After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.
President Donald Trump's administration, including Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, is continuing its sweeping effort to cut much of the federal government -- but it's being met with legal challenges.
Trump is also making his second administration's first forays on the diplomatic front with calls to Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ending the 3-year-old war that began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
And a day after Hamas released more hostages taken when it attacked Israel in October 2023, Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the militant organization needs to be "eliminated."
Cybercrime kingpin Alexander Vinnik is on a flight back to Moscow, his lawyer confirmed to ABC News.
Vinnik is being released into Russian custody as part of an exchange for American Marc Fogel.
Vinnik was sent to Turkey and is now on a flight to Moscow. His attorney said he didn't know the exact airport of arrival but noted that the arrival would be "in a few hours."
-ABC News' William Gretsky
A group of federal unions is suing the Trump administration to block its attempt to “decimate” the federal workforce through its deferred resignation program and the expected mass firings of hundreds of thousands of government employees.
The unions accuse the Trump administration of attempting to “usurp” Congress’s authority and asked a federal court to order the government to declare the resignation program unlawful as well as block planned reductions in force.
-ABC News' Peter Charalambous
The Senate has confirmed Brooke Rollins to serve as the Secretary of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28.
She was confirmed with the support of all Republicans and 19 Democrats.
-ABC News' Allie Pecorin
Longtime Sen. Mitch McConnell released a statement explaining his decision to vote against RFK Jr.'s nomination. He was the sole Republican to do so.
A polio survivor, McConnell recounted his own childhood experience overcoming the disease and said he will "not condone the re-litigation of proven cures."
"This Administration -- led by the same President who delivered a medical miracle with Project Warp Speed -- deserves a leader who is willing to acknowledge without qualification the efficacy of life-saving vaccines and who can demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of the U.S. health care system," McConnell said.
"Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America's largest health agency. As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr. Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions," he added.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
