Trump government order targets funds and journey after reporters barred from cupboard assembly – stay | Trump administration
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New government order requires authorities funds, journey to be justified and made public
A brand new government order underneath the Trump administration is making each company create a centralized system to report all funds made underneath federal contracts and grants.
“This order commences a metamorphosis in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to make sure Authorities spending is clear and Authorities staff are accountable to the American public,” reads the order.
In response to the manager order, staff approving funds should present a written justification, which can be made public for transparency.
Businesses should additionally report all federally funded journey for non-essential functions, which would require written justifications earlier than approval.
Key occasions
The Trump administration plans to shut greater than 110 IRS workplaces with taxpayer help facilities as a part of its broader push for presidency effectivity, The Washington Submit studies.
The closures are scheduled throughout the peak federal tax submitting season, which ends on April 15.
The transfer comes a couple of week after the IRS started shedding round 7,000 probationary staff.
Chris Stein
Fired USAid staff and HIV activists maintain ‘die-in’ to protest Trump and Musk
Fired USAid staff and advocates for folks with HIV staged a protest in a Capitol workplace constructing on Wednesday, warning that Donald Trump’s drive to dismantle the company tasked with implementing Washington’s international support agenda imperils the battle in opposition to the virus.
Carrying white T-shirts that learn “Aids funding cuts kill” and chanting “Congress has blood on its fingers, unfreeze support now”, round three dozen protesters lay down within the rotunda of the Cannon Home workplace constructing, dwelling to the workplaces of representatives from each events. Capitol police stated about 20 arrests had been manufactured from demonstrators who defied their orders to disperse.
“What we’re demanding of Congress is that they cease behaving like doormats within the face of this assault on humanitarian help that actually is very efficient and life-saving,” Asia Russell, government director of Well being Hole, a world advocacy group combating in opposition to HIV, stated previous to the protest.
“It’s very arduous to overstate what’s at stake relating to humanitarian help.”
The protest got here as USAid remained frozen by the Trump administration’s speedy strikes to shut the company. Over the weekend, the company introduced that it was putting all however a small variety of its staff worldwide, in addition to practically 2,000 staffers based mostly in the US, on paid go away. These working in Washington DC have been invited to retrieve their belongings from its headquarters, which is ready to be become workplace area for US Customs and Border Safety, one of many businesses implementing Trump’s hardline immigration insurance policies.
Learn the complete story by Chris Stein right here:
David Smith
The Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief, David Smith, affords an evaluation of the president’s first full cupboard assembly:
Trump cupboard flunkies hail wannabe Caesar and Elon, his oligarch pal
On Tuesday, simply over a mile from the White Home, the classicist Mary Beard spoke to an viewers about Roman emperors. “An autocrat is someone who kills you when he’s being his most beneficiant,” she remarked. “You go to dinner, you suppose, wow, that is fantastic! However the generosity of the autocrat is at all times probably deadly.”
On Wednesday, Donald Trump held his first full cupboard assembly. The temper was heat and convivial and, some would possibly say, beneficiant. Housing secretary Scott Turner provided a prayer that included: “Thanks, God, for President Trump.”
Was it simply an accident that the TV digital camera framed the scene because the antithesis of DEI? Viewers might see seven males in fits with Trump within the center, then one other row of seven males in fits sitting behind. Almost all of them had been white. (Sure, there have been girls and folks of color on the assembly – however not many.)
The Vice-president, JD Vance, was in attendance however there was little doubt whom this emperor had appointed as consul. Trump invited Elon Musk, the tech billionaire working the so-called “division of presidency effectivity” (Doge), to talk earlier than any of his cupboard secretaries after claiming that everybody current was supportive.
Carrying a black “Make America nice once more” cap, Musk jokingly referred to himself as “humble tech help” – folks laughed dutifully – and claimed that his haphazard efforts to take a chainsaw to the federal authorities can save a trillion {dollars} and dig the nation out of debt. “It’s not an optionally available factor, it’s a necessary factor,” he stated. “If we don’t do that, America will go bankrupt.”
