporting” after a number of outlets reported on its coronavirus policy to pause enforcement of pollution monitoring requirements.

EPA Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Latest Trump proposal on endangered species could limit future habitat, critics say | House-passed spending bill would block Pebble Mine construction | Interior sends 100K pages of documents to House EPA cancels subscription to news outlet dedicated to covering it OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA rule extends life of toxic coal ash ponds | Flint class action suit against Mich. officials can proceed, court rules | Senate Democrats introduce environmental justice bill MORE and the agency occasionally use Twitter to push back on coverage.

“.@EENewsUpdates is misleading Americans with an alternative narrative. Bottom line: This final rule will save lives, reduce pollution and provide significant benefits to the American economy,” Wheeler tweeted in reference to coverage of the same story.

Click Here: cheap Cowboys jersey

Last year, EPA’s top spokeswoman Corry Schiermeyer told The Washington Post that the tweets and press releases are a way to establish an official record of disputing a story.

“If we sat back and didn’t do anything, it can spin out of control,” she said at the time. 

E&E is one of the largest publications dedicated solely to covering environmental issues, with paid subscribers ranging from government agencies and congressional offices to advocacy groups and energy producers.

“I’m sad EPA isn’t renewing. Their staffers are heavy readers of our publications, generating hundreds of thousands of page views a year,” E&E executive editor Cy Zaneski told The Hill in an email Thursday. “We will miss their readership, but we’ll continue to cover EPA with gusto.”

Read more on the cancelation here. 

ON TAP NEXT WEEK:

On Monday:

• The Senate will vote on a motion to limit debate on the nomination of Mark Menezes to be deputy energy secretary. If the chamber approves the motion, a confirmation vote for Menezes should be coming soon. 

On Wednesday:

• The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on a nuclear infrastructure bill
• The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on cybersecurity in the energy sector

OUTSIDE (AND INSIDE) THE BELTWAY:

Oil Giants Post Historic Losses As COVID-19 Obliterates Demand, HuffPost reports

Florida blocks oyster harvesting as court mulls Georgia water case, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports 

Ohio coal giant Murray Energy is $100K dark money donor ‘Company B’ in federal probe, The Columbus Dispatch reports 

Trump distorts Biden’s position on fracking, The Associated Press reports 

ICYMI: Stories from Friday (and Thursday night)…

EPA cancels subscription to news outlet dedicated to covering it

Latest Trump proposal on endangered species could limit future habitat, critics say

Manufacturers to phase out sales of food packaging containing ‘forever’ chemical

House-passed spending bill would block Pebble Mine construction

Emergency declarations have been issued for multiple states as Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall along the southeastern coast of Florida later in the day Saturday and into Sunday.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantisRonald Dion DeSantisFlorida newspaper editorial board asks DeSantis to issue statewide mask order: ‘We’re dying here’ Trump holds mini-rally at Florida airport DeSantis approval plummets amid coronavirus surge: poll MORE (R) said Friday that the state of emergency extends to all counties in the path of Isaias. This includes Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the two most populous counties in the state.

ADVERTISEMENT

The governor, a key ally of President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he will ban TikTok from operating in the US Trump’s 2019 financial disclosure reveals revenue at Mar-a-Lago, other major clubs Treasury to conduct policy review of tax-exempt status for universities after Trump tweets MORE, also wrote to the president requesting a “pre-landfall emergency declaration” from the federal government.

The White House announced Saturday morning that Trump had approved the request, ordering federal assistance to support the state. The order authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster response efforts in Florida.

The National Hurricane Center has labeled Isaias a Category 1 storm, with maximum sustained winds nears 85 miles per hour. The storm is moving northwest at around 12 miles per hour. 

The hurricane center warned that parts of Florida could see storm surge amounting to several feet of water. On Saturday morning, it released guidance on preparing for the storm.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There is a risk of impacts from winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge spreading along much of the the U.S. east coast through early next week,” the National Hurricane Center wrote.

Hurricane warnings have been issued from Boca Raton to the Volusia/Brevard County Line in Florida, putting West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Vero Beach and Melbourne all under the advisory.

Additionally, a storm surge watch is in effect from Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach.

The storm is currently blasting the Bahamas with heavy winds and large amounts of rainfall.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) also declared states of emergency on Friday. Isaias is expected to reach North Carolina by Monday.

Updated: 11:31 a.m.

Click Here: cheap Cowboys jersey

The superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) said the school will not remove Confederate monuments or rename buildings named after Confederate leaders, according to a seven-page letter released this week.

“We do not currently intend to remove any VMI statues or rename any VMI buildings,” Retired Gen. J.H. Binford Peay wrote in a July 29 letter to the school’s community.

