Page 52 - Donald Trump Administration

Hegseth set up unsecured internet line in his office to connect to Signal

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had an internet connection that bypassed the Pentagon's security protocols set up in his office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, two people familiar with the line told The Associated Press. The existence of the unsecured internet connection is the latest revelation about Hegseth's use of the unclassified app and raises the possibility that sensitive defence information could have been put at risk of potential hacking or surveillance. Known as a dirty" internet line by the IT industry, it connects directly to the public internet where the user's information and the websites accessed do not have the same security filters or protocols that the Pentagon's secured connections maintain. Other Pentagon offices have used them, particularly if there's a need to monitor information or websites that would otherwise be blocked. But the biggest advantage of using such a line is that the user would not show up as one of the many IP addresses

Trump urges US Supreme Court to reinstate transgender military service ban

The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges proceed. The high court filing follows a brief order from a federal appeals court that kept in place a court order blocking the policy nationwide. President Donald Trump signed an executive order a week into his term that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honourable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life and is harmful to military readiness. In response, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service. But in March, US District Court Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma, Washington, ruled for several long-serving transgender military members who say the ban is insulting and discriminatory, and that their firing would cause lasting damage to their careers and ...

From tech bans to ending ties, US states have over 240 anti-China measures

State lawmakers across the US have introduced at least 240 anti-China proposals this year, aiming to ensure public funds don't buy Chinese technology or even T-shirts, coffee mugs and key chains for tourists. They're also targeting sister-city relationships between American and Chinese communities. After years celebrating trade ties with China, states don't want police to buy Chinese drones, government agencies to use Chinese apps, software or parts, or public pension systems to invest in Chinese companies. A new Kansas law covers artificial intelligence and medical equipment, while in Arkansas, the targets include sister-city ties and state and local contracts for promotional items. Tennessee now prohibits health insurance coverage for organ transplants performed in China or with organs from China. Either the United States or China is going to lead the world in the next few decades, Arkansas Gov Sarah Huckabee Sanders said after successfully pushing a wide-ranging Communist China

Harvard seeks speedy resolution of lawsuit over Trump's funding cuts

Harvard filed the lawsuit after the White House froze $2.2 billion in research grants on 14 April over its refusal to change policies on governance, discipline, hiring and admissions

Judge halts order for details on any efforts to return Abrego Garcia to US

A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily halted her order requiring the Trump administration to provide information on its efforts so far, if any, to retrieve a man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Drew Ensign, a deputy assistant attorney general, filed a sealed motion requesting a seven-day stay of the judge's directive for the US to provide testimony and documents that involve plans to retrieve Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The administration is also seeking relief from having to file daily updates on its progress. Lawyers for Abrego Garcia filed a response in opposition to the government's motion to halt the order. It was also under seal in the Maryland federal court. US District Judge Paula Xinis granted the stay until April 30, but her order did not make any changes to the required daily status updates. She didn't explain her legal reasoning, but wrote that it was made with the agreement of the parties. The administration expelled Abrego Garcia to El Salvador last month, an

Top Trump officials, US lawmakers continue condemnation of Pahalgam attack

Top Trump administration officials and US lawmakers continued to condemn the Pahalgam terror attack, expressing solidarity with India and stressing that there is no place for terrorism in the world. They also called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. I am praying for the Indian people following the tragic terrorist attack in Kashmir. America stands with our dear friends in India and against terrorism in all its forms, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X. Senator Chuck Schumer, New York's Senator and the Senate Democratic Leader, said his heart breaks for the "innocent tourists and locals murdered by terrorists in the revolting attack in Kashmir, and I wish a speedy recovery for the injured." He added that there can be no tolerance for the hatred that breeds "this kind of unjustifiable violence". Representative Brian Fitzpatrick strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack and offered prayers for the victims, their families, and all those affected b

Trump to hold rally in Michigan next week to mark first 100 days in office

President Donald Trump will mark his first 100 days in office next week with a rally in Michigan, his first since returning to the White House earlier this year. Trump will visit Macomb County on Tuesday, the White House press secretary said. The region just north of Detroit, known as an automotive hub. President Trump is excited to return to the great state of Michigan next Tuesday, where he will rally in Macomb County to celebrate the FIRST 100 DAYS! Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday on social media. The rally will take place one day before Trump's 100th day in office a traditional early milestone in which a president's progress is measured against campaign promises. Michigan was one of the key battleground states Trump flipped last year from Democrats on his path back to the White House. Trump has not travelled much since taking office outside of personal weekend trips. His only other official trip in his second term was during the first week, when he visited disaster zones in No

