Trump reside updates: Elon Musk to attend cupboard assembly as DOGE deadline looms for federal staff
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Donald Trump’s administration remains mired in chaos after Elon Musk issued a new ultimatum on Monday night. He gave federal workers one more chance to reply to his email threatening their jobs after multiple agency heads told their staff to ignore him.
With just hours to go before the proclaimed midnight deadline for his first ultimatum, the mercurial billionaire renewed his demand for government employees to tell him the five things they accomplished last week – or be fired.
The latest warning came shortly after the Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management told agencies that responding to Musk’s edict was “voluntary.”
By then several agencies had already told employees to ignore the demand.
Musk apparently left himself a path to back off from his latest ultimatum by saying it was “subject to the discretion of the President,” adding to the chaos and confusion for workers.
More than 20 staffers at Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have resigned, after refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services.”
“We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations,” they wrote in a joint resignation letter on Tuesday. “However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments.”
Department of Veterans Affairs announced another 1,400 dismissals
The firings were in what the department called “non-mission critical positions.”
The dismissals, announced Monday evening and part of the White House cost-cutting efforts, follow a first round of 1,000 VA layoffs announced Feb.13.
Those let go are probationary employees who’ve served less than two years and could include “DEI-related positions,” according to the VA announcement.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate VA committee, said Tuesday the dismissals will damage the VA’s ability to recruit and retain doctors and nurses.
Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, called on Republicans to help push back against the cuts.
Trump deportations: Private military contractors linked to Blackwater pitch civilian army and detention camps
The group, which includes former Blackwater founder Erik Prince and former military and law enforcement officials, submitted a 26-page blueprint to Trump advisers before his inauguration, estimating a $25 billion price tag to support the president’s “mass deportation operation” to swiftly remove 12 million people from the United States by 2026.
Alex Woodward reports.
How many federal workers have responded to Musk’s call to list their accomplishments?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that more than 1 million federal workers had responded to Elon Musk’s request for a list of five things they accomplished the previous week.
That’s less than half of the total government workforce.
Musk had originally said employees would be fired if they didn’t comply, although the Office of Personnel Management later said it was voluntary.
What did Karoline Leavitt do last week?
During today’s briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had responded to the Elon Musk email asking federal workers to list five things they accomplished in the past week.
The Office of Personnel Management has tweeted out her response.
Leavitt listed the following:
- Held a press briefing to mark 1 month of the Trump Administration with special guests Mike Waltz, Stephen Miller, and Kevin Hassett
- Gave a speech at CPAC
- Staffed POTUS for CPAC speech on Saturday
- Joined Fox News
- Participated in media row in the EEEOB
Musk to attend first Trump cabinet meeting tomorrow
Elon Musk will be at President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting tomorrow, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said at today’s briefing.
He will be there “considering he’s working alongside the president and other cabinet secretaries,” she said.
Maine governor’s MAGA opponents petition for her recall after showdown with Trump – but there’s a problem
Janet Mills, the Democratic governor of Maine, is facing a petition for her recall after sparring bitterly with Donald Trump at the White House last week on the issue of transgender rights.
The change.org petition, organized by local conservative activist Melissa Moulton, already has 12,362 of the 15,000 signatures it is seeking at the time of writing.
But there’s one big problem: Maine is one of 30 American states that does not have any provision to recall a governor.
Joe Sommerlad reports.
Judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze foreign aid by midnight Wednesday
A judge is ordering the Trump administration to unfreeze foreign aid and promptly pay all invoices and reimbursements by midnight tomorrow.
Judge Amir Ali also wants the Trump administration to provide the court with any notices or guidance that officials sent out (if they did) about complying with the previous court order to unfreeze aid.
He has given them until noon tomorrow to do that.
IN FOCUS: From Ukraine’s minerals to the Gaza Riviera – why Trump’s foreign policy is all about money
Alex Hannaford writes that whether it is real estate or precious resources, Donald Trump is treating global geopolitics like a monopoly board. And that is why no one should rely on his loyalty, not even Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin.
Watch LIVE: Press secretary Karoline Leavitt gives White House briefing
Rachel Maddow slams MSNBC’s ‘unnerving’ decision to drop Joy Reid
MSNBC star Rachel Maddow lambasted her own network for parting ways with longtime host Joy Reid and canceling a number of shows anchored by women of color, calling the decision “indefensible” and a “bad mistake.”
Justin Baragona reports.
Source: independent.co.uk
