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 will lead to an almost 20% discount of its workforce by Could 15.
Nevertheless, a federal choose ordered the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Protection, Power, Inside and Treasury to rehire probationary employees fired last month, calling the effort a “sham.”
Trump at the moment met with NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte on the White Home the place he spoke about US tariff insurance policies, the Ukraine ceasefire proposal and the federal government funding negotiations.
Make amends for 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 … however it wasn’t full.” He added, “I’d love to satisfy with them or speak to him, however we now have to get it over with quick. You recognize, every single day, individuals 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 stated he is “not going to bend” on the sweeping 25% metal and aluminum tariffs on imports, vowing that any ensuing financial disruption “received’t be very lengthy.” As markets have reacted to the president’s tariff uncertainty with sharp losses, Trump supplied a short timeline for the financial ache: “Now, there’ll be just a little disruption, however it received’t be very lengthy,” he stated. US shares slid once more at the moment and the S&P 500 closed in correction, down 10% from its document excessive in February because the president threatened new tariffs on the European Union.
Authorities funding: The president placed full blame for the potential authorities shutdown on Democrats in Congress, telling reporters, “If there’s a shutdown, it’s solely going to be due to Democrats, and they might actually be taking away lots from our nation, and from the individuals of our nation.” Individually, a number of Senate Democrats told CNN they expect a shutdown to be averted — doubtlessly with sufficient Democrats supplying the votes to interrupt a filibuster on the Home plan.
Authorized challenges: The administration requested the Supreme Courtroom in a sequence of emergency appeals to permit Trump to maneuver ahead with plans to end birthright citizenship, elevating a fringe authorized concept that a number of decrease courts have resoundingly rejected. Individually, a federal choose ordered half a dozen federal businesses to “immediately” reinstate probationary workers fired final month as a part of the administration’s effort to quickly shrink the federal workforce. The White Home described the order as “absurd and unconstitutional” and the administration stated 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 acquainted with 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 could face an uphill battle in court docket.
Protests at Trump Tower: Almost 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 College.
Newest polls: The general 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.