It sounds high quality in idea. However Doge, principally consisting of younger male software program engineers fuelled by pizza and Pink Bull, has been a catastrophe. It fired the individuals who oversee the nuclear weapons stockpile then swiftly tried to rehire them, solely to search out they had been arduous to contact as a result of they may not entry their work electronic mail accounts. It claimed to have saved $8bn on a terminated contract that was truly price solely $8m. Musk falsely acknowledged that the US spent $50m on condoms for Gazans. And it emerged this week Doge quietly deleted the highest 5 objects from its public ledger of alleged financial savings after they turned out to be nothing of the kind.
You possibly can learn the complete evaluation right here:
US well being officers are reevaluating a $590m contract for fowl flu photographs that was awarded to Moderna, Bloomberg Information studies.
The US authorities had awarded Moderna the cash in January to advance the event of its fowl flu vaccine.
The evaluate is a part of a authorities push to look at spending on messenger RNA-based vaccines, the expertise that powered Moderna’s Covid vaccine, in accordance with Bloomberg.
In a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts requested the company whether or not a deal to put in tools from SpaceX unit Starlink at a number of air site visitors management amenities was a part of a aggressive bidding course of.
“I urge the FAA to be clear about this settlement and be sure that Musk doesn’t wrongfully steer federal funds to his firms,” Markey wrote to Chris Rocheleau, performing administrator of the FAA.
Markey requested whether or not there’s a remaining contract award between the FAA, which oversees airplane security, and SpaceX for the deployment of three SpaceX Starlink terminals, and whether or not studies are correct that SpaceX engineers are serving as senior advisers to the FAA.
Markey additionally requested within the letter whether or not Elon Musk has had entry to FAA workplaces or staff.
Underneath the brand new cost-cutting government order, every company’s “Doge” crew lead should present month-to-month studies on contracting actions, together with cost and journey justifications.
Legislation enforcement, the navy, immigration businesses, and nationwide security-related actions are excluded from these necessities.
Additionally, all government-issued bank cards will probably be frozen for 30 days beginning on Wednesday, besides to be used in catastrophe aid or crucial companies.
New government order requires authorities funds, journey to be justified and made public
A brand new government order underneath the Trump administration is making each company create a centralized system to report all funds made underneath federal contracts and grants.
“This order commences a metamorphosis in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to make sure Authorities spending is clear and Authorities staff are accountable to the American public,” reads the order.
In response to the manager order, staff approving funds should present a written justification, which can be made public for transparency.
Businesses should additionally report all federally funded journey for non-essential functions, which would require written justifications earlier than approval.
Consultant Joe Morelle from New York has urged Donald Trump to reverse a current government order that may give the White Home direct management of unbiased federal regulatory businesses together with the Federal Election Fee and the Securities and Change Fee.
Morelle, a rating member of the committee on home administration, known as Trump’s directive “an unprecedented violation of American rule of legislation” within the letter despatched Wednesday.
Morelle, a Democrat, stated Trump’s order ignores that Congress “particularly designed sure unbiased regulatory businesses to exist outdoors of White Home management”.
The US Postal Service stated it could implement new service requirements anticipated to save lots of the company no less than $36bn over the subsequent decade.
Starting 1 April, the brand new USPS plan will steadily take impact, it stated. Whereas most mail will preserve present supply instances, some companies will see barely quicker or slower requirements.
“The modifications will improve service reliability nationwide whereas sustaining the prevailing five-day service normal day vary for First-Class Mail, whereas the day ranges for end-to-end Advertising Mail, Periodicals and Package deal Companies will probably be shortened,” in accordance with a press release.
The transfer comes days after Donald Trump stated he’s contemplating merging USPS with the commerce division, a proposal Democrats argue would violate federal legislation.
Democratic senator Gary Peters stated that any try by Trump to take management of the postal service, which employs about 650,000 folks, and take away its board of governors can be unlawful.
The pinnacle of the Environmental Safety Company has urged the Trump administration to strike down a key scientific discovering that has served as the muse for US local weather change coverage, the Washington Submit studies.
In a report submitted to the White Home, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin really useful revising the company’s 2009 willpower that greenhouse gases pose a menace to public well being and welfare.
