A House committee surprisingly rejected the GOP's ambitious budget bill, President Donald Trump visited the Middle East, the Supreme Court halted Trump's attempt to expedite deportations of Venezuelans, as the court also heard arguments over the president's pursuit to end birthright citizenship, and federal officials are investigating a social media post made by a former FBI director.Here are the top stories from the U.S. government this past week.Budget bill blockedHouse Republicans failed Friday to push their big package of tax breaks and spending cuts through the Budget Committee, as a handful of conservatives joined all Democrats in a vote against it.Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma are the Republicans who voted against it. Rep. Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania switched his vote from "yes" to "no" as a procedural tactic, he explained, to enable Republicans to bring the bill back for consideration. The GOP members who opposed the bill said they voted against it because it doesn't do enough to balance the deficit.The GOP budget includes trillions of dollars in tax cuts, increased border security and energy production spending, and cuts to Medicaid.Video below: Here's how proposed Medicaid cuts can impact AmericansTrump's trip to the Middle EastPresident Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week as part of his first major foreign trip of his second term.The president bypassed a trip to Turkey, where direct peace talks are taking place between Ukraine and Russia over the ongoing war.Instead, he spent the end of his trip focusing on securing a nuclear deal with Iran, before heading back to the U.S. on Friday.Trump met with Syria맥스카지노�s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first such encounter between the two nations맥스카지노� leaders in 25 years.During his trip, conversations continued about Qatar's controversial offer to give Trump a $400 million plane as a present.What is the Emoluments Clause? And how might it apply to Qatar giving Trump a plane? Video below: Trump wraps up Middle East tourIn other newsThe Supreme Court on Friday barred the Trump administration from quickly resuming deportations of Venezuelans under an 18th-century wartime law.The Supreme Court is reviewing Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship, focusing on the power of federal judges to block presidential orders.For context, here are the countries that allow birthright citizenship.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans claim is a call for violence against Trump.The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine since the war began ended in less than two hours, with Ukraine accusing Moscow of making "unacceptable demands." Israel launched dozens of airstrikes across northern and southern Gaza on Friday, killing more than 100 people and wounding hundreds.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is blocking DOJ nominees, as he seeks to probe the Qatari jet offer and its national security risks.Lawmakers questioned Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week on his agency's proposed staffing cuts, funding freezes and policy changes.Wall Street cruised to the finish of its strong week on Friday, as U.S. stocks glided closer to the all-time high they set just a few months earlier.