Appeals court upholds order to rehire thousands of federal workers

An appeals court is upholding a judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to rehire thousands of federal workers. The government argued that judges can’t “micromanage” federal worker policies. But a split 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel turned back the emergency motion. At issue was a lower court judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to rehire thousands of probationary workers who were let go in mass firings. The judge found legal problems with the way the firings were carried out.

Trump defends Signal chat group, bashes journalist

President Trump announces 25% tariffs on auto imports

The Atlantic released entire Signal chat among Trump officials

Greenland not happy about Friday’s U.S. delegation visit

U.S. says Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea partial ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to expand their partial ceasefire to include the Black Sea. The United States announced the agreement as it wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia. The White House said the two sides have “agreed to ensure safe navigation [and] eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy praised the talks as the early “right steps” toward a peaceful settlement of the 3-year-old war. GC, Wash.

Trump downplays mistaken sharing of military plans with journalist

President Trump is downplaying the sharing of Yemen attack plans to a group chat that included a journalist. Democrats and Republicans alike criticized the incident as a serious national security breach, but the president called it “the only glitch in two months” of his administration. He claimed on NBC News that it didn’t turn out to be a “serious” matter and he expressed confidence in his national security adviser. Earlier this month, the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic received details of a U-S military attack in a secure messaging app two hours before the airstrikes began.

Trump national security team mistakenly texted war plans to a journalist

Trump national security officials mistakenly texted war plans to a magazine editor. The editor-in-chief for The Atlantic reports that he received war plans for military strikes in Yemen two hours before the March 15th attack. Jeffrey Goldberg was included in a group chat in a secure messaging app. The National Security Council said the text chain “appears to be authentic” and was looking into how a journalist’s number was added to the chain in the Signal group chat. President Trump, when asked, said he was unaware of the incident.

Judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive information

Trump asks Supreme Court to halt judge’s order to rehire fired workers

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to halt a lower court ruling that orders the rehiring of thousands of federal workers. Some 16-thousand probationary employees were let go in mass firings across several agencies as a result of President Trump’s orders to slash the size of the government. A California-based judge found the firings didn’t follow federal law, and he ordered reinstatement offers be sent as a lawsuit plays out. But in an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, the administration argued the ruling should be put on hold because the judge didn’t have the authority to reinstate the workers.

Social Security ID changes raise questions, concerns

Questions are being raised about the Social Security Administration’s plan to require in-person identity checks. Starting March 31st, the Social Security Administration will end its phone identification service. The change will require anyone who needs to verify their bank information to do it online or visit an agency field office in person. To complicate matters, many Social Security field offices across the country will also be closing. Critics say the plan will hurt older beneficiaries in remote areas and people with limited internet access. According to the Trump administration, the change is aimed at reducing fraud.

Vital Education Dept functions shifting to other agencies

President Trump is shifting some of the Education Department’s vital functions to other federal agencies. As the administration dismantles the Education Department, the president announced that federal student loans will be handled by the Small Business Administration. He claimed the loans “will be serviced much better” than in the past, even though the SBA is cutting more than 40 percent of its workforce as it takes over tens of millions of student loans. The White House also said programs for students with disabilities will shift to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump pressures the Fed to lower interest rates

White House condemns Tesla vandalism as “despicable”

The White House condemns the rising vandalism of Tesla cars and showrooms. Attacks on Elon Musk’s electric car company are cropping up and have been on the increase since the CEO became a controversial adviser in the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the attacks are “despicable” and that Democrats have remained largely silent. President Trump has said Tesla vandalism amounts to “domestic terror.”

Trump proposes a U.S. takeover of Ukraine’s power plants

President Trump is proposing a takeover of Ukrainian power plants. The president made the offer during a Wednesday phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky as a way to ensure the power plants’ security. The president held calls this past week with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders seeking a ceasefire and ultimate end to the war.

Boeing will build Air Force’s future fighter jet — the F-47

Boeing will build the Air Force’s future fighter jet. Joined by his defense secretary and top Air Force officials, the president announced the military’s next generation fighter jet. He said “the F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built.” The Pentagon says the new jet fleet will have stealth and penetration capabilities that far exceed its current fleet. Boeing’s initial contract to proceed with production is worth an estimated 20 billion dollars.

Critical Education Dept functions shifting to other agencies

President Trump is shifting some of the Education Department’s critical functions to other federal agencies. A day after signing an order aimed at dismantling the Education Department, the president said federal student loans will be handled by the Small Business Administration and programs for students with disabilities will shift to the Department of Health and Human Services. The announcement to have the Small Business Administration take over tens of millions of student loans comes amid news that the SBA is cutting more than 40 percent of its workforce.

JFK assassination documents included people’s personal info

The Trump administration says it’s taking steps to help people whose personal information was released in the JFK assassination documents. Sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers was unveiled in the newly unredacted JFK files released this week. Neither the White House nor the National Archives explained the decision-making process behind the public release of the personal information. But White House officials say a plan was in place to help, including credit monitoring offered by the National Archives until new Social Security numbers are issued.

Judge blocks DOGE from accessing Social Security personal info

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s office from accessing Social Security Administration systems with personal data. The Social Security Administration systems hold personal data on millions of Americans and U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency’s “nearly unlimited” access violates privacy laws and presents massive information security risks. Her decision also requires Elon Musk’s team to delete any personally identifiable data they may have. The judge said the DOGE team “is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition.”

Trump signs order to begin eliminating Education Dept

President Trump is taking steps to do away with the Education Department. Delivering on a key campaign pledge, the president signed an executive order “to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education. He described the federal agency as wasteful and ineffective. However, the president said the federal government will still play a role. Pell grants, Title I funding, and aid for students with disabilities will be preserved.

Trump to sign order shutting down Education Department

President Trump will sign an executive order today calling for the shutdown of the Education Department. Closing the Education Department was a key campaign promise for the president, who has described the federal agency as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. He’s already taking steps to sharply reduce the size of the department’s staff. But a total dismantling requires an act of Congress, which created the department more than 40 years ago.

DOJ resists judge’s demand over deportation flights data

The Justice Department is playing hardball with a federal judge over the administration’s deportation policy. The DOJ is resisting a federal judge’s demand for more information about flights that took deportees to El Salvador over the weekend. It argues that the court is intruding into the executive branch’s authority. The administration has until noon today to either provide the requested information or to make a claim that it must be withheld because it would harm “state secrets.”

More talks scheduled soon on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire

More talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war will take place soon, following high-level phone calls this week. President Trump spoke separately with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky — with the parties agreeing to a limited ceasefire. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says more talks are scheduled in the coming days with technical experts. She said Presidents Trump and Zelensky “agreed this could be the first step toward the full end of the war.”

White House condemns Tesla vandalism, violence

The White House condemns the spate of violent attacks against Tesla vehicles and property. Tesla is owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk and, recently, showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations, and even privately owned cars have been vandalized. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt points out that many Tesla drivers are Democrats, who she says were big supporters of Tesla and of electric vehicles until Musk decided to vote for Donald Trump.