Latest news with #JusticeDept
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bob Menendez Does Not Deserve a Pardon
"People talk about the Trump [Department of Justice] DOJ," Bob Menendez, the disgraced former senator from New Jersey, posted on X Friday, "but it was the Democrats who started weaponizing the Justice Dept." The timing of that message was interesting. Menendez, a Democrat, is scheduled to report to federal prison on June 17, after a jury convicted him of accepting almost $1 million in bribes in exchange for, among other things, favors that benefited foreign governments. The scheme was extensive. Menendez—along with his wife, Nadine—took gold bars, $480,000 in cash, and a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible from three New Jersey businessmen, who, in return, had Menendez leverage the power of his office in a litany of corrupt ways. That included helping secure hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Egypt; assisting Egyptian-American entrepreneur Wael Hana in preserving a monopoly granted to him by that same country; attempting to influence multiple criminal investigations in a way that would satisfy two of his bribers; and promoting the interests of Qatar so that New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes could lock down a multi-million dollar investment from a fund associated with the Qatari government. This list is not exhaustive. The former senator was convicted last year on all 16 counts, which included bribery, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice, public official acting as a foreign agent, among several others. A judge sentenced him to 11 years in prison, which was, in some sense, a break, considering that the federal sentencing guidelines recommended a minimum of 24 years in prison. (His wife was convicted last month on all counts—15 in her case—and is scheduled to be sentenced in June.) Menendez's Friday post coincides not only with his looming prison sentence but also with the spate of pardons recently granted by President Donald Trump. It's understandable why the former senator would want to pull out all the stops here. Prison, to put it mildly, sucks. Trump should still decline to indulge him. Whether or not the president will be moved remains unclear. Among his recent pardons is Paul Walczak, an executive who was convicted of withholding millions of dollars in taxes from his employees' paychecks and then keeping the funds for himself. His pardon came shortly before he was to report to prison for an 18-month sentence—and after his mother attended a Trump fundraiser dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where, according to the invitation, admission cost $1 million. But perhaps more analogous to Menendez's situation is the pardon given to Scott Jenkins, the disgraced former Virginia sheriff who, in exchange for cash payments, gave out auxiliary deputy sheriff badges so recipients could invoke special privileges. It is not exactly a mystery why the pardon power's reputation is in the toilet. The problem is a bipartisan one—former President Joe Biden, for his part, issued preemptive pardons for his family members, Anthony Fauci, and others, which does not exactly instill confidence in the rule of law. Neither does pardoning people who sufficiently endear themselves to the chief executive. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin captured those motivations best on X: "No MAGA left behind," he wrote Monday, as he thanked Trump for pardoning Jenkins. But the pardon power, for all the negative attention it has received in recent months, can be an incredible tool for good. It is effectively the only lever to check overzealous prosecutors and unjust sentences in the federal system. Some of Trump's pardons make the case for this. Most famously there was Alice Marie Johnson, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the '90s for her role as a drug mule in a cocaine ring; Trump initially commuted her sentence and later pardoned her in 2020. Listed in the latest round of pardons were John Moore and Tanner Mansell, two Florida diving instructors who were convicted of theft after freeing sharks they thought had been caught illegally—which, as Reason's Jacob Sullum notes, was a bizarre misuse of the discretion afforded to prosecutors. That is the sort of thing clemency is for: to give a lifeline to people who may have been railroaded by the government, which sometimes gets creative and fanatical in its attempts to punish people. It is not supposed to be a get-out-of-jail-free card for well-connected, powerful people who can sufficiently flatter the president. After all, Menendez, as a senator, was one of the most powerful people in the country. His case was not an example of politicizing justice, though a pardon would be. The post Bob Menendez Does Not Deserve a Pardon appeared first on
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Trump admin urges judge to dismiss lawsuit restricting abortion pill access
Justice Dept. stuck to Biden admin's legal approach, without directly addressing access to the drug used in the nation's most common abortion method AP Washington The Trump administration on Monday asked a judge to toss out a lawsuit from three GOP-led states seeking to cut off telehealth access to abortion medication mifepristone. Justice Department attorneys stayed the legal course charted by Biden administration, though they didn't directly weigh in on the underlying issue of access to the drug that's part of the nation's most common method of abortion. Rather, the government argued the states don't have the legal right, or standing, to sue. The states are free to pursue their claims in a district where venue is proper, but the states' claims before this court must be dismissed or transferred pursuant to the venue statute's mandatory command, federal government attorneys wrote. The lawsuit from Idaho, Kansas and Missouri argues that Food and Drug Administration should roll back access to mifepristone. They filed their complaint after the Supreme Court preserved access to mifepristone last year. They want the FDA to prohibit telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone, require three in-office visits and restrict the point in a pregnancy when it can be used. The case is being considered by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas, a Trump nominee who once ruled in favor of halting approval for the drug. Kacsmaryk's original ruling came in a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion groups. It was narrowed by an appeals court before being tossed out by the Supreme Court, which found the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to sue. The three states later moved to revive the case, arguing they did have legal standing because access to the drug undermined their abortion laws. But the Department of Justice attorneys said the states can't just piggyback on the earlier lawsuit as a way to keep the case in Texas. Nothing is stopping the states from filing the lawsuit someplace else, attorney Daniel Schwei wrote, but the venue has to have some connection to the claims being made. Besides, Schwei wrote, the states are challenging actions the FDA took in 2016, when it first loosened restrictions on mifeprostone. That's well past the six-year time limit to sue, he said. Abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy in Idaho. Missouri had a strict ban, but clinics recently began offering abortions again after voters approved a new constitutional amendment for reproductive rights. Abortion is generally legal up to 22 weeks in Kansas, where voters rejected an anti-abortion ballot measure in 2022, though the state does have age restrictions. Trump told Time magazine in December he would not restrict access to abortion medication. On the campaign trail, said abortion is an issue for the states and stressed that he appointed justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority when striking down the national right to abortion in 2022. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance on abortion seems to have shifted at times, drawing criticism from both abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion forces. During his first confirmation hearing in January, he repeatedly said, I have always believed abortion is a tragedy, when pressed about his views. Mifepristone is usually used in combination with a second drug for medication abortion, which has accounted for more than three-fifths of all abortions in the US since the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
Washington Post
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Visualizing Trump's effort to reshape America through executive orders
Breaking News 6w ago Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president after a four-year quest to retake the office. Breaking News 6w ago Trump is poised to pardon nonviolent Jan. 6 defendants and commute sentences of others Breaking News 6w ago Trump pardons virtually all Jan. 6 defendants, including Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio Technology 6w ago Trump signs executive order to halt TikTok ban for 75 days, risking legal showdown Breaking News 6w ago Trump and tech CEOs announce up to $500 billion in private investments to build new data centers Local 5w ago Trump pardons two D.C. officers convicted of misconduct. Their fatal pursuit of a young Black man sparked civil unrest in 2020. Politics 5w ago Justice Dept. to sharply curtail prosecutions of antiabortion protesters who disrupt access to clinics Editors Picks 5w ago Trump's first-week strategy: 'Flood the zone.' Repeat. Politics 5w ago Trump's top D.C. prosecutor launches investigation of Jan. 6 prosecutions Politics 4w ago Justice Dept. drops appeal of Trump classified documents case dismissal, leaving Cannon's ruling on special counsels intact Breaking News 4w ago Trump appoints new acting FAA chief in wake of deadly D.C. plane-helicopter crash Technology 4w ago Trump to hold first meeting with CEO of AI chipmaker Nvidia on Friday amid concerns about competition from China Politics 4w ago FBI considers mass purge of potentially hundreds of agents involved in Trump investigations U.S. 3w ago Trump says he will fire Kennedy Center board members, appoint himself chairman Local 3w ago Trump expected to issue executive order targeting D.C. crime, homeless encampments and graffiti Breaking News 2w ago Kennedy Center board appoints Trump as its chair, and its president confirms she is leaving U.S. 1w ago Trump's Transportation Department revokes approval of New York City congestion pricing toll on drive Politics 5w ago Secretary of State Marco Rubio backtracks on Trump's near-total foreign aid freeze, issues waiver for 'life-saving' assistance Breaking News 4w ago Trump imposes 25 percent tariffs for Mexico and Canada and raises tariffs on China by 10 percent Breaking News 4w ago Trump will delay tariffs against Mexico for one month, Mexican president says Breaking News 4w ago Trudeau, after call with Trump, says U.S. will pause tariffs on Canada for 30 days Breaking News 4w ago Trump proposes permanent displacement of Gazans as he welcomes Netanyahu to White House Breaking News 4w ago Trump says U.S. would 'take over' Gaza Strip, says Palestinians should leave in news conference with Netanyahu Breaking News 3w ago Trump will not send funds to Gaza and hasn't committed to sending troops, White House says, after his proposal to displace Gazans Breaking News 3w ago Trump says Palestinians would not have the right to return to Gaza under his proposal to take over the enclave Breaking News 3w ago Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, dealing blow to Canada and Mexico Politics 3w ago Trump announces release of Marc Fogel, an American imprisoned in Russia, as part of deal with Kremlin Breaking News 2w ago Trump says he spoke with Putin in their first known call since he took office and they agreed to visit each other's countries Breaking News 2w ago Trump announces new 'reciprocal' tariff policy to tax foreign goods at the same rate that other nations apply to American products Politics 2w ago Hegseth's team invited a far-right activist on his trip to Europe, alarming Pentagon officials fearful of political infringement Breaking News 2w ago Vice President JD Vance on Friday met with far-right German leader Alice Weidel, the highest-ranking U.S. official ever to do so World 2w ago Ukraine rejects Trump request for half of its rare-mineral wealth in exchange for continued U.S. assistance World 1w ago Trump, without evidence, accuses Zelensky of being a 'Dictator without Elections' — echoing rhetoric from Russia World 1w ago U.S. sides with Russia to vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow for the Ukraine war World 1w ago Trump repeals directive that aimed to ensure allies don't use U.S. weapons in violation of human rights laws Breaking News 1w ago Ukraine and U.S. agree to framework for mineral deal, Ukrainian official says, after rift between Zelensky and Trump Breaking News 6d ago Supreme Court