Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday that he recalled the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim from Bogotá, Colombia, after what he said were "baseless and reprehensible statements from senior Colombian government officials."

The State Department said in a release that John T. McNamara, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim for the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, was recalled to Washington for urgent consultations regarding the "baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia."

"In addition to the recall of the Chargé, the United States is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship," the press release read. "Despite policy differences with the current government, Colombia remains an essential strategic partner," the release continued. "We are committed to close cooperation on a range of shared priorities, including regional security and stability, and we remain engaged in efforts that improve the lives of Americans and Colombians alike."

No further details were available regarding the diplomatic recall, though the decision comes after Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused "right-wing extremists" of plotting to overthrow him.

LEADER OF COLOMBIA SAYS TRUMP ADMIN REVOKED HIS US VISA

The Associated Press reported in May that Petro’s former foreign minister, Alvaro Leyva, accused him of being a drug "addict" for the second time in three weeks.

Leyva also reportedly published a seven-page letter on X calling for Petro to resign, alleging that the president is "dependent on substances that affect emotional and mental equilibrium."

Petro, who was elected in 2022 and has a year left in office, denied the accusations during a speech in Bogota, in which he claimed to be a "revolutionary" who will not be "enslaved" by drugs.

HOUSE DEMS DEMAND 'PROOF OF LIFE' OF ABREGO GARCIA AFTER BEING DENIED MEETING IN EL SALVADOR

Leyva had previously accused Petro of being on drugs in a letter published on April 22. In the letter, Leyva said Petro "went missing" for a couple of days during a state visit in Paris, attributing the absence to purported drug use. Petro, though, said he had taken time off to visit relatives in France.

As for relations between the U.S. and Colombia, the two countries agreed in March to deploy biometric capabilities to help authorities manage migration and stop criminal activity.

The agreement came months after President Donald Trump and Petro clashed over the treatment of Colombians on deportation flights from the U.S.

RUBIO FIRES BACK AFTER DEM SENATOR SAYS HE REGRETS VOTING FOR HIM, SPARKING TENSE EXCHANGE

In January, U.S. officials sent two flights of Colombian illegal aliens back to their country of origin, though Petro rejected the flights, saying the U.S. cannot "treat Colombian migrants as criminals."

Petro also demanded the U.S. establish protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before his country receives them.

In response, Trump threatened to unleash a slew of punishments, including ordering a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the U.S. from Colombia. After a week, Trump added, the tariffs would rise to 50%. Trump also ordered a travel ban and visa revocations for all Colombian government officials, plus "allies and supporters."

Ultimately, the two countries came to an agreement and deportations resumed, though Petro has urged Colombian migrants to return home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green's last day in office will be July 20, Fox News has learned.

The Republican from Tennessee had previously announced his intention to resign after the vote on President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill."

The retired U.S. Army officer voted in favor of Trump's spending bill, sending it to the president's desk.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for details.
 

EXCLUSIVE: With assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement official ssurging over 700% and Democrats pushing a bill to require agents to de-mask during immigration enforcement operations, a special agent voiced concern about escalating violence and the effect de-masking could have on agents’ families.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, the special agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said immigration enforcement officials "wouldn't wear masks if they didn't care" about their families. 

The agent said increased protests and resistance from politicians have made carrying out their duties difficult. The agent also said attempts to dox agents have made many worry about their families’ safety.

The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News this week that assaults against ICE officers and federal agents conducting immigration enforcement are up 690% compared to the same time last year. 

TRUMP'S REMITTANCE TAX AIMS TO SLOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY TARGETING THE MONEY FLOW

DHS recorded 10 assault events from Jan. 21, 2024, to June 30, 2024. From the day after President Donald Trump took office earlier this year until Monday, the department recorded 79 assault events. DHS said the true number is likely higher. They are happening at such a fast pace, some assault reports may not be accounted for yet. 

This comes as Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have called for ICE agents to be de-masked.

