Trump administration updates: Schumer continues to face calls for new leadership

The Senate minority leader says he's not going anywhere.

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, William Mansell, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: March 23, 2025, 9:39 PM EDT

Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday he has no plans to step aside as Senate minority leader as criticism of Schumer and of Democrats' ineffectiveness in combatting President Donald Trump's agenda continues.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration sent another group of migrants to Guantanamo Bay, alleging many are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, an official with knowledge of the flight told ABC News. But deportation flights of Venezuelans to El Salvador remain on hold while the administration fights a judge's order to curtail those flights while their legality is decided.

Trump on Friday announced a new F-47 fighter jet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and signed a series of presidential actions before departing the White House for his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The actions included one rescinding the security clearances of several former Biden officials and political opponents.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 21, 2025, 11:51 AM EDT

Hegseth: New fighter jet will give US generations of air dominance

"This is a big day. This is a big day for our warfighters, a big day for our country and a big day for the world," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said after President Donald Trump announced a new fighter jet.

The F-47 fighter jet, Hegseth said, would give the United States generations of air dominance.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks, as an image of an F-47 is displayed near him, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters

"It sends a very direct clear message to our allies that we're not going anywhere and to our enemies that we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come," he said.

Mar 21, 2025, 11:45 AM EDT

Trump says student loan program will move from Education Department to SBA

In the Oval Office for remarks with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump elaborated more on his plan to dismantle the Department of Education after his executive order signing on Thursday.

Trump said the Small Business Administration will handle "all of the student loan portfolio" while the Department of Health and Human Services will "be handling special needs and all of the nutrition programs."

Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, waves as she speaks at Vantage Plastics in Bay City, Michigan, Mar. 14, 2025.
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Trump still needs an act of Congress to dissolve the department completely. As Trump spoke, a rally was taking place outside the Education Department headquarters in Washington in protest of his effort to gut the agency.

Mar 21, 2025, 11:40 AM EDT

Trump announces new fighter jet, gives little details

Trump announced a new fighter jet dubbed the F-47.

He gave vague descriptions of the jet, which will produced by Boeing, claiming it had stealth capabilities.

"It's something, the likes of which nobody has seen before in terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there's never been anything even close to it. From speed to maneuverability to what it can have to payload," he said.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters

Mar 21, 2025, 11:17 AM EDT

Elon Musk leaves Pentagon, ignores questions on if they discussed China

Elon Musk left the Pentagon after 80 minutes, declining to discuss what was talked about in the meeting.

As he departed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office, Musk was asked by reporters how the meeting went. He responded, "It's always a great meeting."

When they were outside the building, Hegseth and Mush shook hands and Musk was overhead to say, "If there's anything I can do to be helpful, I'd like to see you."

Elon Musk and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025.
Idrees Ali/Reuters

They both ignored questions about whether they had discussed China or if it was a classified briefing.

At the very end of the exchange, the New York Times journalist who reported Musk was set to be briefed on "top-secret" plans about China asked the defense secretary what he and Musk discussed. Hegseth said, "Why would I tell you?" as he walked back inside.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola