Week of August 3, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 3, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Capitol Hill will be quiet for the foreseeable future as members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives take part in their annual August recess. Members of the House left Washington, D.C., on July 23 as House Republican leaders tried to avoid votes over files concerning financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Senators remained at the Capitol for an additional week for votes and other business, including a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing on the Department of Agriculture's proposed reorganization plan.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee.

STORY: USDA official justifies reorganization strategy; Arkansas' John Boozman weighs in on it

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!