The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will slash its workforce by at least 25% beginning Friday with layoffs as the Trump administration continues to shrink the size of the federal government. 

In addition to the layoffs, the agency said in a letter to employees that it is eliminating its Office of Civil Rights and Compliance, which is responsible for protecting taxpayers from discrimination, audits and investigations.

The remaining employees in the division will be transferred to other departments. 

"In a stark contrast to the previous administration’s wildly unpopular plan to hire thousands of additional IRS agents, President Trump is focused on saving tax dollars, eliminating bloat, axing useless DEI offices, and increasing the agency’s efficiency," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said to Fox News Digital.

TRUMP FLOATS GUTTING THE IRS, MOVING AGENTS TO THE BORDER ARMED WITH GUNS

"This action is being taken to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the IRS in accordance with agency priorities and the Workforce Optimization Initiative outlined in a recent Executive Order," the letter states, referring to President Donald Trump's executive order directing the Department of Government Efficiency to get rid of wasteful spending. 

The agency said it was approved to offer Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP). Information about those programs will be shared with employees at a later date, the message said. 

TRUMP VOWS TO DELIVER ON 'NO TAX ON TIPS' CAMPAIGN PROMISE DURING LAS VEGAS SPEECH: '100% YOURS'

"This calendar year to date, approximately 5% of this office left through the Deferred Resignation Program and attrition," the message said. "An additional 75% of the office will be reduced through a RIF (Reduction in Force)."

A Treasury Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the reductions are part of, and driven by, "process improvements and technological innovations that will allow the IRS to collect revenue and serve taxpayers more effectively."

"The roll back of wasteful Biden-era hiring surges, and consolidation of critical support functions are vital to improve both efficiency and quality of service," the spokesperson said. "The Secretary is committed to ensuring that efficiency is realized while providing the collections, privacy, and customer service the American people deserve."

The layoffs were expected, as the agency announced in February its intention to slash nearly 7,000 probationary workers in Washington, D.C.

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Those employees have since been reinstated by a court order.

The IRS has roughly 90,000 employees in total across the United States, according to the latest IRS data. 

Former President Barack Obama sought to distance himself from the Democratic Party after leaving it in shambles following his departure from the White House, according to a new book. 

The book, "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House," published by William Morrow and Company, claims that Obama was never a Democratic Party loyalist. Instead, the authors allege, Obama curried favor from a group of "Black professionals" for his campaigns, unlike former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and former President Joe Biden. 

Additionally, Obama’s creation of Organizing for Action — a nonprofit that launched in 2012 following Obama’s re-election to advance his legislative priorities — fractured the Democratic Party, according to the book, authored by political journalists Jonathan Allen of NBC News and Amie Parnes of The Hill.  

"Though Organizing for Action never realized his vision, it competed with the party for power and money," the book said. "He left the Democratic Party far weaker than he found it. Or, as one Black party operative put it, ‘Obama destroyed that s---.’" 

KAMALA HARRIS WAS ‘VERY ANNOYED’ WITH OBAMA AS SHE SOUGHT HIS ENDORSEMENT, BOOK REVEALS

The book also detailed how the Clintons, along with Biden and former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile and a few other party operatives, sought to "rebuild the party infrastructure" following Obama’s 2016 departure from the White House. This meant preventing far-left Democrats from seizing control of the party and ensuring party loyalists ran the show, according to the book. 

"By helping install party loyalists at the national and state committees over the course of years, these establishment Democrats kept progressive outsiders at bay. ‘You know who did that?’ said one Black Biden ally familiar with the maneuvering. ‘Bill and Hillary motherf---ing Clinton,’" the book related. 

"Fight," released Tuesday, also revealed how Obama remained hesitant to back former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election to replace Biden, amid concerns about his mental fitness. The book claimed that Obama didn’t believe Harris had the capacity to beat now-President Donald Trump in the November 2024 race, frustrating Harris. 

Ultimately, Obama endorsed Harris five days after Biden announced he would not run for office again in the 2024 race — a delay that offended Harris and required some "mending" between the two Democrats, a source close to Obama said, Allen and Parnes wrote. 

A spokesperson for Obama's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

Even so, Obama's wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, appeared at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024 after Harris clinched the party's nomination. 

TENSIONS ALLEGEDLY RISE BETWEEN BIDEN WHITE HOUSE AND HARRIS CAMPAIGN: 'TOO MUCH IN THEIR FEELINGS'

"Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment," Michelle Obama said at the convention. "She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency and she is one of the most dignified — a tribute to her mother, to my mother, and probably to your mother, too, the embodiment of the stories we tell ourselves about this country." 

Meanwhile, Democrat strategists predict that Barack Obama’s influence over the Democratic Party is waning, and some have suggested he is out of touch with the appeal of Trump. 

For example, political commentator and author Ben Burgess wrote an op-ed after Obama delivered a speech at the Obama Democracy Forum that part of the "problem" is Obama doesn’t understand why Trump won the 2024 election and that the American public should stop listening to the former president. 

"​​Obama’s characteristic rhetorical virtues were on full display," Burgess wrote in December 2024 for MSNBC, following Obama’s speech. "He was a constitutional law professor before he was a politician, and he still sounds like one. At the same time, he was a once-in-a-generation talent as a political communicator. He knows how to convey a complex set of ideas in a digestible and appealing way." 

"But there was a massive gaping hole at the center of his speech," the op-ed stated. "He still doesn’t understand why his eight years in power culminated in the rise of Trump." 

"Fight" details how Trump secured the White House for a second term and the fallout of his victory for the Democratic Party. It is based on interviews Allen and Parnes conducted with more than 150 political insiders, according to the book's description. 

Fox News’ Hanna Panreck and Emma Colton contributed to this report. 

