Trump admin updates: Trump wants Senate to cancel August recess to work on nominees

Trump also suggested the Senate cancel long weekends.

Last Updated: July 20, 2025, 5:25 PM EDT

President Donald Trump continues to face backlash from his MAGA supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi "to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval" related to the case.

On Friday, Trump signed the GENIUS Act -- the first major federal cryptocurrency bill -- into law.

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Here's how the news is developing.
Jul 16, 2025, 8:56 PM EDT

Trump says he’s ending funding for California high-speed train

In a post on his social media platform, Trump announced he is ending federal funding for California's High-Speed Rail project.

“The railroad we were promised still does not exist, and never will,” Trump wrote. "Thanks to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, not a SINGLE penny in Federal Dollars will go towards this Newscum SCAM ever again," Trump continued.

President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to sign the "Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," in the East Room of the White House, July 16, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP

In a statement, Duffy said the Federal Railroad Administration terminated approximately $4 billion in unspent funding for “California’s High Speed Rail Boondoggle,” saying the $135 billion projected cost of the project could buy every San Francisco and Los Angeles resident nearly 200 round trip flights between the cities.

“This is California’s fault. Governor Newsom and the complicit Democrats have enabled this waste for years. Federal dollars are not a blank check -- they come with a promise to deliver results,” Duffy said. “It’s time for this boondoggle to die. President Trump and I will always fight to ensure your tax dollars only go to projects that accomplish great, big, beautiful things.”

-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie and Sam Sweeney

Jul 16, 2025, 4:42 PM EDT

Mike Flynn pushes back against Trump on Epstein 'hoax' claims

One of President Donald Trump's staunchest supporters pushed back against the president over his claims that the Epstein controversy was a "hoax."

Michael Flynn wrote a lengthy post on X imploring the president to be more transparent and reveal more details.

PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump stands with Trump National Security Adviser Lt. General Michael  Flynn at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., where he is holding meetings, Dec. 21, 2016.
President-elect Donald Trump stands with Trump National Security Adviser Lt. General Michael Flynn at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., where he is holding meetings, Dec. 21, 2016.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

"All we want at this stage is for a modicum of trust to be reestablished between our federal government and the people it is designed to serve," Flynn wrote.

"With my strongest recommendation, please gather your team and figure out a way to move past this. The roll out of this was terrible, no way around that. Americans want America to be successful, therefore, WE NEED YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL," he added.

-ABC News' Will Steakin

Jul 16, 2025, 4:19 PM EDT

Trump says he still has confidence in Bondi, Patel

When asked by reporters whether he still has confidence in Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, President Donald Trump responded that he has "total" confidence in them.

But when asked about the possibility of appointing a special counsel to investigate the Epstein case, Trump said that he has "nothing to do with it."

President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to sign the "Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," in the East Room of the White House, July 16, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP

ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

Jul 16, 2025, 4:18 PM EDT

Trump signs Halt Fentanyl Act

President Donald Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which aims to combat the fentanyl crisis into law, during an event in the East Room of the White House. Trump was accompanied by various lawmakers and family members who have lost loved ones to the epidemic.

"Today, we strike a righteous road to the drug dealers, narcotic traffickers and criminal cartels that we've all been hearing so much about for so many years. And very little has been done," Trump opened.

President Donald Trump holds up the "Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," which strengthens prison sentences for fentanyl traffickers, after signing it in the East Room of the White House, July 16, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

"We take a historic step toward justice for every family touched by the fentanyl scourge, as we signed the Halt Fentanyl Act into law," he continued. "With this bill, we are officially and permanently classifying all fentanyl related substances as Schedule One narcotics, which is actually a very big deal."

ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

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