This report, established underneath the Clear Air Act, gives the authorized foundation for varied local weather rules affecting motor autos, energy crops, and different main air pollution sources.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, the highest Democrat on the banking committee, urged Donald Trump’s nominee to steer the commerce division’s Bureau of Trade and Safety to undertake a agency method towards China, pointing to considerations over Chinese language startup DeepSeek’s synthetic intelligence expertise, Reuters studies.
Warren known as on nominee Jeffrey Kessler to strengthen AI chip rules launched by Joe Biden’s administration in January.
“In gentle of DeepSeek, we should reinforce our controls on (China),” Warren wrote, calling for a sequence of different actions on Chinese language tech efforts.
Lauren Gambino
A number of Democratic senators made dramatic returns to Washington to vote in opposition to Republicans’ finances blueprint on Tuesday evening.
California Congressman Kevin Mullin, who had been absent whereas recovering from a blood clot and an infection following knee surgical procedure, went straight to the airport after being discharged from the hospital, whereas Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen returned to teh Home ground together with her new child son, Sam, nestled in her arms.
Their dramatic – and shock – appearances had been a part of an effort by Democrats to dam Republicans’ plan to advance main items of Donald Trump’s tax reduce and immigration agenda.
“I’ve a message for Donald Trump: no one fights tougher than a mother,” Petterson wrote on X. “Republican management might have denied my means to vote by proxy however that didn’t cease us from voting in opposition to this disastrous finances that strips away well being care and meals for seniors, veterans, children and households throughout Colorado — all to provide tax breaks to billionaires like Elon Musk.”
Sadly, Republican Management denied my means to vote remotely after giving start to my son, Sam, however that’s not stopping us from displaying as much as vote NO on this disastrous finances proposal.
They wish to rip away well being care from 400,000 CO children, take meals off the plates… pic.twitter.com/CcthHFFSNx
— U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (@RepPettersen) February 26, 2025
The invoice in the end handed in a 217-215 vote. Just one Democrat, Arizona congressman Raúl Grijalva, who has most cancers, returned for the vote. However up till the second the vote ended, Republicans had been working to beat unified Democratic opposition to the plan, which might doubtless lead to steep cuts to social security internet packages, together with Medicaid.
“After three surgical procedures, a blood clot, an an infection and being hospitalized for over every week, the second I used to be discharged I instantly rushed to the airport so I might get on a aircraft to D.C. and vote NO on Republicans’ disastrous finances plan,” Mullin stated in a press release after the vote. “They’re attempting to take advantage of devastating cuts to Medicaid the nation has ever seen – $880 billion – all to allow them to give extra tax cuts to billionaires and companies.”
On board the flight, Mullin’s spouse, Jessica Stanfill-Mullin, helped administer IV antibiotics to him.
Folks protest in Capitol over cuts to USAid funding
Listed here are some photographs coming in from the wires displaying demonstrators gathered on the ground of the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, protesting in opposition to cuts to USAid funding.
Organized by ActUp’s Well being International Entry Challenge, the protesters quickly occupied the rotunda earlier than Capitol Police arrested 21 of them.
The day to date
One of many massive moments of right now got here from Donald Trump’s first officers cupboard assembly. Right here had been a number of the key moments throughout the public portion of Trump’s first official cupboard assembly of his second time period:
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Trump introduced that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will go to Washington DC to signal the uncommon earth minerals settlement. He praised Doge, claiming, with out proof, that it has saved billions.
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Elon Musk additionally delivered remarks and warned that with out cost-cutting, the nation might go “bankrupt” describing himself as “tech help”. He acknowledged errors made by Doge, resembling once they by accident cancelled an Ebola prevention effort, however he stated, they “restored it instantly and there was no interruption”.
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Trump additionally talked about that the Environmental Safety Company would possibly reduce as much as 65% of its staff and declined to remark in response to a query about whether or not he would ever permit China to take management of Taiwan by power.
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Trump stated that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will proceed, and {that a} 25% tariff on the European Union was coming quickly.
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Well being secretary Robert F Kennedy stated that two folks had died from a measles outbreak, however didn’t present particulars concerning the deaths. Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that one baby had died of measles.
