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ABC News

Trump 2nd term live updates: Dan Bongino named as deputy FBI director

PHOTO: US Open Winner Gary Woodland Visits "FOX & Friends"
3:00
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Trump celebrates 1st month in office amid sweeping policy changes
By Alexandra Hutzler, Emily Chang, Julia Reinstein, David Brennan, Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: February 23, 2025, 4:13 PM

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
Here's how the news is developing:

Feb 23, 2025 4:13 PM

Harris takes veiled swipe at Trump, Musk at NAACP awards

In her first major appearance since losing the 2024 presidential election, former Vice President Kamala Harris gave remarks Saturday at the NAACP Image Awards after being given the Chairman’s Award.

Her message was a call to action at the civil rights organization’s annual awards ceremony:

“Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy and ask ‘What do we do now?’ But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before. And we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, mobilize. We educate. We advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path,” Harris said.

PHOTO: Former Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Chairman's Award onstage during the 56th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif., Feb. 22, 2025.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET
Former Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Chairman's Award onstage during the 56th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif., Feb. 22, 2025.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

Her remarks included veiled references to both President Trump and Elon Musk.

“While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the oval office nor by the wealthiest among us,” she said. “The American story will be written by you. Written by us. By we the people.”

-ABC News’ Averi Harper


Feb 23, 2025 1:59 AM

New FBI Director Kash Patel tells employees to 'pause' responses to OPM email

In a new message, FBI Director Kash Patel is telling FBI employees to hold off on responding to the latest email from the Office of Personnel Management asking employees to list accomplishments in the last week.

PHOTO: Kash Patel speaks after being sworn in as FBI director by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters
Kash Patel speaks after being sworn in as FBI director by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters

"FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information," Patel's message reads. "The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses. Thank you, Kash Patel."

-ABC News' Mike Levine


Feb 23, 2025 12:36 AM

Fed law enforcement agencies urge caution in responding to Musk email: Sources

Many federal law enforcement agencies are urging employees to use caution – or hold off altogether for now – in responding to the email to federal workers that demanded they detail what they "accomplished" or be terminated, especially due to the sensitive nature of their work, sources told ABC News.

"We are aware of an email that has been sent to federal employees by OPM ... We are seeking additional guidance from the Department of Justice on next steps. We will communicate to employees as soon as we know more," the FBI said in a message to its members that was obtained by ABC News.

U.S. Attorney John Durham, the top federal prosecutor in the eastern district of New York, also sent a message to his members telling them to hold off.

"Of course, a majority of our work is law enforcement sensitive (in addition to much classified work), so even assuming this is legitimate, we will need to be careful in how we respond to this inquiry. As noted, the deadline isn’t until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, so we have plenty of time," he wrote in his letter.

Ed Martin, the controversial acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., who has been nominated to lead the office more permanently, however, appeared to be less cautious in an email to his staff.

"DOGE and Elon are doing great work! Historic. We are happy to be participate. [sic] Please respond to the HR email carefully with regard to confidentiality and our duties. Be general if you need to. If anyone gives you problems, I've got your back. You're good. See you Monday. Ed," he wrote in his email.

-ABC News' Mike Levine, Alexander Mallin, Aaron Katersky, Luke Barr and Katherine Faulders



Feb 22, 2025 11:53 PM

Federal workers union blasts Musk over accomplishments email

Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, criticized Musk and Trump after federal workers received an email that demanded they detail what they "accomplished" -- or be terminated.

Kelley said he would challenge "any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country."

"It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life," he said in a statement.

A White House official, however, told ABC News it's up to each federal employee's manager to determine if their answers to the email are satisfactory.

If an employee misses the deadline of Monday night, it's also up to the discretion of the manager, the official claimed.

If an employee's manager determines the federal worker is not meeting the criteria, he or she can go through the agency process to report the employee and possibly get them fired, the official claimed.

-ABC News' Selina Wang


Feb 19, 2025 1:56 AM

Trump admin cuts off legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children

The Trump administration cut off funding to organizations that provide pro bono representation and other legal assistance to unaccompanied migrant children, according to a memo obtained by ABC News.

In an email sent by the Department of the Interior, the organizations that receive federal grants were told to stop "all activities" related to the work they do to support migrant youth facing deportation.

PHOTO: Migrant people seeking asylum in the United States demonstrate on the Rio Grande river to ask for authorization to enter the country, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, state of Chihuahua, Mexico, April 25, 2024.
Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Migrant people seeking asylum in the United States demonstrate on the Rio Grande river to ask for authorization to enter the country, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, state of Chihuahua, Mexico, April 25, 2024.
Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

"The stop-work order shall remain in place until you are notified otherwise," said the memo.

For unaccompanied minors, having an attorney could be the determinative factor as to whether they get to stay in the U.S. or are forced to return to their home country.

ABC News previously reported that thousands of unaccompanied children are representing themselves in immigration court due to a shortage of attorneys. In 2023, only 56% of unaccompanied minors in immigration courts were represented by counsel, according to data from the Department of Justice.

-ABC News' Laura Romero


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