White House says some employees were fired by mistake
After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.
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:
- Some employees who accepted buyout offer were fired by mistake: White House
- Trump asks SCOTUS for permission to fire ethics watchdog
- DOE official warns all schools to end 'discriminatory' DEI policies
- 13 soon to be immigration judges, 2 current judges fired by Trump admin, union says
- US floats proposal to own 50% of revenue of Ukraine's rare earth minerals
Trump: Return hostages by '12 o'clock Saturday' or 'hell is going to break out'
Trump said he wants to see the remaining hostages in Gaza returned by "12 o'clock" Saturday or "hell is going to break out."
"I think it's an appropriate time," Trump said of the deadline during remarks from the Oval Office, noting that he was "speaking for myself, Israel can override it."
"But from myself, Saturday at 12 o'clock. And if they're not here, all hell is going to break out," he said.
His remarks come after Hamas delayed the next planned release of hostages, which had been scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.
Trump pardons former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
Trump on Monday granted a full unconditional pardon for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“It’s my honor to do it," Trump said during remarks from the Oval Office. "He was set up."
Trump called the Democratic former governor a "very fine person" and said he didn't know him other than he was on his TV show, "Celebrity Apprentice."
Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 on political corruption charges that included attempting to profit from filling the Senate seat vacated by then-President-elect Barack Obama.
Trump previously commuted Blagojevich's 14-year sentence in 2020.
Trump moves to enforce steel, aluminum tariffs
Trump is reinforcing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports through proclamations that the White House are dubbing "Tariffs 2.0."
Trump's proclamations enforce a 25% tariff on steel that he enacted during his first term and raise the tariff on aluminum imports from 10% to 25%, according to the White House.
During remarks in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said the 25% tariffs are "without exceptions or exemptions."
The White House is promising to reinstate the full power of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that Trump put in place during his first term, arguing they were eroded by the Biden administration.
"President Trump's bold action restores the strength of America's steel and aluminum industries, puts an end to the rampant exploitation and circumvention that has hurt American workers," a White House official told reporters on a background call. "With these tariffs, the days [of] foreign nations gaming our trade system are over."
-ABC News' Mary Bruce and Hannah Demissie
Federal judge blocks change to NIH funding cap
U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the National Institutes of Health from taking any steps to implement or enforce a cap on indirect costs.
Kelley ordered the NIH to issue a status report within 24 hours -- then at biweekly intervals -- to confirm "the regular disbursement and obligation of federal financial assistance funds."
Kelley, who was nominated to the bench by former President Joe Biden, set a Feb. 21 hearing to evaluate next steps.
-ABC News' Peter Charalambous