WND

Topline: Alejandro Mayorkas, head of the Department of Homeland Security under Joe Biden, was so generous with paid time off that t-shirts and collectible coins have declared him the “patron saint of administrative leave.”

During his four years, Mayorkas gave his employees more than six weeks in vacation time, at a cost to taxpayers of $3 billion, according to records reviewed by the Washington Times.

Key facts: All federal employees get 13 sick days and 11 paid holidays per year. They also receive 13 to 26 days of annual leave, depending on how many years they’ve been working.

Agency chiefs can also award up to 10 days of administrative leave per year, a practice Mayorkas used to its fullest. He gave each member of Homeland Security 269 hours of administrative leave while in office, which the Washington Times says is “likely a record for a single administration.”

Mayorkas gave his staff six days of administrative leave in 2021; another six days in 2022; nine days in 2023; and the maximum 10 days in 2024.

A few days before leaving office, he awarded three days to be used in 2025.

A Homeland Security employee could have potentially taken 60 paid days off in 2024, using their sick time, vacation time, paid leave and administrative leave. That would be the equivalent of working less than four days per week for the entire year.

Search all federal, state and local government salaries and vendor spending with the AI search bot, Benjamin, at OpenTheBooks.com. 

Critical quote: One manager in Homeland Security told the Washington Times the administrative leave “creates a bookkeeping nightmare” because it is difficult to track. Sometimes, “the department must trust employees and hope they aren’t abusing the system,” he said.

Summary: Between excessive paid time off and the 94 percent of federal employees that work remotely at least part of the time, it’s fair to wonder if Washington officials are spending too much time relaxing on taxpayers’ dime.

The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com

Death and taxes. They are often called the only two certainties in life.  Yet for countless family-held businesses, these inevitabilities collide when the owner passes away. There are millions of family-held businesses across this country. Many are at risk: when transferring ownership from one generation to the next, financial obligations often threaten the family business’s very existence.

Take, for example, the case of Courtney Silver and Ketchie, Inc., a third-generation machine shop based in Concord, North Carolina. Tragically, Courtney lost her husband to brain cancer, and at the same time had to focus on keeping the family business afloat. She was worried, as she testified before Congress just this month, about the “looming tax bill” that could have shut down the company. Her story mirrors many others who encounter unexpected tax liabilities following deaths in the family.

This year, Congress is set to debate on and legislate countless tax proposals, which will have far reaching impacts on communities, industries, and families across the country.

While debates over income taxes dominate headlines, comparatively little attention is given to federal estate taxes. In fiscal year 2023, the tax generated $33.7 billion—just 0.8% of federal revenue and 0.1% of GDP, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. While it’s a drop in the bucket in terms of federal revenue, its impacts are far reaching.

According to Cerulli Associates, the “Great Wealth Transfer” underway will amount to as much as $124 trillion in inheritance through 2048. The Baby Boomer generation has started passing on its wealth to subsequent generations, and the sums involved only grow larger with every passing year.  Much of this wealth is held in family businesses, whose valuations have soared due to inflation, asset appreciation, and robust market performance. A business worth $20 million a decade ago might now be worth $50 million – a figure that can trigger significant estate tax liabilities upon the founder’s death. For context, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 17,832 in January 2015 and reached 41,938 in January 2025.

When a founder dies and the next generation inherits a thriving enterprise, the tax bill can be enormous. If the business’s heirs don’t have the liquidity to cover the tax, they may be forced to sell off assets, take on crushing debt, or, as is often the case: liquidate entirely.

Compounding matters, a dozen states and the District of Columbia impose estate taxes, and six others levy inheritance taxes. Maryland uniquely enforces both. Top state estate tax rates reach 20% in Hawaii and Washington, while seven states, including New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts, impose a 16% rate. Combined with the federal tax, these rates can exceed 50% of an estate’s value, jeopardizing the survival of family businesses.

This burden exists despite the immense contribution family businesses make to the economy. Representing nearly 65% of U.S. GDP and serving as the largest employer, these enterprises often lack the lobbying power of other industries. Pharmaceuticals, transportation, oil and gas, and agriculture all have advocates in Washington, ensuring legislation doesn’t cripple their industries. Family businesses, by contrast, must often fend for themselves.

