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12:30 REPORT

Welcome! It’s a beautiful day in Washington. Spring is so close I can feel it. 🌸 Today's forecast in DC: ⛅ 56° (Find your weather here).

In today's edition:

🪵 In Congress

Do you suppose Mike Johnson is rethinking his career choices today?

© The Hill, Greg Nash

Today is a big day for the future of President Trump’s agenda. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is desperately hoping to pass the budget resolution today despite major pushback from Republicans.

Reminder: The budget resolution is essentially a placeholder bill to get the ball rolling.

Is the vote actually happening today: “There may be a vote tonight. There may not be,” Johnson told reporters this morning. “Stay tuned.” 🤔

Where the votes stand:

On the fence: Several more have signaled resistance behind the scenes, The Hill reports.

^ Reminder: If more than one of these Republicans votes “no,” the bill fails.

The reasons for pushback:

This is a major test for Johnson: Johnson has been handed a tough set of circumstances. He has paper-thin margins that have been temporarily worsened by open seats for Republicans who left to join the Trump administration. He’s mostly been able to corral a caucus of strong personalities and competing priorities, but this is his biggest test yet.

Johnson literally asked for prayers in trying to pass this bill.

Has Trump been helping corral Republicans?: Not really … Trump has largely stayed out of the debate. Last week, he made headlines by endorsing the House’s plan over the Senate’s competing strategy. Keep an eye out to see if Trump steps in at any point.

🗨️ Follow today’s live blog for the developments

➤ KEEP IN MIND — THIS BILL COULD AFFECT STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS:

Student loan borrowers could face an abrupt payment increase under this plan by House Republicans. This would be a sharp 180° after the Biden administration worked to lower payments and secure debt relief, per The Hill’s Lexi Lonas Cochran. 🔎 Read our explainer

If at first you don’t succeed, tweet, tweet again:

© AP

Last night’s deadline passed for federal employees to respond to Elon Musk’s email, in which he asked for a list of five things they did at work last week.

Well, Musk has reupped his request, threatening to terminate any federal worker who does not respond this time.

Why this is raising eyebrows: There is contradicting guidance. Agencies were told by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that responding is not mandatory. In fact, several agency heads directed employees *not* to respond. That means the agencies are now in a turf war with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.

The Hill obtained a copy of an email sent to employees of the Department of Health and Human Services on Monday afternoon, which specifically notes that the decision of whether to respond will not affect their employment.

To keep on your radar: Trump is holding his first Cabinet meeting tomorrow at the White House. Agency heads are at odds with Musk, so this could make things tense.

Senate Republicans are very critical: The Hill’s Al Weaver spoke with several Republican senators who took issue with how Musk (who is unelected and wasn’t confirmed by the Senate) overstepped the power of Senate-confirmed heads of agencies and departments. One senator doesn’t think it was handled very well, and another thinks it’s a distraction. Read specific senators’ reactions

➤ SOME TECH STAFFERS ARE DONE:

Twenty-one federal technology staffers have resigned, saying they refuse to aid in Musk’s effort to “dismantle critical public services,” according to The Associated Press’s Brian Slodysko and Byron Tau.

➤ HOW MUCH IS DOGE REALLY SAVING?:

DOGE is trying to terminate roughly 1,125 government contracts so far. Yes, but: 37 percent of those cancellations aren’t expected to save any money. Read more

➤ TIDBIT:

Jon Stewart cut his hand on air: Comedy Central host Jon Stewart railed against the DOGE cuts on Monday’s show, cutting his own hand with a mug during his impassioned monologue. 📹 Watch the clip (He breaks the mug around the 17-minute mark.)

White House takes 'victory' lap on 'Gulf of America': The Hill’s Alex Gangitano posted a photo of screens in the White House press briefing room this morning. It’s plastered with “VICTORY” and a map of Trump’s new “Gulf of America.” 📸 See for yourself

☄️ Other News

Ayyy, the asteroid took the hint!:

The asteroid that had a chance of hitting Earth in 2032 is no longer a threat! NASA’s latest analysis estimates a 0.004 percent chance of it hitting the planet.

For context: The asteroid briefly had a 3.1 percent chance of hitting Earth.

Getting traction:

MSNBC decided to cut prime-time anchor Joy Reid from its lineup amid programming changes.

📹 Watch Reid’s open to her final show

Fellow anchor Rachel Maddow was not shy: She slammed her own network for cutting Reid. She told viewers it was a “bad mistake” for the network to let her go and even called it “unnerving” that the two nonwhite prime-time hosts are losing their shows. 📹 Watch Maddow’s comments

🐝 Internet Buzz

🍫 Celebrate: Today is National Clam Chowder Day and National Chocolate Covered Nut Day!

🥤 *Desperately checks to see if my favorite is on this list*: Starbucks is eliminating more than a dozen drinks from its menu. That includes nine Frappuccinos. I’m happy to report the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is safe. 📝 The discontinued drinks

📆 On The Agenda

The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (all times Eastern)

👋 And Finally…

Let’s end with some good vibes. Have you ever seen a horse eat a Fruit by the Foot?

It’s somehow even better than I had imagined.

Stay Engaged

Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com. A friend forward this to you? Subscribe here.

View past issues of 12:30 Report here and check out other newsletters from The Hill here. See you next time!

© The Hill