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.
When asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., on Friday, President Donald Trump floated a "very big deal" incoming.
"I hear that he's coming on Friday. Certainly it's OK with me if he'd like to. And he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that's a big deal, a very big deal," Trump said.
President Donald Trump holds a hat reading "Trump was right about everything" after signing an Executive Order at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
"It's a very big deal. It could be $1 trillion deal," he continued. "It could be whatever. But it's rare earths and other things."
Feb 25, 2025, 5:08 PM EST
Trump says Musk email is 'somewhat' voluntary, but people could get fired
During a signing of executive orders, President Donald Trump was asked about the email requests sent out to federal employees and whether or not it's mandatory.
"Well, it's somewhat voluntary, but it's also if you don't answer, I guess you get fired," he said.
The president claimed without details that nobody knows who's working for the government and the email would be a way to square that out.
"If they're there and they're working, they're able to say they did five things during work, and that means they're working and they're with us, and they have no further obligation if they're not, it could be there's no such person. It could be that the person's no longer working," he said.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press before signing an Executive Order, alongside Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Trump did not elaborate if Elon Musk, who first announced the email and said people had a deadline of Monday night, communicated to him about this claiming "the buck stops here."
"If they don't write back they end up eventually losing their job. We give them extensions," Trump said without elaborating.
Feb 25, 2025, 4:30 PM EST
US and Ukraine agree to terms on mineral deal
Ukraine and the U.S. have agreed to terms on a deal relating to critical minerals and other resources, according to a senior Ukrainian official.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens during a news conference at a security summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2025.
Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP
This comes after the Trump administration demanded Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a deal that would have Ukraine pay the U.S. $500 billion through a fund, financed by taking 50% of revenues of Ukraine's resources, including minerals, oil and gas, as well ports and other infrastructure, to which Zelenskyy declined.
-- ABC News' William Gretsky
Feb 25, 2025, 4:12 PM EST
Zelenskyy set to visit DC on Friday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to visit Washington D.C. on Feb. 28, a senior Ukrainian official told ABC News.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a meeting of G7 leaders via video-conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2025.
