In a potential landmark action, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator has privately urged President to reconsider a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action against .
Zeldin called for a rewrite of the agency鈥檚 finding that determined planet-warming greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, according to four people who were briefed on the matter but spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the recommendation is not public. The 2009 finding under the Clean Air Act is the legal underpinning of a host of climate regulations for motor vehicles, power plants and other pollution sources.
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FDA flu shot meeting is abruptly canceled
A planned meeting of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration committee to recommend the makeup of seasonal flu shots for the 2025-2026 influenza season was abruptly canceled Wednesday.
That鈥檚 according to Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the Children鈥檚 Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.
If the meeting originally set for March 13 is not rescheduled promptly, it could delay production and distribution of shots to protect Americans against the disease, another official said.
Flu sickens millions and causes between 6,300 and 52,000 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand who did this or why it was done,鈥 Offit said in an email.
In the absence of the U.S. panel鈥檚 recommendation, officials would turn to the World Health Organization to determine which strains to include in the next season鈥檚 shots, he added.
VA halts contract cuts after concerns about health services
The Department of Veterans Affairs has temporarily suspended billions of dollars in planned contract cuts following concerns that the move would hurt critical veterans health services, lawmakers and veterans service organizations said Wednesday.
The pause affects hundreds of VA contracts that Secretary Doug Collins described a day earlier as simply consulting deals whose cancellation would save $2 billion as the Trump administration works to slash costs across the federal government.
A partial list of contracts up for cancellation and reviewed by The Associated Press shows the cuts would have affected everything from cancer care to the ability to assess toxic exposure. It underscores how the administration鈥檚 approach to broad spending cuts has immediate and potentially unintended consequences.
鈥淲e will not be eliminating any benefits or services to Veterans or VA beneficiaries,鈥 VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz said in a statement.
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Trump signs executive order seeking more power for Musk鈥檚 government efficiency team
Trump has signed an executive order meant to expand the power and reach of his governmental cost-cutting effort led by Elon Musk.
The lengthy order directs federal agencies to develop new systems for distributing and justifying payments so they could be monitored by Musk鈥檚 representatives.
It also limits federal employee travel and freezes most agency credit cards unless they鈥檙e used for disaster relief or supervisors create an exception.
The order intends a 鈥渢ransformation鈥 in federal spending on contracts, grants and loans. It says it鈥檚 meant to make such transactions 鈥渢ransparent鈥 and that government employees 鈥渁re accountable to the American public.鈥
Democratic senator asks FAA for documents on SpaceX deal to make sure it wasn鈥檛 due to political favoritism
Sen. Edward Markey, of Massachusetts, asked Wednesday in a letter to the agency overseeing airplane safety whether a deal to install equipment from SpaceX unit Starlink at several air traffic control facilities was part of a competitive bidding process.
The senator also asked whether employees at Musk鈥檚 satellite company now deployed to FAA facilities had signed 鈥渆thics agreements鈥 making sure they weren鈥檛 using their access to reward their employer.
The Associated Press has reported that at least three SpaceX employees have gotten special 鈥渆thics waivers鈥 releasing them from normal rules requiring them to recuse themselves from government projects that could help Musk鈥檚 company.
鈥淚 urge the FAA to be transparent about this agreement and ensure that Musk does not wrongfully steer federal funds to his companies,鈥 Markey wrote.
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House Democrat urges Trump to rescind order seeking greater control of independent regulators
A top Democrat in the U.S. House is urging Trump to reverse a recent executive order seeking to give the White House direct control of independent federal regulatory agencies such as the Federal Election Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Rep. Joe Morelle from New York, a ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, called Trump鈥檚 directive 鈥渁n unprecedented violation of American rule of law鈥 in the letter sent Wednesday. Morelle said Trump鈥檚 order ignores that Congress 鈥渟pecifically designed certain independent regulatory agencies to exist outside of White House control.鈥
The order signed Feb. 18 by Trump says the change is needed so the federal government can be 鈥渢ruly accountable to the American people.鈥 It argues the president must be able to supervise and control officials who 鈥渨ield vast executive power.鈥
Head of EPA privately urges Trump administration to reconsider finding behind US action against climate change
In a potential landmark action, the head of the EPA has privately urged the Trump administration to reconsider a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action against
In a report to the White House, called for a rewrite of the agency鈥檚 finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Four people who were briefed on the matter spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the recommendation is not public.