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content.

Here's what's happening…

-Dem Jasmine Crockett silent as aide attempts to intimidate, block reporter's question about violence

-Reporter's Notebook: The Senate's all-night session on the big, beautiful bill

-Biden green energy project goes down in flames

For decades, President Donald Trump has remained a staunch advocate for tariffs — routinely declaring the word one of the most beautiful in the dictionary and regularly accusing foreign countries of ripping off the U.S. 

Following through on 2024 campaign promises and building upon policies his first administration introduced, Trump unveiled a series of historic tariffs at the White House’s Rose Garden Wednesday for a "Make America Wealthy Again" event as part of a day his administration dubbed "Liberation Day" for the U.S. 

While some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced concern over the policy, tariffs are an area where Trump’s views have remained incredibly consistent over the years, as he has routinely decried that other countries have treated the U.S. unfairly in trade deals…Read more

MONEY TALKS: Trump admin halting more than $500M in federal funding to Brown University over antisemitism response

'DEEPLY CONCERNED': Obama urges Americans to 'possibly sacrifice' in resisting Trump policies

TARIFF TANTRUM: Trump’s China tariffs face legal challenge from conservative group calling them ‘unlawful'

CALIFORNIA PLEADIN': Newsom to ask world leaders to exempt California exports from retaliatory tariffs

'ABSOLUTELY RIGHT': Rubio, in Europe, says US has to 'reset the global order of trade' and Trump is 'absolutely right to do it'

SECURITY RISK: Houthis shoot down third US reaper drone as Trump administration continues daily airstrikes

WARNING STRIKE: In warning to Turkey, Israel hits strategic targets in Syria amid rising tensions

BUCKING TRUMP: One Republican senator voted against confirming Trump nominee Harmeet Dhillon

VOTE-A-RAMA: Republicans charge ahead on Trump budget, setting up marathon Senate votes

VOTED DOWN: 15 Democrats back Sanders' failed resolutions to cancel military aid to Israel

'GOLDEN' AGE: Democrat Rep. Jared Golden says his party's moving in 'wrong direction' on trade

TACKLING TRUMP TARIFFS: Dem senator looks to hijack key Trump budget process with tariff challenge

HAUGH OUT: National Security Agency Director Gen. Haugh fired, civilian deputy director reassigned

TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK: Maryland bill creating commission to study, recommend slavery reparations heads to governor's desk

GAME FACE: Illegal accused in jogger Rachel Morin's murder set to face family, jury

'THEY ARE TERRORISTS': 3 alleged MS-13 gang members in Florida hit with federal murder charges

TRAVELERS BEWARE: Iowa student’s passport seizure in Dominican Republic raises red flags for Americans traveling: what to know

Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

A Rhode Island federal judge targeted for impeachment dealt the Trump administration a legal blow on Friday, ordering it to lift a freeze on federal funds.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to unfreeze federal funds to states after plaintiffs alleged the agency had failed to comply with an earlier court order.

The lawsuit was originally launched by 22 states and the District of Columbia, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to block funding for programs like the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant and other environmental initiatives. 

LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP'S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS

Plaintiffs in the suit, including the states of New York, California, Illinois and Rhode Island, argued that FEMA's implementation of a manual review process for payment requests violated a previous preliminary injunction issued by McConnell. The states argued that the review "constitutes 'a categorical pause or freeze of funding appropriate by Congress.'"

The defendants, which include President Donald Trump and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), responded that the review did not violate the order because "FEMA is relying on its own independent authorities to implement the process rather than the OMB Directive."

McConnell concluded that the plaintiffs had "presented evidence that strongly suggests that FEMA is implementing this manual review process based, covertly, on the President's January 20, 2025 executive order." 

COURTROOM COMBAT: INSIDE THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY SYSTEM WHERE TRUMP'S AGENDA IS UNDER ASSAULT

"The Court reaffirms its preliminary injunction order," McConnell wrote. 

McConnell had issued a restraining order in late January that enjoined the defendants from freezing federal funds. This came after OMB released a memo on Jan. 27 announcing the administration's plans to temporarily pause federal grants and loans. The White House later rescinded the memo on Jan. 29. 

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the move didn’t equate a "recission of the federal funding freeze." 

‘CORRUPT, DANGEROUS’: GOP REP MOVES TO IMPEACH JUDGE WHO BLOCKED TRUMP FEDERAL FUNDS FREEZE

After McConnell ordered the administration to comply with the restraining order, the government appealed to the First Circuit — which refused to stay the orders. 

McConnell also recently made headlines after becoming one of several federal judges hit with impeachment articles. 

Georgia Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde formally introduced his articles of impeachment against McConnell on March 24, after his initial announcement in February. 

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The articles, first shared with Fox News Digital, charged McConnell with abuse of power and conflicts of interest, stating he "knowingly politicized and weaponized his judicial position to advance his own political views and beliefs."

"The American people overwhelmingly voted for President Trump in November, providing a clear mandate to make our federal government more efficient," Clyde told Fox News Digital. "Yet Judge McConnell, who stands to benefit from his own injunction, is attempting to unilaterally obstruct the president’s agenda and defy the will of the American people. Judge McConnell’s actions are corrupt, dangerous, and worthy of impeachment."

Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy contributed to this report.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said, "As a woman and as a mom," she does not support proxy voting exceptions for new mothers in Congress, a hotly debated topic that brought the House to a grinding halt this week.

A bill sponsored by conservative firebrand Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., which would let new parents vote by proxy for 12 weeks while caring for their newborns, appears to have split the GOP.

While President Donald Trump has said he supports proxy voting for new parents in Congress, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has said he believes proxy voting is "unconstitutional."

With 218 lawmakers backing the move, it has enough support to force a vote.

