White House Installs Political Aides to Watch Cabinet Secretaries
Washington Post
The White House has installed political appointees at Cabinet agencies to track secretaries' loyalty to President Trump and his agenda, according to unnamed officials. Under the unusual arrangement, which has created tensions within the Cabinet, White House aides sit in on Cabinet meetings and report to White House deputy chief of staff Rick Dearborn. Tax Prep Companies Spent Millions Lobbying Against Prefilled Filings
ProPublica
The makers behind TurboTax and other large tax preparation companies, like H&R Block and Intuit, have spent millions lobbying the government against legislation that would offer taxpayers the option to fill out prefilled tax returns. Top Democratic Lobbyist Bundlers Tied to Russian Interests
Washington Free Beacon
Although Trump associates have come under criticism for reported ties to Russia, a review of foreign agent registration filings shows that top Democratic lobbyist bundlers for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign represent or work for firms that have supported Russian interests in recent years. Watchdog Criticizes Veterans Affairs' Suicide Hotline
Wall Street Journal
The Department of Veterans Affairsâ internal watchdog says the agency's suicide crisis hotline "sometimes leaves veterans on hold so long that they simply hang up." The VA had said it would end long delays and fix other problems by September 2016. But according to the new investigation, none of the problems were adequately addressed. Why Itâs So Hard to Shut Down a Government Agency
Government Executive
President Trump's plan to eliminate funding for 19 federal agencies is a tall order for a number of reasons, including lawmakers seasoned in making the case for targeted agencies and the logistical complexities involved with existing grants and contracts. Wages Rise on Farms, but Americans Still Don't Want the Jobs
Los Angeles Times
For some California farmers, President Trumpâs immigration crackdown is worsening a desperate labor shortage. Wages for state farmworkers have risen nearly 50 percent since 1996, with many workers earning about $30,000 a year for full-time work. But the rising pay has not enticed many native-born Americans to work in the fields. The vast majority of California farmworkers--nine in 10, according to a federal survey--are still foreign born. | 
