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.
Stephen Miller riles up CPAC crowd before Trump visit
During his remarks this morning at CPAC, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller amped up the crowd ahead of the president's speech, saying that "the entire federal bureaucracy works for President Trump."
Miller said any federal workers who defy Trump will be fired.
White House deputy chief of staff for policy and US homeland security advisor, Stephen Miller, speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Feb. 22, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images
"And if they are not following the laws, the Constitution and the president of the United States, then they will find a new career," he said.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Feb 22, 2025, 11:24 AM EST
Department of Education launches Title IX violation investigation into Maine
Just days after President Donald Trump got into a spat with Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, and threatened to withhold federal dollars from the state over transgender women participating in school sports, the Department of Education announced a Title IX investigation.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, contended in a press release Saturday that the federal government would not fund "blatant civil rights violators," over Maine's refusal to adhere to Trump's executive order that banned transgender athletes from taking part in school sports.
The US Department of Education building is seen in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
After Trump scolded Mills, who pushed back and said he would go to court, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey responded that the state will "do everything in [its] power to defend Maine's laws," which allow people assigned male at birth to compete in female athletics.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Feb 22, 2025, 11:21 AM EST
Trump defends Musk with all-caps social media post
Trump praised the job Musk is doing in his administration but added he wants him to be more aggressive in an all-caps post on Truth Social Saturday morning.
Elon Musk speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Feb. 20, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
"REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE," he wrote.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Feb 21, 2025, 8:11 PM EST
Trump fires Joint Chiefs Chairman CQ Brown
Trump announced Friday night that he had fired Gen. C.Q. Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine to replace him.
"I want to thank General Charles 'CQ' Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Trump announced on his Truth Social account. "He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family."
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Q. Brown Jr. at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Jan. 27, 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA via Shutterstock
Trump did not provide a reason as to why he was removing Brown from his position as the nation’s top military adviser. Brown assumed this position for his four-year tenure in October 2023.
The president described Caine as "an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a 'warfighter' with significant interagency and special operations experience."
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine is seen in this U.S. Air Force photo.
U.S. Air Force
Trump also said Friday that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "to solicit nominations for five additional high-level positions, which will be announced soon."
Hegseth subsequently said Friday that he is requesting nominations for the positions of chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff.
"The incumbents in these important roles, Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General James Slife, respectively, have had distinguished careers. We thank them for their service and dedication to our country," he said in a statement.
Additionally, he said they are requesting nominations for the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
