Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs

The amendment exempts imports valued at less than $800 from Canada and Mexico.

President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.

U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.

And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.

Feb 25, 2025, 12:24 PM EST

Budget vote in jeopardy

House Republicans remain divided over the budget blueprint to jumpstart the process to advance Trump's agenda, putting a vote planned this evening in jeopardy as Speaker Mike Johnson attempts to rally his rank and file.

Following a closed-door conference meeting, GOP leaders say that while the hope is still to move forward tonight with a floor vote, it could slip further into the week. There are several lawmakers who have splintered off to publicly oppose the measure, while even more hold back their support with the hope of extracting changes.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson stands alongside House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"​​We're planning to take up our budget resolution as early as today," Johnson, R-La., told reporters, suggesting the vote may get pushed. "There may be a vote tonight. There may not be. Stay tuned. That's why you get paid. Hang around here."

Johnson and his leadership team have worked for weeks to mollify concerns – an effort the speaker says will continue with holdouts Tuesday afternoon.

Currently, there are four public no votes, including Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson and Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz. The speaker can only afford to lose one defection before a second betrayal kills the effort.

--ABC News' Lauren Peller

Feb 25, 2025, 11:57 AM EST

DOGE emails asked federal judges to explain their work

DOGE emails were sent to federal judges asking them to explain their work, according to a spokesperson for the Northern District of Illinois.

"Once we learned about the correspondence, Chief Judge Virginia Kendall and Clerk of Court Thomas Bruton communicated with the staff that as we are judiciary employees, our policies and procedures are governed by the Judicial Conference of the United States and our local court HR handbooks," Julia Hodek said in a statement to ABC News. "The email was not sent by or at the direction of the Judicial Conference, the Administrative Office, or our Court. Our communication was then followed up by a memo from the Director's Office of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts that reinforced the same message."

Supreme Court justices and staff have not received the email, according to sources.

Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 11, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Bloomberg Law first reported the messages appearing in inboxes of federal judges offices.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer and Ariane Nalty

Feb 25, 2025, 11:36 AM EST

Terminated federal workers crowd into GOP senators' offices, demand meetings

Dozens of fired federal employees protested in Senate office buildings, crowding into the office of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and the personal office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Tuesday morning.

The protestors barged into Murkowski's office, demanding a meeting with the moderate senator or a member of her staff.

PHOTO: Former National Science Foundation employee Brandon Bradley, who was terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency recites his termination story in Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office in Washington, Feb. 25,  2025.
Former National Science Foundation employee Brandon Bradley, who was terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency recites his termination story in Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Federal workers terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency organize prior to visiting Senators offices to tell their stories in the Senate Hart Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Ultimately, a member of her staff agreed to speak and the protestors were asked to leave to talk with that staffer in the hallway.

Five protesters were allowed into Thune's office while the rest were asked to leave.

Federal workers terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency fill Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office in the Senate Hart Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"I'm not sure that they have an understanding or appreciation of what any federal government agency or department does," former USAID employee Elizabeth Glidden told ABC News when asked about Musk and Trump.

"Yes, USAID was the first but this is also about our colleagues at the VA and CFPB and at the Pentagon," she added.

-ABC News' Jay O'Brien

Feb 25, 2025, 11:33 AM EST

Republicans who faced tough crowds at town halls ask DOGE to show compassion

After facing angry questions from constituents at a town hall last week, Georgia Republican Rep. Rich McCormick was back on Capitol Hill with a new message for Elon Musk and DOGE: show a little compassion.

McCormick faced "boos" as he fielded questions from furious constituents.

"People are concerned about what DOGE is, what it can do, what its powers are, if they're overstepping the law. They're concerned about the rapidity of the moves and people losing their benefits," McCormick told ABC News.

The congressman said he was heading to the White House Tuesday afternoon for a previously scheduled meeting with Trump, and, if given the chance, he plans to convey some of his concerns about DOGE to the president directly.

"I think some of their actions have been too rapid to adapt to — for real people. I mean, you're talking about Republicans too. We're not just talking about Democrats," he said.

Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon also got an earful from constituents at a town hall last week and urged Musk not to leave Congress in the dark.

"I would tell him (Musk) he needs to reach out to Congress and let us know what they have in mind before they do it. So we at least have some sort of heads up," he said.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott and James Parkinson

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