TRUMP SUPPORTS PROXY VOTING FOR NEW MOTHERS IN CONGRESS: 'DON’T KNOW WHY IT’S CONTROVERSIAL'

After Democrats and nine Republicans blocked an effort to sideline the issue, prompting Johnson to call the House into recess for the rest of the week, Mace said she is an "absolute no" on the question.

"I'm an absolute no on any and all proxy voting. It's wrong," Mace told Fox News Digital.

"We have a job. We have a constitutional duty to show up here and work, and we should."

Asked whether any exceptions should be made for new mothers and fathers in Congress, Mace answered, "Nope, none, zero."

PRESIDENT TRUMP, CONSERVATIVES CELEBRATE ‘ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE’ FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTIONS SWEEP

"As a woman and as a mom, I want to make it on my own merit," she added. "I don't want to be given an exception for anything. I want to be able to make here like any man would."

Addressing other hot questions about exceptions for women, Mace also shared that she strongly supports Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s moves on standards.

"Doing it based on merit and making the standards be the same, I think that's good for our country. It's good for those who are willing to risk their lives, put their lives on the line for their fellow countrymen," she said.

SCOOP: WHITE HOUSE RALLIES HOUSE GOP ON TRUMP TARIFF PLAN IN SECRET CALL

"I love what Pete Hegseth is doing," she added. "I think he's doing a remarkable job, and he's bringing so much transparency to DOD and the Pentagon. And where they failed, then he is trying to pick up the pieces and put it back together, including how men and women are treated in uniform and how we are combat-ready."

Despite changes to standards, Mace predicted a "major uptick with recruitment" in all military branches under Trump and Hegseth’s leadership, saying, "I think we've got great things to come. Our enemies should be scared."

While much of Congress focuses on banning China from buying land near U.S. military bases, freshman Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., says the Chinese Communist Party already has a direct presence on those installations – through national nutrition chain GNC.

A bill released by Harrigan this week, the Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025, would ban any companies of Chinese, North Korean, Iranian or Russian ownership from operating on military bases. 

"This is actually a situation where the CCP is operating on our military bases. It’s even crazier [than foreign land purchases]," Harrigan told Fox News Digital. 

In June 2020, vitamin retailer GNC filed for bankruptcy and was wholly acquired by Harbin Pharmaceuticals, a partially state-owned enterprise in China. Harbin had previously acquired a 40% stake in GNC in 2018.

‘MIND-BOGGLING’: SPACE FORCE CHIEF FIRES OFF DIRE WARNING ABOUT CHINESE CAPABILITY TO KNOCK OUT US SATELLITES

In 2019, GNC agreed to integrate its manufacturing with International Vitamin Corporation (IVC), which has a consortium of Chinese investors. 

The company, founded in Pittsburgh, had already been operating on U.S. bases for years at the time of its sale, and its potential to help with Chinese surveillance on military bases was overlooked.

Now, some 85 GNC stores operate on U.S. military bases. They operate under what are known as "long term concessions" contracts, meaning they are operated, staffed and supplied by GNC.

"This is a really ripe target for intelligence gathering," said Harrigan. "This is no joke about defending the integrity of our military, making sure that foreign adversaries who are actively seeking to undermine us don't have the opportunity to do that from within our military bases." 

"You know who these people are, the customers you've got, their purchasing habits. You have access to sensitive health information based on the type of products that they're purchasing," he said. 

The store could identify individuals with vulnerabilities by tracking frequent purchases of testosterone, sleep aids, or anxiety supplements, Harrigan said. It could also monitor deployment cycles based on changes in buying patterns, he added.

Harrigan warned that GNC’s access could even allow adversaries to introduce banned or harmful substances – or counterfeit products – to degrade military readiness.

US BANS ROMANTIC AND SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHINESE CITIZENS FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN CHINA

The store also poses potential cyber risks, Harrigan said, noting that in-store WiFi and mobile data tracking could reveal troop geolocations. Loyalty apps and promotional materials, he warned, could be used to embed malicious links or software.

Fox News Digital reached out to GNC for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.

Lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills aimed at blocking China from buying U.S. land near sensitive military sites – a movement that gained urgency after Chinese food producer Fufeng Group purchased 370 acres near a North Dakota Air Force base in 2022.

China owned around 350,000 acres of farmland across 27 states as of last year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

GNC Holdings appeared on the System for Award Management – the federal registry for government contractors – in 2023 and 2024, despite not being required to register due to its long-term concessions contract.

The company did not disclose its Chinese ownership on the website, and let its registration expire in October 2024. 

As a U.S. senator from Florida, Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised alarms in 2020 over GNC’s sale to Harbin, warning that customers’ personal data could be handed over to the Chinese Communist Party. He urged the Treasury Department to launch a national security review.

Despite those concerns, Bankruptcy Judge Karen Owens approved the $770 million sale. Since then, GNC has capitalized on renewed interest in health and wellness to grow its footprint to more than 4,000 stores in the U.S. and 2,000 internationally, according to the company’s website.

FIRST ON FOX: Former Ohio Republican State Senator Kevin Coughlin exclusively spoke to Fox News Digital about his recent announcement that he is challenging Dem. Rep. Emilia Sykes in one of the most closely watched House districts in next year’s midterms.

"The motivation is the same as it was in the last election," Coughlin, who narrowly lost to Sykes in November by two points in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, told Fox News Digital. 

"I wanna make a difference for people. I think our country's going in the wrong direction. I think we have some great opportunities here. And it's very clear that with tight majorities in both the House and the Senate, we need reinforcements there to help push an America First agenda through and to try to secure our border, bring down costs, protect our communities and give taxpayers value for their dollar. The spirit is there, and the movement is there in DC. It's harder to do when you've got close majorities. And so I want to go and contribute to that and help deliver for the people of Northeast Ohio."

