President said from the White House on Thursday that his government has reached
Trump said the deal increases access for U.S. agricultural products, though he added that the final details were still being written up. Britain said the agreement from 27.5% to 10% and eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Here's the latest:
Forest and park service worker cuts leave wildland firefighting crews short-staffed
Administration funding cuts and a who help support wildland firefighting continue to make planning for the upcoming wildfire season a challenge, according to forest and fire officials in Oregon and Washington.
The biggest issue is a lack of communication from the federal government as the West faces 鈥渁 pretty significant wildland fire season,鈥� Washington State Forester George Geissler said Thursday during a news conference hosted by two Democratic senators from the two states.
鈥淭his is the time when we make certain that we have the aviation we need, when we have the personnel we need and that all of our systems check out and are ready to go when the alarm bell rings,鈥� Geissler said.
A spokesperson with the Department of Interior, which oversees national parks and other public lands, said 鈥渇unding is not in jeopardy鈥� and efforts are being supported by increasing pay for federal and tribal wildland firefighters.
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罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 trade deal with the UK could have occurred before his 鈥楲iberation Day鈥� tariffs
The president had invited the British government to agree to a trade deal before April 2, but he changed his mind so that he could impose his sweeping 鈥淟iberation Day鈥� tariffs.
That鈥檚 according to a British government official who insisted on anonymity to discuss negotiations with the Trump administration.
The official said the planned deal, which was unveiled Thursday, was effectively shelved so that Trump could roll out sharp increases in import taxes that caused financial markets to panic because of the possible economic damage.
After interest rates on U.S. government debt increased, Trump imposed a partial pause for 90 days of negotiations to reach deals.
Trump says he is naming Fox 撸奶社区 host and former judge Jeanine Pirro as top federal prosecutor in DC
The president said Thursday that he is naming Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation鈥檚 capital.
Pirro, who joined Fox 撸奶社区 in 2006, co-hosts 鈥淭he Five鈥� on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New York鈥檚 Westchester County Court in 1990 and later served three terms as the county鈥檚 elected district attorney.
Trump tapped Pirro to at least temporarily lead the nation鈥檚 largest U.S. Attorney鈥檚 office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. That came after a said he could not support Martin due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a terrific person, and he wasn鈥檛 getting the support from people that I thought,鈥� Trump said Thursday in the Oval Office. He later added: 鈥淏ut we have somebody else that will be great.鈥�
Pirro is the latest in a string of appointments coming from Fox 撸奶社区, including Defense Secretary , who co-hosted 鈥淔ox & Friends Weekend.鈥�
Panama president says he will not renegotiate security deal with US despite protests
President said he will not renegotiate the deal, which gives U.S. troops access to Panamanian facilities, despite protests charging that he compromised his country鈥檚 sovereignty.
on Tuesday in the largest protest yet against the agreement, which was signed during last month鈥檚 visit by .
The U.S. Embassy said Wednesday in a statement that it does not allow for establishing military bases in Panama. A military presence in Panama is sensitive, since people still remember the U.S. invasion in 1989, and Trump has suggested .
鈥淧anama鈥檚 sovereignty is not at stake, it鈥檚 not handed over, it鈥檚 not given,鈥� Mulino said during his weekly news conference. He, too, said the agreement would not lead to U.S. bases.
What鈥檚 in the US-UK trade deal? A broad agreement with limited details
The Trump administration announced in grandiose terms, but with only limited details about what it will achieve.
The agreement will open up the British market to American beef, ethanol, and other agricultural products, the White House said. It will also allow British cars and steel better access to U.S. consumers.
The pact provides some support for 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 arguments that his steep tariffs could lead to agreements that open up overseas markets. But economists鈥� initial reactions were cool, with many noting that the U.K. isn鈥檛 a large enough trading partner for to really move the needle for the U.S. economy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more symbolic than economic,鈥� Beata Caranci, chief economist at the bank TD Economics, said via email. 鈥淲hat we have learned is that these initial announcements are going to be more fine-tuning around the edges and easing of pain points, rather than an end to the trade war.鈥�
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Lawsuit challenges new rules on migrant children in federal custody
The suit brought by two migrants鈥� advocacy groups seeks a halt to new vetting procedures for reuniting children who enter the country without their parents, saying they are keeping families separated longer and are inhumane.
The lawsuit in federal court in the District of Columbia names the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services and its Office of Refugee Resettlement.
In February the administration changed the way it reviews sponsors who want to care for migrant children in government custody, be they parents, relatives or others. More changes followed in March and April, when the government started requiring identification or proof of income that only people legally present in the U.S. can acquire.
