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Trump admin live updates: Trump, Schumer trade barbs over Senate nominations

The Senate voted on some of Trump's nominations before the August recess.

Last Updated: August 3, 2025, 9:44 PM EDT

The Senate on Saturday considered some of President Donald Trump's nominations before the August recess.

Earlier this week, Trump issued an executive order slapping tariffs on many of America's trading partners but the new duties are set to go into effect in seven days.

Trump also continues to face questions over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and his relationship with the accused sex trafficker.

Aug 01, 2025, 4:29 PM EDT

Fed Board member to step down next week

The Federal Reserve Board announced Friday that Adriana D. Kugler will step down from her position as governor of the Federal Reserve Board, effective Aug. 8.

The vacancy will now give Trump a chance to nominate a new governor and further shape the makeup of the board. It comes as the president continued to put pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates.

PHOTO: Adriana Kugler of Maryland, speaks during a hearing to examine her nomination to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 21, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Adriana Kugler of Maryland, speaks during the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing to examine her nomination to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 21, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Kugler was nominated by President Joe Biden and has served in her position since September 2023. According to the Fed, she "submitted her letter of resignation to President Trump and will return to Georgetown University as a professor this fall." Kugler's term was set to expire at the end of January.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Aug 01, 2025, 2:40 PM EDT

Trump fires Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner following worse-than-expected jobs report

President Donald Trump lashed out against the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following Friday's worse-than-expected jobs report.

"I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY." Trump said of Erika McEntarfer. "She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can't be manipulated for political purposes."

The announcement comes after Friday's jobs report, which said the U.S. added 73,000 jobs in July. That figure marked a slowdown from 147,000 jobs added in the previous month. The report also showed May and June combined showed 258,000 fewer jobs than previously reported.

According to her biography page on the BLS website, McEntarfer is "a labor economist who has served over 20 years in federal government, with positions at the U.S. Census Bureau, the Executive Office of the President, and the Department of Treasury."

The bio adds that she was appointed by Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate in January of 2024.

Dr. Erika McEntarfer, Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
Bureau of Labor Statistics

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Aug 01, 2025, 1:27 PM EDT

Trump orders nuclear submarines in response to Russian statements

President Donald Trump said Friday he has ordered two nuclear submarines "in the appropriate regions" in response to threats made by Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chair of Russia's Security Council, "just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that."

"Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances," Trump posted on social media.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the White House in Washington, July 31, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

He did not specify in the post where the submarines would be going.

It comes as Medvedev posted on X earlier this week, warning Trump not to play "the ultimatum game."

"Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country," Medvedev said.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa and Michelle Stoddart

Aug 01, 2025, 1:10 PM EDT

22 lawmakers call on Gabbard to resign over 2016 election remarks

A growing number of lawmakers, including 22 members of Congress and several key figures in the Congressional Black Caucus, called on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to resign.

The letter, sent this week and spearheaded by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif, urges Gabbard "to resign immediately so that new leadership can begin the urgent work of restoring integrity, rebuilding trust, and upholding the nonpartisan mission of the Intelligence Community before even more damage is done."

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, July 23, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

The group criticized Gabbard’s remarks about former President Barack Obama and her claims that "his cabinet 'manufactured and politicized' evidence against President Trump related to Russia’s proven interference in the 2016 election."

"This is not only categorically false; it is a dangerous and deliberate distortion of reality," they wrote.

The group also criticized Gabbard for misusing her position as Director of National Intelligence, stating her "job is to safeguard truth, not spread propaganda. Instead, you have abused your position to promote a partisan narrative rooted in conspiracy and discredited claims."

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson

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