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Trump admin live updates: Trump says Hamas will release hostage Edan Alexander
Trump did not provide any timing on when Alexander is expected to be released.
The White House said on Sunday that it reached a trade deal with China as the two countries negotiated for a second day in Switzerland. China has yet to comment on Sunday's talks.
"We’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters in Geneva. But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said "substantial progress" had been made but stopped short of touting a full deal.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom -- the first in what the White House said it hopes will be a flurry of agreements while the reciprocal tariff pause is in effect. With UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on speaker phone in the Oval Office, the leaders conceded that they are still working out the details of the agreement.
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Rep. Hayes, a former teacher of the year, launches Teacher Caucus
Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, launched the Congressional Teacher Caucus to start Teacher Appreciation Week 2025.
Hayes said the caucus aims to provide a dedicated platform for educators serving in Congress to find common sense solutions to addressing the educational issues of today, according to a release from Hayes’ office.
The caucus also launches in direct response to “unprecedented attacks” against public education and Trump’s pledge to shutter the U.S. Department of Education.
A fierce defender of public education, Hayes is one of several educators in Congress and serves as a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee. Hayes and a coalition of lawmakers who have been outspoken about the administration’s mission to abolish the agency were denied entry to the department earlier this year.
“What you will not do is shut down this department and deny access to all of those children needed while we're in Congress.” Rep. Hayes said, speaking at a press conference outside the agency.
“We will not allow for Donald Trump and his allies to rob the piggy bank of the Department of Education and transfer the funds that so many of our children need to fund their wealthy, billionaire friends and all of these school choice voucher programs,” Hayes added.
Congress can dismantle the Department of Education if 60 senators vote "yes" on legislation targeting the agency.
-ABC News’ Arthur Jones II
Defense Secretary Hegseth orders reduction of general officers across the military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is ordering the military to slash the number of general officers within its ranks.
In a memo signed Monday, Hegseth said there should be a "minimum" 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals across the active-duty force.
He also called for at least a 20% reduction of general officers in the National Guard, as well as at least a 10% reduction in general and flag officers affiliated with combatant commands. Hegseth says the order is needed to "drive innovation and operational excellence, unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness."
"A critical step in this process is removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions," he wrote in a memo obtained by ABC News.
CNN first reported Hegseth's signing of the order.
-ABC News' Anne Flaherty
Speaker Johnson defends Trump's comments on children's toys
House Speaker Mike Johnson unsurprisingly came to the president's defense over comments made by Trump saying children may have to buy fewer toys due to the ongoing trade war.
"We had to disrupt the system, and we're going to have the desired results," Johnson said during a gaggle with reporters in the Capitol.
The speaker added "whatever short-term disruption there is or discomfort, I think what [Trump's] trying to say there, I think, is that it will well pay off in the long run."
Trump's comments, made while answering questions at the end of his Cabinet meeting late last month, appeared to dismiss tariffs' impacts on American families, including on children's toys.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
House Speaker Johnson admits timeline for Trump agenda bill may slide
House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged his ambitious timeline to pass President Trump's sweeping legislative agenda may slide.
"Everybody remains on in close coordination on the urgency of the hour, and we are trying to get it [the bill] done. If it's not done before Memorial Day, will be shortly thereafter. But our timetable is on pace and we're going to get this done ASAP," Johnson said at the Capitol Monday afternoon.
Johnson downplayed any struggles or disagreements in trying to meet his Memorial Day timeline for House Republicans to pass the bill to fund Trump's agenda. Republicans remain apart on issues like SALT (the state and local tax) and Medicaid benefits -- major sticking points for members to ultimately support the package.
"It's not a setback at all," Johnson said, referring to House Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee pushing back their planned markups by a week.
The speaker concluded by declaring that the timeline for Trump's agenda bill is "on track" and "if anybody tells you otherwise, they're not in the room." These comments come after Johnson, Trump and other top Republicans met at the White House last Thursday.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller