After almost a year, the Trump Administration’s Justice Department lacks Senate-confirmed appointees in leadership posts running the national security, criminal, civil rights and other key divisions (WaPo).
Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed a new charge against Paul Manafort while Richard Gates pled guilty. Meanwhile, President Trump's proposal to arm teachers drew controversy in Washington.
The Nunes memo set off aftershocks; agencies scrambled to implement the Trump Administration's policies to mixed effect; and Congress passes a budget after a brief overnight shutdown.
The House and Senate passed a three-week-long spending bill, clearing a path to end the shutdown of the federal government. Under President Trump, the Senate has not engaged in its customary independent review of judicial nominees.