Coughlin told Fox News Digital that Sykes has not served the district well and that when he speaks to people in the district they tell him they are unsatisfied with her leadership.

LEAKED VIDEO EXPOSES DEM STAFFER ADMITTING 'QUIET PART OUT LOUD' IN FIERY TIRADE: 'OPEN THE F---ING BORDER'

"What they're getting with our current member of Congress is somebody who's just a partisan hack who's doing everything her party tells her to do at the expense of what's right for the families and the small businesses of our region and our district," Coughlin said. "She's repeatedly voted against extending the Trump tax cuts of 2017, which would end up being a huge tax increase on everyone. She has opposed efforts to reduce regulation and to root out waste and fraud in our government. She has voted to shut down our government and provide essential services to people who truly need them."

Coughlin added that Democrats since Trump’s inauguration have become "a bunch of toddlers pounding on the floor" and that they "really just don’t have a message right now."

"They're flailing around not only for leadership, but for a voice and a message and you know the old adage when your adversary is drowning, don’t interrupt them," Coughlin said. "I think the best thing for us to do as Republicans is to continue moving forward in the way they have so far, methodically move toward delivering on President Trump's agenda, delivering on the promises that they were elected on and moving that forward to deliver for the people that they represent. And as long as we keep doing that, and I think that the spirit is there, as long as they keep doing it, I think we'll be rewarded in the midterms."

FORMER NAVY SEAL CLINT BRUCE ON RELATIONSHIP WITH OHIO STATE'S RYAN DAY, HELPING COLLEGE FOOTBALL STARS

The Cook Political Report ranks the race in OH-13 as a "Democrat toss up" as Republicans head into the midterms with a slim majority in the House and facing the conventional wisdom that the party in power struggles in the first midterm after a new president takes office.

Coughlin told Fox News Digital he expects Republicans to do well in the midterms, particularly in Ohio, where Trump won by 11 points in November. 

"I was encouraged by results around the country this week with special elections in Florida and with the ballot issue on voter ID passing in Wisconsin," Coughlin said. "It tells me that our issues are still winning, that the people still view and have the same concerns that we have, and so that's a good thing."

"I think with regard to my opponent, what I've seen this year is that she's become even more partisan than she was before. She's digging in and hugging the liberal left even harder than she did before. So, that means she's casting a lot of votes that are very much out of step with her district, and I expect she'll continue to do that. And frankly, Ohio is different from the rest of the country in some regards," Coughlin said. "I think we're a little bit insulated here from the traditional midterm effect of the president's party not doing well in the elections. Statewide elections are going on next year, and if we stay true to form, we will have a strong, talented, dynamic, well-organized, well-funded slate of people running for statewide office, which lifts all boats with regard to Republican candidates in our state. So, I think it's going to be a good year here in Ohio."

A Sykes campaign spokesperson dismissed Coughlin's attacks.

"Rep. Sykes is focused on how we can best bring costs down, put money in people's pockets and protect earned benefits like social security and medicaid and will let others engage in unproductive name-calling," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also referred Fox News Digital to a quote from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), who called Coughlin a "corrupt, out of touch loser who’s only running so he can work with Elon Musk to dismantle Social Security and gut Medicaid to pay for billionaire tax breaks."

"Congresswoman Sykes is a results oriented leader with an undeniable record of fighting for Northeast Ohioans - focusing on lowering costs, creating good paying jobs, and keeping our communities safe," the DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton added.

"Emilia Sykes is nothing but a rubber stamp for the far Left, completely out of touch with the people of Ohio," NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "From voting to shut down the government and raise taxes to supporting open borders, Sykes is too extreme for Ohio. That’s why she’ll be out of a job next November." 

The Trump administration said that "radical judges" will "soon learn that denying" President Donald Trump his "constitutionally granted authorities is a gross infringement of the law and will not stand on appeal" after a Bush-appointed judge blocked the administration from firing intelligence agency employees tied to DEI programs.

U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga, a President George W. Bush appointee in Virginia, issued the preliminary injunction on Monday ahead of a 5 p.m. deadline issued by CIA Director John Ratcliffe for the agents to resign or be fired, allowing them to appeal and stay on the federal payroll.

The injunction was part of a lawsuit filed by more than a dozen intelligence agents from the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who were found to be involved in, or working on, DEI programs in the department. 

TRUMP DOJ, EDUCATION DEPT FORM TASK FORCE TO PROTECT FEMALE ATHLETES FROM 'GENDER IDEOLOGY' IN SCHOOLS, SPORTS

"The plaintiffs face termination without any suggestion of wrongdoing or poor performance," Trenga said after the ruling, according to Politico. "Simply requiring the government to follow its regulations is a minimal burden."

The employees, who were abruptly placed on administrative leave in January, were facing termination as part of the Trump administration's effort, supported by Elon Musk, to eliminate DEI-related programs and initiate a large-scale government overhaul. Musk also visited the CIA headquarters on Tuesday to discuss his government efficiency program. 

"These radical judges will soon learn that denying the Chief Executive his constitutionally granted authorities is a gross infringement of the law and will not stand on appeal," Trump administration spokesperson Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital. 

CONCERNED PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS COMPARED TO 'HATE GROUPS' BY COLORADO DEM: WOULDN'T 'ASK THE KKK' FOR OPINION

"Ending the bigotry of DEI and ensuring the federal government runs efficiently might be a crime to Democrats, but it’s in line with the law," he said.

The 19 employees, who are unnamed, contended in their lawsuit last month that their roles in the DEI programs were "temporary assignments" and that they also had other responsibilities as intelligence officers. The lawsuit also states that "poor performance" wasn't a factor in their dismissal. 

