Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang is a National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times. His reporting is regularly featured in the daily Threat Status newsletter.

Previously, he covered energy and the environment, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, and also spent two years as a White House correspondent during the Obama administration.

Before coming to The Times in 2011, Ben worked as political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa.

He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

Obama: ‘I can do whatever I want’

President Obama has taken heat recently for working around Congress whenever he thinks it necessary to, among other things, delay Obamacare mandates and trim immigration enforcement. But the commander-in-chief on Monday boasted of how, as president, "I can do whatever I want." Published February 10, 2014

White House: Obama isn’t at fault for Republican immigration stance

If the House doesn't take action on immigration, the chamber's Republican leadership shouldn't use a lack of trust in President Obama as an excuse, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday. Published February 10, 2014

Obamas, Biden all praise gay Missouri lineman

The White House on Monday praised Michael Sam, the NFL prospect and All-American defensive lineman at the University of Missouri who announced Sunday evening that he's gay. Published February 10, 2014

Obama, France’s Hollande tour Jefferson’s famed Monticello

President Obama and French President Francois Hollande on Monday afternoon will tour Monticello, the estate of former president and Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson. Published February 10, 2014

To distance themselves from Obama, 2016 Democrats will move to the left

The 2016 Democratic presidential field is likely to run to the left of President Obama, partly because candidates will try to distance themselves from his political baggage while jockeying for an increasingly liberal base of voters, analysts predict. Published February 9, 2014

White House locked down after man attempts to jump fence

The White House was locked down for at least an hour Friday afternoon after a man tried to scale the complex's north fence. Published February 7, 2014

Obama signs farm bill, hailing bipartisanship

President Obama on Friday used his pen for something other than executive orders, signing into law a $100 billion-a-year farm bill that he said represents a bipartisan breakthrough and is evidence Republicans and Democrats still can work together on meaningful legislation. Published February 7, 2014

Biden praises unions, dreams of drag racing

Vice President Joseph R. Biden on Wednesday delivered an impassioned speech to an organized labor convention in Washington but also yearned for the day he can ditch the Secret Service and drag race his friends. Published February 5, 2014

Obama forges new policy partnerships; no Congress or bully pulpit

President Obama's vow to work without Congress this year doesn't mean he's going it alone. Published February 4, 2014

After favorable review, Keystone pipeline faces one hurdle — politics

Now that the State Department has weighed in with a mostly favorable review, environmental concerns are unlikely to stop the massive Keystone XL oil pipeline — but there remains an even greater hurdle: politics. Published February 2, 2014

Obama vows more executive action; GOP counters with actual legislation

Wrapping up a busy week for his pen and phone, President Obama on Saturday vowed to continue acting without Congress wherever possible and said he'll find new partners outside Washington to help him. Published February 1, 2014

Keystone XL oil pipeline clears big hurdle

A long-awaited State Department review has raised no serious environmental objections to the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, potentially setting the stage for President Obama to approve the massive, politically charged project and dealing a blow to environmentalists who vehemently oppose it. Published January 31, 2014

With Keystone report looming, White House mum

With the State Department preparing to release its final environmental assessment of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline — a move that could come as early as Friday afternoon — the White House remains determined to stay out the fight between proponents of the $7 billion project and environmental activists who vehemently oppose it. Published January 31, 2014

Obama urges companies to change hiring practices, hire more long-term unemployed

President Obama on Friday formally announced a deal with some of the nation's largest companies to institute new hiring practices that do not "disadvantage" those who have been jobless for several months or longer. Published January 31, 2014

White House: Rich guilty of ‘hyperventilation’ over income inequality push

Some members of the "1 percent" in America fear President Obama's new laser-like focus on income inequality could devolve into another round of class warfare, but a top White House official on Friday said the nation's wealthiest ought to calm down. Published January 31, 2014

Obama ends post-SOTU trip with education speech

President Obama wrapped up a two-day, four-state tour Thursday by turning his attention to education, another portion of the revamped “opportunity agenda” he's pledged to undertake without Congress this year. Published January 30, 2014

Obama, Republicans share goals, but not solutions

President Obama and congressional Republicans both said this week they want to find common ground, but even though they share many of the same broad goals — putting Americans back to work, aiding a struggling middle class and promoting opportunity for all — there is little agreement on how to get there. Published January 30, 2014