White House says some employees were fired by mistake

After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.

Last Updated: February 16, 2025, 11:07 PM EST

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."

Feb 10, 2025, 6:23 PM EST

Trump moves to enforce steel, aluminum tariffs

Trump is reinforcing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports through proclamations that the White House are dubbing "Tariffs 2.0."

Trump's proclamations enforce a 25% tariff on steel that he enacted during his first term and raise the tariff on aluminum imports from 10% to 25%, according to the White House.

During remarks in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said the 25% tariffs are "without exceptions or exemptions."

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

The White House is promising to reinstate the full power of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that Trump put in place during his first term, arguing they were eroded by the Biden administration.

"President Trump's bold action restores the strength of America's steel and aluminum industries, puts an end to the rampant exploitation and circumvention that has hurt American workers," a White House official told reporters on a background call. "With these tariffs, the days [of] foreign nations gaming our trade system are over."

-ABC News' Mary Bruce and Hannah Demissie

Feb 10, 2025, 6:01 PM EST

Federal judge blocks change to NIH funding cap

U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the National Institutes of Health from taking any steps to implement or enforce a cap on indirect costs.

Kelley ordered the NIH to issue a status report within 24 hours -- then at biweekly intervals -- to confirm "the regular disbursement and obligation of federal financial assistance funds."

Kelley, who was nominated to the bench by former President Joe Biden, set a Feb. 21 hearing to evaluate next steps.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous

Feb 10, 2025, 5:46 PM EST

Trump removes head of Office of Government Ethics

Trump removed the director of the Office of Government Ethics, according to a brief statement from the office.

The OGE is responsible for overseeing the executive branch's ethics programs, including efforts to "prevent financial conflicts" -- a question that has already been raised during Trump's second term.

The firing of the director, David Huitema, comes the same day that Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff sent a letter to Huitema regarding questions about conflicts of interest between Elon Musk and his Department of Government Ethics. Schiff requested the OGE "clarify Elon Musk's compliance with federal conflicts of interest, ethics, and reporting requirements."

Huitema, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden, had just been sworn in in December.

A new acting OGE director, Shelley Finlayson, is now listed on the office's website.

-ABC News' Olivia Rubin and Benjamin Siegel

Feb 10, 2025, 5:42 PM EST

Key GOP senator to support RFK Jr. for HHS director

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday afternoon that she will support Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. -- whose full Senate confirmation could come as soon as mid-week -- after her conversation with him earlier in the day over funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health.

“He said he would re-examine them and seemed to understand” her concerns about potential slashing of NIH funding, Collins told reporters at the Capitol.

The senator’s support for Trump’s pick was previously uncertain, though she has broken with her party to oppose the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, the president’s nominee for defense secretary.

-ABC News’ Isabella Murray

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