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.

Mar 01, 2025, 8:35 AM EST

Federal judge blocks Trump's executive orders on trans youth, gender affirming care

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing two executive orders related to transgender healthcare in some states, determining the policy "rewrites the law" and "run[s] around the separation of powers."

The preliminary injunction prevents the enforcement of an executive order related to medical care for transgender youth and another on federal funding to institutions that provide services to transgender people.

PHOTO: Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown speaks to the media and supporters outside the US District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, Feb. 28, 2025.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown speaks to the media and supporters outside the US District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, Feb. 28, 2025. Brown spoke to the press after US District Judge Lauren King announced they are deliberating on whether to extend a pause on US President Donald Trump's executive order attacking gender-affirming care for youth.
Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

"The Court’s holding here is not about the policy goals that President Trump seeks to advance; rather, it is about reaffirming the structural integrity of the Constitution by ensuring that executive action respects congressional authority," U.S. District Judge Lauren King wrote.

Judge King, who was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden, stopped short of issuing a nationwide injunction, finding that statewide relief would avoid an "overly complex enforcement landscape."

Mar 01, 2025, 5:29 AM EST

Trump says he will posthumously pardon baseball legend Pete Rose

President Donald Trump says he will grant a posthumous pardon to baseball legend Pete Rose, who was banned for life from the MLB in 1989 due to gambling on baseball games while serving as the manager for the Cincinnati Reds team.

"Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING," Trump wrote late Friday on his social media platform, arguing that Rose should posthumously be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Pete Rose, a 17-time MLB all-star, died last year at 83 years old. In 2004, he admitted to ABC News that he "bet on baseball in 1987 and 1988."

Feb 28, 2025, 10:41 PM EST

Fed employees sent 2nd 'What did you do last week?' email, will now be weekly

Agencies across the U.S. government have begun sending a second email to federal employees again demanding they list five tasks they completed at work last week, according to multiple emails reviewed by ABC News.

The email, with the subject line "What did you do last week? Part II," instructs employees to reply with “five bullets describing what you accomplished last week” by 11:59 p.m. Monday.

The email also states that this will now be a recurring weekly requirement.

While Elon Musk has said that employees who fail to respond to this "second chance" email would be fired, the latest email again does not address if not replying would put employment at risk.

The second email told federal employees, "If all of your activities are classified or sensitive, please write 'All of my activities are sensitive,'" which was not an option last week.

The emails appear to be largely sent from an email address for each agency's HR department.

ABC News has obtained copies sent to employees at several agencies, including NOAA, GSA, HHS, IRS, SSA, DOD and OPM.

-ABC News' Will Steakin and Ben Siegel

Feb 28, 2025, 7:35 PM EST

Zelenskyy says heated Oval Office meeting 'not good for both sides'

Zelenskyy told Fox News on Friday that the heated Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance was "not good for both sides" but he believes they can salvage the relationship.

Asked by Bret Baier about Trump’s statement that he disrespected him and America if he owes the president an apology, Zelenskyy said he is “very thankful to Americans” and to Trump.

"I think that we have to be very open and very honest. And I'm not sure that we did something bad," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with Fox News, February 28, 2025 in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

On whether he regretted the public fight, Zelenskyy said, “Yes, I think it was not good.”

"I'm always open to media, but there are very sensitive things," he said. "I just want to be honest, and I just want our partners to understand the situation correctly and I want to understand everything correctly."

Zelenskyy said he believes the relationship with Trump can be salvaged, saying it is between more than just two presidents, but that they are "thankful and sorry for this."

"We wanted very much to have only strong relations, and I [am] very confident we will have it," Zelenskyy said.

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