Susan Collins

Ruby Whitmore of Old Town was one of several young people with Type 1 diabetes who shared their experiences with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is reviewing the Trump administration's proposed cuts to research programs.

Sen. Susan Collins cast a pivotal vote in pushing Trump's "big beautiful bill" past a key procedural hurdle step over the weekend but said Monday that changes to Medicaid are "problematic."

The Democratic governor laid out her concerns in a letter to the state's congressional delegation this week as the Senate continues work on the bill, which contains key aspects of President Trump's domestic agenda.

Wednesday's hearing was the first opportunity for members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which Collins leads, to question Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought about more than $9 billion that Trump wants to claw back from programs.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden expressed support for the airstrikes. Independent Sen. Angus King called them important yet "potentially dangerous" while Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said they were reckless and unconstitutional.

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.