The "imminent termination is therefore arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion," the lawsuit charges.

BAN ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED SEX CHANGES FOR PRISONERS SPARKS DEM WALKOUT IN GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE

Trenga's written order also said the Trump administration must consider employees' "request for reassignment for open or available positions, in accordance with their qualifications and skills." The administration can still fire the employees but first has to present a "report" on the employees' appeals or reassignments to the judge.

This injunction adds to a stack of injunctions and temporary restraining orders placed on several of President Donald Trump's executive orders.  

Trump issued an executive order last month penalizing law firm Perkins Coie for its representation of Hillary Clinton and its DEI policies by targeting the firm’s government contracts and limiting access to federal facilities. Over 300 law professors and legal groups, including the ACLU and Cato Institute, filed briefs supporting Perkins Coie. In February, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking key provisions of President Trump's executive orders aimed at banning DEI programs on university campuses.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser lobbed at least 13 lawsuits against Trump administration policies related to DEI, including the Health and Human Services' (HHS) termination of public health grants, and moves to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

FBI Director Kash Patel is tackling China's influence on American farmlands head-on, as both a food supply and national security concern. 

Patel’s early focus on Chinese influence over American land — particularly farmland near sensitive sites — reflects a broader second-term push by the Trump administration to confront the Chinese Communist Party’s presence on U.S. soil. The effort has gained traction among Republican lawmakers and conservative allies, who say CCP-connected land ownership poses a direct threat to national security and critical infrastructure.

"FBI Director Kash Patel has made eradicating CCP interference and infiltration in the United States a relentless, uncompromising priority," Patel advisor Erica Knight told Fox News Digital. 

"With his unmatched experience in counterterrorism and intelligence, Patel possesses a profound understanding of the grave threats our nation faces," Knight said. "His expertise and unwavering resolve make him uniquely equipped to lead the bureau to crush CCP infiltration and safeguard America’s national security."

US-CANADA BORDER EYED AS VULNERABILITY BY CHINA, RUSSIA, SAYS PATEL: 'THE ENEMY ADAPTS' 

Patel recently told lawmakers that the "effective resolution" of the southern border crisis has prompted adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran to shift their focus to the U.S. northern border.

As the administration ramps up its second-term focus on China, President Donald Trump was asked aboard Air Force One on Thursday what the White House is doing about Chinese-owned farmland.

Trump said he is "looking at it all the time," adding that he has "a very good relationship with China and with the president."

"I have a lot of respect for President Xi," Trump said. 

TOP FIVE TAKEDOWNS: KASH PATEL’S FBI HITS THE GROUND RUNNING WITH MAJOR EARLY VICTORIES

Trump emphasized that Chinese-owned farmland "has been an issue for years."

In a February Fox News op-ed, Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Ric Grenell echoed growing concern on the right over Chinese-owned farmland, calling it part of a "not-so-silent takeover."

"While conservative legislators and governors across the country are taking action to stop adversarial nations from buying U.S. farmland, we must recognize that there’s a much broader issue at play here — China’s end goal is not confined to land ownership," Grenell wrote. 

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL BACK PATEL AS FBI DIRECTOR

Capitol Hill lawmakers have already begun taking action. In early March, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., introduced the PASS Act in the Senate, which would bar entities from "covered countries" — including China — from purchasing agricultural land near military bases or other sensitive sites.

The legislation, which also has Democratic support, would allow the Department of Agriculture to submit cases to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. for review if the department suspects there is a national security concern. 

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Likewise, Republican senators in January also announced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act, led by Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Katie Britt of Alabama. 

The legislation would require selling land owned or "influenced" by the Chinese Communist Party that is deemed to be a national security risk.

Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips and Michael Lee contributed to this report. 

After breaking the Senate record for longest floor speech, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., gave an innocuous answer about whether he sees himself as the Democratic Party’s next leader.

With Democratic veterans like former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., no longer in leadership, no one person can fully claim the title of Democratic Party leader.

At age 55, Booker has been in the Senate for more than 10 years. After his record-breaking speech on the Senate floor this week, during which he bashed the Trump administration, Elon Musk and Republicans, some wonder whether Booker could be a contender for party leader.

"Some are saying the Democratic Party needs a national leader, are you it?" Fox News Digital asked.

BOOKER CALLED FILIBUSTER AN 'ABUSE OF POWER' YEARS BEFORE SETTING SENATE SPEECH RECORD

"I think that, as the great Ella Baker said, we are the leaders we've been looking for," Booker answered.

"I think the Democratic Party needs everybody to realize it's time for all of us to lead," he added.

During his speech, Booker claimed that President Donald Trump, in 71 days, "has inflicted so much harm on Americans' safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy, and even our aspirations as a people for, from our highest offices, a sense of common decency."

Booker said he felt inspired to make his marathon speech, which disrupted votes on the Senate floor for over 25 hours, because his constituents "were demanding more."

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"We're in a moral moment in our country about what we are going to stand for," he said. "So, I wanted to stand with our veterans, I wanted to stand with expecting moms in their healthcare, I want to stand for people who rely on Social Security and a lot of the other things that are happening I think are in the balance right now."

The senator said that his days as a football player at Stanford prepared him to be able to stand and speak for so long.

"I learned a lot as an athlete — as most athletes will tell you, what you learn is that you can go further than you think you can," said Booker. "You've got more in the tank when you think it's all gone. And those lessons gave me a lot to draw on. And then even when everything is out of the tank and you physically have hit your wall, that your spirit can take over and you can do a little bit more."

JASMINE CROCKETT SETS OFF SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER TOUTING BEING BLACK AS QUALIFICATION FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER JOB

Asked whether his speech, not technically a filibuster, had the impact he was hoping for, Booker responded: "I think this is not a single moment, or even 25 hours. I think it's a longer journey."

