White House unveils proposal targeting Covid relief fraud – The White House announced a $1.6 billion dollar proposal to combat COVID relief fraud Thursday morning. Since the pandemic, the U.S. government has spent $5 trillion in COVID relief funds. Some experts predict hundreds of billions was misused. The White House’s plan targets fraudsters who took advantage of the pandemic.
According to the White House, $600 million would go toward investigations and prosecutions, $400 million would go toward victims of identity theft and the remaining $600 million for fraud prevention. Some lawmakers will meet Thursday with Gene Sperling, who is overseeing implementation of the White House’s American Rescue Plan, to discuss President Biden’s proposal on Capitol Hill.
Sperling said the proposal would pay for itself in the amount of COVID relief the initiative recovers and would be part of the president’s budget. House Republicans previously announced they will be launching their own investigations into widespread COVID relief fraud.
U.S. sanctions possible if China aids Russia – The U.S. is getting ahead of the potential that China could provide military support to Russia for the war in Ukraine. According to Reuters, the U.S. is asking its allies if they would support sanctions on China if they were to provide military aid to Russia. Four U.S. officials told Reuters the talks were in early stages. Which sanctions Washington would impose on the Chinese Communist Party is not clear. The White House has warned China President Xi Jinping against sending aid to Russia President Vladymir Putin. China has denied any plans to send military aid to Russia.
U.S. approves $619 million munitions sales to Taiwan – The U.S. has approved more arms sales to Taiwan, including $619 million worth of munitions for F-16 fighter jets in a decision likely to be another point of friction between the U.S. and China. The State Department said in a statement Wednesday night it had approved sales of missiles to be used with the F-16s as well as equipment to support the missiles. Taiwan has a fleet of F-16’s that were also bought from the U.S.
Explosive device found in airport luggage – A Pennsylvania man has been arrested after he checked in a suitcase with an explosive device hidden in the lining on a flight to Florida from Lehigh Valley International Airport. Forty-year-old Marc Muffley is in FBI custody charged with possessing an explosive in an airport and possessing or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities said the device contained powder you would find in high-grade fireworks that are susceptible to ignite from heat and friction. Authorities said the device posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers.
SpaceX launches astronauts into space – SpaceX successfully launched four astronauts into space early Thursday morning expected to reach the International Space Station tomorrow. The Falcon 9 rocket was intended for lift off three days prior but was postponed due to a clogged filter in the engine ignition system. All was well at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center just after midnight with a successful launch carrying two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut and an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates. The astronauts are expected to stay at the space station for six months.
Shark feeding frenzy in the Gulf of Mexico – A shark feeding frenzy was caught on video just 15 miles off the coast of Venice, Louisiana. A group of fishermen were caught right in the middle as dozens of sharks were hitting the sides of the boat and splashing water onto the boat. The sharks were apparently going after a school of fish. Dillon May, who recorded a video of the sharks thrashing in the water, told social media video service Storyful he had never seen anything like it.