TROOPS AT THE BORDER: HOW THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAS EXPLODED UNDER TRUMP

In June, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., introduced a bill, the No Masks for ICE Act, to bar ICE agents from wearing face coverings during enforcement actions. Earlier in June, Jeffries declared that all ICE agents who perpetrate "aggressive overreach" and attempt to conceal "their identities from the American people, will be unsuccessful in doing that." They will all be identified "no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes," he asserted, saying that is what the law requires.

Speaking on behalf of himself and his partner, the agent said that despite Jeffries' threats, they believe "the agency or the administration will do their best to protect us."

"If they don't, then whatever happens to us, my family, anything outside of that, he's [Jeffries] responsible for it. He's directly responsible for it," the agent said.

"What value do you get from taking masks off federal agents or law enforcement that are afraid and getting doxxed?" the agent asked. "What value does that have for you? What's your return on investment at that point?"

TRUMP TO BEGIN ENFORCING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER AS EARLY AS THIS MONTH, DOJ SAYS

The agent said in the area of operations, which is run by Democrats who are friendly to sanctuary policies, "almost daily there's some kind of protest or there's a group that's calling out agents or following them around or videotaping them, taking pictures of license plates."

The agent said protesters have also been following and photographing agents even before they begin an operation, making it difficult to plan and prepare for missions at well-known places such as police departments.

Despite the disruptions, the agent said protesters only give illegals "false hope" that they will be able to evade arrest and deportation.

"They're telling them, ‘If you fight this, you might win.’ And that's not good legal advice at all," he said.

"If people come out, and it creates more of a problem, a lot of times the ICE agents just say, ‘Hey, this area is too heated up. We're going to go somewhere else,’" he explained. "We're not short on targets. So, if I'm in town X, and they're outside my car yelling and screaming or giving my agents a hard time, they can always go to town Y and look for another target."

Ultimately, the agent said, all de-masking immigration officials would do is allow them to be doxxed and endanger not only their families but their communities.

"You got people also within my agency and this career field, they work at a church part-time as a clergy person, or maybe they're involved in Girl Scouts, maybe they're a baseball coach," the agent explained. 

"The last thing that these people want is for some angry person or for some agitator to show up at a baseball game that he or she's coaching and put the attention on them or threaten their families or their way of life."

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadorian migrant erroneously deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador, was beaten and psychologically tortured while detained in the country, according to court filings – one of many disclosures revealed just days before a major hearing in Maryland.

The status hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, is all but certain to reignite a closely watched legal fight over Abrego Garcia and his legal status in the U.S., which is currently playing out separately in two federal courts. 

In a new court filing submitted to U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, Abrego Garcia's lawyers outlined a long list of abuses their client was subjected to at the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, a notorious anti-terrorism prison in El Salvador, including sleep deprivation, psychological torture and severe beatings. 

These abuses allegedly began the moment the migrants arrived at the prison in March. There, they were greeted by a prison guard who said, "Welcome to CECOT. Whoever enters here, doesn’t leave."

TRUMP'S REMARKS COULD COME BACK TO BITE HIM IN ABREGO GARCIA DEPORTATION BATTLE

According to court documents, Abrego Garcia was immediately frog-marched to his cell by prison guards, who kicked him with boots and struck him with wooden batons along the way, leaving visible bumps and bruises across his body. 

He and other detainees in the cell slept on metal mattresses, with minimal access to food and satiation. They were also forced to kneel for approximately nine hours, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., "with guards striking anyone who fell from exhaustion." 

Abrego Garcia’s physical condition deteriorated quickly – within two weeks, his lawyers said, he lost roughly 31 pounds. 

He was also psychologically tortured and received threats of violence during his time at CECOT, according to the filing, where prison guards repeatedly told him they would transfer him to other prison cells housing violent gang members, whom they assured him would "tear" him apart.

In fact, the filing said, Abrego Garcia "repeatedly observed prisoners in nearby cells" violently harm one another "with no intervention from guards or personnel."

"Screams from nearby cells would similarly ring out throughout the night without any response from prison guards or personnel," they said.