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"It was a good day," he continued. "But as I learned playing college football, just because you had a good play, you get back to the huddle, and you get ready for the next one, and that's what we need to do."

A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to immediately make arrangements for the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. 

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said that Kilmar Abrego Garcia had been illegally deported to El Salvador and said he must be returned by Monday before midnight.

Xinis ruled that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's March 15th expulsion of Garcia violated the Administrative Procedures Act, since it occurred without a judicial proceeding.

KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA DID NOT HAVE HIS DAY IN COURT, SAYS REP GLENN IVEY

The Trump administration has acknowledged Garcia's removal was an "administrative error," but has also defended it, alleging that Garcia has ties to MS-13.  

"This individual is an illegal criminal who broke our nation’s immigration laws. He is a leader in the brutal MS-13 gang, and he is involved in human trafficking," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing on Tuesday. 

JOHN YOO URGES TRUMP ADMIN TO ‘WORK OUT A DEAL’ TO RETURN MISTAKENLY DEPORTED INDIVIDUALS

"And now MS-13 is a designated foreign terrorist organization. Foreign terrorists have no legal protections in the United States of America. And this administration is going to continue to deport foreign terrorists and illegal criminals from our nation’s interior," she added. 

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News after the ruling: "The American people should know who this individual is. He's not some American father as the mainstream media will make you believe, he's actually a member of MS-13, and was involved in trafficking. It's unbelievable the framing of this. Whether this man is in El Salvador or in a U.S. detention center, he should be locked up."

An immigration judge five years ago said Garcia, who is a legal U.S. resident, could not be deported to his home country, over concerns he would become a victim of local El Salvador gang members.

Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who is a U.S. citizen, has vigorously campaigned for his return. 

Garcia had been working as a sheet metal apprentice in Maryland and was arrested in an IKEA parking lot on March 12 while his 5-year-old son was in the car. 

His lawyers have argued the man had a Department of Homeland Security permit to work in the country, and strongly denied any gang affiliations. They also say that the government has given little evidence to back up its claim. 

There was no indication how the government would comply, since he is incarcerated in an El Salvador prison under that government's custody, or whether an appeal would be filed by the administration. 

Fox News' Cameron Arcand and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Jacky Rosen plans to introduce amendments ahead of Friday night's "Vote-A-Rama" that would roll back President Donald Trump's tariffs on certain materials on key tourism partners, likely forcing her Republican colleagues to go on record defending the policy again. 

"President Trump broke his promise to lower costs, and has enacted reckless tariffs that are jacking up prices even higher for hardworking Nevada families and harming my state’s tourism economy," Rosen, D-Nev., told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement. 

"Donald Trump may not care if his tariffs raise prices, but I do, and that’s why I’m trying to stop his new national sales tax. Every senator should be on the record: Do you stand with America’s working families who need financial relief, or do you stand with Trump in giving his billionaire buddies even more tax giveaways?" 

REPUBLICANS CHARGE AHEAD ON TRUMP BUDGET, SETTING UP MARATHON SENATE VOTES

The Nevada Democrat's amendments include one to stop the administration from levying tariffs on critical construction materials for building houses, and one that would bar Trump from putting across-the-board tariffs on countries with many who visit the U.S.

"I’ve already heard from Nevadans and Nevada business owners who are worried about how these new tariffs will impact their businesses and livelihoods, including the founder of a small business in Reno. They wrote to me saying, quote, ‘We maintain a small production facility in Reno . . . these duties will force us to raise retail prices by 37 percent, and we don’t believe our customers will accept that. This policy could wipe us out entirely,'" Rosen said during her debate time on the floor on Friday.

TED CRUZ CLASHES WITH KEY DEMOCRAT OVER 'SECOND PHASE OF LAWFARE' THROUGH FEDERAL JUDGES' ORDERS

"They go on to say, quote, ‘I’m not asking for a favor. I’m asking for leadership that reflects the urgency and reality we face. These tariffs do not bring jobs back. They raise prices, punish small businesses, and put livelihoods at risk, all while making it harder for companies like mine to do what we’ve done for 13 years: create jobs, innovate, and support our families,’" she went on.

On Thursday, Republicans agreed to a motion that kicked off roughly a day's worth of debate, before the "vote-a-rama" begins. 

A marathon of amendment votes is now expected to take place at some point on Friday after the debate ends. 

GOP DEFECTORS HELP SENATE ADVANCE RESOLUTION TO CANCEL TRUMP TARIFFS DESPITE WHITE HOUSE VETO WARNING

During this process, senators can introduce an unlimited number of amendments, and many are expected to get floor votes. 

The "vote-a-rama" marks movement on Trump's budget for border funding and extending his hallmark 2017 tax cuts, which Republicans in Congress have long been pursuing. This week, the Senate released its changes to the House's budget reconciliation resolution, taking a big step forward. 

SENATE DEMS FORESHADOW MORE FORCED VOTES TO BLOCK TRUMP'S EMERGENCY ORDERS

This amendment to the resolution will get a Senate vote at the end of the "vote-a-rama." 

The expected budget vote comes after months of disagreement between Republicans in the House and Senate, the former of which sought a reconciliation bill to tackle both the border and taxes, while many in the Senate wanted to split it into two bills. 

Ultimately, House Republicans got what they wanted in a one-bill approach, which Trump blessed. 

A conservative legal group is challenging President Donald Trump's tariffs on China, calling them "an unlawful attempt" to make Americans pay higher taxes on Chinese imports. 

The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) filed an initial complaint in Florida district court Thursday, challenging Trump's "unlawful use of emergency power to impose a tariff on all imports from China."

