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."
About 700 people have had their roles terminated at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), multiple sources told ABC News.
Before the sweeping terminations, approximately 13,000 personnel were employed at the agency. The 700 people do not include people that accepted deferred resignations, sources said.
A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Sept. 30, 2014.
Tami Chappell/Reuters, FILE
None of the agency's top disease investigators are among those losing their jobs, but more than 100 recent graduates who served in fellowships at the agency had their roles eliminated, sources said.
-ABC News' Eric Strauss, Youri Benadjaoud, Mark Abdelmalek and Anne K. Flaherty
Feb 16, 2025, 3:19 PM EST
Trump takes a spin around the track at Daytona
Trump on Sunday attended the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida -- his second trip to the race as sitting president.
Air Force One is seen for U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Trump did a fly-by of the track aboard Air Force One before taking a couple laps around the track in The Beast, the president’s armored limousine.
President Donald Trump rides in the Presidential limousine during a pace lap ahead of the start of the Daytona 500 Nascar race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2025.
Al Drago/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The president was awarded a jacket at the track, which he donned before meeting with NASCAR officials, drivers and some special guests before the race started.
President Donald Trump, with his graddaughter Carolina, attends the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
John Raoux/AP
The race was in a rain delay as Trump boarded Air Force One for his return to Palm Beach, Florida.
President Donald Trump walks as he attends the Daytona 500 race in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 16, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Feb 16, 2025, 1:48 PM EST
13 soon to be immigration judges, 2 current judges fired by Trump admin, union says
A class of 13 immigration judges in training who were about to be sworn in were fired by the Trump administration on Friday, according to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.
The judges fall under the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a Department of Justice component that primarily handles removal hearings for those who are in the country illegally.
In addition, two judges were removed without cause, and five mid-level managers, some of whom hear immigration cases, were also fired.
Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command is supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flights by providing military airlift, Fort Bliss, Texas, Feb. 10, 2025.
Sgt. Griffin Payne/DoD
The union says each judge would hear 500 to 700 cases per year, most resulting in deportation. The current backlog of cases stands at 3.7 million for roughly 700 judges, according to the union.
In January, there were five senior mangers also fired, according to the union.
“Look up the definition of ‘hypocrisy,’ it’s ‘when someone says one thing but does another,’” Matt Biggs the President of the IFPTE said in a statement. “The firing of immigration judges when we need more judges to enforce our immigration laws by this administration is a perfect example of hypocrisy.”
He said the firing of these judges will only make the backlog of immigration cases worse.
-ABC News' Luke Barr
Feb 16, 2025, 12:05 PM EST
Netanyahu and Rubio speak on Iran, Gaza
In a press briefing Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about their discussions.
Both said threats from Iran were among the biggest challenges Israel is facing.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a news conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, Feb. 16, 2025.
Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
"It is the single greatest source of instability in the region, behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people who call this region home," Rubio said.
Both leaders also called for Hamas to be "eliminated," and said Trump has a "bold" vision for Gaza.
"President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination between us," Netanyahu said. "We have a common strategy, and we can't always share the details of this strategy with the public, including when the gates of hell will be open, as they surely will, if all our hostages are not released until the last one of them."