The 2009 finding under the Clean Air Act is the legal underpinning of a host of climate regulations for motor vehicles, power plants and other pollution sources.
A spokesperson for the EPA on Wednesday declined to reveal Zeldin鈥檚 recommendation, which was made last week under an executive order from Trump.
The Washington Post first reported that Zeldin had urged the White House to strike down the endangerment finding.
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Associated Press reporter Matthew Daly contributed to this report from Washington.
Musk said USAID funds to fight Ebola are flowing. Agency officials say that鈥檚 not true
No U.S. Agency on International Development funds for Ebola response have been released since Trump froze foreign aid Jan. 20, a USAID official said Wednesday.
Musk said during Trump鈥檚 first Cabinet meeting that as his team rushes to cut spending, 鈥渙ne of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was Ebola prevention.鈥
The administration has yet to approve any release of USAID funds for the current Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation after the administration banned employees from commenting publicly.
USAID staffers and partner organizations say all payments have stopped even after a judge temporarily blocked the funding freeze.
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Associated Press reporter Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report from Washington.
Democratic governors pitch state jobs to federal workers cut by Trump
Some of America鈥檚 governors 鈥 mostly Democrats 鈥 have a message for the wave of fired federal workers: We want you.
The governors are welcoming former who lost their jobs in the Trump administration鈥檚 widespread cost-cutting agenda to apply for government jobs in their states. Some places are holding job fairs, while Hawaii鈥檚 governor says the state is fast-tracking hiring for these applicants.
The effort amounts to a small level of resistance against the Republican president and potentially a bit of political maneuvering from the leaders in blue states, eager to be seen as the party helping workers in need. In most cases, the governors are trying to fill up long lists of job openings in their states, and in some the effort involved simply directing people to an online jobs page.
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Sen. Patty Murray calls Trump and Musk 鈥榦ut of touch billionaires鈥
Speaking during a news conference with three fired federal workers, the Democrat from Washington state also said Trump and Musk don鈥檛 care if they 鈥渂urn down something really important.鈥
鈥淭he Trump/Musk firing spree continues to be as surgical as a wrecking ball,鈥 Murray said. 鈥淭hat is no way to treat people who have dedicated themselves to our country, often for years. And many of them, by the way, are veterans. Nearly a third of our federal workforce are veterans, people who are literally put their lives on the line for our country, and now we鈥檙e all seeing what Trump and Musk think about that.鈥
Emily Connor, a grants specialist for the Federal Transit Administration, was fired Feb. 14 along with about 10% of the staff in their regional office, which covers Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
鈥淲hoever鈥檚 left is stuck picking up the pieces of what is literally an impossible workload with no transition plan whatsoever,鈥 she said.
EU-US diplomatic talks are called off as political tensions increase
A planned meeting between European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was abruptly canceled Wednesday.
Both sides blamed scheduling challenges, but European officials said they were caught off-guard. Notably, Kallas had previewed her planned talks with Rubio to reporters in Brussels just two days ago.
Political tensions have increased between Europe and the United States recently and the cancellation comes after the State Department instructed U.S. diplomats in a memo seen by The Associated Press to step up demands on Europe to protect free speech and end what the Trump administration says are loose migration policies.
Musk said his team鈥檚 rush to cut spending mistakenly led to canceling Ebola virus prevention efforts
鈥淲e will make mistakes,鈥 Musk said during Trump鈥檚 first Cabinet meeting Wednesday.