"By invoking emergency power to impose an across-the-board tariff on imports from China that the statute does not authorize, President Trump has misused that power, usurped Congress’s right to control tariffs, and upset the Constitution’s separation of powers," Andrew Morris, senior litigation counsel at NCLA, said in a statement released. 

SOME COUNTRIES TARGETED BY TRUMP TARIFFS SEEK NEGOTIATIONS, CHINA SAYS 'NO WINNERS IN TRADE WARS'

Trump issued an executive order on Feb. 1 titled "Imposing Duties to Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China," and amended it on Mar. 3 to raise tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%.

Plaintiff Emily Ley, owner of Simplified, a Pensacola, Florida-based company, argues Trump's invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose the tariffs is unlawful. The plaintiff also argues that her business will be harmed as a result of Trump's action. 

"The key thing for all of this is that IEEPA does not provide for the tariff power, and you know that because when Congress does do it, they use the word, and they say how the president is supposed to do it," John Vecchione, senior litigation counsel at NCLA, told Fox News Digital. 

Vecchione notes that the complaint delineates the various statutes Trump used in his first term to impose tariffs, saying that in this instance, he is "using the wrong statute."

"Here, [Trump] declares an emergency, and then he says that his tariffs fit the emergency, that they're necessary for the emergency," Vecchione said. "IEEPA requires that they be necessary for the emergency, and they're not."

TRUMP TOUTS RETURN OF THE 'AMERICAN DREAM' IN HISTORIC TARIFF ANNOUNCEMENT

The plaintiff argues that the law permits the president to "order sanctions as a rapid response to international emergencies," but does not authorize him to "impose tariffs on the American people."

"President Trump’s executive orders imposing a China tariff are, therefore, ultra vires and unconstitutional," the complaint states.

If the president is granted such authority, the group argues, he would have "nearly unlimited authority to commandeer Congress’s power over tariffs."

"He would be empowered to declare a national emergency based on some long-running national problem," the complaint continues, "then impose tariffs purportedly in the name of that emergency – thus sidestepping the detailed constraints Congress has placed on the tariff authority it has granted."

NCLA is asking the court to block the administration from implementing or enforcing the executive orders and to vacate "all resulting modifications" to the tariff schedule.

In response to the lawsuit, White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields defended the executive orders, telling Fox News Digital, "President Trump has broad authority to impose tariffs to address issues of national emergency, such as the opioid pandemic. The Trump administration looks forward to victory in court."

The suit comes just days after the president unveiled his tariff plan during a speech in the White House Rose Garden at a highly anticipated "Make America Wealthy Again" event. 

"Now it's our turn to prosper, and in so doing, use trillions and trillions of dollars to reduce our taxes and pay down our national debt," Trump said on April 2. "And it will all happen very quickly. With today's action, we are finally going to be able to make America great again, greater than ever before."

HOW WE GOT TO LIBERATION DAY: A LOOK AT TRUMP’S PAST COMMENTS ON TARIFFS

Trump was joined by several Cabinet members in the Rose Garden on Thursday for his first official presidential event since taking office in January. During the speech, Trump announced that China would be hit with a 34% tariff.

In response, China declared retaliatory measures on Friday, saying it would impose matching 34% tariffs on U.S. goods.

The new tariffs are set to take effect April 10, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"China played it wrong, they panicked – the one thing they cannot afford to do," Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social.

Fox News Digital's Emma Colton and Greg Norman contributed to this report. 

The British overseas territory is facing a 42% tax on the goods it exports to the US.

The business secretary says he wants to reach an economic deal but would take "necessary steps' if talks failed.

The Trump administration on Friday launched a new investigative unit to protect "female athletes, from the pernicious effects of gender ideology in school programs and activities," further clamping down on transgender women in school sports and sending a warning signal to states defying the president's executive orders.

The Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the Title IX Special Investigations Team (SIT) to handle cases, particularly targeting transgender women in sports, because "traditionally, our Office for Civil Rights [OCR] takes months, even years, to complete Title IX investigations," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Friday.

"OCR under this Administration has moved faster than it ever has, and the Title IX SIT will ensure even more rapid and consistent investigations," McMahon said. "To all the entities that continue to allow men to compete in women’s sports and use women’s intimate facilities: there’s a new sheriff in town. We will not allow you to get away with denying women's civil rights any longer."

 CONCERNED PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS COMPARED TO 'HATE GROUPS' BY COLORADO DEM: WOULDN'T 'ASK THE KKK' FOR OPINION

The team, drawn from both agencies, will implement a rapid process to handle the growing number of cases to hand over investigations to potential DOJ enforcement. McMahon said the Title IX unit "will benefit women and girls across this nation who have been subjected to discrimination and indignity in their educational activities."

"Protecting women and women’s sports is a key priority for this Department of Justice," Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday. "This collaborative effort with the Department of Education will enable our attorneys to take comprehensive action when women’s sports or spaces are threatened and use the full power of the law to remedy any violation of women’s civil rights."

The unit comprises investigators and attorneys from the OCR, the ED Office of General Counsel, and the ED Office of Student Privacy and Protection, along with caseworkers and an FSA Enforcement investigator. The unit also includes attorneys from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division.

TRANS INMATE IN PRISON FOR KILLING BABY MUST GET GENDER SURGERY AT 'EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY': JUDGE

The investigative unit will enforce Title IX protections with President Donald Trump's executive orders on "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports" and "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism."

The unit comes as Trump has been facing pushback from both lawmakers and judges for his gender-related orders.

Trump and Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills sparred in February over Trump's order banning biological males from women's sports. During a National Governors Association meeting, Trump accused Mills of defying federal orders by continuing to allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports. Following the confrontation, the Trump administration launched investigations into Maine’s education department.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also froze funds to certain educational programs in Maine due to the state's rebellion. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins indicated the funding freeze could be lifted if Maine aligns with federal interpretations of Title IX.

