Lawmakers from across the political aisle welcomed the peaceful transition of power as Joe Biden took the oath of office at noon Wednesday to become the 46th president of the United States.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to say when she would send the Senate an article of impeachment charging former President Donald Trump with inciting an insurrection.

However, a source familiar with the plan but not authorized to speak on the record, said the article could be sent Friday — setting the stage for a trial Monday. “It will be soon,” Pelosi said.

But we must do it.”Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told fellow Senate Republicans on a call Thursday afternoon he wanted to delay Trump’s impeachment trial for several weeks until the former president had a legal team in place, according to a Senate source who was unauthorized to speak about a private call. .

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi dismissed critics who say that moving forward with the impeachment trial of Former President Donald Trump will undercut the Biden administration's message of unity.

Austin was speeding toward confirmation as President Joe Biden's new secretary of defense Thursday, as Congress waived a law prohibiting recently-retired officers from holding the post.

The Senate voted to exempt Austin, who has been out of uniform for less than five years, from the rule after a 69-27 Senate tally that came moments after a comparably lopsided 326-78 House vote.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor Thursday that a confirmation vote for Austin would be held Friday morning.

If confirmed, Austin would become the first Black secretary of defense in American history.

President-elect Joe Biden's choice to head the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, focused Tuesday on his status as a recently retired Army general, which would disqualify him from being secretary of defense without a congressional waiver.

President Joe Biden’s administration has put a pause on deportation for some undocumented immigrants, according to a memo from his acting Homeland Security Secretary. Hours after Biden was inaugurated, David Pekoske issued a memo calling for deportations to be halted for 100 days, immediately or by Friday at the the latest, as policies regarding immigration enforcement are being reviewed. Deportation is only paused for some, however.

immigration policies will change once construction of Donald Trump's border wall stops