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Lauren Toms

lmeier@washingtontimes.com

Lauren Toms is a national security reporter for The Washington Times, covering national security committees on Capitol Hill, foreign affairs, defense, and diplomacy. She began covering politics at CNN during the 2016 presidential election, working closely with the national security and justice teams, and later joined Axios as an editor specializing in international and military coverage.
Lauren holds a master's degree in U.S. law from Washington University in St. Louis school of law, and a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communications from the George Washington University school of media and public affairs. She can be reached at ltoms@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Lauren Toms

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks back to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) **FILE**

Senate pushes ahead — slowly — in battle to override Trump defense bill veto

The fate of the annual defense policy bill hit a standstill this week as Senate Democrats held strong to their demand of holding a vote to increase stimulus checks to millions of Americans before enacting the military legislation, temporarily suspending a handful of military pay and benefit provisions.

December 31, 2020
Veterans, wearing protective masks due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, gather during a Veterans Day ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, in Derry, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) **FILE**

More than 6,600 veterans have died from COVID-19 this year

The Department of Veterans Affairs is capping off 2020 with a sobering reality that over 6,600 of its patients died from coronavirus-related complications this year, and more than 151,000 were infected with the virus.

December 31, 2020
The Senate voted Wednesday to proceed with the debate on President Trump’s veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Senate moves closer to overriding Trump veto of defense bill

President Trump was on track to suffer the first veto override of his presidency Wednesday evening as the Republican-controlled Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle to joining the Democratic House in passing a popular $740.5 defense policy bill over his strong objections.

December 30, 2020
In this Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference with other Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, while Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, listens at left. (Nicholas Kamm/Pool Photo via AP) ** FILE **

McConnell blocks Democrats’ bid for quick approval of $2,000 stimulus checks

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked Democrats' attempt Tuesday to more than triple COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, and moved to link any increase -- which has the backing of President Trump -- with a repeal of liability protections for Big Tech, leading Democrats to delay action on a major defense bill.

December 29, 2020
The U.S. Capitol is seen, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ** FILE **

House overrides Trump veto of massive defense bill

The House on Monday evening issued a bipartisan rebuke to President Trump for his recent veto of the must-pass annual defense policy bill, sending a clear message to the White House that a majority of lawmakers back the legislation.

December 28, 2020
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Washington Democrat, is shown in this July 2020 file photo. (ASSOCIATED PRESS) **FILE**

House gears up to override Trump’s defense policy bill veto

The House is expected to vote Monday to override President Trump's veto of the must-pass annual defense policy bill after it secured a veto-proof majority in its passage earlier this month despite repeated veto threats from the White House.

December 28, 2020