pauses midnight deadline for Trump administration to pay nearly $2 billion in foreign Breaking News 3d ago Trump, Zelensky Oval Office meeting turns contentious ahead of scheduled news conference Breaking News 3d ago Trump cancels news conference with Zelensky after heated Oval Office meeting U.S. 1d ago Broad 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will start tomorrow, President Trump said, adding that there was no chance of a last-minute deal. Breaking News 1d ago Trump orders pause on military aid to Ukraine in the wake of last week's Oval Office clash with Zelenskyy World Today The Trump administration's tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China are now in effect Breaking News 5w ago Justice Dept. threatens to prosecute local officials who do not comply with Trump's plans for immigration enforcement U.S. 5w ago Pentagon to order at least 1,000 additional U.S. troops to Mexico border in what may be first of several deployments Breaking News 5w ago House passes Laken Riley Act, first bill of Trump's new term and sign of immigration crackdown to co U.S. 5w ago Trump officials set quotas for ICE to aggressively ramp up arrests of immigrants, increasing odds that noncriminals are detained World 5w ago Trump announces tariffs and other sanctions after Colombia refuses U.S. planes with deported migrants U.S. 4w ago Trump plans to build a mass detention camp at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base to hold 30,000 deportees Breaking News 4w ago Trump administration seeks to give immigration officers access to restricted information about migrants … Politics 4w ago Venezuela to accept deportees, Trump says, allowing hundreds of thousands to be returned to repressive socialist state U.S. 4w ago DHS to end temporary protection for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, putting them at risk of potential deportation U.S. 3w ago Trump administration sues Illinois and Chicago, accusing them of blocking immigration enforcement efforts U.S. 3w ago Top ICE officials removed from jobs amid scramble to meet Trump's ramped-up goals for arrests and deportations Special Report 1w ago Migrants sent to Guantánamo describe humiliating strip searches and suicide attempts U.S. Alerts 4d ago ICE memo details how Trump officials will try to deport more than 1 million migrants admitted during the Biden administration Breaking News 3d ago Pentagon orders up to 3,000 additional troops plus Stryker combat vehicles to U.S. southern border Breaking News 6w ago Trump signs executive actions, including ordering federal workers back to office U.S. 6w ago Trump administration ousts Coast Guard's top admiral in first move on military leadership Politics 6w ago Trump administration removes senior Justice Dept. officials from key positions, a sign the agency will be dramatically reshaped Editors Picks 6w ago Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's 'DOGE' vision broke down over deep philosophical differences Politics 5w ago Trump administration orders all federal diversity, equity and inclusion workers to be placed on paid leave U.S. 5w ago Justice Department freezes all civil rights cases, including police investigations Politics 5w ago Trump moves to close down Pentagon office focused on the prevention of civilian deaths resulting from U.S. military activity Politics 5w ago Trump fires at least 12 independent inspectors general in late-night purge Politics 5w ago Trump defends late-night purge that ousted at least 15 independent inspectors general Breaking News 5w ago Justice Dept. fires officials who worked on Jack Smith's special counsel team that investigated Donald Trump Breaking News 5w ago White House budget office orders pause on all federal grants, sparking confusion in Washington U.S. 5w ago Trump signs executive order targeting transgender troops and 'radical gender ideology' Breaking News 5w ago Trump administration clarifies spending freeze was meant to be limited, but order has spurred chaos, including Medicaid outages Local 5w ago Smithsonian will close its diversity office after Trump's DEI order Business 5w ago Trump moves to fire members of two independent agencies tasked with protecting workers, breaking with decades of precedent Breaking News 5w ago White House tells federal workers they can quit now and be paid through Sept. 30 U.S. 5w ago Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to take actions against Trump foe Mark Milley, the former Joint Chief Breaking News 4w ago Trump administration rescinds federal spending freeze that sparked confusion U.S. 4w ago Trump signs trio of executive orders on education, seeking to control teaching of race and gender, boost school choice Politics 4w ago Several senior leaders across the FBI were told to leave the agency by Monday or be fired, people familiar with the matter say. Breaking News 4w ago Treasury's top-ranking career official expected to leave after clash with Elon Musk's allies over access to sensitive payment system Breaking News 4w ago Elon Musk's allies now have access to a sensitive Treasury Department payment system that controls $6 trillion per year Politics 4w ago Trump's diversity purge targets dozens of federal workers who did not work in DEI Breaking News 4w ago White House puts USAID officials on leave after they refused Musk allies access. Musk called the agency a 'criminal organization.' U.S. 4w ago As Justice Dept. examines FBI's work on Jan. 6 cases and weighs firings, agents told to explain their roles in each case Business 4w ago Consumer Financial Protection Bureau halts all work after Trump appoints Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as its acting director U.S. 4w ago Trump preps order to dismantle Education Department as DOGE works to raze it from within, officials say Breaking News 4w ago Layoffs across the federal government are 'likely' if not enough workers take the deferred resignation offer, internal email warns Business 4w ago USPS suspends package service from China as Trump's tariffs kick in Politics 4w ago Most USAID workers to be put on leave as all overseas staff are recalled, Trump administration says Breaking News 3w ago Trump signs executive order that aims to ban trans student-athletes from competing on girls' and women's teams Politics 3w ago Elon Musk's DOGE agents have accessed sensitive personnel data at the Office of Personnel Management Technology 3w ago Elon Musk's DOGE team is feeding sensitive federal data into AI via Microsoft's cloud to target spending cuts Climate 3w ago Trump officials