National News

Federal Judge Banishes Musk’s DOGE Aides From Treasury Dept. Systems  The New York TimesJudge grants 19 AGs preliminary injunction against DOGE access to Treasury payment system  Fox NewsHow DOGE cracked Washington: A focus on arcane agencies gave Musk and his allies swift control of government nerve centers  CNNTrump appears to contradict White House, says Elon Musk in charge of DOGE  ReutersJudge orders ban on DOGE from access to sensitive Treasury data  The Washington Post

Judge largely blocks Trump’s executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs  NPRMajor Lawsuits Against Trump And Musk: Judge Halts Trump’s DEI Contract Ban—For Now  ForbesJudge blocks Trump administration from terminating DEI-related grants  NBC NewsSan Francisco community groups sue Trump over anti-trans executive orders  AxiosJudge temporarily blocks Trump order on DEI grants; Trump fires Joint Chiefs chair. Follow live updates.  The Boston Globe

New FBI director Kash Patel plans to relocate up to 1,500 employees  The Associated PressFBI managers are told 1,500 staff, agents will be moved from headquarters  The Washington PostFBI Director Kash Patel tells media ‘bring it on’ in stern message after being sworn into office  Fox NewsKash Patel Sworn In As FBI Director  C-SPAN ‘No logic here’: Kash Patel orders re-deployment of 1000 FBI agents  MSNBC

Los Angeles DA urges judge to deny Menendez brothers’ request for a new trial  CNNNew Los Angeles DA Nathan Hochman does not support overturning Menendez brothers’ murder convictions  Fox NewsL.A. County D.A. Hochman opposes a new trial for Menendez brothers  Los Angeles TimesNew DA Deals Severe Blow to Menendez Brothers’ Hopes. Here’s How Erik and Lyle Could Still Go Free  PEOPLENew L.A. Prosecutor Approaches Menendez Brothers’ Appeal With Skepticism  The New York Times

LA mayor dismisses fire chief over response to most destructive wildfire in city history last month  The Associated PressMayor Karen Bass fires LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley ‘effective immediately’  ABC7 Los AngelesLA mayor sacks fire chief, blaming her for mishandling wildfires  BBC.comLAFD Chief’s firing could be overturned by city council  KTLA Los Angeles‘Doesn’t feel very “locked arms” to me’: Texts reveal strain between Bass and Horvath  Los Angeles Times

Trump fires CQ Brown as Joint Chiefs Chairman  ABC NewsTrump administration fires top US general and Navy chief in unprecedented purge of military leadership  CNNTrump fires Black joint chiefs chair Hegseth accused of promoting diversity  The Guardian USPete Hegseth Fires Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Navy’s Top Officer  The New York TimesTrump nominates Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine for Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman  Fox News

Judge clears way for Trump administration to pull thousands of USAID staffers off the job  The Associated PressTrump Live Updates: Ukraine War, Layoffs and Deportation News  The New York TimesJudge gives Trump the go-ahead to continue putting USAID employees on leave  Business InsiderA judge ordered foreign aid to resume. Aid groups say it’s not happening.  The Washington PostHigh-stakes showdown is brewing between a federal judge and Trump officials at USAID  NPR

National Park Service restores some jobs of fired employees, pledges to hire 7,700 seasonal workers  The Associated PressTrump administration backtracks on eliminating thousands of national parks employees  Los Angeles TimesEx-ranger on how Trump’s mass government firings are affecting the National Park Service  PBS NewsHourTrump job cuts could throw national parks and forests into ‘staffing chaos’  NBC NewsTrump administration layoffs felt at Yosemite National Park  CBS News

Adams Sues Trump Administration for Return of $80 Million It Seized  The New York TimesAdams sues Trump admin over clawback of $80M migrant shelter funds from NYC  New York Post NYC sues federal government and President Trump to reclaim $80 million clawed back by FEMA  NBC New YorkNew York City files lawsuit against Trump administration for $80M ‘money grab’ of FEMA funds  ABC7 New YorkNYC sues Trump after FEMA claws back $80 million migrant housing grant  The Hill

Trump, After G.O.P. Criticism, Reverses Cuts to 9/11 Survivors’ Program  The New York TimesDOGE cuts at 9/11 health program may impact first responders  CBS NewsWhite House restores 9/11 health program funding after uproar  The HillDOGE Restores 9/11 Survivor Program Cuts, Hiring Back Workers  BloombergTrump and Musk’s DOGE Slash Health Care for Sick 9/11 First Responders  Rolling Stone

Man who stabbed Salman Rushdie convicted of attempted murder  NPRSalman Rushdie Attacker Found Guilty for Brutal 2022 Assault That Left Novelist Blinded  YahooDiddy’s Lawyer Quits: ‘Under No Circumstances Can I Continue’  The Daily BeastMan Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie Is Found Guilty of Attempted Murder  The New York TimesJury Deliberations Begin In Attack On Rushdie  Jamestown Post Journal

What Musk’s Chain Saw at CPAC Was Really About  The New York TimesElon Musk wields chainsaw during CPAC appearance  CNN‘Childbirth isn’t fun, but it’s necessary’: Republicans at CPAC shrug off voter anger at Musk  POLITICOElon Musk becomes a new power center at CPAC  NBC NewsElon Musk waves chainsaw on stage at CPAC  The Associated Press