Different information that occurred right now:
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UK prime minister Keir Starmer left for Washington right now previous to his assembly with Donald Trump set for Thursday in what will probably be his largest diplomatic take a look at to this point.
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US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the US will make investments as much as $1bn to fight the unfold of fowl flu, together with rising imports of eggs.
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Donald Trump threatened to sue journalists and authors who use “nameless” sources of their reporting.
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Minnesota governor Tim Walz is not going to run for Minnesota’s newly open US Senate seat, in accordance with his spokesperson.
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The US abstained from World Commerce Group condemnation of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
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California governor Gavin Newsom introduced that he’s launching his personal podcast.
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The US supreme courtroom heard oral arguments in a case that might radically remodel office discrimination claims.
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New York Metropolis mayor Eric Adams requested a federal choose to toss out the corruption case in opposition to him.
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A gathering between EU international coverage chief and US secretary of state Marco Rubio was cancelled, with either side citing scheduling conflicts.
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Trump urged Apple to finish its variety, fairness and inclusion insurance policies.
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The Trump administration issued a memo directing federal businesses to plan for sweeping layoffs of presidency staff, in accordance with the Related Press and different information businesses.
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A US choose has briefly prolonged an order reinstating the top of a federal watchdog company liable for defending whistleblowers who had challenged his firing by Trump.
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The Trump administration stated that New York Metropolis should finish its congestion pricing program by 21 March, in accordance with Reuters.
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Trump introduced that his administration is reversing concessions given to Venezuela on an oil transaction settlement by former president Joe Biden.
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The Trump administration would require undocumented immigrants aged 14 and older to register with the federal authorities or face potential fines or prosecution.
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The Senate confirmed Trump’s decide for US commerce consultant, Jamieson Greer.
The US Securities and Change Fee has advised unionized staff they must return to the workplace in mid-April, until they’ve sure exemptions, per a memo seen by Reuters.
Within the memo, SEC chief working officer Ken Johnson advised employees that they are going to be required to work on-site starting 14 April 2025 and stated that the return-to-work directive would “finest place the SEC to fulfil the company’s mission”.
In response, the Nationwide Treasury Workers Union chapter 239, which represents SEC staff, stated in an electronic mail to members seen by Reuters, that the SEC’s motion “plainly violates” the union contract and known as the order unlawful.
“Such as you, the union solely obtained discover of this order by the SEC administration moments in the past,” the e-mail reportedly stated. Reuters is reporting that the union’s 2023 collective bargaining settlement outlines telework choices for accredited staff and that the settlement lasts three years.
This comes as comparable efforts have occurred on the company with non-unionized employees, and throughout the federal workforce, in response to a mandate by Donald Trump that officers fireplace distant or hybrid work preparations.
Decide extends order reinstating head of federal watchdog fired by Trump – report
A US choose has briefly prolonged an order reinstating the top of a federal watchdog company liable for defending whistleblowers who had challenged his firing by Donald Trump.
In response to Reuters, US district choose Amy Berman Jackson in Washington stated Hampton Dellinger, the top of the workplace of particular counsel, might stay in his submit by means of no less than Saturday.
Jackson stated the extension would give her time to draft a everlasting ruling within the case.
Final week, the US supreme courtroom quickly saved Dellinger on the job as the top of the federal company that protects authorities whistleblowers, in its first phrase on the various authorized fights over the agenda of Trump’s second presidency.
The justices stated in an unsigned order that Dellinger might stay in his job no less than till Wednesday. And now, that has been prolonged to no less than Saturday, per Reuters.
The Trump administration says in a letter made public on Wednesday that New York Metropolis should finish its congestion pricing program by 21 March, in accordance with Reuters.
Final week, the transportation division introduced that it intends to rescind federal approval of New York Metropolis’s congestion pricing program, that’s designed to scale back site visitors and lift cash to improve ageing subway and bus methods.
Two New York Metropolis transit businesses have filed swimsuit to dam the choice.
The letter right now comes as this week it was reported by the New York Instances that New York’s congestion pricing plan raised $48.6m in tolls throughout its first month and that it has exceeded expectations and is on monitor to lift billions of {dollars} for the New York’s transit system.
The income numbers had been the newest signal that the tolling plan was working.
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