plan to close EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, putting nearly 170 workers on leave Politics 3w ago Trump drops U.S. government's opposition to Tennessee's ban on transgender teen care in case pending Breaking News 3w ago The Trump administration cut billions in biomedical funding. Researchers say it imperils work on cancer and other illnesses. Breaking News 3w ago Justice Department tells prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams Breaking News 2w ago Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls Ukraine's peace goals 'unrealistic' in meeting with allies Breaking News 2w ago Trump's federal worker buyout offer can move forward after judge lifts hold U.S. 2w ago Three Justice Department officials resign after Trump administration orders end to prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams Breaking News 2w ago Trump administration tells agency heads to fire probationary staff in effort to shrink federal workforce U.S. 2w ago Lead Eric Adams prosecutor also quits over demand to drop charges, saying only a 'fool' or 'coward' Breaking News 2w ago Justice officials seek to drop Eric Adams case after 7 veteran prosecutors resign over request to do Breaking News 2w ago Internal documents show how DOGE wrote the playbook for Trump's DEI purge — and whom they plan to fire Breaking News 2w ago Musk's DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS Breaking News 2w ago Top Social Security official exits after clash with Musk's DOGE over attempts to access sensitive data Politics 2w ago D.C. federal prosecutor resigns after declining to take part in Trump administration plan to freeze Politics 2w ago Layoffs of probationary Defense Department employees are expected soon as team from Musk's DOGE arrives Editors Picks 2w ago Inside the Trump administration's error-plagued firing spree, which dismissed thousands for 'performance' reasons without evidence. U.S. 2w ago FEMA is losing hundreds of employees. That could slow disaster response. Breaking News 1w ago Trump administration orders Pentagon to make plans for sweeping budget cuts, exempting border security Politics 1w ago New Social Security chief was being investigated when Musk team tapped him Politics 1w ago Federal workers must answer email asking what they did last week — or lose their jobs, Musk says Politics 1w ago Several administration officials tell federal workers not to respond to Musk email demanding account Politics 1w ago Trump administration breaks with Elon Musk, telling federal agencies they can ignore his order on email reply Special Report 6d ago Elon Musk's business empire is built on $38 billion in government funding Politics 5d ago Five former defense secretaries denounce Trump's firings of Pentagon leaders as 'reckless' and urge Politics 3d ago The federal government plans to send workers a second 'What did you do last week?' email. It might require a response. Politics 3d ago IRS rejected request from immigration officials for addresses of suspected undocumented immigrants U.S. 3d ago DOGE officials are seeking to use IRS records to search for fraud in benefits and student loans, records show SIX WEEKS OF 'FLOOD THE ZONE' In the six weeks since President Donald Trump's inauguration, his administration has put forward more than 80 executive orders, tearing up norms, challenging the courts and testing Republican loyalty in the process. Scroll to continue The administration is seemingly intent on a 'flood the zone' strategy, as former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon put it, soaking up attention and moving rapidly with the goal of 'overwhelming the system.' Have you struggled to keep up? That's by design. Here are Trump's major actions, as captured in The Washington Post's news alerts, so far. Most visibly, Trump moved to seize control of the federal government, issuing directives to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs; purging high-ranking officials; and establishing Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service to slash the federal workforce. One of Trump's campaign promises was a crackdown on immigration. He acted swiftly with orders to prepare for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, including directions to expand the country's detention capabilities. On foreign policy, Trump targeted traditional U.S. allies and trading partners, namely Mexico and Canada, with tariffs. The Supreme Court is now reviewing a freeze on payments from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the government's main foreign-aid organization. Trump also signed executive orders focused on health, science and other topics, such as targeting transgender health care and withdrawing from the World Health Organization. Trump has taken near-daily executive action to seize control of the federal bureaucracy and unilaterally pivot U.S. policy. By Daniel Wolfe and Chris Alcantara March 4, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. EST 3 minutes ago Trump, who is set to speak before a joint session of Congress tonight, famously declared, 'I alone can fix it' in his 2016 Republican convention speech. The president has set in motion sweeping changes to American policy and government in the opening weeks of his second term, largely by acting alone and sidestepping the legislature. Though some actions have been challenged in court or reversed, the administration is putting forward carefully choreographed messaging that regularly draws the public's attention and riles his critics. Trump signed 26 executive orders on Day 1, far surpassing any recent president's total. Day one summary of executive orders Day 1 executive orders outline plans for the weeks ahead 10 on federal government Seven on immigration INAUGURATION DAY Jan. 20 Five on foreign policy The rest mainly on administrative, trade, recisions, climate or other items. Day 1 executive orders outline plans for the weeks ahead 10 on federal government Seven on immigration INAUGURATION DAY Jan. 20 Five on foreign policy The rest mainly on administrative, trade, recisions, climate or other items. Day 1 executive orders outline plans for the weeks ahead INAUGURATION DAY Jan. 20 10 on federal government Five on foreign policy The rest mainly on administrative, trade, recisions, climate or other items. Seven on immigration Day 1 executive orders outline plans for the weeks ahead INAUGURATION DAY Jan. 20 10 on federal government Five on foreign policy The rest mainly on administrative, trade, recisions, climate or other items Seven on immigration As of publication, more than 80 lawsuits seek to block efforts to cut the federal workforce, fire watchdogs, restrict immigration among other actions. Here are the patterns that emerge in Trump's orders so far. Executive order category 32 Federal 8 Immigration 23 Foreign 19 Other Major court challenge M Jan. 20 Tu 21 W 22 Th 23 F 24 Sa 25 Su 26 27 28 29 30 31 Feb. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 March 1 2 3 4 Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Orders on the federal bureaucracy 0 What began by targeting DEI programs across the government has expanded to a massive 'reduction in force' effort. Agencies like USAID have had $2 billion in grants frozen and thousands of jobs cut, while employees at other offices brace themselves for cuts of up to 90 percent their workforce. 'It seems like they are using this to reshape the purpose of the government rather than execute it more efficiently,' said Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan group that advocates for a stronger federal government. Executive order category 4 Logistics 2 Science 2 Speech 18 Workforce 6 Other Major court challenge M Jan. 20 On Day 1: Creates DOGE, orders federal workers back to the office and more Tu 21 Issues order dismantling DEI, under legal challenge W 22 Th 23 Signs an order on declassifying files on JFK, RFK and King assassinations F 24 Trump fires at least 12 independent inspectors general in late-night purge Sa 25 Su 26 27 Orders ban on transgender troops; Admin. pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion 28 White House tells federal workers they can quit now and be paid through Sept. 30 29 Creates a commission for America's 250th birthday in 2026; federal spending freeze reversed 30 31 Issues order against the 'ever-expanding morass' of federal regulation Feb. 1 Musk's allies now have access to a sensitive Treasury payment system 2 3 4 Most USAID workers to be put on leave as all overseas staff are recalled, Trump administration says 5 6 Creates task force 'to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias' 7 Creates White House faith office 8 9 10 Signs order against paper straw procurement 11 DOGE-related order to prepare for 'large-scale reductions in force' 12 Trump's federal worker buyout offer can move forward after judge lifts hold 13 Trump administration tells agency heads to fire probationary staff 14 15 16 17 Top Social Security official exits after clash with Musk's DOGE over data 18 Issues order claiming additional power over independent agencies 19 Releases order on DOGE deregulation effort 20 21 22 Workers must answer email asking what they did last week — or lose their jobs, Musk says 23 24 25 26 27 28 March 1 The government plans to send workers a second 'What did you do last week?' email 2 3 4 Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Orders on immigration 0 Trump campaigned on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. In his victory speech, he claimed voters gave him a 'powerful mandate' for his agenda that included cracking down on the border and expanding the country's detention capabilities. Within his first day, Trump declared a national emergency at the border, setting up a more militarized response, and he is attempting to end birthright citizenship. On Jan. 29, Trump ordered the construction of detention camps with 30,000 beds at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Within a week, satellite analysis confirmed tents going up at the site. By late February, human rights complaints and legal challenges had beset the plan, and the Trump administration tapped the private prison industry to reopen or repurpose shuttered and aging facilities. Executive order category 4 Border security 4 Immigration policy Major court challenge M Jan. 20 Signs a bevy of orders upping border enforcement Tu 21 Orders banning refugee admissions and birthright citizenship were later blocked. W 22 House passes Laken Riley Act Th 23 F 24 Sa 25 Su 26 Trump officials issue quotas to ICE officers to ramp up arrests 27 28 29 Trump plans to build a mass detention camp at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base 30 DHS rescinds immigration protections for Venezuelans, despite past support 31 Feb. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Top ICE officials removed amid scramble to meet goals for arrests and deportations 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Creates an order aimed at ending federal benefits for some immigrants 20 21 22 23 24 Judge pauses immigration raids in some houses of worship 25 Trump: Government will sell $5 million 'gold card' to wealthy immigrants 26 27 28 March 1 2 3 4 Foreign policy orders 0 Tariff threats have forced longtime allies and neighbors to make concessions to the United States. Mexico and Canada forestalled tariffs in exchange for promises on border security, but new 25 percent tariffs on those neighbors went into effect today. He also increased tariffs on Chinese products by 10 percentage points. Other executive orders on foreign policy included an order to build a missile defense system for the country, similar to Israel's Iron Dome, and an order to halt aid to South Africa over 'government-sponsored, race-based discrimination' against White Afrikaners. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement After a contentious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, foreign relations with Ukraine have become strained. The United States recently voted against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia, which invaded Ukraine, for its role in the conflict. European leaders said they are now 'doubling down' on military support for Ukraine so they may enter peace talks in a position of strength. Executive order category 5 Diplomacy 14 Trade 4 Other Major court challenge M Jan. 20 Orders U.S. withdrawal from climate agreements and WHO Tu 21 On Day 1, Trump also signs order delaying TikTok ban W 22 Th 23 F 24 Sa 25 Su 26 27 Trump order calls for an 'Iron Dome for America' 28 29 30 31 Feb. 1 Trump imposes, but later pauses, 25 percent tariffs for Mexico and Canada 2 3 Orders creation of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund 4 Trump says U.S. would 'take over' Gaza Strip 5 Announces a 10 percent tariff on China 6 7 Order halts aid to South Africa calling for White landowners resettlement as 'refugees' 8 9 10 Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, dealing blow to Canada and Mexico 11 Marc Fogel, an American imprisoned in Russia, released 12 13 Trump announces new 'reciprocal' tariff policy 14 Vice President JD Vance met with far-right German leader Alice Weidel 15 Ukraine rejects Trump request for half of its rare-mineral wealth in exchange for continued U.S. assistance ... 