Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs
The amendment exempts imports valued at less than $800 from Canada and Mexico.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.
And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.
Latest headlines:
- White House excludes low-value shipments from looming Canada, Mexico tariffs
- Kennedy stops short of calling for vaccines amid measles outbreak
- Intel community has concerns Russia, China could target fired employees
- Trump's doctor says he'll have annual physical exam 'next month'
- White House backs Israel blocking aid to Gaza
Zelenskyy set to visit DC on Friday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to visit Washington D.C. on Feb. 28, a senior Ukrainian official told ABC News.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
White House says Amy Gleason is 'acting' DOGE administrator
A White House official confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday that the "acting DOGE Administrator" is Amy Gleason, who previously worked at USDS during President Donald Trump's first term prior to his executive order in January renaming the agency.
Gleason worked as a Digital Services Expert at USDS from October 2018 until December 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also has ties to one of the earliest names associated with DOGE, Brad Smith, who joined Musk's group early and helped with the transition.
Gleason worked for Smith at his Russell Street Ventures until December 2024 before joining the Trump admin in January.
The news was first reported by The Washington Examiner. It is not immediately clear how long Gleason has had the role.
Earlier Tuesday, White House press secretary Karolin Leavitt would not name the DOGE administrator when asked at today's press briefing.
"So, the president tasked Elon Musk to oversee the DOGE effort. There are career officials and there are political appointees who are helping run DOGE on a day-to-day basis. There are also individuals who have onboarded as political appointees at every agency across the board to work alongside President Trump's cabinet to find and identify waste, fraud and abuse. And they are working on that effort every day," she said.
-ABC News' Will Steakin
Leavitt hints at unnamed DOGE administrator
Asked who the administrator of DOGE is, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Elon Musk oversees DOGE as a special government employee.
But when pressed if Musk is the acting administrator, Leavitt said "no" and suggested that role is being filled by someone else, but would not "reveal the name of that individual from this podium."
"There are career officials at DOGE, there are political appointees at DOGE. I'm not going to reveal the name of that individual from this podium. I'm happy to, follow up and provide that to you. But we've been incredibly transparent about the way the DOGE's working."
-- ABC News' Mary Bruce
Leavitt says Trump fired Gen. Brown for doing a 'bad job'
When asked about President Donald Trump's decision to replace Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, Leavitt said the president thinks poorly of the general's performance.
"He thinks he's doing a bad job," Leavitt responded. "And it's time for a shakeup at the Pentagon."