Barbara Sprunt
Barbara Sprunt is a correspondent on NPR's Washington Desk, covering Congress. She's previously reported and produced NPR's political coverage at the White House, on the campaign trail, and for the NPR Politics Podcast. She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. Sprunt got her start in radio at as an intern on NPR's Weekend All Things Considered and Tell Me More with Michel Martin. She graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. [Copyright 2025 NPR]
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The House of Representatives was sent home for the duration of the government shutdown. Members returned to the Capitol Wednesday with a lot on their minds. -
President Trump signed a bill to fund the government through the end of January, ending the shutdown that has dragged on for six weeks. -
A shrewd political strategist, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi has had an unprecedented career in Congress. First elected in 1987, Pelosi became one of the most effective leaders of the Democratic Party. -
More Americans are turning to food banks to help fill the assistance gap, but administrators caution they aren't designed to act as a safety net for a government program. -
Food banks have already been contending with higher food prices and increased need. Administrators say demand will skyrocket if federal nutrition benefits stop in a few days because of the government shutdown. -
New York State Police say the man was arrested after they received word from the FBI that that he made "threats to kill a member of Congress." -
Two separate, partisan spending bills failed in the Senate on Tuesday. The government will shut down at the end of the day barring a last-minute breakthrough. -
After canceling an earlier meeting, President Trump met with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders on Monday. Lawmakers have until the end of the day on Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown. -
In new letter to President Trump, Democratic congressional leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries request a meeting to discuss the path forward for government funding ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline. -
House Republicans are pushing a bill funding government agencies through November 21, but Democrats say without a plan to renew expiring health care subsidies they will oppose it.
