Latest news with #InaugurationDay
Politico
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
Trump administration taking new steps to block wind and solar projects, undisclosed memo says
Gregory Wischer, Interior's deputy chief of staff for policy, wrote in the memo that 'all decisions, actions, consultations, and other undertakings — including but not limited to the following — related to wind and solar energy facilities' require Burgum's review. The actions triggering Burgum's attention span cradle to grave aspects of project development, ranging from scoping reports to access road authorizations to cost recovery agreements. Wischer said in the memo the steps are necessary to align with various Trump administration executive orders, including the president's Inauguration Day declaration of a national energy emergency that called on steering federal resources to produce more energy — but did not define wind and solar as energy sources. 'Let's be clear: leaking internal documents to the media is cowardly, dishonest, and a blatant violation of professional standards,' Interior said in a response to a request for comment on the memo. 'It shows a complete lack of respect for the people working hard to serve the American public.' Eric Beightel, former executive director of the Federal Permitting Council under President Joe Biden, said the directive would definitely slow down approvals for these renewable energy projects. 'It absolutely will create so much bureaucratic process that no solar or wind projects are likely to move in a timely and efficient manner, if at all,' he said. 'For an administration so focused on eliminating unnecessary roadblocks, this is a clear attempt to use 'the process' to kill projects.' The Interior memo said its actions were also intended to align agency policy with Trump's executive order earlier this month to 'strictly enforce' the wind and solar tax credit phaseouts in the megalaw, including by potentially rewriting long-standing rules that define when a project is considered to have started construction.
India Today
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Trump admin eases work-from-home rules for federal employees
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that federal employees may now work from home or adjust their schedules to observe religious fasts and prayers, marking a shift from its earlier stance requiring full-time in-office Donald Trump had mandated on Inauguration Day that all federal workers return to their physical workplaces five days a week. However, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is now urging agencies to take a more flexible approach. OPM Director Scott Kupor advised departments to allow remote work around religious holidays and to accommodate employees who need breaks for fasting or prayer by permitting them to work from home. If an agency denies such a request, it must provide evidence of a "significant operational impact."advertisementThis policy marks a further softening of Trump's earlier opposition to telework. On the campaign trail, he criticized remote work for federal employees and even warned of firing those who refused to return to the office. After the election, the OPM later introduced exceptions, such as for military spouses. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who played a key role in Trump's government efficiency push, said in November that ending what he called the 'COVID-era privilege of staying home' would likely lead to a 'wave of voluntary resignations,' which he of May 2024, a Biden-era report found that over 1 million federal employees—nearly half the civilian federal workforce—were eligible for at least part-time remote work, with around 10 per cent working entirely from home.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's election triggered transgender people to contemplate DIY hormones & suicide: study
Even before executive orders were signed in January or court decisions handed down, fear was already surging through transgender communities across the United States. A new study from the University of Vermont, appearing in JAMA Network Open, captures that fear in stark detail. Titled 'Access to Gender-Affirming Care and Alternatives to That Care Among Transgender Adults,' the research found that every single one of 489 transgender, nonbinary, and intersex respondents believed they could lose access to gender-affirming medical care under the shifting political climate. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. 'This is a population that already feels that their access to care is constantly under threat,' said Teresa Graziano, the study's lead author, who uses they/them pronouns. 'It was startling.' Related: What does Donald Trump's 'shocking and devastating' victory and a second term mean for the LGBTQ+ community? The survey, conducted between the 2024 election and Inauguration Day 2025, revealed a level of distress that transcended fear and entered the realm of survival. More than 21 percent of participants reported that they would feel suicidal if their access to care were cut off. Graziano said one participant explicitly told them, 'killing myself is easier than living without my hormones and my gender affirming care.' Particularly alarming to Graziano was how many respondents described preparing for life without medical support. Nearly a third said they would turn to black-market hormones or attempt to synthesize hormones at home if care were banned. 'My concern as a health care provider is that they do not necessarily know that they are receiving sterile products or the products that they think they're receiving,' Graziano said. 'They may not be using doses that are safe or appropriate for them because it may not translate one-to-one with what they've been using in the past.' The Trump administration has moved quickly to implement policies redefining sex as strictly male or female and directing federal agencies to explore limits on gender-affirming care, particularly for minors. While no federal ban on adult care is currently in place, the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision in Skrmetti upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors has fueled deep anxieties that similar laws could spread across the country. Related: Trump administration announces end to gender-affirming care for transgender veterans National advocates say the Vermont study confirms broader trends. A spokesperson for Advocates for Trans Equality told The Advocate, 'This new study echoes what we found in our 2022 U.S. Trans Survey health report that we released last month, which captures the experiences of 84,170 trans adults across the country, and what millions across our country who are losing access to their health care thanks to Trump's budget reconciliation bill are saying: Trump's policies have consequences—all of us are less healthy and less safe, and many trans people will die without the transition-related care they need.' For Rep. Becca Balint, Vermont's first out lesbian member of Congress, the study's findings reflect conversations happening at home. 'It mirrors what I am hearing directly from trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming folks, intersex people in Vermont and their families,' Balint said in an interview with The Advocate. 'This level of anxiety about not being able to get the care that they need and that they deserve and that will keep them alive is something that I'm hearing from a lot of my constituents.' Related: Supreme Court rules states can ban gender-affirming care for youth in U.S. v. Skrmetti 'In the last few months, when I am back in Vermont and I am at an event, inevitably, either someone who identifies as trans or nonbinary or their family will come up to me and they will tell me just how scared they are that they're not going to be able to get health care,' she said. 'And more broadly, just deep despondency that their own government is coming after them.' While Balint called it 'of course, a shocking statistic that over 20 percent would consider taking their own lives,' she said the finding was, tragically, not surprising. 'They have been told now for two and a half years in earnest by the Republican party and by Trump that they don't matter,' she said. 'That they don't care about the lives of these people, that they will say anything and do anything, and they will scapegoat them.' Balint said many constituents have expressed what it feels like 'to have your government weaponized against you,' and warned that political rhetoric has real consequences for mental health and safety. 'When they don't see us as elected officials standing with their civil rights, standing with their right to the health care that they need and deserve, of course, it looks bleak,' she said. Related: LGBTQ+ mental health crisis center says calls have surged with Donald Trump's inauguration She sees a strong connection between today's threats to transgender people's access to health care and the fight for reproductive freedom. 'I link those all the time, especially for constituents who might have a hard time understanding the lives of trans people because they don't necessarily have somebody in their family or within their close social circle,' Balint said. 'I always say it's the same thing: you're talking about people having control over their own bodies.' Balint emphasized that cutting off access to care won't make transgender people disappear; it simply pushes them into unsafe, underground options. She said, 'transgender people have always existed and always will, as part of humanity itself.' People, she noted, will go to great lengths to obtain the care they need, even if that means risking black-market treatments. Instead of forcing people into such dangerous paths, Balint urged, 'We need to stop demonizing this population who is just trying to live their lives.' If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at or text START to 678678. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Donald Trump's election triggered transgender people to contemplate DIY hormones & suicide: study RELATED Montana court strikes down ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors Hundreds protest Pittsburgh hospital for caving to Trump and denying trans youth gender-affirming care Supreme Court rules states can ban gender-affirming care for youth in U.S. v. Skrmetti
Newsweek
a day ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Big Tech's Catastrophic TikTok Gamble
When Oracle, Apple, and Google chose to restore TikTok services after Donald Trump's Inauguration Day promises, they made what may ultimately prove to be the most catastrophically expensive corporate decisions in American history. These companies are knowingly violating the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACAA) based on legally meaningless executive orders—exposing themselves to potential civil penalties of up to $850 billion each. The next president, or even the current one should his notoriously mercurial mood change, could effectively bankrupt them all. What's most stunning isn't just the scale of their legal exposure, but the breathtaking corporate miscalculation that led their corporate executives to gamble not just their companies' very existence but their own personal livelihoods on the political whims of a president who cannot legally protect them from the consequences, or who could change his mind overnight. There is no doubt that