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
Senate narrowly confirms Kash Patel to lead FBI
The Senate narrowly confirmed Kash Patel as FBI Director in a 51-49 vote Thursday afternoon.
Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski cast votes against his nomination. But even with their objection, Patel had the votes necessary to be confirmed.
All other Republicans voted to confirm Patel. All Democrats opposed his nomination.
--ABC News' Allison Pecorin
IRS firings underway around the country
The Internal Revenue Service has begun laying off more than 6,000 new and newly-promoted employees across the country, sources familiar with the planning told ABC News. The layoffs are part of a broader campaign to shrink the federal workforce that could have potential consequences for the current tax filing season.
These layoffs, impacting roughly 6-7% of the agency's 100,000-person workforce, began midday Thursday primarily outside the D.C., area, with thousands of employees facing layoffs at offices in Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee, New York and other states, sources told ABC News.
-ABC News' Olivia Rubin, Will Steakin, Katherine Faulders, Anne Flaherty and Elizabeth Schulze
Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is 'multifold,' Waltz says
Asked who Trump believes bears responsibility for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, White House national security adviser Michael Waltz declined to say. He also didn't directly respond to a question on whether Trump viewed Russia's Vladimir Putin as a dictator after Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy one.
Instead, Waltz continued to take aim at Zelenskyy, saying Trump's frustration with him is "multifold."
"Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy," Waltz said. "The fact that -- that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly. But President Trump, as we made clear to our Russian counterparts, and I want to make clear today, he is focused on stopping the fighting and moving forward."
Zelenskyy, who was not invited to talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, has said he would not sign on to any deal that Ukraine was not a part of negotiating.
DOGE checks timeline still being worked out, Miller says
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller was asked to elaborate on Trump's idea to give money to Americans based on DOGE savings, specifically a timeline on when Americans might see checks.
Trump said on Wednesday night he "loved" the idea of 20% of savings through DOGE going back to taxpayers.
"This is all going to be worked on through the reconciliation process with Congress that's going underway right now," Miller said. "As you've seen, the Senate is moving a bill. The House is moving a bill. The president has great confidence in both chambers to deliver on his priorities."