Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo
By Stephen Groves The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care and other services for millions of veterans, according to an internal memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The VA’s chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top-level officials at the agency Tuesday that it had an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. That would require terminating tens of thousands of employees after the VA expanded during the Biden administration, as well as to cover veterans impacted by
As Trump delivers joint address, Black women of Congress help lead the resistance
By Gerren Keith Gaynor Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress as the 47th president of the United States on Tuesday night was met with resistance from Democrats on Capitol Hill. But it’s the elected Black members, particularly Black women, of Congress who are working to lead and shape the opposition to Trump’s agenda. Ahead of Trump’s State of the Union-styled speech, members of the Congressional Black Caucus gathered on Capitol Hill to speak with Black reporters about how they are responding to the flood of executive actions that have left thousands unemployed and billions of dollars for critical programs
Federal judge blocks Trump administration’s drastic funding cuts to medical research
By Lauren Neergaard A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from drastically cutting medical research funding that many scientists say will endanger patients and cost jobs. The new National Institutes of Health policy would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars to cover so-called indirect expenses of studying Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses — anything from clinical trials of new treatments to basic lab research that is the foundation for discoveries. Separate lawsuits filed by a group of 22 states plus organizations representing universities, hospitals and research institutions nationwide sued to stop the
IRS drafting plans to slash as much as half of its 90,000-person workforce leaving agency ‘dysfunctional,’ AP sources say
By Fatima Hussein The IRS is drafting plans to cut its workforce by as much as half through a mix of layoffs, attrition and incentivized buyouts, according to two people familiar with the situation. The people spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose the plans. The layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency by closing agencies, laying off nearly all probationary employees who have not yet gained civil service protection and offering buyouts to almost all federal employees
Trump says Americans should get ready for ‘a little disturbance’ from tariffs
By Bailey Schulz President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Americans should be prepared for “a little disturbance” from tariffs. “Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again, and it’s happening and it will happen rather quickly,” Trump said during a formal address before a joint session of Congress. “There will be a little disturbance. But we’re okay with that. It won’t be much.” The remarks came just hours after Trump imposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico a doubling of duties on some Chinese goods to 20%, prompting quick retaliatory tariffs from China and Canada. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is
Democratic Rep. Al Green removed after disrupting Trump’s speech
By Henry J. Gomez, Frank Thorp V and Scott Wong Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed from the House chamber Tuesday night after he disrupted President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress. Green, who has long pushed to impeach Trump dating to his previous term in office, stood and shook his cane toward the president in the opening minutes of his speech. Other lawmakers cheered and booed Green, causing further chaos on the House floor as Trump paused. The uproar prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to read aloud from House rules. “Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and
President Donald J. Trump Proceeds with Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico
President Donald J. Trump is proceeding with implementing tariffs on Canada and Mexico under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to combat the extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, including our public health posed by unchecked drug trafficking. While President Trump gave both Canada and Mexico ample opportunity to curb the dangerous cartel activity and influx of lethal drugs flowing into our country, they have failed to adequately address the situation. The flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl into the United States, through illicit distribution networks, has created a national emergency, including a public health crisis. Mexican drug trafficking
Education Department Offers $25,000 Buyouts Amid Downsizing Efforts
The U.S. Department of Education is offering employees a $25,000 buyout package as part of broader workforce reduction initiatives. Employees had until 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 3, to accept the offer. “This is a one-time offer in advance of a very significant Reduction in Force for the US Department of Education,” wrote Jacqueline Clay, chief human capital officer, in an email sent last Friday afternoon. The Education Department has confirmed this information. The buyout plan aligns with President Trump’s campaign promises to significantly reduce or eliminate the department. Trump has consistently criticized the agency, arguing that taxpayers aren’t receiving adequate
Democratic boycott builds against Trump speech to Congress
By Stephen Neukam A Democratic boycott is developing ahead of President Trump’s address to Congress, Axios has learned. Democratic leaders have asked lawmakers to show up to the speech with people affected by DOGE and Trump’s federal funding freeze. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), one of the most senior Democrats in the Senate, will not attend Trump’s speech on Tuesday, Axios has learned Neither will Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who will instead host an online town hall. Democrats on Capitol Hill are split on how to best handle Trump’s first big address to Congress of his second term. They have a guest list
Senate Confirms Linda McMahon as Education Secretary Amid Department Downsizing Plans
By Walter Hudson The U.S. Senate confirmed Linda McMahon on Monday to lead the Department of Education with a vote of 51-45, placing the former World Wrestling Entertainment executive at the helm of an agency that President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly pledged to eliminate. McMahon, who previously served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, steps into her new role as the department has already begun offering buyouts to staff, signaling the administration’s determination to dramatically reduce the agency’s footprint. “I am deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust in me to serve in