16 17 18 19 Trump, without evidence, accuses Zelensky of being a 'Dictator without Elections' ... 20 21 22 23 24 United States sides with Russia to vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow for the Ukraine war 25 26 27 28 March 1 2 Tariffs levied against Canada and Mexico are reinstated. 3 Increases tariffs on China by 10% 4 Health, science and other orders 0 The remaining executive orders echo many campaign promises on health, science and other topics, from targeting transgender athletes in schools to boosting domestic energy production. Executive order category 1 Anti-semitism 3 Education 4 Energy 3 Environment 8 Health Major court challenge M Jan. 20 Trump pardons virtually all Jan. 6 defendants Tu 21 W 22 Th 23 F 24 Sa 25 Su 26 27 28 Trump signs executive order targeting federal support of gender-affirming care 29 With sweeping orders, Trump aims to control race teaching, boost school choice 30 31 Feb. 1 2 3 4 5 Trump bans transgender atheletes in women and girls' sports 6 7 Trump says he will fire Kennedy Center board members, appoint himself chairman 8 9 10 Justice Department tells prosecutors to drop charges against New York mayor 11 12 13 Federal judge blocks Trump order on health care for transgender youth 14 15 Issues an order that ends covid-19 vaccine mandates in schools 16 17 18 Trump signals intent to punish AP over 'Gulf of Mexico' style policy 19 Revokes approval of New York City congestion pricing 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Trump DOJ releases some Epstein files, says there's little new info 28 March 1 Signs an order intended to expand domestic timber production 2 3 4 Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Trump is on pace to set a record for the most executive orders signed in a single presidential term. Copy editing by Dorine Bethea. Steven Rich, Clara Ence Morse, Emily Davies, Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson and Azi Paybarah contributed to this report. Sources: Federal Register and Post reporting. Executive orders as of Monday at 5 p.m. Having trouble following the daily deluge of news from the Trump administration? The Post is organizing the president's actions, orders, policies and announcements into major stories you can follow
Miami Herald
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Trouble in our democracy: Trump fired an honorable Miami federal prosecutor
Raise your voice Re: the Jan. 29 Miami Herald story, 'Miami federal prosecutor is among those fired by Justice Dept. for roles in Trump cases.' I've known Michael Thakur for at least a dozen years. Were I to put together a list of the smartest, most decent, most honorable people in our community, he would come quickly to mind. Genuine justice is embedded in his soul. My lifetime goes back to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and I've spent time with every president from Nixon to Biden. My most abundant reading is American history — the good and inspiring and what we still must overcome. My favorite Americans in history and in the present — those I have known, the many more I have not — are those who speak up and inspire. This republic is not guaranteed. Benjamin Franklin, among our greatest Americans, in the wake of our establishing the United States Constitution, was asked by a group of citizens what had been created. His words, as pertinent today as in 1787, were these: 'A republic if you can keep it.' Our republic is at risk unless we heed the lessons of history, hold onto our values and speak up on behalf of what is just. David Lawrence Jr., Coral Gables Vibrant village As a resident of Key Biscayne for nearly 50 years, I feel personally grateful to live in a thriving, vibrant village that is consistently committed to fostering safety and a strong sense of community while preserving a unique charm and lifestyle. The Village of Key Biscayne has undergone many changes in the past five decades, and I have been fortunate to lead our community as mayor through some of our most important milestones. Yet, no community is immune from the challenges of an urban setting. It is during these moments that the strength of our residents, the dedication of our leaders and the unity of our village truly shine. We must learn from the past and move forward in a way that honors and preserves our values while innovating for the future. Key Biscayne is a community of openness, where our residents have access to speak to their elected officials and administrative staff. In today's world, it is uncommon to be able to pick up the phone and speak directly to a chief of police or public works director, but not in Key Biscayne. Our officials are engaged and part of our community; our doors are open and ready to welcome our residents. In fact, one of our core values is 'Residents First.' That openness is a testament to how our village is run and what makes the community special. Yes, there is a media policy in place, but that is to ensure that our residents receive the most accurate information from media entities while not overburdening our staff. This is common practice in any organization, public or private. This is not aimed at our residents. We want your input and involvement. Elected to serve and represent, as mayor and council we volunteer our time and energy to our residents with commitment and passion. We are grateful to our staff, from first responders to athletics coordinators to administration, who work tirelessly to keep our village running smoothly and safely. They are what make Key Biscayne the vibrant, welcoming and thriving community we are proud to call home. If any resident has doubts or is losing trust, please call me or any of your council members. We were elected by you to support you. Let's continue to band together and keep our Island Paradise strong, united and prepared for the future. Joe I. Rasco, Mayor Village of Key Biscayne Teacher award Congratulations to Vivian Ventura for winning Teacher of the Year as a music teacher at Southwood Middle School. As accomplished musicians and teachers, we offer the community of students much needed musical education, which contributes to their overall growth into adulthood. Many years ago, I received the prestigious 'Heidi Castleman award for excellence in Chamber Music Teaching in the Middle School Venue' while a