{"id":438,"date":"2025-02-23T22:49:21","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T22:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/02\/23\/the-latest-on-trumps-presidency-as-musk-threatens-more-cuts-to-federal-workforce-cnn\/"},"modified":"2025-02-23T22:49:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T22:49:21","slug":"the-latest-on-trumps-presidency-as-musk-threatens-more-cuts-to-federal-workforce-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/02\/23\/the-latest-on-trumps-presidency-as-musk-threatens-more-cuts-to-federal-workforce-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"The latest on Trump\u2019s presidency as Musk threatens more cuts to federal workforce – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Live Updates<\/p>\n

The latest on Trump\u2019s presidency as Musk threatens more cuts to federal workforce <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
CNN’s Jake Tapper comments on President Donald Trump’s firing of the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”03:22″ data-source-html=” – Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/tapper-1-20250223162639501.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/tapper-1-20250223162639501.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=” State of the Union <\/a>” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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\"Jake <\/a> \t\t<\/div>\n
\t\t\tBy Jake Tapper<\/span><\/a>, CNN \t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 5:44 PM EST, Sun February 23, 2025 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-02-23T16:30:43.810Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/02\/23\/politics\/video\/donald-trump-fires-inspector-generals-military-tapper-sotu-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”donald-trump-fires-inspector-generals-military-tapper-sotu-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”donald-trump-fires-inspector-generals-military-tapper-sotu-digvid” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”false” data-details data-track-zone=”live-story-lede” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom”> <\/p>\n

CNN’s Jake Tapper comments on President Donald Trump’s firing of the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-02-23T16:30:43.810Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/02\/23\/politics\/video\/donald-trump-fires-inspector-generals-military-tapper-sotu-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”donald-trump-fires-inspector-generals-military-tapper-sotu-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”donald-trump-fires-inspector-generals-military-tapper-sotu-digvid” data-video-tags> \"tapper<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Jake Tapper reacts to Trump’s purge of inspectors general, military lawyers <\/p>\n

03:22 <\/span> – Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\u2022 Musk\u2019s ultimatum: <\/strong>Federal employees received a mass email Saturday<\/a> asking them to explain what work they did last week, with Elon Musk saying on social media that \u201cfailure to respond will be taken as a resignation.\u201d <\/strong>Leaders at federal agencies are scrambling to respond<\/a>, while unions have vowed legal challenges<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Government overhaul: <\/strong>The emails come as part of President Donald Trump\u2019s wider effort to radically overhaul government<\/a>, shrinking the federal workforce and paralyzing key agencies<\/a>. It includes the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development<\/a>, which is laying off about 2,000 workers and placing the majority of its remaining full-time employees on administrative leave. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Ukraine war: <\/strong>Trump will meet this week<\/a> with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who are grappling with the US president\u2019s break with traditional American foreign policy<\/a> on negotiations surrounding Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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About 2,000 employees at the US Agency for International Development will be laid off Sunday and a majority of the remaining full-time staff will be put on sweeping administrative leave overnight, workers were informed in an email. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and\/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally,\u201d the email, sent to employees at 2:42 p.m. ET said. <\/p>\n

\u201cConcurrently, USAID is beginning to implement a Reduction-in-Force that will affect approximately 2,000 USAID personnel with duty stations in the United States,\u201d the email continued. <\/p>\n

Those affected \u201cwill receive specific notifications\u201d on Sunday, the email said, and those who are designated to be essential will be informed by 5 p.m. ET. <\/p>\n

The move marks the latest in what has been a stunning decimation of the federal agency, which provides humanitarian assistance around the world. <\/p>\n

After a federal judge on Friday dissolved a temporary restraining order<\/a> blocking the government from putting thousands of the agency\u2019s employees on leave, the Trump administration\u2019s purge of the agency continued into the weekend. <\/p>\n

Among those targeted earlier in the weekend were employees at USAID\u2019s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance \u2014 some of whom are tasked with responding on short notice to disasters worldwide<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with additional details on the layoffs.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Trump administration\u2019s mass email<\/a> asking federal employees what they worked on last week \u2014 and Elon Musk\u2019s suggestion that anyone who does not respond will be dismissed \u2014 has prompted a cascade of questions and confusion for workers across government. <\/p>\n

While some federal agencies are advising workers to hold off on responding, and unions for the employees are vowing to bring legal challenges, leaders in other parts of the government are telling employees to comply. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what officials are telling their workers at several departments and agencies:<\/em> <\/p>\n

Department of Defense: <\/strong>Pentagon leadership is officially advising employees not to respond at this time to the emails, which was sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and will conduct any review in accordance with its own procedures,\u201d acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Darin Selnick wrote. \u201cWhen and if required, the department will coordinate responses to the email you have received from OPM. For now, please pause any response to the OPM email titled \u2018What did you do last week.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n

Multiple senior Defense Department officials told CNN the email thrust their weekend into chaos as they tried to determine what to tell employees about how to respond. <\/p>\n

Department of Homeland Security<\/strong>: DHS personnel received a message from the department\u2019s deputy under secretary for management, R.D. Alles, telling them not to respond for now, according to an email obtained by CNN. <\/p>\n

\u201cDHS management will respond on behalf of the department and all of its component offices,\u201d the email, dated Sunday, reads. \u201cNo reporting action from you is needed at this time. For now, please pause any responses outside of your DHS chain of command.\u201d <\/p>\n

Social Security Administration: <\/strong>Social Security workers are being told to comply with the email\u2019s instructions. <\/p>\n

In an email titled \u201cTime Sensitive: \u2018Accomplishments\u2019 Assignment,\u201d workers were told that the OPM email was legitimate and that they should comply with the request to list five bullet points on what they\u2019ve done. <\/p>\n

Staffers were encouraged to identify their most \u201cimpactful, mission-critical work accomplishments\u201d in the email, which was reviewed by CNN. The email noted that employees should not include any sensitive or confidential information. <\/p>\n

Department of Health and Human Services:<\/strong> HHS employees were also told that the OPM email was legitimate and that staffers should read and respond to it by the 11:59 p.m. ET Monday deadline. <\/p>\n

By contrast, some employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <\/strong>and the Food and Drug Administration<\/strong>, which are part of HHS, were told to wait until Monday for more guidance on how to respond. <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with additional agencies.<\/em> <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Meg Tirrell contributed to this report.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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A Wisconsin Republican congressman faced heated town hall meetings on Friday, where voters passionately voiced their concerns about Trump administration officials, CNN affiliate TMJ4 reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n

In a video following the town hall in Oshkosh, a woman confronted GOP Rep. Glenn Grothman regarding Elon Musk and others in government, saying they had used derogatory labels for people with disabilities. Grothman, seen walking away from her, replied, \u201cI don\u2019t believe it.\u201d Someone off-camera was heard saying, \u201cStand up for the people who elected you.\u201d <\/p>\n

Melissa Custer told CNN she arrived at the town hall 20 minutes early but was unable to enter because officials were turning people away due to fire code regulations. As she waited outside, she captured a video of constituents booing Grothman when he got out of his car. <\/p>\n

\"Constituents<\/picture> <\/div>\n

In the video, you can hear a man yell at Grothman to \u201cgrow a spine.\u201d Custer said people there were \u201cupset, angry, and scared.\u201d <\/p>\n

The lawmaker faced concerns related to Medicare and Medicaid, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and Social Security, receiving some boos during packed town halls across northeast Wisconsin last week, according to CNN affiliate WBAY.<\/a> <\/p>\n

CNN has reached out to Grothman\u2019s office for comment. <\/p>\n

Tough reception back home for some GOP lawmakers: <\/strong>Grothman is not the only Republican congressman to face pushback<\/a> during constituent outreach in recent days. <\/p>\n

Fellow Wisconsin Rep. Scott Fitzgerald was questioned by fired-up residents about Ukraine and Musk during a town hall Thursday. GOP Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia faced some tough criticism<\/a> and occasional boos from constituents at an event Thursday, while GOP Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon faced a similar reaction<\/a> during a town hall Wednesday. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Shania Shelton contributed to this report. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Calling the Trump administration\u2019s email<\/a> demanding federal employees say what they are working on \u201cillegal,\u201d the National Federation of Federal Employees advised members to forward the email to their immediate supervisors and ask for guidance. <\/p>\n

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal union, gave similar guidance to its members, saying workers should ask their supervisors what information can be disclosed to the Office of Personnel Management, which sent the Saturday afternoon email blast. The union said it will provide further guidance Monday. <\/p>\n

OPM\u2019s mass email followed a post on X<\/a> by Elon Musk on Saturday, in which he said failure to respond to the email would be considered a resignation. <\/p>\n

Elsewhere, the National Treasury Employees Union is advising members not to respond yet, while the union confers on next steps, a spokesperson told CNN. It called the email \u201cunAmerican\u201d in a statement on Saturday. <\/p>\n

NFFE told members it understands that many employees cannot say what they are working on because of security issues, and that others may be unable to comply by the deadline of 11:59 pm Monday because they are on leave or special assignment. The union said federal employees have privacy rights and the request from a general OPM email address may violate those rights. <\/p>\n

AFGE said it will challenge any attempt to fire workers and has contacted OPM to reverse the instruction or clarify its authority<\/a> to issue such a request. NFFE said it will do the same. <\/p>\n

AFGE told members that Musk has \u201cno known authority\u201d to claim that nonresponses will be taken as terminations, and that OPM does not have the authority to give such an assignment to federal employees in this manner. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump mocked the controversy surrounding Elon Musk\u2019s latest threat to cut federal employees, posting a \u201cSpongeBob SquarePants\u201d meme Sunday that ridiculed the situation. <\/p>\n

\u201cGot done last week,\u201d the image reads<\/a>, followed by a list of five bullet points: \u201cCried about Trump, cried about Elon, made it into the office for once, read some emails, cried about Trump and Elon some more.\u201d <\/p>\n

The post comes after employees began receiving emails Saturday afternoon<\/a> <\/strong>asking them to write \u201capprox. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week.\u201d In a post on social media, Musk threatened the jobs of workers who do not comply, saying \u201cfailure to respond will be taken as a resignation.\u201d <\/p>\n

As CNN previously reported<\/a>, some agencies have advised workers not to respond to the email yet \u2014 notably at agencies where much or all of employees\u2019 duties may be sensitive. <\/p>\n

Mass layoffs across the federal government, the country\u2019s largest employer, have led to widespread confusion<\/a> and disrupted critical work on everything from federal cybersecurity to life-saving medical research<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s post comes on the same day Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah<\/a> asked Musk to \u201cput a dose of compassion\u201d into the Department of Government Efficiency\u2019s downsizing efforts. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump shared congratulations on social media to the \u201cConservative Party in Germany\u201d on what he described as a major election victory on Sunday. <\/p>\n

The conservative Christian Democratic Union party tops the vote in the German elections<\/a>, exit polls project, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) almost doubled its vote share and surged into second place. <\/p>\n

In a post on Truth Social<\/a>, Trump framed the result as a rejection of progressive policies on energy and immigration, drawing parallels between Germany\u2019s political climate and that of the United States. Trump linked the outcome to his own win, suggesting that the political momentum was shifting globally in favor of conservative movements. <\/p>\n

Friedrich Merz<\/a> is projected to become Germany\u2019s next chancellor after exit polls indicate his center-right CDU party secured the most votes in the elections, with economic challenges and immigration as key issues for voters. <\/p>\n

Remember: <\/strong>Two members of Trump\u2019s inner circle, Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance, controversially waded into German politics ahead of the elections. Vance met with AfD leader Alice Weidel<\/a> and Musk appeared virtually at a campaign event<\/a> for the party, which has been iced out by the country\u2019s mainstream parties over its staunch anti-immigrant stance and other far-right views. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Ivana Kottasov\u00e1 and Sophie Tanno contributed reporting to this post.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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US immigration officials launched a new round of enforcement operations<\/a> in the Los Angeles area Sunday, according to two people familiar with the effort. <\/p>\n

The operations in Southern California follow recent efforts ordered by the Trump administration to arrest people unlawfully residing in places like Chicago and New York. <\/p>\n

Video posted on social media by community activists appeared to show federal agents gathered outside one home east of downtown Los Angeles. <\/p>\n

It is unclear how many people have been detained as part of Sunday\u2019s operations. CNN has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment. <\/p>\n

Sources previously told CNN that US immigration officials were planning for a wave of enforcement actions to detain and deport people in the Los Angeles area. <\/p>\n

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were expected to be assisted by agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, and US Customs and Border Protection, sources said. <\/p>\n

Los Angeles is one of a number of Democratic-led cities in California, Colorado and Illinois that have instituted sanctuary city policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration officials\u2019 efforts to arrest, detain or gather information on migrants. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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NASA leadership is working to issue guidance on how workers should respond to this weekend\u2019s email blast<\/a> from the Office of Personnel Management, which Elon Musk has said will lead to dismissals for federal employees who do not respond. <\/p>\n

The emails, titled \u201cWhat did you do last week?\u201d instruct workers to respond in bulleted format summarizing their recent duties by Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET. <\/p>\n

Nicky Fox, the head of NASA\u2019s science mission directorate (SMD), sent an email to employees on Saturday afternoon saying the email was an \u201copportunity to showcase the great work we do in SMD.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIn just the next two weeks we have 4 launches and 2 lunar landings with missions that will expand our understanding of the first stages of the universe, the nature of space weather, and characterize the lunar surface in preparation for our return to the moon,\u201d Fox\u2019s email, a copy of which was obtained by CNN, reads. <\/p>\n

But on Sunday morning, Fox sent a follow-up email reading, \u201cUpdate. Please go ahead and prepare your bullets but do not submit to OPM until you receive further guidance from your supervisor.\u201d <\/p>\n

Three additional emails from NASA leaders that were obtained by CNN offer similar guidance, asking workers to wait until Monday before taking action. <\/p>\n

One NASA employee noted that they did not receive any communication. But the source highlighted that they were given guidance a few weeks ago not to check or send work email when not on duty in response to the return-to-office executive order.<\/a> <\/p>\n

When reached for comment on Sunday, a NASA spokesperson said, \u201cwe are anticipating sending some additional guidance to our workforce tomorrow.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel could resume \u201cintense warfare\u201d in Gaza \u201cat any moment,\u201d at a precarious time for the ceasefire deal with Hamas. <\/p>\n

His comments come a day after Israel delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinians prisoners<\/a> and detainees who were set to be freed after Hamas returned six hostages. Israel has taken issue with the use of exchanges as propaganda opportunities<\/a> for the militant group. <\/p>\n

During his speech, Netanyahu repeatedly thanked US President Donald Trump for his support, saying it played a role in securing the release of Israeli hostages, and alluded to post-war plans for the Palestinian enclave. <\/p>\n

\u201cTrump sees eye to eye with us. We support his plan to allow freedom of movement from Gaza and create a different Gaza,\u201d the prime minister said. <\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Trump said that Palestinians should be permanently relocated from Gaza so the US could take control of the territory and turn it into a new \u201cRiviera,\u201d which prompted swift backlash<\/a> across the Middle East and Europe. <\/p>\n

Coming up this week:<\/strong> Steve Witkoff, Trump\u2019s envoy for the Middle East, will return to the region in the coming days for talks on maintaining the fragile ceasefire-for-hostages deal<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Witkoff told CNN on Sunday that he still expects the agreement to enter a second phase, despite questions about its future. Talks to begin the second phase, which would see the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all living hostages held by Hamas, were supposed to begin more than two weeks ago. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Republican Rep. Jim Jordan on Sunday dismissed criticism over the Department of Government Efficiency\u2019s mass layoffs of federal workers, arguing that while \u201csome mistakes\u201d were made, the pushback to the firings has been \u201cridiculous.\u201d <\/p>\n

Appearing on Fox News, Jordan referred to a Washington Post report<\/a> on how the layoffs have impacted national parks, and that the only locksmith at Yosemite National Park who knew how to rescue visitors from locked restrooms was fired. <\/p>\n

He also insisted House Republicans aren\u2019t looking to make cuts to Medicaid, saying he doesn\u2019t consider it a cut to implement \u201ccommon sense\u201d work requirements in order to receive the benefit. <\/p>\n

Broader impact of firings:<\/strong> The layoffs at federal agencies have had severe impacts far beyond national parks. <\/p>\n

The Trump administration recently scrambled amid a flood of criticism<\/a> to claw back employees they fired without realizing they manage the country\u2019s nuclear weapons<\/a>, sources told CNN. Dozens have been fired at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency despite hacking threats, and officials warn that a purge of federal health agencies could have \u201cdeadly consequences.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n

Republican senator strikes a different tone: <\/strong>GOP Sen. John Curtis of Utah asked Elon Musk to \u201cput a dose of compassion\u201d into DOGE\u2019s downsizing efforts during an interview Sunday on CBS\u2019 \u201cFace the Nation.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThese are real people. These are real lives,\u201d Curtis said. \u201cIt\u2019s a false narrative to say we have to cut, and you have to be cruel to do it, as well. We can do both.\u201d <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with Sen. John Curtis\u2019 remarks.<\/em> <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Keely Aouga, Zachary Cohen, Ella Nilsen, Rene Marsh, Meg Tirrell and Sunlen Serfaty contributed to this report. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Elon Musk sent his latest shockwave through the federal workforce<\/a> on Saturday when he announced that all employees would be receiving emails asking them to explain what work they did last week \u2014 and that \u201cfailure to respond will be taken as a resignation.\u201d <\/p>\n

The email blast caused fear and confusion for workers across the country. <\/p>\n

One federal worker told CNN they find the demand \u201cinsulting\u201d and \u201cabsolutely mind-blowing,\u201d especially considering their activity at work is already tracked. <\/p>\n

Another federal staffer told CNN they feel compelled to reply. <\/p>\n

\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m afraid to not respond by the deadline based on Elon\u2019s tweets that nonresponse would be considered a resignation,\u201d said the worker, who noted that their friends at another agency \u201care on the fence on whether to respond with actual accomplishments or to respond with bullets of the oath we took to the Constitution.\u201d <\/p>\n

The head of a top union representing federal workers lambasted Musk\u2019s ultimatum, saying the group would fight any \u201cunlawful terminations.\u201d <\/p>\n

The head of the National Treasury Employees Union also swiftly criticized the move, calling it \u201ccompletely unAmerican\u201d in a statement vowing to defend civil servants. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re just catching up on the email ultimatum, <\/strong>here\u2019s what to know<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump will sit with two key European leaders at the White House in the coming days after a week that saw him reverse US policy on Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine<\/a>, falsely accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of starting the conflict and echoing other Moscow talking points. <\/p>\n

Trump and his administration have been engaged with Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a> on the potential terms of a deal to end the fighting, while also negotiating with Kyiv on a pact that would grant US access to 50% of Ukraine\u2019s mineral revenues<\/a> as back-payment for American assistance. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what top Trump officials and US lawmakers are saying about the latest developments:<\/em> <\/p>\n

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: <\/strong>The defense secretary vowed Sunday to be tough with Moscow, saying, \u201cyou\u2019ve got to stare down the Russians\u201d to negotiate the end of the war \u2014 but he declined to expressly blame Russia for its invasion. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is, the president is focused on one thing and one thing only, and that\u2019s stopping the killing and the destruction across Ukraine,\u201d Hegseth said in an interview on \u201cFox News Sunday.\u201d <\/p>\n

Hegseth vowed to have \u201cearnest conversations about difficult things\u201d with both Russia and Ukraine. But he demurred when pressed on who bears responsibility for starting the conflict. <\/p>\n

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: <\/strong>The treasury secretary said Trump\u2019s Ukrainian mineral proposal is intended to demonstrate to Russia long-term economic ties between Washington and Kyiv. <\/p>\n

Voicing optimism the deal would be signed this week, Bessent said Moscow had already expressed its displeasure at such an arrangement. \u201cThe Russians hate this deal,\u201d he said, dubbing it an \u201ceconomic security guarantee\u201d that would ensure it\u2019s in the US\u2019 best interest to protect the Ukrainian economy. <\/p>\n

GOP Rep. Don Bacon: <\/strong>The Republican, who represents a Nebraska swing district, told CNN he was angered by Trump blaming Ukraine for starting the war, calling it \u201cvictim blaming.\u201d <\/p>\n

Democratic Rep. Jim Himes:<\/strong> The Connecticut lawmaker and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee said he did not agree with the Trump administration\u2019s approach surrounding the minerals deal, telling Fox News, \u201cIt just looks like an episode of \u2018The Sopranos.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n

Himes said Trump \u201cis standing with the bad guy\u201d and demanding concessions from an imperiled Ukraine, like \u201csome mafia thing.\u201d He also suggested Chinese President Xi Jinping is looking at the latest developments<\/a> as a signal for a potential future conflict with Taiwan. <\/p>\n

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler: <\/strong>The New York congressman, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he \u201cdid not agree with the president\u2019s rhetoric\u201d about Zelensky and emphasized the need for unity between the US and Ukraine in an interview on ABC\u2019s \u201cThis Week.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cVladimir Putin is a vile dictator and thug, and he is clearly responsible for the war in Ukraine,\u201d Lawler said. \u201cRussia, China and Iran have been working in a coordinated effort to undermine and destabilize the United States, Europe, Israel and the free world. They are not our allies or our friends, and we must be clear-eyed about that.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to fire<\/a> Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown and other senior officers in a major shake-up of senior military leadership last week. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe president deserves to pick his key national security and military advisory team. There are lots of presidents who\u2019ve made changes,\u201d Hegseth said on \u201cFox News Sunday.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump fired Brown on Friday night, replacing him with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan \u201cRazin\u201d Caine<\/a>. Shortly after, Hegseth dismissed the chief of the US Navy and the vice chief of the Air Force. <\/p>\n

Hegseth, addressing Trump\u2019s decision to overhaul top military positions, reiterated the administration\u2019s commitment to aligning leadership with its national security vision. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a reflection of the president wanting the right people around him to execute the national security approach we want to take,\u201d Hegseth said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have a lot of respect for C.Q. Brown; I got to know him over the course of a month. He\u2019s an honorable man, not the right man for the moment,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

GOP congressman objects to Brown\u2019s firing: <\/strong>Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from a Nebraska swing district, objected to Trump\u2019s firing of Brown. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was a colonel and a one-star with C.Q. Brown. He did not deserve to be fired,\u201d Bacon, who served in combat in the Air Force, told CNN. \u201cThe military is resilient. I\u2019m just worried about the lack of decency and class.\u201d <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Manu Raju contributed reporting to this post.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he was \u201cready\u201d to resign as leader if it meant peace in his country<\/a>, suggesting he could swap stepping down for NATO membership. <\/p>\n

Some background: <\/strong>The Ukrainian president previously said his country\u2019s army will need to double in size if NATO denies it membership to the alliance. Earlier this month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Kyiv joining NATO \u2014 a long-held goal \u2014 was unrealistic<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Zelensky\u2019s comments follow an escalating spat<\/a> between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump after the US president falsely accused Ukraine of starting the conflict and called Zelensky a \u201cdictator.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday refused to say whether he has confidence in New York City Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 ability to lead amid allegations of a quid pro quo deal with the Trump administration<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes or no, do you have confidence in Mayor Adams to lead New York City?\u201d CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper asked Jeffries on \u201cState of the Union.\u201d <\/p>\n

Adams is facing allegations that he\u2019s cooperating with the Trump administration\u2019s mass deportation efforts in exchange for the Justice Department to drop federal corruption charges against him. The Democratic mayor has denied any quid pro quo with the administration. <\/p>\n

Pressed on Adams, Jeffries \u2014 who has previously called the situation \u201cdisturbing\u201d \u2014 declined to comment on the charges against the New York City mayor and the federal case. <\/p>\n

Some background:<\/strong> A federal judge vacated the upcoming trial date for Adams but declined to immediately dismiss the charges all together. Judge Dale Ho, instead, is appointing conservative attorney Paul Clement to present arguments challenging the Justice Department\u2019s decision to drop charges against Adams. <\/p>\n

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, meanwhile, announced Thursday<\/a> that she will not use her executive powers to remove Adams from office, at least for now, instead opting to propose a set of guardrails that aim to severely limit his independence. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"US<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, will return to the region this week for continued talks on maintaining the fragile ceasefire-for-hostages deal<\/a> in Gaza. <\/p>\n

Witkoff told CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper on Sunday that he still expected the agreement to enter a second phase, despite questions about its future, after what he described as an extension of Phase 1. Talks to begin the second phase, which would see the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all living hostages held by Hamas, were supposed to begin more than two weeks ago. <\/p>\n

Witkoff said he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is \u201cwell-motivated\u201d to see the arrangement continue, despite pressure from the leader\u2019s right-wing government to abandon the deal and resume the war. <\/p>\n

Witkoff stopped short of saying whether Hamas needed to be eliminated entirely. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would say at this point for sure, for sure, they can\u2019t be any part of \u2026 governance in Gaza,\u201d he said. \u201cAs to existing, I\u2019d leave that that detail to the prime minister.\u201d <\/p>\n

Some context: <\/strong>Israel has delayed an expected release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for returned Israeli hostages \u201cuntil further notice,\u201d the Palestinian Prisoners Society said early Sunday. <\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s Prime Minister\u2019s Office confirmed the postponement, demanding guarantees that future hostage releases will take place without \u201chumiliating ceremonies.\u201d <\/p>\n

Hamas has used recent hostage releases as opportunities for anti-Israel propaganda<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump\u2019s foreign envoy Steve Witkoff predicted Sunday that Ukraine would agree to a mineral rights deal with the US this week after initially balking at its terms<\/a>, and credited Trump\u2019s outbursts of anger toward his Ukrainian counterpart<\/a> as contributing to the agreement being signed. <\/p>\n

In an interview with Jake Tapper on \u201cState of the Union,\u201d Witkoff also backed Trump\u2019s assertions that Russia had been provoked into starting the war, lending voice to Moscow\u2019s own explanations<\/a> for its illegal invasion that began three years ago. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe war didn\u2019t need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn\u2019t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Witkoff, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month as part of efforts to release a detained American, said he was confident the Russians were serious about striking a peace deal in the near-term \u2014 though he didn\u2019t specify what concessions Moscow would make to end the war. <\/p>\n

Some background: <\/strong>The mineral deal, which was first presented to Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on a visit to Kyiv, would grant US access to 50% of Ukraine\u2019s mineral revenues as back-payment for American assistance following Russia\u2019s invasion. It did not contain any future security guarantees, nor commitments for continued US assistance. <\/p>\n

Zelensky refused to sign the agreement when Bessent presented it to him, infuriating Trump and prompting him to lash out online. <\/p>\n

But the talks have been ongoing, and Witkoff suggested Trump\u2019s public anger had led to a change of heart in Zelensky. \u201cI expect to see a deal signed this week,\u201d Witkoff said. <\/p>\n

While the Trump administration continues to project confidence, a source familiar with the negotiations told CNN on Saturday that the current draft deal was \u201cnot the one President Zelensky would accept.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal says the preservation of the filibuster has given Democrats an \u201cinstrument to preserve democracy,\u201d despite his party pushing hard to eliminate the potent stalling technique when they were in the majority and controlled the White House just four years ago. <\/p>\n

To break a filibuster, there must be 60 votes, giving Democrats leverage in the 53-47 GOP-controlled Senate. But for years when they were in the majority, Democrats had been pushing to lower the threshold to 51 votes, which would dramatically weaken the power of the minority party. <\/p>\n

Now, Blumenthal and Democrats are relying on the filibuster to block much of Trump\u2019s most aggressive ambitions, including a federal takeover of the District of Columbia. <\/p>\n

Blumenthal said even though he supported abolishing the 60-vote threshold on legislation, he is \u201cglad\u201d about the outcome of the effort failing. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, it\u2019s an instrument \u2014 a tool that we need to use. And in the long run, probably reform will dictate that the filibuster be eliminated. But to preserve democracy, ironically, we need to use an anti-democratic tool. And that\u2019s the kind of agility and nimbleness that we need against the onslaught that we\u2019re seeing on civil liberties,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump\u2019s false claims that Ukraine started the war<\/a> with Russia have provoked outrage among American volunteers fighting with the Ukrainian army. <\/p>\n

The US military has not supported Ukraine with boots on the ground, but many American veterans<\/a> have signed up to join the fight since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion in February 2022. <\/p>\n

CNN contacted several US soldiers on the front line to get their reaction. Some refused to talk, saying they didn\u2019t want to exacerbate an already difficult situation. Others were afraid of potential retribution from the US. Those who spoke to CNN were unanimous in their disagreement with Trump. <\/p>\n

In an audio message, Whitefish, who is originally from Colorado, said he understands the \u201cAmerica First\u201d perspective, but that Trump was going to put Ukraine \u201cin a position that it really cannot defend itself.\u201d <\/p>\n

He added that Trump\u2019s comments spit in the face of American soldiers who have died defending Ukraine in the war \u2014 and could have devastating consequences for the rest of Europe if the conflict is allowed to expand. <\/p>\n

Another American volunteer, who has fought in Ukraine since 2022 and asked to remain anonymous, said he applauded the effort to stop the killing, but that Trump underestimated Russia. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am certainly tired of my friends dying,\u201d he said in a message to CNN. \u201cBut the prime problem is still there \u2014 you, me, Trump, Congress, cannot control the Russian Army. So sure, you might stop the Ukrainians, but then the Russians won\u2019t stop.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Sen.<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski lambasted the Trump administration\u2019s blanket firings across the federal government, saying they have \u201creally been detrimental\u201d and disrespected hard-working employees. <\/p>\n

Speaking with CNN\u2019s Manu Raju, Murkowski, whose state of Alaska has some of the largest national parks in the country, questioned the legality of the moves. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s concern about being able to be ready for the wildland fires that we experience earlier and earlier every year,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cThe National Park Service, the abrupt terminations that we have seen for those has really been detrimental.\u201d <\/p>\n

Murkowski said she was hearing from concerned constituents. She also criticized the treatment of the employees. <\/p>\n

When asked if she thought the Trump administration may being breaking the law, Murkowski said \u201cit is a concern.\u201d <\/p>\n

Musk\u2019s ultimatum: <\/strong>Murkowski, who is rare among Republicans in her past willingness to publicly break with President Donald Trump<\/a>, made her latest comments as federal employees receive mass emails<\/a> asking them to explain what work they did last week. <\/p>\n

Elon Musk, who runs Trump\u2019s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, said on social media that failure to respond to the emails \u201cwill be taken as a resignation,\u201d <\/strong>further roiling the beleaguered federal workforce. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Live Updates The latest on Trump\u2019s presidency as Musk threatens more cuts to federal workforce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}