Tag: secretary
Health secretary and BMA to meet in bid to avoid strikes
Talks between Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the British Medical Association (BMA) will take place next week in a bid to avert strike action in England’s NHS, the BBC understands. Resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, announced earlier this week that they will walk out for five consecutive days from 25 July until 30…
Trump Names Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as Interim NASA Chief
Trump Names Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as Interim NASA Chief The selection of Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to temporarily lead NASA adds to the deep political uncertainties already facing the space agency By Josh Dinner & SPACE.com Sean Duffy, U.S. secretary of transportation, during a news conference in Washington, D.C., on June 12, 2025.…
Home secretary yet to agree deal days before spending review
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has still yet to agree a deal with the Treasury before Wednesday’s Spending Review, despite an offer of above inflation increases to police funding in each of the next three years. Ministers have been locked in talks with Rachel Reeves and her team ahead of the major financial statement, which sets…
Winter fuel cuts a factor in local elections losses, health secretary says
Restricting winter fuel payments dented Labour’s support at last week’s local elections, the health secretary has acknowledged. Wes Streeting told the BBC many voters “aren’t happy” with the decision, adding it had “come up on the doorstep” during campaigning. But he insisted the move would help the government invest in public services despite “multiple crises…
Trump’s Energy Secretary Baselessly Blames Spain’s Power Outage on Renewables
U.S. Energy Secretary Tries to Blame Renewables for Spain’s Power Outage In response to a power outage in Spain and Portugal, the U.S. Department of Energy’s secretary Chris Wright tried to blame the use of solar and wind energy, though the cause of the blackout is not yet clear By Benjamin Storrow & E&E News…
US treasury secretary says ‘there is a path’ with China over tariff negotiations
‘The Chinese will see this high tariff level is unsustainable for their business,’ says Scott Bessent The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said “there is a path” to an agreement with China over tariffs after he had interactions with his Chinese counterparts last week in Washington. “I had interaction with my Chinese counterparts, but it…
Alexis Herman, the first Black secretary of labor in U.S. history, dies at age 77
Tom Dreisbach The first Black leader of the U.S. Department of Labor, former Secretary Alexis Herman, has died at the age of 77. Former President Bill Clinton nominated Herman to the role, which she held from 1997 to 2001, following a career in social work, civil rights and Democratic politics. “Hillary and I are deeply…
White House looks for new defense secretary. And, remembering Pope Francis’ legacy
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. A U.S. official has informed NPR that the search for a new leader to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is underway. The decision comes as Hegseth is again mired…
Health secretary RFK Jr. endorses the MMR vaccine — stoking fury among his supporters
Geoff Brumfiel An endorsement of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has provoked an angry outcry from anti-vaccine activists. “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy said in the third paragraph of a lengthy post on…
Defence secretary meets family of Kenyan woman allegedly killed by British soldiers
Relatives of Agnes Wanjiru say 13-year fight for justice has taken ‘heavy toll’ after meeting with John Healey The family of a Kenyan woman who was allegedly killed by British soldiers have said their 13-year fight for justice has taken a “heavy toll”, and that they have been offered “too many empty promises” after a…
A Pentagon press secretary has history of pushing antisemitic, extremist theories
Tom Dreisbach Members of Congress and Jewish civil rights organizations are criticizing the new deputy press secretary at the Department of Defense, Kingsley Wilson, for a series of online posts and past political commentary she made before joining the Trump administration. Over the last several years, Wilson posted and commented prolifically on podcasts in her…
Scientists React to RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary
Scientists React to RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has expressed support for some fields of science but has also declared he’d like a “break” in infectious-disease research. Here’s what he might do as the U.S.’s newly confirmed secretary of health and human services By Amanda Heidt, Heidi Ledford & Nature…
Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary is Howard Lutnick. Here’s what to know
Alina Selyukh We’re following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR’s Trump’s Terms podcast or to stay up to date. Who: Howard Lutnick Nominated for: Commerce Secretary You might know them from: Lutnick is a billionaire investor and long-time Wall Street CEO. What does this role do: The Commerce Department is responsible for enforcing…
Home secretary to reject call to widen extremism definition
The government is set to reject internal advice to widen the definition of extremism to include potentially violent environmentalists, the far left, conspiracy theorists and men prejudiced against women. The BBC has been told Home Secretary Yvette Cooper does not agree with the central findings of a rapid “sprint” report she commissioned last year, and…
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s embattled pick for defense secretary, wins Senate confirmation
Tom Bowman Pete Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement at two veterans’ groups he ran to narrowly win Senate approval to become Donald Trump’s defense secretary. The vote was 50-50 . Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote after Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined Sens. Lisa…
Trump’s energy secretary nominee faces questions over climate posts and LA fires
By Julia Simon We’re following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR’s Trump’s Terms podcast or to stay up to date. Who: Chris Wright Nominated for: Secretary of Energy You might know them from: Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a Denver-based oil and gas…