consulting string teacher at Southwood Middle school. At the time, the school's principal demanded I give my prize money to the school, although it was a teacher award. He also squelched the creative talents of many accomplished teachers. The Miami-Dade School Board stood behind me. It is for that very reason I applaud Ventura, for winning and receiving her hard-earned rewards. No one should suppress excellence. Jill Sheer, Miami Justice gone astray President Donald Trump's firing of more than a dozen career Justice Department lawyers and staff who were involved in his previous prosecutions brazenly demonstrates the continued politicization of our criminal processes. Given the stench accompanying Trump's convictions by New York State authorities, it is clear both major political parties are involved. We watched President Joe Biden preemptively pardon family and friends, purportedly to avoid 'revenge' and then watched Trump pardon his Jan. 6, 2021 supporters, including many convicted of assaults on police officers. This must stop, but who is up to the task of halting executive interference with the criminal judicial process? Congress is constitutionally responsible for doing so and possesses the mechanism but not the moxie. There is no evidence of congressional willingness even to discuss the problem, much less seek, investigate and resolve it. Presidential control of party leaderships makes it unlikely we'll see anything comparable to the Watergate investigation. The judiciary is meant to punish rather than prevent misconduct and much of its authority relies upon distancing itself from political considerations. The latest display, however, may provide an incentive for the courts to take — or at least prod — Congress to take action. Although included in the executive category, Justice Department lawyers are also officers of the courts in which they appear. Sacking government lawyers and pardoning a mob of convicted criminals has obvious impact on the courts. Should our judges be unconcerned about the responsibilities and ethical loyalties of the attorneys appearing before them? The judiciary, including its circuit councils, has enormous influence and control on lawyers and bar associations and has often assembled committees to deal with matters of interest or impact on the judicial system. It is not without power to commence (or induce the bar to conduct) a process to determine whether criminal charges are being brought or thwarted for political reasons. To rid the judicial system of politicization is inherently political and hence, anathema to the courts. Distasteful as it may be, forcing a spotlight may also be our only source of rescue or of shaming congress into action. R. Thomas Farrar, Miami Trump's headache Corralling undocumented immigrants will create labor shortages and increase prices. Tariffs will do the same. While Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party kiss President Trump's ring and concentrate on cultural issues, they are neglecting average Floridians. In addition to renewing tax cuts for the rich, unless Trump finds a way to lower prices before the midterms, uneducated white Americans, who were deceived into believing they finally had a savior, will become aware of the deception and stop supporting the conman. Kenneth Karger, Kendall Baseless claim The Jan. 29 aircraft collision in Washington, D.C. was a tragic accident and President Donald Trump had no right to begin placing blame without having confirmed proof of how it happened and who was responsible. In his press conference after the incident, Trump politicized the tragedy by blaming diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for the accident. He could not have known all of the names, ethnicity and educational background on those involved in the accident to determine, without a doubt, that DEI was the cause. In addition, he also laid blame on the Marine helicopter crew for not seeing the oncoming airliner on the approach to landing. The Blackhawk pilots were using night-vision goggles and could have misidentified the wrong aircraft. Trump is not a pilot, knows nothing about aviation and should not have used this tragedy to blame anyone or any policy as the cause of the accident. This is another example of how this president prefers to divide rather than unite Americans, even during tragedies. Edward Blanco, Cutler Bay
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House orders freeze on 'financial assistance,' unleashing anger, confusion, lawsuit
The Trump administration caused a rush of confusion and anger Tuesday among Democratic leaders, state officials and federal program managers with a vague order purporting to halt "all federal financial assistance" while it considers whether the funding comports with the new president's agenda. The directive from the Office of Management and Budget — which the White House released late Monday and quickly began walking back Tuesday — spurred California and other states to announce a lawsuit seeking to block it as an unconstitutional power grab by President Trump that would harm vulnerable populations. "We will not stand by while the president attempts to disrupt vital programs that feed our kids, provide medical care to our families and support housing in our communities," California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said at a news conference. 'We won't stand by while the president breaks the law and oversteps his authority, as outlined in our Constitution." Bonta said the order threatens trillions of dollars in federal funding, and was "reckless, it is dangerous, unprecedented in scope and devastating in its intended effect." New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James, who is leading the effort with Bonta, called the memo "plainly unconstitutional." "The president does not get to decide which laws to enforce and for whom," James said. "When Congress dedicates funding for a program, the president cannot pull that funding on a whim." Bonta and James spoke after a day of swirling speculation about the scope of the order — which the White House downplayed even as it worked to specify the order's reach. Read more: California, other states sue to block Trump executive order on birthright citizenship The White House issued an updated memo Tuesday that expanded a list of programs exempted from the funding pause, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the food assistance program known as SNAP. Also exempted would be federal funding for small businesses, farmers, Pell Grant