White House says some employees were fired by mistake

President Donald Trump met with American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Wednesday, marking their first in-person meeting since the airline was involved in a deadly collision with a military helicopter last month in Washington, D.C. The crash left 67 dead on Jan. 29.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was also present with Trump and Isom to discuss "ways to make investments in a state-of-the-art air traffic system that enhances aviation safety," according to a spokesperson for the airline.

In a statement provided to ABC News on Wednesday night, American Airlines said, "Robert thanked President Trump for his leadership and commitment to take bold action on investments in aviation safety. The American Airlines team will continue to work together with President Trump, Secretary Duffy, Congress and the entire aviation industry to make our systems even safer."

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Sam Sweeney

The Senate has pushed back the time members are scheduled to vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as health and human services secretary to later in the morning on Thursday.

The vote was slated to occur during the early hours, but the change means the final confirmation vote for RFK Jr. will now occur around 10:30 a.m. ET.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

After a Boston judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration's buyout program, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to federal employees informing them that the deferred resignation offer is now closed.

The email, with the subject "The Fork in the Road is Closed," was sent from the same hr@opm.gov address that previously informed federal employees across agencies of the offer.

"The Deferred Resignation Program is now closed. Any resignations received after 7:20pmET, February 12, 2025, will not be accepted," the entire message reads, according to an email obtained by ABC News.

One staffer told ABC News they received the email nearly 40 minutes past the stated 7:20 p.m. deadline to respond.

-ABC News' Will Steakin

Former U.S. Office of Government Ethics director David Huitema -- who was dismissed by President Donald Trump from his role on Monday -- joined ABC News Live Prime Wednesday, voicing concerns for the future of the agency.

The agency oversees government officials' compliance with ethics and conflict-of-interest rules.

Huitema was confirmed by the Senate in December for a five-year term, but his dismissal was abruptly announced on Feb. 10 in a single sentence on the Department of Government Efficiency website.

"We're entering a new phase now... where real substantive concerns about ethics and integrity can arise. And my sense is that the president just doesn't want an Office of Government Ethics that's empowered to take those issues seriously and speak to them," Huitema alleged.

-ABC News' Maria Olloqui