Peay said that officials agree that “we want to erase any hint of racism at VMI, in our communities, and in our country,” but that the school has a past “intertwined with the history of Virginia and the Civil War.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Unlike many communities who are grappling with icons of the past, VMI has direct ties to many of the historical figures that are the subject of the current unrest,” he also wrote. 

For example, Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, who is depicted in a campus statue, was a “professor at VMI, a West Point graduate who served in combat” in the Mexican-American War and was a “military genius,” Peay added.

Peay also noted that he is “committed to addressing and fixing any areas of racial inequality at our school,” which was founded ahead of the Civil War in 1839 in Lexington, Va.

“Throughout the years, the primary focus on honoring VMI’s history has been to celebrate principles of honor, integrity, character, courage, service, and selflessness of those associated with the Institute,” Peay wrote. “It is not to in anyway condone racism, much less slavery.”

Peay said he made the decision after “considerable waking hours trying to make sense of the turmoil and pain we have seen nationally” in the midst of protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, while in custody of Minneapolis police officers. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The decision seems to run counter to the city the school is nestled in. Lexington City Council earlier this month held meetings to discuss renaming the city-owned cemetery named after Jackson. The council has so far voted to remove signs bearing Jackson’s name. 

And at Washington and Lee, across the street from VMI, faculty voted on July 6 to pull Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s name from the university.

Floyd’s death, which has sparked calls for racial equality across the country, has also prompted the Pentagon to release a new policy that would ban the display of the Confederate battle flag at military installations. 

In addition, both the House and Senate last week passed versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the Pentagon to rename bases and other property that are named after Confederate leaders. The Senate bill would require changes in three years, while the House bill would force changes in one year.

The House and Senate now must form a conference committee to work out differences between the two versions of the bill, though the requirement to rename bases is seen as highly unlikely to be taken out of the bill as both versions include some form of the potential rule. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he will ban TikTok from operating in the US Trump’s 2019 financial disclosure reveals revenue at Mar-a-Lago, other major clubs Treasury to conduct policy review of tax-exempt status for universities after Trump tweets MORE, however, has threatened to veto the NDAA if the final version that reaches his desk requires name changes, with the White House saying in a statement last week the provision is “part of a sustained effort to erase from the history of the Nation those who do not meet an ever-shifting standard of conduct.”

Microsoft is in talks to purchase popular social media platform TikTok from Beijing-based company ByteDance, The New York Times reported Friday.

The news came the same day reports emerged that President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he will ban TikTok from operating in the US Trump’s 2019 financial disclosure reveals revenue at Mar-a-Lago, other major clubs Treasury to conduct policy review of tax-exempt status for universities after Trump tweets MORE is considering signing an executive order requiring ByteDance to divest the U.S. portion of TikTok due to concerns that the company may be giving sensitive U.S. data collected through the app to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The New York Times cited an anonymous source who said the purchase could come later in the day Friday. Microsoft did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the potential purchase. 

ADVERTISEMENT

A spokesperson for TikTok told The Hill that “while we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.”

“Hundreds of millions of people come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, including our community of creators and artists who are building livelihoods from the platform,” the spokesperson added. “We’re motivated by their passion and creativity, and committed to protecting their privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.”

TikTok has continuously pushed back against claims that it censors content and shares data with the CCP, and has taken steps to distance itself from China, including hiring former Disney executive Kevin Mayer to serve as CEO earlier this year, and moving American data storage to the United States. 

The Trump administration and bipartisan members of Congress have turned the spotlight on TikTok in recent months, with Trump telling reporters Friday that he was considering a ban on TikTok along with “a lot of alternatives.” 

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoTrump says he will ban TikTok from operating in the US Hillicon Valley: Three arrested in Twitter hack | Trump pushes to break up TikTok | House approves 0M for election security Microsoft in talks to purchase TikTok: report MORE made similar comments earlier this month, announcing that the Trump administration was considering banning Chinese apps, including TikTok, due to national security concerns. 

The Treasury Department’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) opened an investigation into ByteDance last year, while the House approved legislation last week banning the use of TikTok on federal devices. 

Senators have also asked the Justice Department to open an investigation into TikTok, and have separately raised concerns the app could be used by the CCP to interfere in U.S. elections.

Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks

Seth Rollins will be making a big announcement on Monday, but it won’t take place on Raw, Rollins announcement will take place on Sports Center. While there is no official word yet on the nature of this announcement, the backstage speculation is that it won’t be related to any current storyline since it wont take place on Raw. 
It is said that Rollins will announce that he will be on the cover of the upcoming WWE 2K18 video game. Rollins has been rumored to be on the cover for a few weeks now. Below is the tweet sent out by wwe:

Tune into @espn to see @WWERollins‘ big announcement on @SportsCenter this Monday, 6/19, at 10:30 AM ET! pic.twitter.com/dhiMxqakB6
— WWE (@WWE) June 16, 2017