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, 11:37 PM EST

Hegseth changes name of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg

Fort Liberty will once again be known as Fort Bragg, by order of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth signed an order on Monday night authorizing the name change while he was flying to Europe.

“Bragg is back!” Hegseth posted on X, along with a video of himself signing the order from his plane.

PHOTO: SD Signs Memorandum to Rename Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum reversing the name of Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg on Feb. 10, 2025.
Petty Officer 1st Class Alexande/Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs

The base is not being renamed in honor of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg — for whom it was originally named. Instead, it is named for World War II hero Roland L. Bragg, an Army PFC who received both a Silver Star for his heroism during the Battle of the Bulge and a Purple Heart, according to a statement from the Department of Defense.

"This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation," the statement said.

This means that President Donald Trump has been able to fulfill his campaign promise to change the name back without risking blowback for glorifying the Confederacy.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Feb 10, 2025, 11:05 PM EST

Union representing USAID workers files emergency motion

American Foreign Service Association -- a union representing nearly 2,000 foreign service officers at USAID -- is raising concerns that President Donald Trump's administration is failing to comply with last week’s temporary restraining order to prevent the dismantling of USAID.

The emergency motion filed on Monday night marks the second time the Trump administration has attracted criticism for failing to comply with court orders and comes amid heightened criticism of the judicial branch from Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.

The flag of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, right, flies alongside the American flag in front the USAID office in Washington, Feb. 3, 2025.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

The union cited multiple examples of employees continuing to be placed on leave and to be locked out of their computers, despite a temporary restraining order Friday preventing the Trump administration from its plan to place 2,200 employees on leave.

Accusing the Trump administration of continuing to take "immediate, irreparable action to dismantle" USAID, the foreign service union asked for a hearing Tuesday to ensure the administration complies with the order.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous and Katherine Faulders

Feb 10, 2025, 8:33 PM EST

Google Maps renames Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'

Following President Donald Trump's executive order, Google Maps has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for users in the United States.

Users in Mexico will continue to see the body of water that spans the eastern coast of the country to the Florida panhandle labeled as the Gulf of Mexico.

Google Maps officially renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America for U.S. users.
Google Maps

Google Maps users in the rest of the world will see the original name with “Gulf of America” in parentheses.

In a press release about the change, Google said it follows the Geographic Names Information System, which is a U.S. database.

Feb 10, 2025, 8:15 PM EST

Trump declines to give specifics on communication with Putin

In the Oval Office on Monday, President Donald Trump declined to give any details on his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When asked if he was trying to set up a meeting with Putin, Trump said, "I can't tell you what I'm talking about, but we are talking as a group also. I think he'd like to make a deal, but it takes two to tango."

He did not provide any additional clarification on whether he has personally spoken with Putin.

The president went on to suggest that Europe should shoulder the costs of the Russia-Ukraine war, saying, "We're much further away. Remember, we have an ocean separating. They don't -- Europe should be paying what we're paying."

Trump also repeated that he will "probably" talk with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine this week.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

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