Inflation dips to 4-year low despite trade war hysteria: 'Americans are breathing a sigh of relief'



Inflation dipped to a four-year low despite tariff uncertainty, indicating consumer prices have barely been affected by President Donald Trump's trade war.

The annual inflation in April fell to 2.3%, which is the lowest rate since February 2021. Although Trump's tariff policies sparked fears that prices would skyrocket, the annualized inflation rate during Trump's second term so far is only at 1.6%, which is considerably slower compared to former President Joe Biden's term, which saw an 8.6% annualized inflation rate during the first 18 months.

Trump also struck two trade deals in the last week with the United Kingdom and China, alleviating consumers' concerns about market volatility.

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Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

'Every dollar is going further and workers are able to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks!'

Americans are also enjoying lower costs for essential goods like gas and groceries. Average energy prices have fallen about 1.5% since January, and food prices declined in April for the first time since Trump was president in November 2020.

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Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

The cost of apparel also fell 0.2% in April despite a slight 0.4% uptick in March. Automakers are also relatively unaffected by tariffs, with the cost of new vehicles remaining unchanged, while used car prices fell by 0.5%.

"For the last several years, hardworking families have faced an affordability crisis," Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement Tuesday. "Finally, with [President Trump] at the helm, Americans are breathing a sigh of relief — every dollar is going further and workers are able to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks!"

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Labor Dept Warns States About Illegal Migrants Receiving Unemployment Benefits, Threatens Loss Of Federal Funds
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Labor Dept Warns States About Illegal Migrants Receiving Unemployment Benefits, Threatens Loss Of Federal Funds

'not a handout for those in our country illegally'

Report: Democrat Union Boss Uses Member Dues As A Personal Slush Fund

It's no wonder so many blue-collar families have abandoned a labor movement and a Democrat Party that have spent the past several decades abandoning them.

Toddlers, people not yet born, and those 115+ snagged nearly $400M in unemployment insurance: DOGE



The Department of Government Efficiency appears to have discovered more potential fraud within the federal government.

On Wednesday, the DOGE shared a post on social media highlighting troubling findings from an unemployment insurance survey.

'We will catch these thieves and keep working to root out egregious fraud – accountability is here.'

Since 2020, tens of thousands of individuals who were either over 115 years old, children, or not yet born have cashed in on millions of taxpayer-funded benefits.

The DOGE reported that 24,500 people over 115 years old collected $59 million in benefits, 28,000 between 1 and 5 years old received $254 million, and 9,700 "with birth dates over 15 years in the future claimed $69M in benefits."

One individual claiming the birth year 2154 collected $41,000, the DOGE stated.

Elon Musk responded to the post, writing, "Your tax dollars were going to pay fraudulent unemployment claims for fake people born in the future! This is so crazy that I had to read it several times before it sank in."

He added in a separate post, "The oldest living American is 114 years old, so it is safe to say that anyone 115 or older is collecting 'unemployment' due to being dead. There was no sanity check for impossibly young or impossibly old people for unemployment insurance."

The Labor Department confirmed that unemployment insurance was distributed to fraudulent recipients, Fox Business reported.

DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer told the news outlet, "This is another incredible discovery by the DOGE team, finding nearly $400 million in fraudulent unemployment payments."

"The Labor Department is committed to recovering Americans' stolen tax dollars. We will catch these thieves and keep working to root out egregious fraud – accountability is here," she added.

During Thursday's Cabinet meeting at the White House, Musk told Trump about the newly discovered fraud and anticipated savings due to the DOGE's work.

"Thanks to your fantastic leadership, this amazing Cabinet, and the very talented DOGE team, I'm excited to announce that we anticipate savings in FY2026 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion," Musk stated.

"And some of it is just absurd, like people getting unemployment insurance who haven't been born yet," he continued. "That's just crazy."

Musk stated that the federal government is a "target-rich environment" for uncovering waste and fraud.

According to the DOGE's website, the most significant chunk of the federal government's overall savings has come from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the General Services Administration, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Labor.