He cited as an example that, while hustling to dramatically shrink the U.S. Agency on International Development, 鈥淥ne of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was Ebola prevention.鈥
U.S. officials familiar with the matter had said as of last week in court filings, and interviews, that no USAID money was flowing 鈥 including for efforts to combat the spread of Ebola.
China will try to influence Musk, a Republican lawmaker says
鈥淚 do believe that (the Chinese Communist leaders) will try and leverage any opportunity,鈥 said Rep. John Moolenaar, Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on China, during a Tuesday talk at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
Musk, a close Trump ally, has extensive business connections in China, including a gigafactory to make Tesla vehicles and a battery factory in Shanghai.
Moolenaar went on to say of Musk: 鈥淎re people going to be looking for that and make sure that his lane is one that is not influencing China policy? I believe that is the case.鈥 He didn鈥檛 elaborate.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Democratic ranking member of the committee, said Chinese leaders would try to use Musk to bypass more hawkish voices on China in the Trump administration.
鈥淢y hope is that the president is going to be listening to everybody very carefully,鈥 said Krishnamoorthi, who appeared with Moolenaar at the event.
Trump says Ukraine could 鈥榝orget about鈥 joining NATO as he prepares to host Zelenskyy for talks
Trump also said Wednesday that he hopes to soon speak face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in hopes of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that began when Moscow invaded in February 2022.
The Republican president declined to detail what concessions he would ask the two sides to make, but he underscored his administration鈥檚 position that Ukraine鈥檚 aspiration to join NATO, the Western military alliance, is not tenable.
鈥淣ATO, you can forget about it,鈥 Trump said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 probably the reason the whole thing started.鈥
During Cabinet meeting, Trump says tariffs are coming, but struggles on specific timelines
The president had some confusion about his tariff timelines, but he appeared to suggest he鈥檒l impose them broadly.
Asked if he planned to impose his tariffs on Canada and Mexico on March 4 after a 30-day suspension, Trump said the tariffs would start April 2. He appeared to be conflating these taxes on imports with his separate plan to raise import taxes to match the rates charged by other countries, which could target Europe, based off the U.S. president鈥檚 statements.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified for Trump on Canada and Mexico that they needed to show progress on stopping illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Trump claims border crossings have dropped because of his own domestic policies, not the actions of America鈥檚 two largest trading partners.
鈥淎t the end of that 30 days, they have to prove to the president that they satisfied him,鈥 Lutnick said of Canada and Mexico.
Senate confirms Jamieson Greer to be Trump鈥檚 top trade negotiator as battles loom
The Senate has confirmed Jamieson Greer, a veteran of Trump鈥檚 first-term economic battles with China, Mexico and Canada, to be America鈥檚 top trade negotiator.
As U.S. trade representative, Greer will work with , a billionaire financier, to oversee Trump鈥檚 aggressive trade agenda. Greer鈥檚 nomination cleared the Senate by a 56-43 vote Wednesday.
Economists warn that Trump鈥檚 planned tariffs will raise prices and risk rekindling inflation while drawing retaliation from other countries.
Greer, a former Air Force lawyer, was chief of staff to Trump鈥檚 first-term trade representative, Robert Lighthizer. In that position, Greer was involved in talks with China at a time when the world鈥檚 two largest economies were hitting each other鈥檚 products with tariffs in the biggest trade brawl since the 1930s.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. describes major measles outbreak as 鈥榥ot unusual鈥
The nation鈥檚 top health official was asked about a child who died in Texas鈥 largest measles outbreak in 30 years.
The child鈥檚 death in West Texas, where officials say at least 124 people have been infected by the deadly virus, is the first U.S. measles death in about a decade.
Kennedy was asked about the unvaccinated child鈥檚 passing during Trump鈥檚 first official meeting with his Cabinet on Wednesday.
