Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs
The amendment exempts imports valued at less than $800 from Canada and Mexico.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.
And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.
Latest headlines:
- White House excludes low-value shipments from looming Canada, Mexico tariffs
- Kennedy stops short of calling for vaccines amid measles outbreak
- Intel community has concerns Russia, China could target fired employees
- Trump's doctor says he'll have annual physical exam 'next month'
- White House backs Israel blocking aid to Gaza
Treasury informs employees, including IRS, to comply with OPM email
Leadership at the Treasury Department sent an agency-wide email Monday morning instructing all employees -- including those at the IRS -- to comply with OPM’s email by tonight’s deadline, according to an email obtained by ABC News.
“By now, you should have received an email from OPM requesting information on your accomplishments over the past week. If you are not on leave Monday, you are required to respond before the deadline,” wrote John York, a senior counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the email.
The email has left some employees confused, particularly because it does not clarify whether failure to respond by the deadline could result in termination as Elon Musk threatened on X.
One IRS employee told ABC News that when they asked their direct management whether not responding would result in them being fired, they were told, “We are only to adhere to official emails and ignore any directives not communicated through official channels.”
Another employee in management at the IRS said staff are "freaking out."
-- ABC News' Will Steakin
Justice Department employees 'do not need' to respond to OPM email
Employees at the Justice Department do not need to respond to the OPM email sent over the weekend, according to an email obtained by ABC News.
"Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the Department's work, DOJ employees do not need to respond to the email from OPM," an email to main justice employees from the assistant attorney general for administration and obtained by ABC News says. "If you have already responded to this email, no further action is needed."
DOJ joins other agencies in offering guidance on how to respond to OPM's request for employees to describe what they did that week.
--ABC News' Luke Barr
DOT staff told to respond to Musk’s 5 accomplishments email
Speaking to Fox Monday morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained why Department of Transportation employees should respond to Musk's email demanding they list five accomplishments over the past week.
"If you can't come up with five things that you did, maybe you shouldn't be employed here," Duffy said, calling this an "easy task" that "happens in the private sector all the time."
Monday morning, DOT employees also received an email instructing them to "respond as requested" to OPM's messaging.
– ABC News' Sam Sweeney
Federal unions allege Musk's demand that government workers list accomplishments violates federal law
A group of federal unions are alleging that the Office of Personnel Management's demand that federal employees list their accomplishments or resign violates federal law and exceeds the power of the presidency, arguing the president has perpetuated a "massive fraud" on government workers.
They asked a federal judge in California to immediately issue an order blocking the Trump administration from continuing to fire employees en masse as well as reinstate the federal employees it has already laid off.
-- ABC News' Peter Charalambous