Critics say government data shows the average length of time that children are held before being released to sponsors grew from 37 days in January to over 112 by March.
The plaintiffs are asking a judge to declare the changes unlawful and restore previous policies.
Ukraine鈥檚 Zelenskyy says he had another conversation with Trump about ceasefire
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they spoke by phone Thursday, hours after Trump reiterated his call for Ukraine and Russia to come to an agreement on a ceasefire.
鈥淧resident Trump inquired about the situation on the battlefield, and I provided a brief overview. I also informed him that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire, starting even today,鈥� Zelenskyy said via social media.
鈥淲e are waiting for Russia to support this proposal. I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks in any format,鈥� he added. 鈥淏ut for that, Russia must demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire.鈥�
Trump expressed frustration with the conflict earlier in the day.
鈥淭his ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement,鈥� he said on his Truth Social platform. 鈥淚t can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment鈥檚 notice if my services are needed.鈥�
Up to 1,000 transgender troops are being moved out of the military in new Pentagon order
The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify, under a new directive issued Thursday.
Buoyed by Tuesday鈥檚 allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military, the Defense Department will then begin going through medical records to identify others who haven鈥檛 come forward.
Department officials have said it鈥檚 difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are, but medical records will show those who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, show symptoms or are being treated.
Those troops would then be involuntarily forced out of the service.
On social media, Pope Leo XIV has shared criticism of Trump and Vance over policies
The to hail from the United States, Leo is in a new job that will have many crossovers into politics 鈥� a realm not entirely unknown to the Chicago-born priest, whose social media history includes sharing criticism of Trump administration policies and of comments by Vice President JD Vance.
The majority of Leo鈥檚 posts on the social platform X are related to or in support of Catholic news and church initiatives. He rarely writes original content, but a look back through his social media timeline shows numerous posts sharing viewpoints opposed to moves aimed at restricting acceptance of migrants and refugees in the U.S.
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US will stop tracking the costs of extreme weather fueled by climate change
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will no longer track the cost of climate change-fueled weather disasters, including floods, heat waves, wildfires and more. It is the latest example of changes to the agency and the Trump administration limiting federal government resources on climate change.
NOAA falls under the U.S. Department of Commerce and is tasked with daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring. It is also parent to the National Weather Service.
The agency said its National Centers for Environmental Information would no longer update its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database beyond 2024 its information 鈥� going as far back as 1980 鈥� would be archived.
NOAA Communications Director Kim Doster said in a statement that the change was 鈥渋n alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes.鈥�
Trump to end Biden-era program helping poor communities get internet access
The president says he plans to end the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, which was part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure investments signed into law by then-President Joe Biden.
The aim of the program was to help rural and urban communities on the wrong side of the digital divide, as well as veterans and people with disabilities.
Trump said in a social media post that he spoke with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and agreed that the program 鈥渋s totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL.鈥�
鈥淣o more woke handouts based on race!鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚 am ending this IMMEDIATELY, and saving Taxpayers BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!鈥�
Reports of Trump deportation plans highlight abuse of migrants in Libya
Reports of plans to deport , a country with a documented history of serious human rights violations and , have spotlighted the difficulties they face in the .
Migrants there are routinely arbitrarily detained and where they are subjected to extortion, abuse, and killings.
A U.N.-backed independent fact-finding mission found evidence that have been committed against migrants in Libya. Victims were subjected to enslavement, forced disappearance, torture and murder, among other crimes, the investigators found. Dead migrants have been found in , while tens of thousands of others have drowned trying to escape Libya on smugglers鈥� boats.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hell on earth for migrants,鈥� said Tarek Megerisi, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
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Barbara Bush commemorative stamp unveiled at the White House
First lady Melania Trump and members of the Bush family gathered in the East Room to introduce the U.S postage stamp bearing the portrait of the former first lady.
The image is Barbara Bush鈥檚 official White House portrait, which hangs in the entrance to the East Wing. She is depicted in a black suit and purple blouse, wearing her hallmark triple strand of pearls.
The stamp is set to go on sale a month from now, on Bush鈥檚 birthdate of June 8, first in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the family compound is located.
Trump said she appreciated how Bush inspired people to pursue their dreams.
Barbara Bush . She was married to former President George H. W. Bush and was the mother of former President George W. Bush.
A day after saying FBI needs more resources, Patel strikes different note to Congress on budget plan
Director Kash Patel pledged to make the bureau鈥檚 mission 鈥渨ork on whatever budget we鈥檙e given,鈥� striking a different tone from in which he called for funding at far higher levels than what the Trump administration had proposed.
calls for a cut of about $545 million for the FBI as part of what the White House said was a desire to 鈥渞eform and streamline鈥� the bureau and reduce 鈥渘on-law enforcement missions that do not align鈥� with the president鈥檚 priorities.
