Susan Collins

The two senators spoke during committee hearings where Cabinet secretaries fielded a variety of questions about the president's cost-cutting measures and policy priorities.

The Maine Republican, who is chairwoman of the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee, said the panel would hold an aggressive schedule of hearings on the White House's plan to cut more than $160 billion from federal programs.

During her first full hearing as committee chairwoman, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine also said the Trump administration had "apparently little or no justification" for abruptly cancelling research grants, laying off scientists and threatening further cuts.

Jordan Wood is among the first but certainly won't be the last person to announce their candidacy in what is expected to be one of the nation's closest-watched Senate races next year.

Nurses at Maine Medical Center and other supporters said they gathered outside the office of Sen. Susan Collins on Thursday to raise awareness about a proposal that could make deep cuts to Medicaid.

Canada is both the largest source of imported goods to Maine and the state's biggest export market, accounting an estimated $6 billion in cross-border trade last year.

Sen. Susan Collins steered clear of criticizing any one party in the meeting, which have clouded hopes for ending Ukraine's war with Russia.

In a statement, Collins criticized Kash Patel for what she described as his aggressive political activity and for statements that she said discredited the work of the agency.

Maine's two senators have voted opposite of one another on more than a half-dozen of President Trump's Cabinet picks. The latest, vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will now lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Republican said she received several assurances from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccines, although many public health organizations strongly opposed his nomination because of his legacy of questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines.