President Donald Trump’s administration is driving forward with a number of controversial insurance policies, together with widespread layoffs within the federal authorities, regardless of a slew of authorized challenges.
Today is the deadline for federal agencies to submit the primary part of their discount in power plan whereas the administration is proposing a dramatic downsizing of the IRS that may lead to an almost 20% discount of its workforce by May 15.
However, a federal choose ordered the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury to rehire probationary employees fired last month, calling the effort a “sham.”
Trump in the present day met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the White House the place he spoke about US tariff insurance policies, the Ukraine ceasefire proposal and the federal government funding negotiations.
Catch up on the newest:
Trump on Ukraine: The president told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to the US-proposed ceasefire with Ukraine is “promising … but it wasn’t complete.” He added, “I’d love to meet with them or talk to him, but we have to get it over with fast. You know, every day, people are being killed.” Putin, for his part, said he has “reservations” about a 30-day ceasefire proposal, saying it’s not clear how the scenario would develop within the area of Kursk and elsewhere if a truce was carried out.
Tariffs: Trump mentioned he is “not going to bend” on the sweeping 25% metal and aluminum tariffs on imports, vowing that any ensuing financial disruption “won’t be very long.” As markets have reacted to the president’s tariff uncertainty with sharp losses, Trump provided a short timeline for the financial ache: “Now, there’ll be a little disruption, but it won’t be very long,” he mentioned. US shares slid once more in the present day and the S&P 500 closed in correction, down 10% from its file excessive in February because the president threatened new tariffs on the European Union.
Government funding: The president placed full blame for the potential authorities shutdown on Democrats in Congress, telling reporters, “If there’s a shutdown, it’s only going to be because of Democrats, and they would really be taking away a lot from our country, and from the people of our country.” Separately, a number of Senate Democrats told NCS they expect a shutdown to be averted — doubtlessly with sufficient Democrats supplying the votes to interrupt a filibuster on the House plan.
Legal challenges: The administration requested the Supreme Court in a collection of emergency appeals to permit Trump to maneuver ahead with plans to end birthright citizenship, elevating a fringe authorized principle that a number of decrease courts have resoundingly rejected. Separately, a federal choose ordered half a dozen federal companies to “immediately” reinstate probationary staff fired final month as a part of the administration’s effort to quickly shrink the federal workforce. The White House described the order as “absurd and unconstitutional” and the administration mentioned it’s interesting the ruling.
Wartime authority: The administration is expected to invoke a sweeping wartime authority to speed up the president’s mass deportation pledge within the coming days, in line with 4 sources conversant in the discussions. The little-known 18th-century legislation, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, offers the president super authority to focus on and take away undocumented immigrants, although authorized consultants have argued it might face an uphill battle in courtroom.
Protests at Trump Tower: Nearly 100 people were arrested after protesters gathered at Trump Tower in Manhattan to denounce the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained by ICE over his involvement with pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.
Latest polls: The public’s views of the economic system have dipped since December, in line with a Quinnipiac University poll, which additionally finds registered voters divided on the place they’d place duty within the occasion of a potential authorities shutdown.