Kennedy said his agency is 鈥渨atching鈥 the outbreak, but didn鈥檛 provide specifics on how.
Pair of Senate Democrats say layoffs threaten modernization of organ transplant system
Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Bernie Sanders of Vermont wrote newly installed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, saying he 鈥渃ommitted to ensure proper staffing鈥 for the congressionally mandated transplant overhaul during his confirmation hearings.
鈥淵ou have a duty to fulfill your commitment,鈥 the pair wrote.
Among thousands of workers purged from U.S. health agencies in recent weeks are some experts specially hired by the Health Resources and Services Administration to implement the 2023 law. Patient groups including the National Kidney Foundation are urging their reinstatement.
The senators asked Kennedy to respond by next week to questions about the dismissals, how he will ensure improvements to organ donation and transplantation and when they鈥檒l be completed.
Supreme Court seems likely to rule for Ohio woman claiming job bias because she鈥檚 straight
The outcome of the case could remove an additional requirement that some courts apply when members of a majority group, including those who are white and heterosexual, sue for discrimination under federal law.
Supreme Court Justice stated a way of resolving the case that seemed to enjoy broad support among his colleagues. 鈥淒iscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, whether you are gay or straight, is prohibited. The rules are the same whichever way it goes,鈥 Kavanaugh said.
The justices heard arguments in an appeal from Marlean Ames, who鈥檚 worked for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for more than 20 years. Ames contends she was passed over for a promotion and then demoted because she is heterosexual. Both the job she sought and the one she had held were given to LGBTQ+ people.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars sex discrimination in the workplace. A trial court and an appeals court ruled against Ames.
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Cuts to federal agencies could also mean moving out of the Washington area
The Trump administration鈥檚 memo calling for agencies to prepare for sweeping cuts includes a provision allowing them to consider moving federal offices to cheaper-rent areas.
That would open the door to a longtime Republican priority of relocating much of the federal bureaucracy from Washington, D.C., to conservative parts of the country.
Trump tried this in his first term, moving the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management to the mid-sized Colorado city of Grand Junction, about 250 miles west of Denver. About 300 staffers quit or retired rather than make the move, which, of course, may be exactly the outcome the new administration wants.
Biden moved BLM鈥檚 headquarters back to Denver in 2021 and its western headquarters remains in Grand Junction.
Justice Department nominee doesn鈥檛 commit to not firing attorneys over their political views
Harmeet Dhillon, nominee for the Justice Department鈥檚 assistant attorney general for civil rights, said she 鈥渃annot commit to any particular personnel decision鈥 when asked if she would vow to not fire or reassign career attorneys in the division over who they voted for or their views on the 2020 election, which Trump has falsely claimed was stolen from him.
But she said it is her 鈥済eneral practice to not react to people based solely on their political views.鈥
Dhillon, who has represented Trump multiple times in court, also dodged questions asking what she would do if the president asked her to do something she believed was illegal or unconstitutional.
鈥淚n all of those years in multiple cases in multiple jurisdictions, the president has never asked me to do anything I found objectionable, immoral, unlawful or illegal, so I really can鈥檛 fathom the circumstances you鈥檙e describing,鈥 she told the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary during an initial hearing Wednesday.
Trump thinks they鈥檒
l sell 鈥榓 lot鈥 of 鈥榞old cards鈥 with a path to citizenship
The president said he plans to start selling the so-called 鈥済old cards鈥 for $5 million, and they鈥檒l include a path to citizenship.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik said that would replace the EB-5 program offered to investors who spent about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.
鈥淚f we sell a million, that鈥檚 $5 trillion dollars,鈥 Trump said, adding he wants to use that money to pay off the country鈥檚 debt.
鈥淚 think we will sell a lot because I think there鈥檚 really a thirst,鈥 Trump said. 鈥淣o other country can do this because people don鈥檛 want to go to other countries. They want to come here. Everybody wants to come here, especially since Nov. 5.鈥
Justice Department nominee pressed on birthright citizenship
Aaron Reitz, nominee for assistant attorney general for the Justice Department鈥檚 legal policy office, was pressed multiple times over previous comments that is 鈥渘ot a thing鈥 during an initial Senate committee hearing Wednesday hearing.
鈥淭here are reasonable debates to be had about the meaning and application and scope about what is commonly called birthright citizenship,鈥 he said.
Trump has attempted to eliminate birthright citizenship, upending more than a .
Assistant attorney general nominee speaks about DEI, anti-Semitism on college campuses
Conservative attorney , Trump鈥檚 nominee for the Justice Department鈥檚 assistant attorney general for civil rights, slammed and during an initial Senate hearing Wednesday morning.
鈥淭he president and Attorney General Bondi have made clear that diversity, equity and inclusion as it鈥檚 been applied to use racial quotas to deny people equal access to education, employment, even potentially housing and other aspects of civil life are inappropriate,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o we鈥檒l certainly be taking a look at all of those and enforcing the law equally for all Americans.鈥
When urged to 鈥渞oot out鈥 DEI on college campuses and asked if 鈥渞everse racism is still racism,鈥 Dhillon responded by saying, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even use the term 鈥榬everse racism.鈥 It鈥檚 just racism.鈥
Dhillon also committed to 鈥渄efending people of faith equally鈥 when asked multiple times about harassment of typically religiously affiliated anti-abortion centers commonly referred to as .
Trump says a deal on earth minerals with Ukraine can bring the US 鈥榞reat wealth鈥
The president suggested that a deal can help make up for all the military aid the Biden administration sent to Ukraine over the years 鈥 while potentially generating a lot more revenue.
Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is 鈥渃oming to sign the dealt and it鈥檚 a great thing. It鈥檚 a great deal for Ukraine too.鈥
Trump told members of his Cabinet they should be looking to make deep cuts at their agencies
In one example, the president said Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, should cut 65% of employees at the agency.
Trump says, so far, he鈥檚 鈥榠mpressed鈥 with all of his Cabinet
He noted that only a month has passed since he took the White House anew but, 鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 impressed with everybody鈥 in his Cabinet.
The president singled out for praise Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But he talked at length about Musk and his mass federal firings, saying 鈥渨e鈥檙e cutting down government.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e cutting down the size of government,鈥 Trump said. 鈥淲e have to.鈥
Trump says Zelenskyy will visit White House to sign critical minerals deal
Trump made the announcement Wednesday at start of his first Cabinet meeting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the framework of the economic deal with the United States is ready but it doesn鈥檛 yet offer Kyiv views as vital for its invasion.
Since returning to office last month, Trump let Ukraine know that he for tens of billions of dollars in U.S. help fending off the Russian forces that launched a full-scale invasion just over three years ago on Feb. 24, 2022.
Assistant attorney general nominee questioned on election integrity
Harmeet Dhillon, a conservative attorney who鈥檚 represented Trump and is now his nominee for the Justice Department鈥檚 assistant attorney general for civil rights, was questioned over election integrity during a Wednesday morning Senate hearing.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, asked Dhillon about her views on , which Democrats and voting rights advocates have called in the voting process and disenfranchise voters as states are already required to maintain their rolls.
Dhillon responded by applauding Tennessee for 鈥渃leaning up your voter rolls鈥 and said she鈥檚 鈥100% in favor of clean voter rolls.鈥
She also said requiring proof of citizenship 鈥渨ould be a tremendous boost to voter confidence in the integrity of elections in the states if there is an insurance that only citizens are voting, similarly that they鈥檙e only voting once.鈥
Trump鈥檚 convenes the first Cabinet meeting of his second term
Trump convened the meeting along with Musk, who is not a Cabinet member.
Many of Trump鈥檚 top picks have been confirmed by the Senate. Musk, a senior adviser who鈥檚 leading an effort shrink the federal government, didn鈥檛 require confirmation.
鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna solve a lot of problems,鈥 Trump said at the top of the meeting.
Trump invited Musk to speak first at the meeting, saying his cost-cutting work 鈥渟eems to be of great interest to everyone.鈥 He said there were many Americans who have 鈥渟uch admiration鈥 for the mass firings and government cuts Musk is leading.
Musk, as he has in the past, described himself as simple 鈥渢ech support鈥 for the government, saying 鈥渋t鈥檚 ironic, but it鈥檚 true.鈥
Cabinet members were asked if they were happy with Musk a few minutes into the meeting. Musk started to answer the question. But Trump interjected and said he might want to let Cabinet members answer, before joking that if anyone disagreed, he might 鈥渢hrow them out.鈥
Trump posts a video promoting his proposal for redeveloping the Gaza Strip
The video posted to the president鈥檚 Truth Social account late Tuesday shows photographs of what appears to be decimated Gaza streets and neighborhoods replaced with images of beach hotels, dancing women and shops selling gold over a pulsating soundtrack.
Trump鈥檚 proposal to develop Gaza鈥檚 Mediterranean coast into a Riviera replete with luxury casinos and resorts has met with significant criticism in the Middle East.
The song lyrics, in English, appear intended to appeal to Palestinians, many thousands of which would be displaced by the plan and are absolutely opposed to it, but there was no immediate way to gauge reaction.
鈥淒onald鈥檚 coming to set you free,鈥 the song says.
The video closes with a photoshopped image of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reclining poolside and sipping brightly colored drinks.
Trump administration sets stage for large-scale federal worker layoffs in new memo
Federal agencies must develop plans to eliminate employee positions, according to a memo distributed by Trump鈥檚 administration that sets in motion what could become a sweeping realignment of American government.
The memo expands the Republican president鈥檚 effort to downsize the federal workforce, which he鈥檚 described as bloated and impediment to his agenda. Thousands of probationary employees , and now his administration is turning its attention to career officials with civil service protection.
Agencies are directed to submit by March 13 their plans for what is known as a reduction in force, which would not only lay off employees but eliminate the position altogether. The result could be extensive changes in how government functions.
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US sanctions Iranian drone procurement firms in China and Hong Kong
The Treasury Department鈥檚 Office of Foreign Assets sanctioned the six companies which are accused of helping procure drone parts for sanctioned Iranian firm Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis.
Treasury says the entities sanctioned Wednesday operate as front companies for the benefit of the Iranian firms.
鈥淚ran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers,鈥 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
Trump earlier this month issued a memorandum which calls for the U.S. to 鈥渄rive Iran鈥檚 export of oil to zero.鈥 It also states Iran 鈥渃an never be allowed to acquire or develop nuclear weapons.鈥
Not known for political coverage, Wired takes a leading role in tracking Musk鈥檚 team
Shortly after becoming Wired鈥檚 global editorial director in 2023, Katie Drummond acted on an early morning idea. With a presidential election coming, the tech-focused news outlet needed a team to report on technology鈥檚 intersection with politics.
She couldn鈥檛 have predicted how much the decision would pay off.
Wired has attracted broad attention for its aggressive coverage of the Trump administration, particularly Musk鈥檚 . It has identified and traced the backgrounds of Musk鈥檚 young team and how they are burrowing their way into government operations.
鈥淚 think we were very well positioned to jump on that coverage,鈥 Drummond said.
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UK prime minister heads to Washington with defense spending pledge to help sway Trump over Ukraine
British trip Wednesday comes after announcing a big increase in the British defense budget, an investment he hopes will help persuade to maintain as Washington pushes to end .
Though Starmer is likely to tout the trans-Atlantic 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥 that鈥檚 endured since World War II, he faces an uncertain reception. Trump has upended decades of U.S. foreign policy during his first weeks in office.
