APPLENEWS - STORY ADD
Trump 2nd term live updates: Dan Bongino named as deputy FBI director
He hosts the popular right-wing and pro-Trump podcast "The Dan Bongino Show."
President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government and crackdown on immigration -- and is being met with dozens of legal challenges.
On the foreign policy front, Trump's press secretary said the White House believes it can reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine this week even as Trump attacks Ukraine's president and blames it for starting the war, which even some in his own party are calling him out over.
Meanwhile, heads of federal government agencies were telling employees not to reply to an email from Elon Musk, Trump's ally who he picked to cut government waste, which asked for them to list their accomplishments for the week or face termination.
Latest headlines:
- Murkowski to Musk: Treat federal workers with ‘dignity and respect’
- Largest federal worker union calls OPM email ‘unlawful’
- US attorney for DC encourages workers to reply to OPM email
- Air traffic controllers also got ‘What did you get done’ emails
- Witkoff heads to Mideast to negotiate next phase of ceasefire
Trump endorses Byron Donalds for governor of Florida
President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds for governor of Florida -- despite the fact that the congressman has yet to announce his run.
"I am hearing that Highly Respected Congressman Byron Donalds is considering running for Governor of Florida, a State that I love, and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
"Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!" Trump wrote.
Donalds was one of Trump's top surrogates in the 2024 campaign and helped with his outreach to Black voters. Trump considered Donalds as his running mate before picking JD Vance.
Donalds responded on X, writing, "I'm committed to working with him to Keep Florida Great. Announcement coming soon!"
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Musk on DOGE: 'As we're finding savings, that's going to translate directly to reductions in tax'
Speaking at CPAC, Elon Musk discussed the work his Department of Government Efficiency is doing, saying the cuts the agency is making will save money for the public.
"So, as we're finding savings, that's going to translate directly to reductions in tax," Musk said.
Before he did a question and answer session, Musk was presented with a chain saw by Argentinian President Javier Milei, who called it a "chainsaw for bureaucracy."
Asked about possibly auditing the Federal Reserve, Musk said, "Sure."
Musk also claimed Democrats amplified illegal immigration to expand their voting base, alleging Democrats were flying immigrants without legal status into swing states.
"That is why the Biden administration was pushing to get as many illegals as possible and spend every dollar possible to get as many -- because every one of them is a customer. Everyone's a voter," he said. "So, the whole thing was a giant voter importation scam."
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Judge balks at contempt ruling but says Trump administration did not 'fully comply' with court's order
A federal judge said Thursday that the Trump administration had not "fully complied" with its order temporarily lifting the 90-day foreign aid freeze, but stopped short of finding administration officials in contempt.
In a 7-page order posted to the case docket, Judge Amir Ali granted a motion filed earlier in the week by a coalition of aid groups to force the government to abide by the court's temporary restraining order against the aid freeze. But he wrote that a contempt finding "is not warranted on the current record."
"Nothing in the [temporary restraining order] limits the agencies from conducting an individualized review of agreements and taking action as to a particular agreement where the agency determines that it has lawful authority to do so," the judge wrote.
"In the meantime, however, to the extent Defendants have continued the blanket suspension, they are ordered to immediately cease it and to take all necessary steps to honor the terms of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other federal foreign assistance awards that were in existence as of January 19, 2025, including but not limited to disbursing all funds payable under those terms," he concluded.
-ABC News' Lucien Bruggeman
US attorney wants Dem congressman to clarify ‘weapons’ comment
The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent a letter to Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California asking him to clarify his comments made during a TV appearance.
During the interview, Garcia said, “What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy.”
At a committee hearing on the same day, Garcia showed a photo of Elon Musk and called it a “d--- pic,” an apparent reference to a photo GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene showed of Hunter Biden during a committee hearing.
“This sounds to some like a threat to Mr. Musk -- an appointed representative of President Donald Trump who you called a ‘d‑‑‑’ — and government staff who work for him. Their concerns have led to this inquiry,” U.S. Attorney Edward Martin wrote in the letter dated Feb. 17.
“At this time, I respectfully ask that you clarify your comments from February 12, 2025,” Martin wrote.
Garcia posted the letter on X and said that if “you criticize Elon Musk, Trump’s DOJ will send you this letter.”
“I will not be silenced.”
-ABC News’ Luke Barr