Raising millionaire tax would push the wealthy to leave US: Donald Trump

Trump's remarks are likely to pour cold water on discussions about creating a new 40 per cent tax bracket for people earning $1 million or more

Trump's immigration push puts spotlight on coveted H-1B visa programme

The H-1B visa has long been a highly coveted employment visa for foreign citizens with specialised skills to live and work in the US, and recent requests from the Trump administration have put greater attention on the programme. The requests for more information from people applying for or renewing H-1B visas come amid heightened tensions over immigration as President Donald Trump seeks to make good on his vow of mass deportations of people in the country illegally. Much of Trump's agenda has been focused on arresting people in the country illegally or reversing Biden-era temporary deportation protections. There has been less attention on employment-based visas or other parts of the legal immigration system though more than 1,000 international students have had their visas or legal status revoked. The requests for information come as the H-1B visa programme is already a source of division within Trump's Republican Party. Here's a look at what the H-1B visa programme is, what criti

Dollar jumps after Bessent predicts easing of US-China trade tensions

The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against six other major currencies, was up 0.6 per cent at 98.937, after sinking as low as 97.923 in the previous session

US academic leaders unite against Trump's higher education policies

Tuesday's joint statement is the latest show of resistance from U.S. higher education leaders as the Trump administration seeks to leverage its financial heft to overhaul academia

Trump admin begins State Department overhaul to cut redundancy: Rubio

Work that fell to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Human Rights, and Democracy will now be placed under a new Coordinator for Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs

Trump looking to cut US drug prices to international levels: Report

The first source said he had been told directly by government health officials that they were exploring such a policy, which he described as a mid-level priority for the Trump administration

Trump defends Hegseth amid Pentagon turmoil, Signal chat leak probe

Trump backed Hegseth after ex-Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said the Defence Department is overwhelmed by staff drama and turnover in the early months of Trump's second term

Harvard sues Trump admin for stopping $2.2 bn in grants as fight escalates

Trump administration unlawfully suspended Harvard's funding after it refused to comply with "unconstitutional demands" to overhaul governance, discipline and hiring policies

Harvard sues Trump admin to stop freeze of over $2 billion in grants

Harvard University announced Monday that it was suing the Trump administration to halt a freeze on more than USD 2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration's demands to limit activism on campus. In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, Trump's administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university, as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognising some student clubs. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the government's demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding.

Donald Trump raised record $239 million for his second inauguration

The inaugural committee raised money to pay for receptions, parties and other events before and after the official ceremonies

Trump admin makes major cuts to Native American school research projects

At least USD 1.6 million in federal funds for projects meant to capture and digitise stories of the systemic abuse of generations of Indigenous children in boarding schools at the hands of the US government have been slashed due to federal funding cuts under President Donald Trump's administration. The cuts are just a fraction of the grants cancelled by the National Endowment for the Humanities in recent weeks as part of the Trump administration's deep cost-cutting effort across the federal government. But coming on the heels of a major federal boarding school investigation by the previous administration and an apology by then-President Joe Biden, they illustrate a seismic shift. If we're looking to Make America Great Again,' then I think it should start with the truth about the true American history, said Deborah Parker, CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. The coalition lost more than USD 282,000 as a result of the cuts, halting its work to digiti

How Trump backed off from promise to end Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours

During his campaign, Donald Trump said repeatedly that he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours upon taking office. He has changed his tone since becoming president again. As various US emissaries have held talks looking for an end to the war, both Trump and his top officials have become more reserved about the prospects of a peace deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday suggested the US might soon back away from negotiations altogether without more progress, adding a comment that sounded like a repudiation of the president's old comments. No one's saying this can be done in 12 hours, he told reporters. The promises made by presidential candidates are often felled by the realities of governing. But Trump's shift is noteworthy given his prior term as president and his long histories with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The White House on Friday did not immediately respond to a message seeking ...

ACLU claims Trump admin restarting deportations under 18th century law

The American Civil Liberties Union on Friday unsuccessfully asked two federal judges to order the Trump administration not to deport any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law, contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals despite the US Supreme Court's restrictions on how it can use the act. Later in the day, the ACLU filed emergency petitions with both the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court itself to halt the deportations, even as one of the judges said it raised legitimate concerns but he could not issue an order. The group has already sued to block deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center and is asking a judge to issue an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the law. In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being ..