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DOL returns $1.4B in unused COVID-era funding — and seeks to recover more



On Monday, the Department of Labor announced that it had identified $1.4 billion in unused COVID-era funding.

A press release from the DOL noted that the agency is working to recover another $2.9 billion.

'Government waste hates to see us coming.'

"The roughly $4.3 billion was intended for states to use for temporary unemployment insurance during the pandemic. Instead, several states continued spending millions of dollars despite no longer meeting necessary requirements, which was uncovered in a 2023 audit conducted by the department's Office of Inspector General," it read.

The unused funding was turned over to the Department of Treasury's General Fund, the DOL reported.

DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stated, "Any money still sitting around for pandemic-era unemployment funds is a clear misuse of Americans' hard-earned tax dollars."

"I'm keeping my promise to be a good steward of your money by rooting out waste to ensure American Workers always come First," she added.

Chavez-DeRemer told Fox News Digital, "There's no reason leftover COVID unemployment funds should still be collecting dust."

DOL Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling called it "unacceptable" that the taxpayer funds "went unchecked" for several years.

"In a huge win for the American taxpayer, we've clawed back these unused funds and will keep working to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse," Sonderling vowed.

The funds were a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in 2020, which created a program to provide "expanded unemployment insurance."

The 45-page IG report found that, although the program ended in 2021, four states were allowed to access the reimbursement money "despite not meeting program requirements." According to the report, the four states collected $105.1 million in reimbursements they were not eligible to receive.

The report claimed the issues occurred because there were not "sufficient controls" to ensure states were eligible or that unused funds were returned to the federal government.

Last week, the Department of Government Efficiency applauded Chavez-DeRemer and Sonderling for canceling $577 million in "America Last" grants, saving taxpayers $237 million.

"Government waste hates to see us coming," the DOL wrote in a post on X.

On Monday evening, the White House announced that President Donald Trump has tapped former Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.) to serve as the DOL's inspector general.

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Senate confirms final Cabinet nominee despite Republican holdouts



Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Labor, was confirmed Monday night with bipartisan support in the Senate, completing the president's Cabinet.

Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed in a 67-32 vote, with 17 Democrats joining 50 Republicans. Three Senate Republicans opposed Chavez-DeRemer's confirmation: Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Budd of North Carolina, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

'Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will have a critical opportunity to put the interests of working families ahead of Big Labor bosses by empowering every American worker to join a union on their terms. I hope she takes it.'

"I'm deeply honored to be confirmed as the 30th Department of Labor Secretary under President Donald Trump," Chavez-DeRemer said in a Monday statement. "As promised, I'll work tirelessly to put American Workers First by fighting for good-paying jobs, safe working conditions, and secure retirement benefits. Let's get to work."

Despite her nomination by Trump, Chavez-DeRemer has received some pushback from Republicans.

Paul was the only Republican "no" vote during her committee vote, citing concerns about her previous support for the PRO Act, a bill that expands workers' rights to unionize. This pro-union position comes into conflict with right-to-work laws that Paul and other Republicans have championed.

Notably, Chavez-DeRemer reversed her position on the PRO Act when Paul pressed her during her confirmation hearing.

"This is the question, whether this is sort of a deathbed reversal or whether or not she is truly for this," Paul told reporters after the hearing.

McConnell echoed Paul's concerns in a statement Monday, arguing that Chavez-DeRemer had a policy record of forcing "hardworking Americans into union membership."

"The American people demand and deserve change after four years of economic heartache under the 'most pro-union administration in American history,'" McConnell said in a statement. "Unfortunately, Lori Chavez-DeRemer's record pushing policies that force hardworking Americans into union membership suggests more of the same."

"Most Americans believe joining a union should be a personal choice — not a mandate — which is why more than half the states, including Kentucky, have adopted right-to-work laws. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will have a critical opportunity to put the interests of working families ahead of Big Labor bosses by empowering every American worker to join a union on their terms. I hope she takes it."

