White House says some employees were fired by mistake
After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.
President Donald Trump's administration, including Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, is continuing its sweeping effort to cut much of the federal government -- but it's being met with legal challenges.
Trump is also making his second administration's first forays on the diplomatic front with calls to Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ending the 3-year-old war that began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
And a day after Hamas released more hostages taken when it attacked Israel in October 2023, Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the militant organization needs to be "eliminated."
Latest headlines:
- Some employees who accepted buyout offer were fired by mistake: White House
- Trump asks SCOTUS for permission to fire ethics watchdog
- DOE official warns all schools to end 'discriminatory' DEI policies
- 13 soon to be immigration judges, 2 current judges fired by Trump admin, union says
- US floats proposal to own 50% of revenue of Ukraine's rare earth minerals
Trump says he would consider suspending aid to Egypt and Jordan over Palestinian relocation
Asked if he would consider withholding some of the billions in U.S. aid provided to Egypt and Jordan each year if they don’t agree to take in Palestinians from Gaza, Trump told reporters, "Yeah, maybe. Sure. Why not?"
"I mean, if they don't agree, if they don't agree, I would. I would conceivably withhold aid, yeah," Trump said during his Oval Office spray.
Trump was also asked whether Palestinians in the West Bank would be relocated under his plan.
"No, I assume they want to remain there," he said. "It's different. They're there. It's never been like what we're talking about with the Gaza Strip."
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky
Trump signs executive order on paper straws
Among the executive orders Trump signed Monday evening included one related to the use of paper straws.
"Nobody really likes paper straws," Trump said while saying the order will ask federal departments and agencies to look at their existing procurement processes.
"These things don't work," he said of paper straws. "I've had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode. If something's hot, they don't last very long, like a matter of minutes, sometimes a matter of seconds. It's a ridiculous situation. So we're going back to plastics."
Tulsi Gabbard's nomination clears key test vote
Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to serve as director of national intelligence cleared a key test vote in the Senate on Monday by a vote of 52-46.
All Republicans voted for Trump's pick while all Democrats voted against her, with Sens. John Fetterman, D-Penn., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., absent for the vote.
Gabbard's final confirmation vote is expected to take place Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, but the timing could slide. She is expected to be confirmed.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin and Isabella Murray
Trump: Return hostages by '12 o'clock Saturday' or 'hell is going to break out'
Trump said he wants to see the remaining hostages in Gaza returned by "12 o'clock" Saturday or "hell is going to break out."
"I think it's an appropriate time," Trump said of the deadline during remarks from the Oval Office, noting that he was "speaking for myself, Israel can override it."
"But from myself, Saturday at 12 o'clock. And if they're not here, all hell is going to break out," he said.
His remarks come after Hamas delayed the next planned release of hostages, which had been scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.