Patel told a House subcommittee Wednesday that the FBI needs more and 鈥渃an鈥檛 do the mission on those 2011 budget levels.鈥�
But on Thursday during a Senate committee hearing, he said: 鈥淢y view is that we agree with this budget as it stands and (will) make it work for the operational necessity of the FBI, and as the head of the FBI, I was simply asking for more funds because I can do more with more money.鈥�
Wall Street rises on hopes for trade deals that could forestall a recession
The rise came after the United States and United Kingdom announced a that would lower some tariffs between the two countries, the first of what Wall Street hopes will be enough agreements to keep a recession from hitting the economy.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% for its 11th gain in the last 13 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 254 points, or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.1%.
It wasn鈥檛 just stocks. Bitcoin jumped back above $101,000, and crude oil prices climbed, while the price of gold eased back as investors felt less need for safety.
Treasury yields rose on bets that more trade deals with other countries may mean the Federal Reserve won鈥檛 need to cut interest rates as sharply as feared in order to prop up the economy.
Bank of England cuts interest rates and welcomes word of US-UK trade deal
The bank lowered its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.25% amid concerns over the potential shock to global growth emanating from the .
Thursday鈥檚 decision was widely expected, though there was an array of opinion on the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee, with two voting for a bigger half-point cut to 4% and two voting to hold rates.
Bank Gov. Andrew Bailey said inflationary pressures have continued to ease, paving the way for the fourth quarter-point rate cut since August.
鈥淭he past few weeks have shown how unpredictable the global economy can be,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we need to stick to a gradual and careful approach to further rate cuts.鈥�
New German chancellor talks by phone with Trump on Ukraine and trade
Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with Trump on his second full day in office about matters including the Ukraine war and trade disputes, according to the German leader鈥檚 office.
Trump congratulated the conservative leader after his victory in a parliamentary vote Tuesday, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said.
In a call that took place on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, Merz said the U.S. remains Germany鈥檚 鈥渋ndispensable friend and partner,鈥� Kornelius said.
The two leaders agreed to work closely to end the war in Ukraine, and Merz agreed with 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 call for the killing to end quickly, Kornelius said, adding that 鈥淩ussia must now agree to a ceasefire to create space for negotiations.鈥�
According to the German readout, Trump said he would support the efforts of Germany, as well as Britain, France, Poland and other European countries, to achieve 鈥渓asting peace.鈥�
The leaders discussed making mutual visits to each others鈥� countries, but no dates were specified.
Democrats block stablecoin bill as they raise concerns about 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 crypto ventures
Senate Democrats have blocked legislation to regulate stablecoins, a form of cryptocurrency, after arguing that the bill needed stronger protections and airing concerns that it could help enrich himself.
The bill, which would regulate how operate in the U.S., had previously won some Democratic support. But it failed 49-48 on a procedural vote Thursday after Democrats said they needed to see more changes before they could back the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans would work with Democrats if they allowed the bill to move forward, but they refused. All Democrats voted not to bring it up.
The vote is a blow to one of 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 top legislative priorities and a setback for the cryptocurrency industry, which spent heavily in last year鈥檚 election and its influence in politics and the mainstream financial system.
Vance calls Rubio 鈥榩robably my best friend鈥� in the Trump administration
Vice President JD Vance says he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio aren鈥檛 rivals, despite Trump mentioning both as possible successors.
Vance said during an interview with Fox 撸奶社区 Channel on Thursday that Rubio 鈥渋s probably my best friend in the administration.鈥�
鈥淭he president鈥檚 not going to name a successor 110 days into his administration, nor should he,鈥� Vance said. Asked if he could see himself as president, he said he would stay focused was on the current administration rather than the next one.
During a recent interview with NBC 撸奶社区, Trump was asked about a successor and responded, 鈥淵ou look at Marco, you look at JD Vance, who鈥檚 fantastic.鈥�
Trump also has repeatedly flirted with suggestions that he could seek a third term 鈥� even though that is constitutionally barred.
FACT FOCUS: Trump claims the US subsidizes Canada. Experts say the numbers don鈥檛 add up
Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday in search of common ground during an ongoing trade war that has shattered decades of trust between his country and the U.S. Although the conversation was civil, President repeated erroneous rhetoric about how the U.S. provides Canada with billions of dollars in subsidies.
Here鈥檚 a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: The U.S. subsidizes Canada with subsidies of about $200 billion per year.
