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Trump admin live updates: Judge releases Venezuelan couple accused of being gang members, rips government evidence
He headed to the new military immigration enforcement area without reporters.
A federal judge ordered a Venezuelan couple, accused by the Trump administration of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, to be released, delivering a stinging rebuke of the government's evidence in the case.
Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday was making an announced trip to the southern border -- without reporters -- as he faces new scrutiny in Washington.
ABC News has confirmed that, in at least two separate meetings, Hegseth accused top-ranking military officers of leaking to the news media and threatened to polygraph them.
Hegseth also used the Signal app on a personal computer in his office that was connected to the internet on an unsecured commercial line, what's known as a "dirty line," two sources confirmed to ABC News Thursday. A Pentagon spokesman called that report "fake news."
Latest headlines:
Nearly 700 State Dept jobs to be cut under Rubio reorganization plan: Officials
Rubio’s reorganization of the State Department would involve shuttering 132 agency offices and ultimately lead to the elimination of roughly 700 of the department’s D.C.-based civil and foreign service workforce positions, officials familiar with the proposal told ABC News.
Offices on the chopping block include those under the department’s Energy Resources and Conflict and Stabilization Operations wings, the Office of the Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary, the Office of Global Criminal Justice, the Office of International Religious Freedoms, the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the Office of Global Women’s Issues, and the Office of Global Partnerships.
Additionally, the department’s Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability bureau will be merged with its International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau (and now branded Arms Control, Nonproliferation and Stability).
Plus, what was the department’s Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism bureau will see significant reductions and now be known just as the Counterterrorism bureau. Several special envoys and their offices are also expected to be eliminated.
A senior State Department official told ABC News that no layoffs are expected to happen immediately, and that department leaders will have 30 days to analyze and implement the plan.
The official also claimed that the elimination of roles within the department does not necessarily directly translate to the number of employees that will eventually be let go, and that many in eliminated offices will likely be moved to other areas.
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston
Trump says he spoke with Netanyahu on trade and Iran
President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on trade and Iran on Tuesday morning.
"The call went very well -- We are on the same side of every issue," Trump wrote on social media.
The conversation between the two leaders comes as Trump touted "very good meetings" on Russia, Ukraine and Iran.
“So I will be giving you a full detail over the next three days, but we have very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia. We had very good meetings actually on Iran, too. We'll see how that works,” Trump teased on Monday.
Rubio announces State Dept reorganization
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a reorganization of the State Department Tuesday, arguing, "In its current form, the Department is bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission in this new era of great power competition."
"Region-specific functions will be consolidated to increase functionality, redundant offices will be removed, and non-statutory programs that are misaligned with America's core national interests will cease to exist," he added.
Rubio said the reorganization will take place "methodically over the next several months."
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston
Trump to deliver commencement addresses at University of Alabama and West Point
President Trump will deliver commencement addresses at the University of Alabama and the United States Military Academy at West Point, he announced on Truth Social late Monday night.
“I have agreed to do the Commencement Address at two really GREAT places, the University of Alabama and, WEST POINT. Stay tuned for times and dates!!!”
Commencement at the University of Alabama takes place the weekend of May 2 and West Point will hold a graduation ceremony on May 24.
Trump previously delivered the West Point commencement address on June 13, 2020 during the pandemic.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez