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Amid pushback, Musk threatens federal workers with sacking if they fail to reply to email
Welcome to our ongoing coverage of US politics:
The controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s request for federal employees to account for their recent work continues to unfold.
The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has retracted an ultimatum issued by Musk over the weekend, which indicated that federal workers would need to resign if they failed to provide a list detailing their accomplishments.
This development reflects early signs of resistance to Musk’s initiative aimed at reducing the size of the federal workforce.
Initially, the OPM clarified that employees were not required to respond to Musk’s email, and failing to do so by the specified deadline would not be considered a resignation, contrary to Musk’s previous warnings.
Nonetheless, Musk maintains that employees are expected to reply or they risk termination of their employment.
“Subject to the president’s discretion, they will be granted a second opportunity. A failure to respond again will lead to dismissal,” Musk stated on Monday afternoon.
Earlier that day, former President Donald Trump expressed support for Musk’s demands, stating, “By asking the question, ‘What did you accomplish this week?’ he is essentially asking if they are genuinely productive.”
However, several agencies, including the FBI, State Department, and Pentagon, advised their staff not to comply with Musk’s instructions. Other agency leaders offered mixed guidance, with some encouraging compliance and others recommending caution and further instructions.
Legal representatives for federal workers have filed a lawsuit alleging that Musk’s request violates labor laws. This updated suit was submitted in federal court in California, seeking to prevent mass layoffs.
In additional notes:
Donald Trump indicated that he believes Vladimir Putin would accept the involvement of European peacekeepers in Ukraine to facilitate a potential peace agreement. Trump made these remarks alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, aiming to address ongoing transatlantic tensions.
The meeting between Trump and Macron occurred as the US voted against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, aligning with nations such as North Korea, Belarus, and Sudan instead of its European allies.
Trump also asserted that the US and Ukraine are nearing an agreement regarding rare earth minerals, amidst growing concerns in Europe regarding Washington’s stance on Ukraine during Macron’s visit.
A federal judge on Monday denied a request from the Associated Press for immediate reinstatement of full access to presidential events for its journalists, citing the need for further consideration before making a final decision. Earlier in the month, the Trump administration had restricted the outlet’s access due to its continued references to the Gulf of Mexico after Trump had renamed it the “Gulf of America.”
In a separate ruling, a federal judge has prohibited the federal team known as Doge from accessing sensitive data controlled by the US Department of Education and the OPM. US District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a temporary restraining order at the request of a coalition of labor unions.
Additionally, a federal judge has enhanced protections for transgender women within the prison system. This ruling comes after the judge blocked the Federal Bureau of Prisons from executing Trump’s order to transfer three incarcerated trans women to male facilities, extending protections to nine more as well.
Furthermore, a federal judge has restricted immigration agents from conducting enforcement actions in certain religious gatherings, as reported by the Associated Press. US District Judge Theodore Chang found that the policy from the Trump administration might infringe upon the religious freedoms of specific groups and should be paused while a legal challenge unfolds.
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has officially launched his campaign for the governorship of Ohio.
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Kremlin disputes Trump’s claims over Ukraine peacekeepers
The Kremlin has challenged Donald Trump’s assertion that Russia would accept the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, referring reporters to previous comments indicating such a move would be unacceptable to Moscow.
Russia has consistently opposed the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating last week that the presence of foreign military forces would be deemed a “direct threat” to Russia’s sovereignty, even under a different flag, according to Reuters.
In response to inquiries regarding Trump’s statements, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked:
There is a stance on this issue that was previously articulated by Foreign Minister Lavrov. I have no further comments on this matter.
Trump asserted on Monday that both he and Putin would be amenable to European peacekeepers entering Ukraine if a resolution to the ongoing conflict were reached.
“Yes, he would accept that,” Trump stated. “I specifically asked him about it. He has no objections.”
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Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Doge are expected to produce no savings
This report is from the Associated Press.
Approximately 40% of federal contracts that the Trump administration claims to have canceled under a cost-reduction initiative are projected not to save taxpayers any funds, according to the administration’s own statistics.
Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” recently released a list detailing 1,125 contracts terminated across federal agencies in recent weeks. Data released on Doge’s “wall of receipts” indicates that over one-third of these cancellations, totaling 417, are unlikely to result in any savings.
This is typically due to the total contract value being entirely obligated, obligating the government to fulfill its financial commitments for goods or services already provided.
Numerous contracts include pre-paid subscriptions to various media outlets and services such as the AP and Politico, alongside allocated funds for research studies, completed training sessions, procured software, and past internships.
An administration official commented that it is sensible to cancel contracts seen as unnecessary, even if these changes do not lead to savings. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not permitted to speak publicly on the matter.
You can read the full report here.
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Donald Trump is slated to sign additional executive orders today at 3 PM ET in the Oval Office, as indicated by White House press releases.
Details regarding the number and subjects of these orders have not been disclosed.
Since assuming office, Trump has signed 73 executive orders, surpassing any president’s rate since FDR in 1937.
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Updated at 14.16 CET
‘He believes he is the law’: anti-Maga conservatives view Trump as threat to constitution
Joan E GreveMichael Fanone attends a House hearing in Washington DC on 13 October 2022. He spoke at this year’s Principles First summit. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA
Michael Fanone, the former police officer who defended the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, addressed attendees at the Principles First summit, condemning Donald Trump for pardoning nearly 1,500 individuals involved in the insurrection.
“He granted these pardons to show that if you break the law on his behalf, he will protect you,” Fanone declared on Saturday. “There’s an inherent belief among these individuals that if they commit violent acts for Trump, he will ensure their safety from consequences.”
Fanone’s remarks gained significance later that day when he and fellow law enforcement officers encountered Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys. Tarrio, who received a 22-year prison sentence for seditious conspiracy, was pardoned by Trump last month. In a video shared by Tarrio, he derided Fanone and others as “fucking cowards.”
You can read the full report here:
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Norwegian Refugee Council to suspend ’lifesaving’ aid after US funding freeze
One of Europe’s largest humanitarian organizations announced on Tuesday that it will suspend “lifesaving” US-funded aid in 21 countries due to a funding freeze from the US government.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) released a statement indicating that the crisis arose from the US government’s “ongoing failure to issue overdue payments for authorized and completed work,”
following Donald Trump’s directive to halt foreign assistance and his move to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees US humanitarian aid distribution globally, according to Agence France-Presse.
The NRC stated that it has a pending $20 million in requests from the US that were allocated for humanitarian efforts in “21 countries impacted by conflict, disaster, and displacement.”
Due to this funding impasse, the NRC described the situation as a “liquidity crisis” that it can no longer manage, leading to potential layoffs of aid personnel.
Programs facing suspension include initiatives providing daily bread in Sudan, water and sanitation support in both Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and emergency assistance for families affected by cyclones in Mozambique.
The NRC indicated that it would pause these efforts on February 28th and urged the US government to release overdue payments and lift work stoppages to ensure that essential aid can continue.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously announced exceptions for crucial humanitarian programs; however, the NRC stated it has yet to receive any funding updates or timelines for the transfer of funds.
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A decision by the Trump administration to suspend funding for the World Health Organization has also frozen $46 million earmarked for its operations in Gaza, as noted by a senior official from WHO on Tuesday.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, acknowledged that this funding freeze will affect six areas, including emergency medical team operations, rehabilitation of health facilities, coordination with partner organizations, and medical evacuations.
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Kremlin says Russia has rare earth metals the US needs and is open to cooperation
The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that it possesses substantial deposits of rare earth metals and is open to potential collaboration with the United States in their development.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated:
The Americans require rare earth metals. We have abundant supplies.
We are advancing on our plans to develop strategic resources, but there are ample opportunities for cooperation here.
President Putin communicated on state television that Russia would be amenable to joint initiatives with American stakeholders, including governmental and private entities, within a future economic agreement between Russia and the US, according to Reuters.
Trump has promised that “significant economic collaborations with Russia” would materialize.
Peskov indicated that considerable work remains to be done to restore normal relations between Washington and Moscow before any economic agreements can be finalized.
“The resolution of the Ukrainian crisis is the next priority,” he emphasized. “After that, especially since the Americans themselves have also indicated interest, we can consider potential projects related to trade, economic, and investment cooperation.”
Peskov added, “When the moment arises, characterized by political will, we would be receptive to opportunities for cooperation concerning rare earth metals.”
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Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other ex-national security officials urged Congress on Tuesday to enhance funding for federal scientific research, citing concerns that China is surpassing the US in key technology sectors.
This appeal follows last week’s announcement that the National Science Foundation (NSF) laid off 170 employees in response to President Trump’s directive to streamline the federal workforce.
An NSF representative declined to comment on reports suggesting that additional layoffs could occur and that the agency’s budget might face significant reductions.
The former officials are advocating for Congress to allocate at least $16 billion authorized for the NSF for the fiscal year 2025, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters, which was addressed to Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“China is investing heavily in both basic and applied research, positioning itself to outpace the US in critical areas that might influence the outcome of future conflicts,” the letter stated. “This is a competition we cannot afford to lose.”
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www.theguardian.com