Many are woefully unprepared. Although estimates vary, there are a minimum of five million family-held businesses in the United States; and, according to a 2021 Family Business Survey by PWC, only one-third have a documented succession plan in place. Confidentiality—valued by many families—often leads to secrecy about a business’s worth, even among family members. Add to this mix the complications of divorce or inter-family grievances, and the result is widespread unpreparedness for the inevitable.

When these businesses are forced to sell or liquidate simply to pay estate taxes, it is not just the families who lose. Employees lose jobs, communities lose vital institutions, and the economy loses key contributors to growth and innovation.

The Great Wealth Transfer presents an urgent call to action. Family businesses should prioritize planning long before a founder’s death to ensure they have enough liquidity to pay these estate taxes. Death is inevitable, but its timing is unknowable. Preparation is therefore critical.

Several proactive steps can mitigate the financial burden of estate taxes. These measures must be implemented while the founders are alive and well. From strategic estate planning to utilizing specific financial tools, families can ensure their businesses—and legacies—survive. The process requires education, commitment, and a deep respect for the sacrifices and hard work that built these enterprises.

By taking steps now, family businesses can secure their futures, protect employees, and guarantee thriving communities. Nothing is more vital than securing your family’s destiny and safeguarding the cornerstone of your shared future.

With proper planning, founders of family-held businesses can create a “new take on an old problem.”

President Donald Trump reminded Democratic lawmakers who attempted to force their way into the Department of Education that American students’ proficiency and test scores continue to be on a stark decline at a Friday press conference.

A crowd of Democrats, most notably Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters, raged at a security guard in front of the department building Friday morning after they were denied entry into the premises. Trump responded, stating that the U.S. pours billions of dollars into the public education system in return for very little results as students’ test scores in core subjects have continued to plummet since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I see the same [lawmakers], I see Maxine Waters, a low life. I see all these people, they don’t love our country. We want great education. So they rank 40 countries in education, we’re ranked dead last, but the good news is we’re number one in one category, you know what that is? Cost per pupil,” Trump told Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy. “We spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, you look at Norway, Denmark, Sweden, various countries all up and down, Finland, China does very well in education and then look at us. We spend much more money than they do per pupil or any other way, but we spend much more money than they do yet we’re ranked, this year, Biden’s last year, congratulations Joe, we’re ranked dead last.”

WATCH:

Democrats have expressed outrage over the Trump administration’s plan to sign an executive order to eliminate the department and ensure that public education is managed by the states. Trump vowed during the press conference that the federal government will begin to spend a significant amount less on education, but ensured the quality of public education will improve.

Federal, state and local governments spend roughly $857.2 billion on K-12 public education annually, though students’ test scores, and the federal government spent a record $190 billion in aid to schools since the pandemic without witnessing a significant improvement in students’ academic performances.

The U.S. is ranked as the top nation for education in the world by U.S. News & World Report, which is based on an international survey of around 17,000 people who were asked “whether a country has a well-developed public education system, whether respondents would consider attending university there and if that country has a reputation for top-quality universities.” However, The Nation’s Report Card released its 2024 data on Jan. 29 finding that reading and math scores for fourth and eighth grade students continue to be on the decline and stand way below pre-pandemic levels.

The report further found that one-third of eighth graders, the largest percentage ever recorded, failed to reach the National Assessment of Educational Progress’ (NAEP) reading benchmark.

Since the pandemic, students fell behind in math by over half-a-year and also struggled in reading and science, an analysis by The New York Times found in March. School closure rates and results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that students in remote learning settings were worse off on their test scores than those who were granted in-person learning.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

A Louisiana grand jury has indicted a New York abortionist who mailed abortion pills to a minor in the pro-life state. The girl needed to seek emergency care due to complications from taking the illegal pills.

According to WAFB, the grand jury is seeking criminal charges against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, her company, Nightingale Medical, and the girl’s mother, who ordered the abortion pills from Carpenter. All three were charged with a felony crime of criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs. Louisiana prohibits the killing of preborn children by abortion.

Carpenter, one of the founders of online abortion pill business Hey Jane (who also works with Aid Access), is also facing a lawsuit in Texas after she illegally mailed abortion pills to a woman in that state. In that instance, too, the woman experienced complications from the abortion pill, and needed to receive emergency care.