each company made this decision despite employing armies of lawyers who undoubtedly informed their executives that presidential promises do not override congressional statutes. They either knew or should have known the consequences of their decision, but in their rush to curry favor with Trump and capture short-term profits, these tech giants may have authored their own financial destruction. The TikTok logos are seen on screens. The TikTok logos are seen on they ever be predicated, the legal trap these executives have walked themselves into is particularly damning. They would face a profound dilemma that exposes the fundamental weakness of their decision-making process. If they claim they acted in good faith based on legal advice, they would need to waive attorney-client privilege to make that defense. However, no lawyer of the caliber they command would have advised them that proceeding was a wise decision. This means that waving privilege would force their lawyers to either admit they advised against proceeding with the willful violation of the ban, destroying the good faith claim, or to commit perjury to protect their clients. In short, it means they almost certainly won't be able to raise this defense. Without an advice of counsel defense to shield them, shareholders could argue these executives acted recklessly and in bad faith by gambling with existential corporate liability for purely political reasons, making them personally liable for any resulting damages. This entire episode represents a profound abandonment of basic corporate governance principles, specifically the business judgment rule that normally protects executives from shareholder lawsuits when they make reasonable decisions in good faith. The financial stakes at play highlight the magnitude of their miscalculation. The penalty for violating PAFACAA is a fine not to exceed $5,000 multiplied by each user determined to have accessed the offending website or app. With TikTok's 170 million American users, each company faces potential fines of up to $850 billion. These aren't theoretical penalties; they're concrete statutory fines that any competent legal team would have flagged as existential threats to corporate survival. The business logic behind these decisions defies rational explanation. The revenue from TikTok-related services, while substantial for Oracle especially, pales in comparison to the potential liability exposure. Even if these companies believed the political risk was minimal, basic risk management principles would demand treating statutory violations as unacceptable regardless of assurances from any political figure. This episode reveals a troubling pattern in corporate America's relationship with political power. When faced with clear legal obligations, these companies chose to prioritize political relationships over legal compliance. They gambled that political favor would outweigh legal consequences. What makes this situation particularly tragic is that it was entirely avoidable. These companies had clear legal obligations under PAFACAA. They had sophisticated legal teams capable of explaining those obligations. They had governance structures designed to prevent exactly this kind of reckless decision-making. Yet they chose to ignore all of these safeguards in favor of personally placating the president. The ultimate irony is that these companies may have destroyed themselves while trying to preserve their market position. In their effort to maintain access to TikTok's user base, they have exposed themselves to a liability that dwarfs any conceivable benefit. They prioritized short-term political favor over long-term corporate survival—a decision that future business school case studies will likely examine as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political calculation overriding legal compliance. Corporate America has long prided itself on sophisticated risk management and legal compliance. The TikTok episode suggests that when political pressure mounts, even the most sophisticated corporations can make decisions that defy basic business logic. Nicholas Creel is an associate professor of business law at Georgia College & State University. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Where's Barron Trump? What we know about Donald and Melania's son, NYU student's private life
Donald and Melania, Trump Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, Vanessa, Kai and Donald Trump III have made headlines with their attendance. But where's Barron Trump? Since he was elected the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump has shared many special "presidential" moments with his family and inner circle — and most, if not all, have been attended by members of the Trump family. But some haven't. In particular, the most private family member of this very public family has not made many public appearances at all this year, including significant events. When President Donald Trump turned 79 years old a month ago — on June 14, 2025 — it was a nationwide affair. In conjunction, the U.S. Army hosted its 250th anniversary with Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C., something he had wanted since his first term as the 45th U.S. president. The White House had told USA TODAY that it was merely a coincidence that the Army's anniversary celebration was held on Trump's 79th birthday. What is Trump's presidential salary? How much do US presidents make an hour? We did the math for you Parade attendees in the heart of Washington, D.C., and viewers online could see that not every member of the Trump family made it to the VIP box − for the military parade and Trump's birthday celebration. Noticeably absent were Ivanka Trump and Barron Trump, his oldest