• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
Live Updates
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, 10:02 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 10:02 PM

Murkowski to Musk: Treat federal workers with ‘dignity and respect’

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, offered a stark response to Elon Musk for demanding federal workers justify their jobs before midnight on Monday, writing on social media that Musk should learn about each department and agency before making cuts.

"If Elon Musk truly wants to understand what federal workers accomplished over the past week, he should get to know each department and agency, and learn about the jobs he's trying to cut," Murkowski wrote.

PHOTO: Sen. Lisa Murkowski heads to the Senate Chamber to vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Jan. 22, 2025 in Washington.
Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Sen. Lisa Murkowski heads to the Senate Chamber to vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Jan. 22, 2025 in Washington.
Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"Our public servants work hard to ensure that our national security is protected; that planes land safely; that forest fires do not spread to our homes; that Social Security checks arrive on time; that research for the breakthroughs needed to cure diseases like cancer and ALS continues; and much more," she continued. "Our public workforce deserves to be treated with dignity and respect for the unheralded jobs they perform.

Murkowski's comments echo other Republicans who have asked Musk to have humanity in cutting federal workers’ jobs.

-ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh


Feb 23, 2025 9:46 PM

Largest federal worker union calls OPM email ‘unlawful’

In a letter to the Office of Personnel Management, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), called an email demanding that employees list accomplishments over the previous week is “unlawful.”

The largest federal union wrote that the email is “nothing more than an irresponsible and sophomoric attempt to create confusion and bully the hard-working federal employees that serve our country.”

PHOTO: A view shows the logo of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), after probationary staff at the OPM were fired in a conference call and given less than an hour to leave the building, outside OPM in Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2025.
Tierney L. Cross/Reuters
A view shows the logo of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), after probationary staff at the OPM were fired in a conference call and given less than an hour to leave the building, outside OPM in Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2025.
Tierney L. Cross/Reuters

The letter continues to say that the email fails to give enough guidance on what information employees should avoid disclosing.

“Federal employees have a duty to ensure that sensitive information, data, and records are only used and disclosed for authorized purposes,” the letter says. “We believe that employees have no obligation to respond to this plainly unlawful email.”

“By allowing the unelected and unhinged Elon Musk to dictate OPM’s actions, you have demonstrated a lack of regard for the integrity of federal employees and their critical work,” the letter added.

-ABC News’ Selina Wang


Feb 23, 2025 7:10 PM

US attorney for DC encourages workers to reply to OPM email

Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., was one of the few senior officials in government to encourage employees to respond to the Office of Personnel Management email from Elon Musk on Saturday that asked them what they had gotten done in the last week.

“DOGE and Elon are doing great work! Historic. We are happy to be participate [sic]," wrote Martin, who Trump nominated to fill the U.S. attorney position after picking him in an acting role.

Martin sent a follow up email on Sunday, which seemed to only add to the confusion about what employees should do in response to the OPM email.

PHOTO: Ed Martin speaks at an event hosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz at the Capitol in Washington, June 13, 2023.
Amanda Andrade-rhoades/AP
Ed Martin speaks at an event hosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz at the Capitol in Washington, June 13, 2023.
Amanda Andrade-rhoades/AP

Martin wrote:

"Yesterday, I responded to the HR email from OPM first — before anyone else in government. I did so to help you be encouraged. ...

“Let me clarify: we all will comply with this OPM request whether by replying or deciding not to reply.

“Again, should you reply, please do so carefully with respect to confidentiality and our duties. Please make a good faith effort to reply and list your activities (or not, as you prefer) and I will, as I mentioned, have your back regarding any confusion. We can do this.

“Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This is a good opportunity for us all to continue to recognize and promote the importance of our work."

-ABC News’ Mike Levine



Feb 23, 2025 5:46 PM

Air traffic controllers also got ‘What did you get done’ emails

Air traffic controllers and Federal Aviation Administration employees also received emails Saturday from the Office of Personnel Management asking them to provide around five bullet points on work they accomplished in the previous week, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) confirmed to ABC News.

The union also noted that the FAA's email security flagged the message as "suspicious."

PHOTO: People work inside air traffic control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., Jan. 30, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
People work inside air traffic control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., Jan. 30, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

A number of federal employees across multiple agencies received the Elon Musk-directed email from OPM that demanded employees detail their weekly accomplishments and that failing to reply would be considered a resignation.

In a statement to ABC News, NATCA said, "All those who rely on the NAS for travel and commerce understand the vital role our nation’s aviation safety professionals and air traffic controllers play in maintaining its safety and efficiency. Any unnecessary distractions compromise their ability to focus on their primary mission—safely directing aircraft carrying passengers and essential cargo throughout our airspace."

-ABC News’ Ayesha Ali


Feb 19, 2025 11:13 PM

Trump floats possibility of giving 20% of DOGE savings to Americans

Addressing the Future Investment Institute Wednesday in Miami, Trump floated the possibility of sending Americans money that DOGE accumulates in savings.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks at FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 Summit (Future Investment Initiative) at the Faena Hotel & Forum in Miami Beach, Florida, Feb. 19, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump speaks at FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 Summit (Future Investment Initiative) at the Faena Hotel & Forum in Miami Beach, Florida, Feb. 19, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

“There's even under consideration a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt because the numbers are incredible, Elon,” he said, praising the billionaire who was in the audience.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks at FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 Summit (Future Investment Initiative) at the Faena Hotel & Forum in Miami Beach, Florida, Feb. 19, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump speaks at FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 Summit (Future Investment Initiative) at the Faena Hotel & Forum in Miami Beach, Florida, Feb. 19, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

“So many billions and billions, hundreds of billions. And we're thinking about 20% back to the American citizens and 20% down to pay back and pay down debt.”

Musk promised Tuesday that he would "check with the president" about a suggestion on his X platform about a "DOGE Dividend."


GMA Newsletters

Sign up for our newsletters to get GMA delivered to your inbox every morning!

Up Next in news

PHOTO: A woman at the New York Knicks victory celebrations emptied and took a Knicks-themed trash can.

New York Knicks fan no longer employed by former company, fined after taking Knicks-themed trash can

June 24, 2026
PHOTO: Residential houses are seen in a suburban neighbourhood.

What to know about housing legislative package passed by Congress

June 24, 2026
PHOTO: Students with cellphones in an undated stock photo.

LA school district approves new screen time limits for students

June 24, 2026

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News