Ukraine and its European allies are scrambling to respond after the Trump administration engaged directly with Moscow on ending the war in Ukraine. Starmer鈥檚 visit to the White House on Thursday is part of European efforts 鈥 following a trip to Washington by earlier this week 鈥 to ensure Kyiv gets a voice in negotiations, and that the U.S. still backs Europe in dealing with an aggressive Russia on its doorstep.
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The Trump administration announces a plan to combat surging egg prices
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins rolled out the five-part plan Wednesday but acknowledged it could take some time before consumers see an effect at the checkout counter.
The plan calls for $500 million investment to help farmers bolster biosecurity measures, $400 million in aid for farmers whose flocks have been impacted by avian flu, $100 million to research and potentially develop vaccines and therapeutics for U.S. chicken flocks and explore rolling back what the administration sees as restrictive animal welfare rules in some states.
The administration is also in talks to import about 70 million to 100 million eggs from other countries in the coming months, Rollins said.
Rollins said the administration is anticipating egg prices could still further climb heading toward the Easter holiday, a time when demand has been historically high.
Cabinet picks with hearings Wednesday would have influence over access to reproductive health care
Three of 鈥 Dean John Sauer, the nominee for Solicitor General; Harmeet Dhillon, nominee for the Justice Department鈥檚 assistant attorney general for civil rights; and Aaron Reitz, nominee for assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department鈥檚 legal policy office 鈥 face initial hearings Wednesday and, if confirmed, would have influence access nationwide.
All three also have long anti-abortion histories.
Sauer has been involved in several significant anti-abortion cases, including challenging a St. Louis reproductive equity fund and has argued against the of the abortion pill .
Dhillon has a 鈥渓awyer for the pro-life movement鈥 in 2022 and has represented anti-abortion groups. She that laws that protect abortion providers from prosecution for treating out-of-state patients are unconstitutional.
Reitz has repeatedly called himself pro-life and said life begins at conception. His legal career has included challenging medication abortion access, and he鈥檚 served as a fellow for the anti-abortion coalition Alliance Defending Freedom, which was behind attempts to undo FDA approval of mifepristone.
Musk will attend Trump鈥檚 first Cabinet meeting Wednesday
Musk鈥檚 attendance highlights his influence over the administration.
鈥淓lon is working with the Cabinet secretaries and their staff every single day to identify waste and fraud and abuse at these respective agencies,鈥 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. 鈥淎ll of the Cabinet secretaries take the advice and direction of DOGE.鈥
Leavitt said members of Trump鈥檚 Cabinet would provide updates on their work at the meeting, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
Emergency fundraisers offer a lifeline to groups who鈥檝e lost foreign aid
Though they know they can never replace all the money lost due to the Trump administration鈥檚 freeze on foreign assistance, nonprofits are fundraising to help .
Unlock Aid, which advocates for reforms, started the last week. It will take donations and make grants to groups around the world to try to avert some of the worst impacts of the policy change.
Other groups including Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save have also launched . The Network for Empowered Aid Response, a coalition of civil society organizations from developing countries, has , though it鈥檚 not accepting donations from individuals. GlobalGiving, a nonprofit that fundraises for grassroots international organizations, was one of the first to to support impacted groups.
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What鈥檚 going on with the Kennedy Center under Trump?
Until a few weeks ago, the biggest news to come out of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was its annual celebration of notable American artists.
That has changed since
In the first month of his second term, the president has ousted the arts institution鈥檚 leadership, filled the board of trustees with his supporters and announced he had been elected the board鈥檚 chair 鈥 unanimously. Some artists have responded by canceling appearances.
In a statement this month to The Wall Street Journal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 鈥淭he Kennedy Center learned the hard way that if you go woke, you will go broke. Trump and the members of his newly appointed board are devoted to rebuilding the Kennedy Center into a thriving and highly respected institution where all Americans, and visitors from around the world, can enjoy the arts with respect to America鈥檚 great history and traditions.鈥
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The Associated Press