daughter and youngest son. Ivanka Trump posted birthday messages to her father on her social channels. Barron Trump does not have public accounts on social media nor did he make an appearance at his father's birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. More: 'Oh really?': Trump says his wife Melania has some thoughts on Vladimir Putin In fact, it's been a while since the entire Trump family made a public appearance together since he was sworn in for a second time on Jan. 20, 2025. Public appearances, photos and video online of Barron Trump have been incredibly rare. Where is the first son? When is his next public appearance? Below is information about Barron Trump, sole child of Donald and Melania Trump, the last public appearance of the New York University student and when the world may get a glimpse of the apparently private public figure. Where is Barron Trump, only child of Donald and Melania Trump? Sightings of Barron Trump, sole child of Donald and Melania Trump, have been rare. The 19-year-old, 6-foot-7-inch-tall Barron Trump, a rising sophomore at New York University, last made a public appearance when his father was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for Inauguration Day (Jan. 20, 2025). March 20, 2025, was Barron Trump's 19th birthday. His father was home visiting Mar-a-Lago that week before flying to Trump Tower to be with his youngest son. There were no photos posted on any of Donald Trump's social accounts. While in college, Barron Trump reportedly lives at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, which is close to NYU's Stern School of Business. Before he turned 18, Barron Trump was largely kept out of the spotlight because of Melania Trump's protective nature. He has shown interest in his father's politics, particularly during the 2024 presidential election, though he did not make many public appearances. Baby Boulos sighting! New mom Tiffany Trump posts first photos of baby Trump Boulos or 'ATB' on Instagram When was the last public appearance of the entire Trump family in 2025? Since President Donald Trump's Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025, which also was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, life for the commander-in-chief has been busy. From Jan. 20 to July 14, for example, Donald Trump visited his home state of Florida 12 times and his private club and primary residence, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, 10 times. According to Palm Beach Post reporting, neither Barron Trump nor Melania Trump have accompanied the president on board Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago or Florida since Inauguration Day. However, other celebrities, Trump family members (Viktor Knavs, Melania Trump's father) and well-known public figures like Elon Musk and son Little X Musk have. In addition to his presidential duties, traveling and legislation, Trump has made time for significant events in sports including Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the NCAA wrestling championship finals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the 2025 LIV Golf Tournament at his golf club in Florida, UFC fights in Miami, Florida, and the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey. Members of the Trump family have attended these events, but the entire Trump family clan has not been publicly seen together since the week of Inauguration Day festivities. That includes all five Trump children, Donald's Trump's grandchildren, Donald Trump Jr.'s ex-wife Vanessa Trump, Donald Trump's second ex-wife Marla Maples, Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend Bettina Anderson, Melania Trump and her father, Viktor Knavs. Where does Barron Trump attend college? The NYU campus is not far from Trump Tower in Manhattan, where Barron Trump spent much of his childhood and lived until his father was sworn in as the 45th president in early 2017. Barron Trump lived in the White House with his parents until 2019, when Donald and Melania Trump permanently relocated to Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. With Barron Trump attending college in New York, it is notable that he is breaking away from family tradition. Barron Trump is not attending the University of Pennsylvania or Georgetown University, which have strong ties to the Trump family. Donald Trump and his other children — Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump — have attended or graduated from the prestigious universities in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., respectively. There is, however, one Trump family member with ties to NYU. The youngest Trump is following much of the family in pursuing a business degree, but forging a new path in choosing New York University's Stern School of Business, known as NYU Stern. Barron Trump's brother-in-law Jared Kushner, who is married to Barron's half-sister Ivanka Trump, has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and business and law degrees from New York University. Kushner graduated from NYU Stern. When is Barron Trump's next public appearance? Barron Trump started fall 2024 classes at NYU Stern School of Business just after Labor Day, making international headlines when he was spotted on campus flanked by Secret Service. He's likely the most famous (current) student at NYU. Though NYU has a rich social media following and the campus has held many significant events such as "NYU family weekend" or orientation, there have been zero mentions, social media tags, photos or video of Barron Trump. It's possible Barron Trump will go viral again if there are photos of him returning to NYU after Labor Day 2025, when classes start. Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
