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Trump 2nd term live updates: Dan Bongino named as deputy FBI director

He hosts the popular right-wing and pro-Trump podcast "The Dan Bongino Show."

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Emily Chang, Julia Reinstein, David Brennan, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: February 23, 2025, 5:03 PM EST

President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government and crackdown on immigration -- and is being met with dozens of legal challenges.

On the foreign policy front, Trump's press secretary said the White House believes it can reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine this week even as Trump attacks Ukraine's president and blames it for starting the war, which even some in his own party are calling him out over.

Meanwhile, heads of federal government agencies were telling employees not to reply to an email from Elon Musk, Trump's ally who he picked to cut government waste, which asked for them to list their accomplishments for the week or face termination.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Feb 21, 2025, 5:12 PM EST

Kash Patel is sworn in as FBI director

Kash Patel was sworn in to be Trump's FBI director on Friday by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Kash Patel is sworn in as FBI director by Attorney General Pam Bondi in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters

Patel was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on Thursday in a 51-49 vote. It was the most narrowly divided confirmation vote for an FBI director in history. By contrast, previous FBI chief Christopher Wray was confirmed 92-5. James Comey was confirmed 93-1 and Robert Mueller 98-0.

A Trump loyalist with a history of criticizing the FBI, Patel will now oversee the nation's top law enforcement agency.

Feb 21, 2025, 5:10 PM EST

ICE acting director moved to different role amid frustrations over pace of deportations

The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been moved to an operations role, according to multiple officials. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the shakeup at ICE.

Caleb Vitello "is no longer in an Administrative role, but is instead overseeing all field and enforcement operations: finding, arresting, and deporting illegal aliens, which is a major priority of the President and Secretary Noem," according to a DHS spokesperson.

PHOTO: In this handout photo provided by ICE, ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello, conducted targeted enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of an illegal Dominican national, on Jan. 28, 2025, in New York.
In this handout photo provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the New York City Fugitive Operations Team, joined by ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello, conducted targeted enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of an illegal Dominican national, on Jan. 28, 2025, in New York.
Handout/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images, FILE

The agency is now left with no director. It is unclear who is currently leading the agency tasked with Trump's priority to deport those in the country illegally.

Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan has recently expressed frustration on the pace at which deportations have occurred.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Feb 21, 2025, 4:50 PM EST

Bipartisan group of House veterans want answers about list of generals who could be fired

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers, all veterans, have written a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the possible dismissal of high-ranking military officers. They’re asking for details about why the officers might be fired or removed from their posts.

“As your administration contemplates removing numerous General and Flag Officers, it is vital that we have transparency on the criteria and process used to evaluate these officers. There are valid reasons to remove a General or Flag Officer, but there must be clear, transparent, and apolitical criteria and processes associated with any such dismissal," they wrote.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a NATO Defence Ministers meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Feb. 13, 2025.
Yves Herman/Reuters

"An apolitical military is an essential component of our democracy and our national security," they added.

ABC News previously reported Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy's top admiral, are on the list of officers provided to Congress.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Feb 21, 2025, 4:48 PM EST

Howard Lutnick is sworn in as commerce secretary

Howard Lutnick, the former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, was sworn in as commerce secretary on Friday at the White House.

Howard Lutnick is sworn in as U.S. Commerce Secretary by Vice President JD in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 21, 2025 in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Vice President JD Vance and President Trump were in the Oval Office for the ceremony.

Lutnick was confirmed by the Senate in a 51-45 vote. He will help oversee Trump's economic agenda, including tariffs and developing a sovereign wealth fund.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House next to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

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