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
Vance tells Daily Mail Zelenskyy 'badmouthing' Trump is 'an atrocious way to deal with this administration'
Vice President JD Vance is echoing Trump's attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the Daily Mail today at the White House, saying the Ukrainian president "badmouthing" Trump is "an atrocious way to deal with this administration."
“The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president's mind by badmouthing him in public media, everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” said Vance during the interview in his West Wing office.
According to the Daily Mail, Vance said Zelensky has been getting "bad advice" on how to deal with the Trump administration, and argued that Trump's stance was all his own, not based on Russia.
— ABC News’ Molly Nagle
Pentagon prepares for cuts
The Pentagon has submitted a list of probationary employees to the Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management, along with requests to exempt specific offices and people from being cut, multiple U.S. officials told ABC News.
Being considered mission-critical is one reason for suggested exemption, but veteran and military spouse status is also being taken into account, according to one of the officials.
The Defense Department has about 878,000 civilian employees in total, as many as 60,000 of whom are probational.
The process of identifying exemptions and cuts is underway, but it is unclear when employees could begin receiving notice they are being fired.
The Pentagon has referred requests for comment from ABC News to the White House and OPM.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez, Matthew Seyler and Will Steakin
Trump says Zelenskyy 'better move fast' or he won't have a country left
President Donald Trump continues to hurl insults at Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again, claiming that he's a 'A Dictator without Elections.'
"Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," Trump said in a new social media post.
He then touted his administration's peace talks with Russia saying, "In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only 'TRUMP,' and the Trump Administration, can do."
Read more here.
-- ABC News' Kelsey Walsh
Trump admin cuts to CDC could affect 9/11 responders
The Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce could affect the World Trade Center Health Program, potentially putting the health of 9/11 first responders at risk, critics said.
Sixteen probationary staff members at the World Trade Center Health Program have been fired as part of the layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several other full-time staff members have agreed to take a buyout, according to Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act
It amounts to a 20% reduction in the staff that supervises and administers the World Trade Center Health Program. There are also cuts to research grants that fund efforts at the FDNY to prove new conditions are related to service at the World Trade Center site on and after 9/11.
-- ABC News' Aaron Katersky