Prosecutors say that the Louisiana girl, whose age has not been released, was excited about her pregnancy before she ended up going through with the abortion.

“She was a minor and … she was excited,” Prosecutor Tony Clayton said. “She had planned a reveal party. She had wanted to have this baby.”

WBRZ reported that the girl’s mother ordered the chemical abortion drugs and “made her” take them. Coercion is known to play a significant role in abortion, with some studies showing that 64% of post-abortive women experienced pressure to abort. Teens and girls who go through with abortions often reveal they felt pressure from parents or other family members to kill their preborn children.

After taking the abortion pill alone at home, the girl experienced serious complications.

“She called 911 and an ambulance rushed her to the hospital and they were able to save her life,” Clayton said. “Whether you are pro-abortion or against it, the bottom line is some child who wanted her baby now doesn’t have that baby and this doctor has a date with Louisiana, Louisiana justice.”

One reason that many states limit taking the abortion pill without a doctor’s direct oversight is that it is known to be four times more dangerous than a first-trimester surgical abortion. Research carried out by Gynuity, a pro-abortion research institute, has shown that six percent (6%) of women who take the abortion pill will require care at an emergency room or urgent care facility — and that is believed to be a low estimate. When a woman receives the abortion pill via mail, she may have to visit emergency centers if the prescriber is not nearby to see her or direct her care in case of emergency.

Though Carpenter’s actions illegally killed a preborn child and also injured a girl, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already vowed to defend the abortionist.

“Louisiana is attempting to prosecute a New York doctor for providing reproductive health care,” she said on X. “After Roe was overturned, I signed laws to protect patients & doctors from exactly this type of action. … We will remain a safe harbor.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill responded with a statement. “It is illegal to send abortion pills into this state and it’s illegal to coerce another into having an abortion,” Murrill said. “The allegations in this case have nothing to do with reproductive health care, this is about coercion. This is about forcing somebody to have an abortion who didn’t want one.”

[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by Live Action News.]

WATCH:

Mike Benz: “USAID is effectively a rent-a-riot operation. That raises questions about the Black Lives Matter protests.”

(0:00) The USAID Rabbit Hole Runs Deep
(5:29) Trump Is Performing Open Heart Surgery on the Country
(9:50) Is USAID Truly a Humanitarian Operation?
(19:41)… pic.twitter.com/KPWsfyQPDL

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 8, 2025

President Donald Trump took to social media Friday to announce that he is terminating the security clearances of former President Joe Biden and discontinuing his daily intelligence briefings.

In a Truth Social Post, Trump said Biden no longer needs access to classified information. Trump cited a precedent set by Biden in 2021, when Biden directed the Intelligence Community (IC) to cease providing national security details to the 45th President, a courtesy historically extended to former presidents.

“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings,” Trump wrote. “He set this precedent in 2021, when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on National Security, a courtesy provided to former Presidents.”

In the post, Trump referenced the Hur Report, saying it showed Biden has a “poor memory” and was unreliable with sensitive information even at his best.

“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from “poor memory” and, even in his “prime,” could not be trusted with sensitive information. I will always protect our National Security — JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump wrote.

Per a senior administration official: “The process to forbid Biden from getting classified information is underway.”

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Feb. 7, 2025: 10:40 p.m.:

Leftists terrorized as DOGE reproduces on state level

In what might be their worst nightmare, leftists are terrorized that there are Republican leaning states that felt that President Trump had a pretty good idea when he created DOGE. So some Governors and state lawmakers are trying to do it in their own state. More specifically, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri are creating their own version of DOGE, according to The Hill.

Elon Musk has indicated he’d even be quite happy to take DOGE to Mars.

Feb. 7, 2025: 10:00 p.m.:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Saudi Arabia big enough for a Palestinian state

As Gaza has been called out by President Trump to be cleared so that plans can move forward to rebuild it, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggests Saudi Arabia should take them in and keep them.

“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” he said in a Channel 14 interview picked up by The Jerusalem Post.

 

Feb. 7, 2025: 8:48 p.m.:

FCC asking American public if CBS guilty of dishonest journalism regarding Harris interview

Here, before your eyes, is a delicious opportunity to tell the FCC exactly what you think of CBS and how they deliberately misled the public when Kamala Harris was running for president, according to WNG. A public notice has been posted here, and comments are due by March 7, 2025