Trump administration speeds up firing of federal workers

Trump says he trusts Putin on ending the war in Ukraine

Trump unveils plan to impose reciprocal tariffs

U.S. tells Ukraine to give up territory claimed by Russia

The Trump administration is telling Ukraine to give up territory that’s been claimed by Russia. In a reversal of U-S policy, Defense Secretary Hegseth said Ukraine should abandon its push to reclaim all Russian-occupied territory. President Trump is launching “negotiations” with Russia to end the war, but the White House is already rejecting one of Ukraine’s desired outcomes.

White House is punishing the AP over Gulf of Mexico dispute

Judge clears the way for Trump’s federal worker buyout plan

White House blasts judges who block Trump actions

The White House argues that federal judges who rule against the Trump administration are creating a “constitutional crisis.” Critics of the president’s expansive actions and executive orders warn of a constitutional crisis. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt maintains that judges are responsible for the crisis. Some of the federal judges who have temporarily blocked Trump policies were appointed by Republican presidents, including Donald Trump himself.

Trump, Putin agree to start “negotiations” on ending Ukraine war

President Trump said he and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have agreed to begin “negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war. In what is believed to be his first phone call with Putin since returning to the White House, the president said the two leaders had a “lengthy and highly productive” conversation. He wrote on social media that he and Putin “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” and would be alerting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Mr. Trump said he and Putin pledged to “work together, very closely” and also agreed to visit one another’s nations.

Trump says lower interest rates would go well with tariffs

President Trump is once again pressuring the Federal Reserve on interest rates. The president wrote on social media that interest rates should be lowered. He said lower rates would go “hand in hand” with his upcoming tariffs, despite economists’ expectations that tariffs would fuel inflation. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress this week that the Fed was in no rush to cut its short-term interest rate again given the overall strong economy.

Trump promises to “abide” by court decisions blocking his agenda

President Trump is promising to abide by court decisions that block his administration’s actions. After just three weeks in office, the president is facing a long list of legal challenges to his executive orders. He’s unhappy that federal judges have temporarily blocked his agenda, but says he’ll follow judicial decisions. Last weekend, however, Vice President Vance claimed that judges “aren’t allowed” to control the president’s “legitimate power.”

Executive order to accelerate federal workforce downsizing

President Trump has signed an executive order to accelerate federal workforce downsizing. The new order puts strict limits on hiring — with government agencies only adding one new employee for every four who leave. The president also said he wants agencies to plan for “large-scale reductions in force,” a phrase that’s normally used to describe layoffs. Adviser Elon Musk said there are some good people in the federal bureaucracy, but they need to be accountable, he said, and that major government reform is what Americans voted for.

Trump greets American after release from Russian prison

An American released from a Russian jail returned to the U-S and was greeted by President Trump. Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania who was imprisoned in Russia for three and-a-half years, was released and flown to the White House. The president described Moscow’s willingness to return Fogel as potentially good news for ending the war in Ukraine. He also said another American would be released on Wednesday.

White House blocks AP reporter over Gulf of Mexico reference

The White House blocked an Associated Press reporter from attending an event in the Oval Office. In a highly unusual move, the AP reporter was blocked after the White House demanded the news agency refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in its widely used AP Stylebook. Last month, the global news agency said it would continue to call it the Gulf of Mexico to ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to its worldwide audiences. AP’s executive editor said “it is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism.”

Trump, Musk defend their federal government overhaul

Appearing together in the Oval Office, President Trump and Elon Musk defended their overhaul of the federal government. The president said they’ve already discovered “billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse.” And Musk described the work as democracy in action. Both men alleged fraud and abuse inside the government without evidence, and the president urged courts not to block their work.

Jailed American schoolteacher released from Russia

The Trump administration has secured the release of an American who had been jailed in Russia for more than three years. American teacher Marc Fogel was released by Russia and left the country accompanied by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. The White House national security adviser said the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” but did not say if the U.S. released anybody in return. Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and was serving a 14-year prison term. His family and supporters said he was traveling with medically prescribed marijuana.

Trump pushes Gaza takeover plan with Jordan’s king

President Trump discussed his Gaza takeover plan with the visiting king of Jordan. At the start of an Oval Office meeting, the president said there’s nothing preventing the U-S from controlling Gaza. He also expressed confidence that Arab nations would agree to accept Palestinian refugees. King Abdullah did not commit to the plan, but said Jordan would take in two-thousand sick children from Gaza.

Several Trump actions face resistance in federal courts

Some of President Trump’s early policies and actions are facing resistance in federal court. As the president and his administration push legal boundaries, the judicial branch is in the spotlight. So far this week, several federal judges have temporarily blocked executive actions. They’ve issued court orders on policies ranging from birthright citizenship to the federal funding freeze to the resignation offer for federal employees. The president complained on social media, claiming “highly political judges want us to slow down or stop.”

Trump demands that Hamas release all hostages by Saturday

Trump boosts his 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs to 25%

President Trump is boosting steel and aluminum tariffs. The president removed the exceptions and exemptions from his 2018 tariffs on steel, meaning that all steel imports will be taxed at a minimum of 25%. He also increased his 2018 aluminum tariffs. Canada is the largest source of steel imports and criticized the move as destabilizing for the global economy.

Trump: Palestinians would not return to redeveloped Gaza

Trump fires top ethics officer and whistleblower protector

President Trump has fired two officials in government watchdog positions. The president dismissed the federal government’s top ethics official as well as the leader of the agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers. These are the latest moves in the administration’s government overhaul. The president has been pushing out civil service employees and replacing them with political appointees. Hampton Dellinger, who led the Office of Special Counsel, filed a lawsuit on Monday claiming he was illegally removed from his job.

A 3rd federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order

Christian relief groups hurt by Trump’s USAID slashing

Christian relief groups are feeling the pain of President Trump’s dismantling of the U-S Agency of International Development. The Trump administration’s gutting of USAID is directly affecting the work and ministry of many faith-based organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, World Relief, and Catholic Relief Services. As Christianity Today reports, most of USAID’s budget goes to grants for projects, including local Christian health clinics and orphan care. On its website, World Relief says the federal funding cuts are putting its refugee outreach and lifesaving programs at risk.

Trump to announce reciprocal tariffs this week

President Trump plans to announce new tariffs this week. During his campaign, Donald Trump pledged to match tariffs with trading partners who impose tariffs on American exports. And this week, he said he’d be unveiling details on reciprocal trade. The president believes “that’s the only fair way to do it.”