House, Senate GOP to begin undoing Biden regulations  POLITICOOpinion | Congress Lines Up Regulatory Vetoes  The Wall Street JournalHouse Republicans announce their rule-killing priorities  E&E NewsRepublicans eye rollback of Biden rules on banks, WiFi and more  SemaforE&E News: House Republicans launch drive to undo Biden rules  POLITICO Pro

Supreme Court maintains pause on Trump bid to immediately fire watchdog agency head  CNBCSupreme Court pauses Trump administration’s effort to fire head of whistleblower protection agency  Fox NewsSupreme Court Rejects, for Now, Trump’s Bid to Fire Government Watchdog  The New York TimesSCOTUS analyst says ‘justices were struggling’ in first Supreme Court test amid Trump’s widespread firings  CNNSupreme Court stiffs Trump, punts on firing whistleblower agency head  The Hill

Proud Boys ex-leader Enrique Tarrio arrested for assault near US Capitol  The Guardian USEnrique Tarrio, Ex-Proud Boys Leader, Arrested on Charges of Assault Outside Capitol  The New York TimesFreed by Trump, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers plan to sue DOJ  USA TODAYPardoned Jan. 6th protestor gets arrested near Capitol  The HillFormer Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio arrested outside U.S. Capitol  The Washington Post

Justice Department files complaint against judge weighing challenge to Trump’s transgender troop ban  The Associated Press‘Horrible discrimination’: Federal judges say Trump’s anti-trans orders are rooted in bias, not law  The 19th*DOJ Accuses Judge of ‘Misconduct’ During Trans Military Ban Case  BloombergTrump Admin Wants Investigation Into Judge Who Said There Aren’t 2 Genders  Newsweek‘I want to keep serving’: Navy commander fights Trump’s trans military ban  PBS NewsHour

Condemned South Carolina man chooses to die by firing squad  NBC NewsSouth Carolina man to be killed in US’s first firing squad execution in 15 years  The Guardian USSC death row inmate chooses firing squad as method of execution  Live 5 News WCSCU.S. Firing Squad Executions Are Rare, but Their History Is Long  The New York TimesHow will death by firing squad be carried out in South Carolina?  WYFF4 Greenville

Ukraine to sign critical minerals deal ‘in the very short term’, US claims  Financial TimesUkraine Promises Swift Deal for Minerals as Trump Cuts Kyiv Out of Peace Talks  The New York TimesU.S., Ukraine near deal to grant mineral rights to Washington  The Washington PostTrump says deal with Ukraine for US access to its rare earth minerals is ‘pretty close’  Fox NewsScoop: U.S. and Ukraine discuss “improved” minerals deal after Trump raged at Zelensky  Axios

Backlash leads Republican attorneys general to declare support for a landmark disability rights law  The Associated PressA Lawsuit Threatens the Disability Protections I’ve Known My Whole Life  TIME17 States Sue To End Protections For Students With Special Needs  ForbesLawsuit Filed By 17 States Threatens Disability Protections, Advocates Say  Disability ScoopGOP-led lawsuit that could dismantle disability protections draws public backlash  Louisana Illuminator

3 People Killed in Shooting Outside a Kentucky Driver’s License Office  The New York TimesWitnesses of triple shooting outside Louisville driver’s license branch say it seemed targeted  WDRB‘Absolutely a tragedy’: 3 killed in shooting outside Driver’s License Branch in Valley Station  WAVE 3LMPD: Shooting outside driver licensing regional office; multiple people hurt  WLKY Louisville3 dead in shooting outside Kentucky drivers license office  NBC News

California watchdog says high-speed rail on track to blow more deadlines  POLITICOTrump Targets $128 Billion California High-Speed Rail Project  BloombergCalifornia crowd savagely boos Trump transportation secretary  SFGATETrump Administration Questions Funding for California High-Speed Rail  The New York TimesTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy asks for compliance review of California’s High Speed Rail project  ABC7 Los Angeles

Judge delays NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption trial, weighs bid to dismiss  ReutersJudge in Eric Adams Case Names Lawyer to Argue Against Dropping of Charges  The New York TimesJudge vacates upcoming Eric Adams corruption trial but appoints conservative attorney to argue against dropping the case  CNNJudge adjourns case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, stops short of dismissing the charges  Fox NewsFederal judge indefinitely adjourns Eric Adams’ criminal trial as Hochul plans to meet with Trump in Washington  ABC7 New York

Musk’s blitzkrieg is unnerving many of Trump’s senior advisers  The Washington PostHaberman on what could shorten Elon Musk’s long haul with Trump  CNNMusk’s companies set to add $613 billion in value since election  FortuneHow Elon Musk gained so much power in the Trump administration  PBS NewsHourHaberman: Trump, advisers see Musk as ‘useful heat shield’ for criticism  The Hill

Trump ‘thinking about’ absorbing Postal Service into administration  The HillTrump wants to shake up the US Postal Service. Here’s what it’ll mean for your deliveries.  CNNTrump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say  The Washington PostTrump Suggests Taking Control of the USPS  The New York TimesTrump administration considering moving U.S. Postal Service under Commerce Department  CBS News

Trump administration rescinds order to halt legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children  NBC NewsTrump administration restores legal aid for unaccompanied immigrant children  The Guardian USTrump administration reinstates funds for lawyers representing 26,000 children in immigration court  Los Angeles TimesLatest Trump cuts leave nearly 26,000 undocumented immigrant children without legal representation  ABC7 Los AngelesTrump administration reverses its previous decision and reinstates legal aid for migrant children  The Associated Press