More Trump Updates

Kelby Chichester

It’s that time again another installment of what Trump’s done now? which seems to be a recurring saga where America’s most infamous former reality star and now convicted felon.  

A federal judge in Maryland has temporarily halted portions of President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs throwing a wrench into the administration’s sweeping crackdown on such initiatives across the federal government. The decision marks a setback for Trump’s ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI policies, at least for now. 

Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel wasted no time in making waves, informing bureau officials of his plan to relocate 1,000 agents from Washington, D.C. to field offices nationwide.

Additionally 500 support staff members will be reassigned to the FBI’s Alabama campus a move that has sparked concerns about operational disruptions. Patel’s abrupt restructuring comes amid growing scrutiny of the agency’s leadership and direction under the Trump administration. 

A federal judge has given the green light for the Trump administration to proceed with its drastic downsizing of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), furthering the White House’s efforts to gut key government institutions.

In a bizarre twist some agency employees have been informed that they are not eligible for the administration’s government-wide buyout offer though no explanation has been provided. 

Despite repeated calls for transparency the administration has yet to disclose who is being fired how many positions are on the chopping block or which roles are exempt.

However, reports from employees and labor unions suggest that the layoffs are hitting workers in education, transportation, small business services, national parks, forestry, veterans’ services and environmental conservation particularly hard.

The purge also includes 200 airport security workers and 400 employees in the airspace industry, deepening concerns over the impact on critical public services. 

A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary block on the National Institutes of Health’s proposed cuts to medical research grant funding, following a lawsuit filed by 22 states seeking to halt the policy. 

District Judge Angel Kelley a Biden nominee ruled that the policy cannot take effect until further court arguments are heard. A hearing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21.

The decision comes as medical and research institutions warn that the cuts could have far-reaching consequences, affecting over 2,800 hospitals, medical schools, universities and other research facilities that rely on NIH funding. 

According to the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities the proposed reductions would significantly impact critical research efforts, including studies aimed at curing cancer and addressing chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. 

The White House stirred controversy after posting a video titled “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight” on its official Instagram and X accounts. The 41-second clip featured close-ups of chains and cuffs on a tarmac, with detainees walking onto a plane, their hands and ankles bound.

The use of ASMR, a genre typically associated with relaxation, to showcase the administration’s mass deportation efforts was widely criticized as “dehumanizing” and “grotesque.” 

Among those applauding the post was Elon Musk who called it “so based” alongside a mechanical arm emoji. The video, referencing online rage bait tactics marked another instance of the administration using social media to provoke outrage.