recipients, Head Start, rental assistance "and other similar programs," the White House said. Karoline Leavitt, Trump's press secretary, said that the directive was "not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs" and that anyone receiving "individual assistance from the federal government" would continue receiving that aid. She also noted that the cuts, which were meant to take effect Tuesday afternoon, were temporary, and that leaders of federal programs were free to call Trump budget officials to make the case that their programs should not be frozen. She also suggested the administration was clear on the order's scope, and confusion on that front was limited to the media. Read more: Justice Dept. halts legal programs for detained immigrants, cuts off advocates' access to facilities Both James and Bonta said the White House's attempts to minimize the scope of the order after confusing program managers and terrifying benefit recipients across the country did not resolve their concerns or negate the need for their lawsuit. On the contrary, Bonta said that the initial order had "thrown state programs into chaos," and the White House's attempts to clarify it had "further fueled" the confusion. James said some states were already reporting that funds had been frozen, including for programs that the White House said would not be affected. Many states had been shut out of their Medicaid reimbursement systems, she said. Other programs affected in different states included Head Start and child development block grants, she said. California is expected to distribute $168.3 billion in federal funds and grants through the fiscal year that ends on June 30. Officials are assessing what of that funding is at risk. Los Angeles officials were also scrambling at the local level to make sense of the order, which could affect housing vouchers and homeless assistance grants, according to internal emails. Bonta said he is coordinating with other state officials, and believes that federal disaster relief funding for the recovery from L.A.'s devastating wildfires remains at risk under the order. The uproar began late Monday, after Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, issued a memo announcing a "temporary pause" on grants, loans and other financial assistance. Vaeth wrote that voters had given Trump a "mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar," and Trump needed to determine which spending by the government aligned with his agenda. "Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending 'wokeness' and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again," he wrote. "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve." Read more: Trump talks 'free speech' while moving to muzzle those he disagrees with Democrats immediately began sounding alarms and calling the directive unconstitutional and far beyond the scope of Trump's power as president, given that Congress generally appropriates funding, not the White House. Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said the fact that "Congress holds the power of the purse" is "very clear in the Constitution." Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, called the White House move "a constitutional crisis." His committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on Trump's nomination of Russ Vought as White House budget chief. Vought is the architect of the spending freeze. The original memorandum ordered all federal agencies to conduct a "comprehensive analysis" of their spending to determine which of it is "consistent with the President's polices" and the raft of executive orders that Trump has issued in recent days. In the interim, it said, federal agencies must — to "the extent permissible under applicable laws" — pause all disbursements of funds or "other relevant agency activities" that may be covered by Trump's orders, "including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal," Vaeth wrote. The pause, the memo said, will give the Trump administration time to "determine the best uses of the funding" moving forward. Leading Republicans largely defended the move — suggesting it was a normal act for an incoming administration. "I think that's a normal practice at the beginning of administration, until they have an opportunity to review how the money is being spent," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday morning. Democrats disagreed — issuing especially critical reactions prior to the White House's clarifications. Read more: Trump social media claim of using troops to force water flow is refuted by California Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the directive "outrageous" and "a dagger at the heart of the average American family in red states and blue states, in cities, in suburbs, in rural areas." Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) wrote that Trump's "illegal scheme will raise costs, hurt working families and deny critical resources for Americans in need." Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) said the order will cause Americans to suffer. A coalition including the American Public Health Assn. and the National Council of Nonprofits are independently challenging the memo in court, as well. The order followed a separate directive by the Trump administration to halt a broad range of foreign aid. Mark A. Peterson, a UCLA professor who studies public policy and political science, said the original memo was without precedent and left "extreme ambiguity as to what it affects and how it applies,' as well as its duration. "Anything that has, from the point of view of the Trump administration, the aroma of dealing with equity or inclusion issues could be put under threat,' Peterson said — and 'there's so much misunderstanding about what those issues are." Bonta said that he fears the White House's latest directives put federal funding for wildfire disaster relief following L.A.'s fires further at risk. Already, Republicans are talking about conditioning such funding on Democrats acquiescing to certain unrelated demands, Bonta noted — which he said is troubling. "We need it, we need it now, we needed it yesterday and without conditions," he said. Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island would join California and New York in the lawsuit, officials said. Pinho reported from Washington, Rector from San Francisco, Alpert Reyes from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Taryn Luna, in Sacramento, contributed to this report. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