The filing, in part, appears to undercut administration officials' repeated assertions that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang – noting that prison officials at CECOT "explicitly acknowledged" his tattoos "were not gang-related," and told him, "your tattoos are fine."

RETURNED SALVADORAN MIGRANT KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA ARRAIGNED ON FEDERAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES IN TENNESSE

The eye-popping conditions at CECOT described in the filing are among several issues expected to come to a head Monday, when Judge Xinis holds a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland.

There, she will consider a flurry of recent motions from both the Trump administration and Abrego Garcia's legal team – including a government motion to dismiss the case as moot, and a request from plaintiffs to sanction officials for allegedly failing to facilitate his return to the U.S.

His lawyers claim the case is not moot, because Xinis can still order his return to Maryland. They asked this week that she order him back to the district from Tennessee, where he was sent upon his return to the U.S. to face criminal charges. They also requested that Xinis block Abrego Garcia's possible removal from the U.S. without prior notification, pointing to statements from the Trump administration.

"Defendants have repeatedly stated their intent to remove Mr. Abrego Garcia to a third country," his lawyers said in a Wednesday filing, adding that he could face "persecution or torture if removed directly to various other countries," including Libya, South Sudan and Eritrea, which are notorious for human rights abuses. 

Adding to the complexity of the matter is the separate criminal case playing out in Tennessee. 

The federal judge overseeing that case on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to comply with rules prohibiting Justice Department and DHS officials from making any public statements about Abrego Garcia that could potentially prejudice a jury or impact the integrity of the court proceedings.

US JUDGE BLASTS TRUMP LAWYERS FOR 11TH-HOUR TACTICS IN MS-13 DEPORTATION CASE

Lawyers for Abrego Garcia told the judge there in a separate filing Wednesday night that the Trump administration has, for months, made "extensive and inflammatory extrajudicial comments about [Abrego] that are likely to prejudice his right to a fair trial," including "relentlessly" attacking his character and reputation – claiming he is a "gang member, human trafficker, and serial domestic abuser," and referring to him as a criminal on three dozen occasions after his indictment, despite the fact he has not yet had a trial. 

They noted that U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, the judge overseeing the criminal case, previously ordered his release pending trial, citing a lack of evidence and "double hearsay" presented by the government in his June arraignment. 

"Thus far, the government’s unabated public disparagement of Mr. Abrego has far outpaced its ability to muster actual evidence, notwithstanding its extraordinary efforts to conjure up such evidence," they said.

The next steps here remain deeply uncertain, given the complexity of the cases, and the dual nature of the civil and criminal cases. 

Xinis has previously signaled frustration and impatience with the Trump administration for slow-walking certain requests, or failing to comply with discovery requests from the court. 

She chastised Justice Department lawyers on more than one occasion for what she described as their "vague, evasive and incomplete" responses, which she suggested demonstrate "willful and bad faith refusal to comply with discovery obligations."

The two parties will appear in court on Monday at 11 a.m.

Intelligence agency officials like former CIA Director John Brennan must be held accountable for their role in advancing allegations about President Donald Trump’s connections with Russia during the 2016 election, according to the White House.

"President Trump was right — again," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Those who engaged in this political scandal must be held accountable for the fraud they committed against President Trump and the lies they told to the American people."

EX-OBAMA INTEL BOSS WANTED ANTI-TRUMP DOSSIER INCLUDED IN ‘ATYPICAL’ 2016 ASSESSMENT DESPITE PUSHBACK

Leavitt’s comments come after a new lessons-learned review that CIA Director John Ratcliffe declassified Wednesday determined that the CIA, FBI and National Security Agency's Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) examining Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election deviated from intelligence standards that led to some "procedural anomalies."

The review determined that the "decision by agency heads to include the Steele Dossier in the ICA ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment." 

The "Steele dossier," composed by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele as part of opposition research on Trump during the 2016 campaign, featured salacious material and unfounded allegations about Trump's connections to Russia. Trump has denied the allegations included in the document. 

TRUMP ‘MISREPRESENTED’ HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP LETTER, JOHN BRENNAN COMPLAINS AFTER LOSING SECURITY CLEARANCE

Specifically, the CIA’s new review found that the CIA’s deputy director for analysis said in a December 2016 email to Brennan that including the dossier in any capacity jeopardized "the credibility of the entire paper."

"Despite these objections, Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness," the new review stated. "When confronted with specific flaws in the Dossier by the two mission center leaders – one with extensive operational experience and the other with a strong analytic background – he appeared more swayed by the Dossier's general conformity with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns. Brennan ultimately formalized his position in writing, stating that ‘my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.’"

DNI DECLASSIFIES BRENNAN NOTES, CIA MEMO ON HILLARY CLINTON ‘STIRRING UP’ SCANDAL BETWEEN TRUMP, RUSSIA

Brennan served as director of the CIA from March 2013 to January 2017 under the Obama administration. 

Brennan could not be reached for comment by Fox News Digital. 

Likewise, the review said Brennan had sent a note to intelligence community analysts one day before their only session coordinating on the ICA that he had met with then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and then-FBI Director James Comey. 

In that message, Brennan told the CIA workforce that "there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our recent Presidential election."

Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently placed nearly 140 employees on administrative leave amid an investigation into employees who signed on to a letter allegedly using their official titles and EPA positions.

Written as agency employees, the letter contained information that misled the public about agency business, according to officials.

The EPA confirmed it placed 139 employees on administrative leave pending an investigation.

ADAM SCHIFF TELLS EPA'S LEE ZELDIN HE’LL CAUSE CANCER AFTER SHOUTFEST: ‘COULD GIVE A RAT’S A--'

"The Environmental Protection Agency has a zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging and undercutting the administration’s agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November," an EPA spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Thursday.

The letter came after President Donald Trump's administration in April fired or reassigned nearly 500 EPA employees.

WHITE HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS OVER $2B IN SAVINGS FROM DEI CUTS DURING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST 100 DAYS

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin confirmed 280 staffers in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, Office of Inclusive Excellence, and EPA regional offices, were fired. 

Zeldin added that 175 others were reassigned. 

EPA CHIEF ZELDIN ANNOUNCES OVERHAULS TO BRING AGENCY BACK TO REAGAN-LEVEL STAFFING

The EPA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental Justice arms were also eliminated, as Zeldin cut back more than 30 Biden-era regulations.

Though more than a hundred employees were allegedly put on leave, there are thousands of employees at the agency.

The EPA did not provide Fox News Digital with any additional information about the situation.

President Donald Trump’s agenda appeared on life support as defectors in the House GOP, for a time, appeared ready to torpedo it. But in the end, only two Republicans voted against the bill, and it's now heading to the president's desk.

Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., were the sole defectors against Trump’s "big, beautiful bill." House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., could only afford to lose three Republicans, given that no Democrat was willing to cross the aisle to support the $3.3 trillion megabill.

CONGRESS SENDING TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' TO HIS DESK AFTER DRAMATIC ALL-NIGHT HOUSE VOTE

While he did vote to support the procedural hurdle to get the bill on the floor, Massie’s decision to vote against the bill was seemingly predetermined. He has continually argued that the colossal tax, border, defense and energy package would add trillions to the nation’s debt and do little to actually curb Washington’s spending addiction.

And he was not among the many conservatives who Trump and Republican leadership tried to pressure throughout the day on Wednesday, nor as the floor stayed open into early Thursday afternoon.

"[Trump] reaches out every day on Twitter, reaching out with a million dollars of ads in my district with a picture of me and the Ayatollah," Massie said. "So, that's the only sort of reaching out I've seen so far."

TRUMP CALLS OUT REPUBLICAN HOLDOUTS AS HOUSE PROCEDURAL VOTE ON MEGABILL REMAINS OPEN: ‘COSTING YOU VOTES!’

While Trump did not directly single him out, the president did call on holdout Republicans to stop holding the bill hostage late Wednesday night, and declared on Truth Social that "MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT'S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!"  

Trump had previously threatened Massie with a primary challenger, as he did with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., before his retirement announcement, for defecting against the bill. 

But senior White House officials told reporters on a call just after the bill passed that the president had not threatened a primary against lawmakers to earn their vote, and that lawmakers "well understand the President's political power, and ultimately, they want his political power to be used for their benefit."

TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' STALLS IN HOUSE AMID CONSERVATIVE MUTINY THREATS

Fitzpatrick had raised concerns about changes the Senate GOP had made to Medicaid reforms in the bill but had not publicly staked a position until the procedural vote.

He was the only ‘no’ vote on the rule, and that resistance carried into the final vote that ultimately saw House Republicans largely unify and pass the legislative behemoth.

Fitzpatrick said in a statement just minutes before the bill passed that he had voted to "strengthen Medicaid protections, to permanently extend middle class tax cuts, for enhanced small business tax relief, and for historic investments in our border security and our military," but that the Senate’s tweaks soured him to the bill.

"However, it was the Senate’s amendments to Medicaid, in addition to several other Senate provisions, that altered the analysis for our PA-1 community," he said. "The original House language was written in a way that protected our community; the Senate amendments fell short of our standard."

"I believe in, and will always fight for, policies that are thoughtful, compassionate, and good for our community," he continued. "It is this standard that will always guide my legislative decisions." 

Justice Samuel Alito raised concerns about a "potentially significant loophole" in the Supreme Court's decision to curb universal injunctions, and now his warning is hanging over lawsuits involving President Donald Trump.

Alito said in his concurring opinion in Trump v. CASA that class action lawsuits and lawsuits brought by states leave room for judges to hand down injunctions that, in practice, would function the same way a universal injunction does.

"Federal courts should thus be vigilant against such potential abuses of these tools," Alito said.

SCOTUS RULES ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER, TESTING LOWER COURT POWERS

Alito's warning comes as judges continue to hand down sweeping rulings and as plaintiffs begin filing lawsuits tailored to avoid running into the new roadblock established by the high court.

In one major ruling, Judge Randolph Moss, an Obama appointee based in Washington, D.C., found this week that Trump's proclamation declaring an "invasion" at the border was unlawful.

Trump's proclamation restricted migrants from claiming asylum when crossing into the United States, a practice the Trump administration says has been abused by border crossers.

Moss "set aside" that policy under the Administrative Procedure Act, which had an effect similar to that of a nationwide injunction. More than a dozen potential asylees brought the lawsuit, and Moss also agreed to certify the case as a class action lawsuit that applied to all potential asylees in the country.

The Trump administration immediately appealed the ruling. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that Moss was a "rogue district court judge" who was "already trying to circumvent the Supreme Court’s recent ruling against nationwide injunctions."

TRUMP CELEBRATES SUPREME COURT LIMITS ON 'COLOSSAL ABUSE OF POWER' BY FEDERAL JUDGES

In his concurring opinion, Alito warned against class action lawsuits that do not strictly abide by Rule 23, which lays out the criteria for certifying a class. He said the Supreme Court's decision on universal injunctions will have "very little value" if district courts do not adhere to the rule.

"District courts should not view today’s decision as an invitation to certify nationwide classes without scrupulous adherence to the rigors of Rule 23," Alito wrote. "Otherwise, the universal injunction will return from the grave under the guise of ‘nationwide class relief,’ and today’s decision will be of little more than minor academic interest."

Alito also noted that another area for exploitation could be states that seek statewide relief from a court.

For instance, Democrat-led states have filed several lawsuits challenging Trump's policies. A judge could grant those states statewide injunctions, meaning everyone living in the state would be exempt from the policies. Alito warned that giving third parties widespread standing in cases in that manner required careful scrutiny.

If judges are lax about these statewide lawsuits, states will have "every incentive to bring third-party suits on behalf of their residents to obtain a broader scope of equitable relief than any individual resident could procure in his own suit," Alito wrote. "Left unchecked, the practice of reflexive state third-party standing will undermine today’s decision as a practical matter."

Multiple Democratic lawmakers will visit "Alligator Alcatraz," a new illegal immigrant detention center being constructed near the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, on Thursday.

