White House says some employees were fired by mistake

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

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Emily Chang, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Julia Reinstein, Ivan Pereira, and Jon Haworth
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."

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 12, 2025, 1:03 PM EST

White House announces American detainee released

The White House announced on CNN that one American and two others detained in Belarus have been released.

In this phase of the release, one American and two Belarusians have been released from Belarus, according to a U.S. official.

The North Lawn of the White House is seen covered by snow in Washington, DC, on Feb, 11, 2025.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images

According to RFE/Radio Liberty, the U.S.-funded news agency, their journalist in Belarus was freed after more than three years of imprisonment in Belarus.

White House officials were adamant that there was no exchange or swap -- they were purely released as a show of good faith. The detainees will be released from Belarus.

Adam Boheler, the White House special envoy for hostages, made the announcement in an interview on CNN. He signaled that they will stop at no cost to get Americans home.

Boehler said the American “at this point needs to remain private.”-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Hannah Demissie and Michelle Stoddart

Feb 12, 2025, 12:47 PM EST

Senate advances RFK Jr.'s nomination to final vote

The Senate voted Wednesday to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote 53-47 vote.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services testifies during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing for his pending confirmation, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

All Republicans voted in favor of moving forward with the nomination and all Democrats voted against it.

Having now cleared this procedural hurdle, Kennedy's nomination is expected to come up for a final vote in the Senate around 7 a.m. Thursday. He is expected to be confirmed.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

Feb 12, 2025, 12:43 AM EST

Putin agrees with Trump that a settlement in Ukraine can be negotiated

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed.

Putin agreed with Trump that a long-term settlement in Ukraine can be achieved through negotiations, Peskov said.

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as Jordan's King Abdullah II departs the White House, Feb. 11, 2025 in Washington.
Win Mcnamee/Getty Images

The two leaders spoke for about an hour and a half, Peskov said.

Putin and Trump discussed the Middle East settlement and bilateral relations between Russia and the U.S., he said. They also agreed to organize a personal meeting, Peskov said.

Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for about an hour early Wednesday afternoon, Zelenskyy’s spokesperson told ABC News.

Feb 12, 2025, 12:16 PM EST

McConnell explains opposition to Gabbard, says she's demonstrated ‘alarming lapses in judgment’

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the lone Republican to cast a vote against Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to serve as director of national intelligence, said in a statement that Gabbard "failed to demonstrate" that she was prepared to take on the job.

He added that Gabbard has had "alarming lapses in judgment" during her career.

– ABC News’ Allison Pecorin

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