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Senate Confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer As Labor Secretary

Rebuilding our nation’s middle class

SEN. HAWLEY: Chavez-DeRemer Is The Realization Of Trump’s Pro-Worker Platform

'The dignity of a decent job and a steady income is the first step.'

Democrats carry Trump's labor pick through key committee vote



Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Labor, cleared a procedural vote Thursday with the help of Senate Democrats, advancing her nomination to the Senate floor.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Chavez-DeRemer's nomination in a 13-9 vote with the support of Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and John Hickenlooper of Colorado as well as 10 Republicans.

'As the daughter of a Teamster, Lori Chavez-DeRemer knows the importance of carrying a union card and what it means to grow up in a middle-class household.'

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only GOP senator to vote against Chavez-DeRemer's nomination, citing concerns over her previous support for the PRO Act. Notably, Chavez-DeRemer reversed her position on the PRO Act when Paul pressed her about it in her confirmation hearing.

"This is the question, whether this is sort of a death-bed reversal or whether or not she is truly for this," Paul told reporters after the hearing.

"I'm going to think about her answers and think about whether or not a conversion in this last moment is sincere," Paul added.

Although Chavez-DeRemer received support from several Democrats, not all of them entirely endorsed the nominee.

“I have some concerns … but it just gets worse from here,” Kaine said.

Chavez-DeRemer previously served in Congress, representing Oregon's 5th Congressional District from 2023 to 2025, although she was ousted by her Democratic challenger in November. During her time in office, Chavez-DeRemer was regarded as a more moderate, pro-union Republican, reflecting her swing district.

Chavez-DeRemer additionally secured an endorsement from the Teamsters union, which is the largest union in the United States.

"As the daughter of a Teamster, Lori Chavez-DeRemer knows the importance of carrying a union card and what it means to grow up in a middle-class household,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement.

“Working people need someone with her experience leading the agency that is tasked with protecting workers, creating good union jobs, and rebuilding our nation’s middle class," O'Brien added. "The Teamsters are grateful to President Trump for putting American workers first by nominating Rep. Chavez-DeRemer to this important role.”

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Trump's Teamsters-backed labor pick pivots on pro-union position



Former Republican Rep. Lori Chaves-DeRemer of Oregon, who was nominated to head the Department of Labor, was pressed over her pro-union past during her confirmation hearing Wednesday.

During her time in the House, Chavez-DeRemer earned a reputation for being a pro-union Republican, primarily through her support of the PRO Act. In doing so, Chavez-DeRemer received pushback from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who initially came out against her nomination.

'This is the question, whether this is sort of a death-bed reversal, or whether or not she is truly for this.'

"Her support for the PRO Act, which would not only oppose national right-to-work, but it would pre-empt state law on right-to-work," Paul previously told reporters. "I think it's not a good thing, and it'd be sort of hard for me since it's a big issue for me to support her. So I won't support her."

The PRO Act is designed to expand workers' rights to unionize, coming in conflict with right-to-work laws that have historically been backed by Republicans.

During the hearing, Paul questioned Chavez-DeRemer about her past support for the PRO Act, to which she changed her position.

"The PRO Act wasn't just about organizing or enabling unions to organize, which they already have the right to do. The PRO Act was about overturning right-to-work laws in 26 states," Paul said.

"You no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state right-to-work laws?" Paul asked.

"Yes, sir," Chavez-DeRemer replied, reversing her previously held position.

Because the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions has 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats, Chavez-DeRemer will have to rely on Democrats to advance through the committee, assuming that Paul remains a no vote. Although several Democrats have signaled they are open to supporting Chavez-DeRemer, she may not need to reach across the aisle after all.

When asked if Chavez-DeRemer's answers changed his vote, Paul said he was going to continue weighing her responses.

"This is the question, whether this is sort of a death-bed reversal, or whether or not she is truly for this," Paul told reporters after the hearing.

"I'm going to think about her answers and think about whether or not a conversion in this last moment is sincere," Paul added.

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