Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signaled that Democrats are preparing to move forward with budget reconciliation: a complex, fast-track process that requires just a simple majority to pass legislation rather than the usual 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and move forward. In a Senate now split 50-50, the procedure could allow Democrats to pass legislation without a single Republican in favor, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to cast a tie-breaking vote.

A vote on a Senate budget resolution, which is the first step in beginning the reconciliation process, is expected next week in the Senate. It would then go to the House for consideration.

Republicans are calling foul, warning Democrats that using reconciliation to pass COVID relief will diminish Biden's calls for unity throughout his campaign and in his inaugural address.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin and Trish Turner

When President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20, ramping up the available supply of COVID-19 vaccines became one of his administration's top priorities.

Now, the president and his team are hoping to find a way to produce even more vaccine doses at a faster pace, exceeding the quantity and timescale promised by Pfizer and Moderna as part of their contracts with the U.S. government.

But experts say it won't be so easy, as a vaccine is not a steel part but a complex biomedical product. 

Read more here. 

ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos and Sony Salzman.

The background of an American Sign Language interpreter who appeared during a White House press briefing Monday is raising questions about the Biden administration’s vetting process.

Members of the deaf community identified Heather Mewshaw on social media posts Monday, highlighting her previous work interpreting right-wing videos. She is also an organizer of Hands of Liberty, a group that provides ASL interpretation for right-wing videos, many of which contain misinformation.

While no public complaints have been made about Mewshaw’s interpretation of Monday's briefing, questions arose among the deaf community about whether Mewshaw could be trusted to accurately convey the Biden administration’s message, given her apparent political bias.

Mewshaw did not respond to requests for comment from ABC News on Friday. She has not interpreted for a White House briefing since Monday.

In a statement to ABC News, a White House official said the administration is not commenting on "specific people or personnel matters at this time."

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky and Ben Gittleson

As Biden visited the Walter Reed Military Medical Center to meet with wounded service members on Friday, the president reflected on the time he spent at the same hospital with his late son, Beau Biden. 

“You’ve been a great gift to my family,” Biden said to staff members, including the hospital’s director, Col. Andrew Barr.

“My son, Beau, after a year in Iraq came back with stage four glioblastoma,” he added. “You took care of him in his final days with great grace and dignity.” 

The president went on to speak about his experiences at the “old” Walter Reed and how much he loved the nurses. 

Biden also received a tour of the COVID-19 vaccination site at the hospital, which currently has 20 vaccination stations set up. 

The president walked from station to station and briefly chatted with people along the way. 

At the final station, Biden thanked the workers and chatted with one service member about to receive his first dose of the vaccine. 

“Thanks for what you’re doing. I really mean it,” the president said. “You're making a big difference. We’re going to make sure that everybody has enough. We’re going to get the supply up.” 

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle