{"id":920,"date":"2025-03-27T16:04:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/27\/live-updates-trump-administration-news-signal-scandal-health-department-cuts-and-new-auto-tariffs-cnn\/"},"modified":"2025-03-27T16:04:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:04:11","slug":"live-updates-trump-administration-news-signal-scandal-health-department-cuts-and-new-auto-tariffs-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/27\/live-updates-trump-administration-news-signal-scandal-health-department-cuts-and-new-auto-tariffs-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Trump administration news; Signal scandal, health department cuts and new auto tariffs – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported US cars that will go into effect April 3. Trump believes these tariffs will boost US manufacturing, but economist Mark Zandi predicts the tariffs will result in higher prices and less US jobs.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”02:32″ data-source-html=” – Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/zandicomp.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/zandicomp.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

\n
\"Kate <\/a> <\/div>\n
By Kate Bolduan<\/span><\/a>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 11:52 AM EDT, Thu March 27, 2025 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-03-27T14:36:41.539Z” data-video-section=”business” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/03\/27\/business\/video\/trump-tariffs-cars-impact-mark-zandi-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”trump-tariffs-cars-impact-mark-zandi-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”trump-tariffs-cars-impact-mark-zandi-digvid” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details data-track-zone=”top” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom”> <\/p>\n

President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported US cars that will go into effect April 3. Trump believes these tariffs will boost US manufacturing, but economist Mark Zandi predicts the tariffs will result in higher prices and less US jobs.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-03-27T14:36:41.539Z” data-video-section=”business” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/03\/27\/business\/video\/trump-tariffs-cars-impact-mark-zandi-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”trump-tariffs-cars-impact-mark-zandi-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”trump-tariffs-cars-impact-mark-zandi-digvid” data-video-tags> \"zandicomp.jpg\"<\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

‘Buckle in’: Top economist says Trump’s tariffs may backfire <\/p>\n

02:32 <\/span> – Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

‘Buckle in’: Top economist says Trump’s tariffs may backfire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

02:32 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

\u2022 Auto tariffs stoke trade war: <\/strong>President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff<\/a> on all cars and car parts shipped to the US, drawing global criticism. Canada\u2019s prime minister said the move was a \u201cdirect attack\u201d<\/a> that violated the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Signal scandal:<\/strong> A federal judge will hold an emergency hearing today<\/a> over the Cabinet-level Signal chat scandal<\/a> as top Trump officials deflect blame<\/a> and downplay the leak<\/a>. The White House declined today to give an update<\/a> on the chat investigation, calling the episode a \u201cmistake.\u201d You can read an annotated version of the texts here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Key agency cuts: <\/strong>The US Department of Health and Human Services is planning to cut 10,000 full-time employees across health agencies,<\/a> the department told CNN, as the administration continues its government overhaul. <\/a>This comes on top of 10,000 employees who\u2019ve left voluntarily. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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

After President Donald Trump signed an executive action authorizing 25% tariffs on cars and car parts imported to the US<\/a>, leaders from foreign countries likely to be hit hardest by the taxes shared sharp public criticism. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what foreign leaders and officials have been saying:<\/em> <\/p>\n

Canada: <\/strong>Prime Minister <\/strong>Mark Carney said the tariffs was a \u201cdirect attack\u201d<\/a> in violation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and that Ottawa would examine its options for a response \u2014 including possible retaliatory tariffs. Canada\u2019s Cabinet Committee on Canada-US Relations convened a meeting this morning to discuss its options. <\/p>\n

Mexico: <\/strong>Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would offer a \u201ccomprehensive response\u201d to the tariffs on April 3, but signaled that her government is working behind the scenes to remove or reduce fees on certain Mexican-assembled autos and parts. <\/p>\n

Japan: <\/strong>Prime Minister <\/strong>Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo would consider \u201call options\u201d in response to the tariffs. <\/p>\n

South Korea: <\/strong>Auto companies are expected to experience considerable difficulties due to the tariffs on cars and auto parts, trade minister Ahn Duk-geun said. Ahn held an emergency response meeting with representatives from automobile companies, industry associations and research institutions to discuss the tariffs. <\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Hyundai committed to<\/a> investing $21 billion in the US over the next three years. The investment would focus on expanding its manufacturing capabilities. <\/p>\n

European Commission: <\/strong>President <\/strong>Ursula von der Leyen said tariffs would hurt Americans, though she didn\u2019t promise any retaliation. The EU had announced retaliatory tariffs in response to steel and aluminum tariffs Trump levied this month but postponed them in hopes of a negotiated agreement. <\/p>\n

China: <\/strong>Unlike its Asian rivals, China\u2019s car industry is largely insulated from this round of tariffs. The Biden administration increased tariffs<\/a> on Chinese electric vehicles to 100%, which has effectively shut them out of the market. Nonetheless, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused the US of violating World Trade Organization rules by imposing the auto tariffs. <\/p>\n

The United Kingdom<\/strong> is not planning imminent retaliatory tariffs on car imports from the US, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said. The US is the second-largest market for UK car exports after the European Union, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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

The ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is asking the directors of 24 federal agencies to explain whether individuals affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency are following privacy and cybersecurity laws as they access sensitive systems and databases. <\/p>\n

In a series of letters dated March 24, Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters asked the head of agencies \u2014 including the departments of Justice, Homeland Security, State and Defense \u2014 to identify all DOGE-affiliated individuals working within their agencies and name all agency systems those individuals have access to. The letter asks for that information before April 11. <\/p>\n

CNN previously reported<\/a> the Elon Musk-led initiative has sought access to highly sensitive taxpayer data housed at the Internal Revenue Service. A federal judge earlier this month blocked<\/a> the Social Security Administration from giving DOGE access to data that contained the personally identifiable information of millions of Americans. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, and ranking Democrat Jack Reed \u2014 in a letter dated Wednesday to the acting Department of Defense inspector general \u2014 requested an investigation and assessment of the Signal chat incident.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Wicker declined Wednesday evening to say his committee is conducting a full investigation into the Signal chat controversy. \u201cWe are commissioning fact-finding, oversight processes about that,\u201d Wicker said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

The White House declined to offer an update on its internal investigation into the Signal group chat of top Trump national security officials, calling the incident a \u201cmistake.\u201d <\/p>\n

Asked by CNN this morning about the status of the investigation promised yesterday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she did not have any new information, but said the White House has been \u201cincredibly transparent about this entire situation.\u201d <\/p>\n

Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker has said that he and the top Democrat on the panel, Sen. Jack Reed, are formally asking the administration for an inspector general report on the Signal chat and a classified briefing from a senior official, but Leavitt said Thursday that the White House has yet to see any requests from Congress. <\/p>\n

As top officials cast the group chat reporting as a \u201choax\u201d and seek to malign The Atlantic\u2019s Jeffrey Goldberg, Leavitt claimed the White House has \u201cnever denied that this was a mistake,\u201d pinning blame on national security adviser Mike Waltz. <\/p>\n

Leavitt also highlighted Trump\u2019s auto tariff announcement<\/a>, calling it a \u201cgreat thing for auto workers\u201d as she previewed the promised reciprocal tariffs coming next week. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Judge James Boasberg is calling the Trump administration into court today at 4 p.m. ET for an emergency hearing over the Cabinet-level Signal chat <\/a>about a Yemen attack this that inadvertently included a journalist. <\/p>\n

An advocacy group has sued because of the chat, accusing department secretaries and intelligence chiefs of flouting federal records laws with the auto-delete features of the Signal texting app. <\/p>\n

Lawsuits like these can be difficult lifts legally in court for outside groups. But concerns over the use of Signal for federal business now could prompt the judge \u2014 the chief of Washington, DC\u2019s federal trial court, who has extensive experience with records law and national security and intelligence matters, and whom President Donald Trump has tried to paint as a political foe in recent weeks \u2014 to ask questions of the Cabinet officials and seek answers quickly. <\/p>\n

More on Boasberg:<\/strong> The assignment is a mere coincidence, because the DC District Court randomly assigns cases to its collection of judges. That practice is typical among federal courts. <\/p>\n

Boasberg<\/a> is also currently overseeing the case <\/a>challenging Trump\u2019s use of the Alien Enemies Act, where he has been fighting with the Justice Department to obtain more information on deportation flights that left the US in possible defiance of a court order. <\/p>\n

Trump and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, have repeatedly criticized Boasberg for his handling of the migrants case, even calling for his impeachment, drawing a rebuke from much of the legal community, including Chief Justice John Roberts<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Signal chat case is likely to draw their attention to the judge again if Boasberg pushes for more information from top administration officials or orders a change in agencies\u2019 approach to using encrypted apps. <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with more about the judge. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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

The US Department of Health and Human Services will announce today that it is cutting 10,000 full-time employees <\/a>across health agencies, the department told CNN. <\/p>\n

In its announcement, HHS said it will consolidate from 28 to 15 divisions, including a including a new division, Administration for a Healthy America, and will reduce regional offices from 10 to five. <\/p>\n

The cuts were first reported by The Wall Street Journal. <\/p>\n

This comes on top of 10,000 employees who\u2019ve left voluntarily, amounting to shrinking by about a quarter of the workforce.<\/a> <\/p>\n

HHS said Thursday that cuts will include:<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\n