THE FACTS: This is false. According to the White House, the number is based on the U.S. trade deficit with Canada and higher military spending by the U.S., including expenditures associated with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. An exact total is difficult to discern because there is no publicly available data on NORAD spending. But even the most generous estimates do not put the total costs anywhere close to what Trump claims.
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Cash-strapped Bureau of Prisons freezes some hiring to 鈥榓void more extreme measures,鈥� director says
The Trump administration is halting some hiring at the crisis-plagued agency, where chronic understaffing has led to long overtime shifts and the use of prison nurses, teachers, cooks and other workers to guard inmates.
The move, which coincides with aggressive campaign to cut the cost and size of the federal government, was announced Thursday by the agency鈥檚 newly appointed director, William K. Marshall III. Some union officials characterized it as a 鈥渉iring freeze,鈥� though the agency denied that, saying some positions would continue to be filled.
The Bureau will maintain current staffing levels at least through the end of the fiscal year, Sept 30, Marshall wrote in an email to staff titled 鈥淪taffing and Hiring Decisions.鈥� The agency will still work to fill critical positions, such as correctional officers and medical clinicians, and will honor job offers that are currently pending on an accelerated timeline.
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Cameron Hamilton is replaced as acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA鈥檚 leadership is changing hands at a moment of uncertainty over the agency鈥檚 future.
Trump has floated the idea of 鈥� 鈥� of FEMA, something Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has echoed.
Last month, Trump created a review council tasked with 鈥渞eforming and streamlining the nation鈥檚 emergency management and disaster response system,鈥� according to DHS.
It was not immediately clear why Hamilton was replaced, but his dismissal comes one day after he appeared before a House Appropriations subcommittee to discuss FEMA reforms. David Richardson will now serve as acting administrator.
The former marine corps officer was appointed in January as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security鈥檚 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
Trump talks about the new pope
The president made a surprise appearance outside the West Wing to talk with reporters about the newly announced pope.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such an honor for our country鈥� for the new pope to be American, Trump said. 鈥淲hat greater honor can there be?鈥�
The president added that 鈥渨e鈥檙e a little bit surprised and we鈥檙e happy.鈥�
鈻� Read more about how Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV,
Trump administration seeks to overhaul US air traffic control
Recent and that have put a spotlight on the outdated U.S. air traffic control network are prompting the Trump administration to propose an overhaul.
The plan calls for six new air traffic control centers, along with technology and communications upgrades at all of the nation鈥檚 air traffic facilities over the next three years, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. How much it will all cost wasn鈥檛 immediately revealed.
鈥淒ecades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age,鈥� Duffy said in prepared remarks. 鈥淏uilding this new system is an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fix it is now.鈥�
The Trump administration wants to add fiber, wireless and satellite technology at more than 4,600 locations, replace 600 radars and increase the number of airports with systems designed to reduce near misses on runways.
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Treasury Department launching a fast track process for investing in the US
The agency says it will launch a 鈥淜nown Investor鈥� portal as a pilot program under which a committee chaired by Treasury can collect information from foreign investors.
The U.S. 鈥渂enefits from the strong and stable investments of our allies and partners,鈥� said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 鈥淭reasury is committed to maintaining and enhancing the open investment environment that benefits our economy, while making sure that process efficiencies do not diminish our ability to identify and address national security risks that can accompany foreign investment.鈥�
Trump asks Supreme Court to allow him to end humanitarian parole for 500,000 people from 4 countries
罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow it to end humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from four countries.
The emergency appeal asks the justices to halt a lower-court order keeping in place legal protections for more than 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
An order from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani blocked the administration from putting an early end to the immigrants鈥� temporary legal status.
The Republican administration argues that the decision wrongly intrudes on the Department of Homeland Security鈥檚 authority.
The case comes as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on immigration and dismantle Biden-era policies that created new and expanded pathways for people to live in the United States, generally for two years with work authorization.
Trump mocks former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
At the end of his Oval Office news conference, Trump turned a query from a reporter about the United States鈥� overwhelmed air traffic control system into an opportunity to throw a sharp broadside at the leader of the Department of Transportation during the Biden administration.
鈥淵ou know, he drives to work on his bicycle, with his 鈥� which in all fairness 鈥� with his husband on the back, which is a nice, loving relationship. But, he didn鈥檛 have a clue,鈥� Trump said of Buttigieg, who regularly rode his bike to work. He added, 鈥淎nd he鈥檚 actually a contender for president?鈥�
Buttigieg made an unsuccessful 2020 run for the White House. He has been an outspoken critic of Trump during the early days of his second term.
The Associated Press
