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 to sign executive order on reciprocal tariffs Wednesday or Thursday
In the Oval Office, President Donald Trump suggested he will sign an executive order on reciprocal tariffs by Thursday.
"In fact, I may do it today. And if I do it today, I could almost do it right now," he laughed, before saying he does not want to take away from Gabbard's day.
"I may do it later on, or I may do it tomorrow morning. But we'll be signing reciprocal tariffs," he promised.
"The world has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They've charged massive tariffs, and we haven't charged them," he said, touting his steel and aluminum tariffs that he said will "level the playing field."
Gabbard sworn in as director of national intelligence
Following her confirmation by the Senate, Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as director of national intelligence in the Oval Office Wednesday evening.
She and her husband, Abraham Williams, were spotted hugging prior to her being sworn in.
"There's nobody like her for this job. This was a very easy one for me," Trump said regarding his pick.
After expressing her gratitude to the president, Gabbard said she looks forward to working to "refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this way and focus on ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people."
Putin and Trump may meet in Saudi Arabia
In the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that he and Putin may meet in "probably" Saudi Arabia. Though the date has not been set, Trump said it will happen soon.
He added that their conversation was a "good call" that lasted "over an hour."
Trump added he will "think about" going to Ukraine and that his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was "very good."
US embassies instructed to prepare for staff reductions: Sources
The State Department has begun instructing U.S. embassies to start planning for staff reductions, sources told ABC News.
Embassies will be required to cut U.S. staff and local staff, according to the sources. Senior embassy officials have also been asked to provide comprehensive lists of all employees and their employment status as part of the process, including tenured, untenured and temporary duty assignments.
This comes as President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order aimed at ensuring all State Department staffers comply with his administration's foreign policy goals, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
-ABC News' Will Steakin, Shannon Kingston and Katherine Faulders