President Donald Trump's second administration continued its swift recasting of the federal government, prompting pushback from Democrats and legal challenges.
The president said Sunday that he will announce tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum on Monday but didn't say when they'll take effect.
Trump, meanwhile, is at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday night to take in the Super Bowl. Trump picked the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in an interview aired before the game on Fox.
Time magazine cover depicts Elon Musk sitting behind Resolute Desk
The latest cover of Time magazine is an image of Elon Musk sitting behind the Resolute Desk.
The cover story -- titled "Inside Elon Musk's War on Washington" -- dove into Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency's effort to slash the federal bureaucracy.
Elon Musk on the cover of the Feb. 24th issue of Time Magazine.
Time Magazine
Musk is a key figure in Trump's 2nd term, but questions are growing about DOGE's scope and transparency.
Feb 07, 2025, 10:59 AM EST
House Democrats tried to force meeting at Education Department and were locked out
More than two dozen House Democrats tried to push their way into the Department of Education to compel a meeting with senior leaders and discuss President Donald Trump‘s vow to eliminate the agency.
Security locked the doors before members could enter. It led to a shouting match.
Members yelled "shame" and questioned why members of Congress, some of whom sit on the education committee, were being denied access to a federal building. They were told they did not have an appointment.
Democratic Members of Congress are blocked from entering the Department of Education headquarters in Washignton, Feb. 7, 2025.
ABC News
Democrats held the demonstration to underscore that Trump can’t legally eliminate the Department of Education without an act of Congress. Additionally, they sought to draw attention to Elon Musk’s efforts to gut various federal agencies, including the DOE.
ABC News has learned several DOGE employees have taken up offices on one of the top floors of the building. Roughly 100 DOE staffers are currently on unpaid administrative leave, largely those who attended a required DEI training.
-ABC News' Jay O'Brien and Arthur Jones II
Feb 07, 2025, 10:32 AM EST
Trump calls on USAID to be closed down
In a post on his social media platform on Friday morning, Trump called for shuttering the United States Agency for International Development, alleging without evidence that the agency is spending money fraudulently.
People hold placards as the USAID building sits closed to employees after a memo was issued advising agency personnel to work remotely, in Washington, Feb. 3, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
"USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE WAY IN WHICH THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, SO MUCH OF IT FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!" Trump wrote.
Trump's criticism of USAID stands in contrast to his wife and daughter -- Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump -- promoted its work during his first administration.
-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim
Feb 07, 2025, 10:12 AM EST
Mike Johnson says House GOP budget talks will drag into the weekend
Funding Trump's agenda is a key mission for congressional Republicans, but House and Senate GOP lawmakers are at odds on how to proceed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he planned to unveil a budget blueprint on Friday. But he told ABC News no details will be announced "at least until the end of the weekend, probably closer to Monday.”
“We just have a few final details to iron out," he said. "And it’s going well. I am very excited about where we are. And the fact that we are going to be moving this forward."
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson departs after President Donald Trump signs the "No Men in Women's Sports" executive order in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Johnson said raising the debt ceiling "will probably" be in the reconciliation package. Asked about the range of spending cuts that will be included in the package, Johnson declined to provide specifics.
These comments come after Republicans spent hours on Thursday working on their one-bill plan in two different meetings: one at the White House and the other late at the Capitol. Senate Republicans plan to discuss their own two-bill approach with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.