BAN ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED SEX CHANGES FOR PRISONERS SPARKS DEM WALKOUT IN GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE

Trump's Title IX unit comes after the Biden administration updated Title IX regulations in 2021 and 2022 to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students, interpreting the law’s prohibition on sex discrimination to include gender identity and sexual orientation.

Under then-President Joe Biden's interpretation, transgender students were allowed in women's sports, bathrooms, changing room facilities and in other educational programs.

President Donald Trump has fired the head of the National Security Agency (NSA), a high-level move driven by mounting pressure from conservative allies to purge officials they view as insufficiently loyal to the president's "America First" agenda.

Gen. Timothy Haugh and civilian Deputy Wendy Noble were let go from their roles as director and deputy director of the NSA. Lt. Gen. William Hartman, who also leads U.S. Cyber Command, will serve as acting director, while Sheila Thomas will take over as deputy.

Hartman previously commanded the Cyber National Mission Force and has served in intelligence, cyberspace operations and infantry roles during deployments around the world. Thomas most recently headed NSA's cryptologic partnership with the U.K. and served as director of engagement and policy at NSA. 

TRUMP CONFIRMS NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL FIRINGS AS WALTZ'S SIGNAL CHAT WOES SNOWBALL

The shake-up comes as some right-wing figures have turned against members of Trump’s national security team. Far-right provocateur Laura Loomer met with Trump this week to share her "research" on officials she believes should be fired. 

As Loomer pointed out on X, both Haugh and Noble were Biden appointees. She seemingly took credit for the firing, claiming Haugh had "no place" in the Trump administration because he was "hand-picked" by former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley. 

"Why would we want an NSA Director who was referred to Biden after being hand selected by Milley," Ms. Loomer wrote. "Why would we want Milley’s hand picked choice for NSA DIRECTOR? We do not! And he was referred for firing."

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY DIRECTOR GEN. HAUGH FIRED, CIVILIAN DEPUTY DIRECTOR REASSIGNED

The White House and NSA did not respond when asked if Loomer had influenced the president's decision. 

Trump also fired several National Security Council (NSC) staffers on Thursday, adding to national security advisor Mike Waltz’s recent woes after he accidentally included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal chat about Houthi strikes.

"We’re going to let go of people we don’t like, or people we don’t think can do the job, or people who may have loyalties to somebody else," Trump told reporters about the firings. He confirmed that NSC members had been fired, but remarked it was not many individuals. 

The NSA shuffle also came after Trump recently let go of C.Q. Brown, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former chief of naval operations. 

The White House has insisted Waltz’s job is not under threat. 

"As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team," Trump administration press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media in brief remarks outside the White House's press room on Monday afternoon. "And this case has been closed here at the White House, as far as we are concerned." 

MP for Great Yarmouth Rupert Lowe strongly denies accusations of bullying and harassment upheld by a KC.

Sir Sadiq Khan may be able to "call in" decisions over night-time economy licensing applications.

EXCLUSIVE: A key moderate Democrat is warning his party they are heading the "wrong" way on trade.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was one of the few Democrats to express some optimism at President Donald Trump's support for tariffs, specifically his move to add a 10% baseline duty to all U.S. imports. 

Golden noted in a brief interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday that he himself proposed legislation for a 10% universal tariff earlier this year and in the previous Congress.

When asked how his stance on tariffs has been received by fellow House Democrats, Golden said, "Well, I think that they are moving in the wrong direction when it comes to trade."

TREASURY SECRETARY BESSENT TELLS COUNTRIES NOT TO RETALIATE AFTER SWEEPING 'LIBERATION DAY' TARIFFS

"I think it's been a knee-jerk reaction to the president," the Maine Democrat explained of the more recent furor.

Golden said the Democratic Party he joined in his "formative years" was "the party that was warning about things like the World Trade Organization or [the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)]."

"It has kind of, I think, had a sudden movement in the opposite direction, and that's unfortunate," Golden said. "You've got to look beyond, you know, who the president is… to ask themselves what would be good for rural communities or working-class people, or cities like Detroit, whatever it may be — those who have been hit hardest by the existing trade regime."

He added, however, "I think that this debate has been brewing since the '90s, so it's not only about Trump."

Golden has been known to break from his own party on issues like trade, border security and, notably, former President Joe Biden's student loan relief efforts.

He won his seat in Maine's 2nd Congressional District by less than 1% in 2024, while Trump carried the district by 10%.

Golden said on Wednesday that he was "pleased" Trump's tariff plan lined up with his own ideas for a universal tax on foreign goods.

"I’m eager to work with the president to fix the broken ‘free trade’ system that made multinational corporations rich but ruined manufacturing communities across the country. But tariffs must be paired with policies that prioritize American families’ prosperity," he said.

FRANCE ASKS US TO BE 'COOPERATIVE' INSTEAD OF 'CONFRONTATIONAL' FOLLOWING TRUMP'S 'LIBERATION DAY' TARIFFS

He pointed out, however, that Trump "introduced a number of new tariff policies" alongside the 10% universal tax, and that he would need time to review the policies in detail before weighing in on them further.

Trump's plan involves a 10% blanket tariff on all imports into the U.S., as well as reciprocal tariffs as high as nearly 50% on both adversaries and allies.

Golden added, "We need to make sure that the new approach benefits working people — that means supporting unions, the trades and apprenticeship programs, cutting regulations that hold back production, unleashing American energy and using tariff revenue to support domestic manufacturers that create good-paying jobs for Americans."

"Tariffs are a first step in rewriting a rigged trade system, but they cannot be the last one," he said.