The "official legislative site visit" is in response to what officials claim is "a series of deeply troubling developments at the state-run immigrant detention facility," according to a news release.

Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith will be joined by state representatives Anna Eskamani, Angie Nixon and Michele Rayner.

FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TRY BLOCKING TRUMP'S 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' WITH LAST-MINUTE LAWSUIT

The visit comes days after President Donald Trump toured the state site alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Democrats alleged illegal immigrants were transferred to the detention center Wednesday night when the site was "reportedly" flooded due to rain.

They claimed the rain, which rolled in less than a week after the previously unoccupied airport facility opened to illegal immigrants, "exacerbate[ed] concerns about safety and emergency readiness in an already volatile environment," according to the release.

FLORIDA BUILDING 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ,' WHERE ICE DETAINEES FACE NATURE'S OWN SECURITY SYSTEM

"We are exercising our legal authority as state legislators to inspect this remote, taxpayer-funded facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport," the lawmakers wrote in a joint statement. "This is not a federal project — it is fully funded, operated, and approved by the State of Florida under Governor DeSantis. And what’s happening here is un-American.

"Alligator Alcatraz represents a makeshift detention camp of cruelty, rooted in a corrupt, no-bid, $450 million pay-for-play scheme to enrich GOP donors under the pretense of border enforcement."

The 30-square-mile property will be home to 5,000 ICE detainees and is guarded by alligators and pythons.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION APPROVES ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ, WHERE ICE DETAINEES FACE NATURE'S OWN SECURITY SYSTEM

Trump officials announced Tuesday the project was approved, and crews started working on the transformation Monday.

"What we’re witnessing isn’t about security or solving problems — it’s about inhumane political theater that endangers real people," the Democrats wrote in the statement. "Reports of extreme heat, flooding, structural issues, environmental threats, and human rights violations demand immediate oversight. As lawmakers, we have both the legal right and moral responsibility to inspect this site, demand answers, and expose this abuse before it becomes the national blueprint.

"So much of this is also a distraction from the everyday issues all Floridians are facing, like housing affordability and the property insurance crisis," they added. "DeSantis should be focused on solving those issues, not creating even more chaos."

UNCLE SAM’S DEVIL’S ISLAND: FROM AL CAPONE TO ‘MACHINE GUN’ KELLY, MEET ALCATRAZ’S MOST INFAMOUS INMATES

The "inspection" comes two months after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center where three members of Congress also stormed the facility's gate, demanding they be allowed to conduct an "oversight visit."

While Baraka was arrested for trespassing, he was released hours later and charges were dropped.

In addition to the lawmakers' in-person visit, multiple environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit on Friday claiming officials needed to pause construction to allow time to evaluate the potential ecological impacts of the renovations.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously told Fox News Digital a "lazy" lawsuit, filed by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity in the Southern District of Florida, "ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade."

DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano and Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

A key House ally of President Donald Trump is calling for the Republican leader to be eligible for a third White House term over passage of his "big, beautiful bill."

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., also called for Trump to be added to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

"I was at the White House with President Trump for several hours yesterday and spent countless hours whipping votes with Speaker Johnson for the One Big Beautiful Bill. This historic legislation will unleash our economy and usher in a new golden age for America," Ogles told Fox News Digital after the bill passed.

"Thanks to President Trump, we’re finally reversing the damage caused by Big Government and Democrat cronies. Wins like this are exactly why he deserves serious consideration for a third term—AND why so many believe he belongs on Mt. Rushmore."

TAX CUTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND ASYLUM FEES: HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE THE SENATE'S VERSION OF TRUMP'S BILL

Ogles had previously introduced a resolution to give Trump the ability to run for a third term as president.

He was also seen at the White House in the lead-up to the last step of Congress advancing Trump’s massive tax and immigration bill. Ogles was also present on the House floor during tense negotiations on the bill, speaking to both Republican holdouts and House leaders at times.

The legislation narrowly passed on Thursday afternoon after a marathon session in the House of Representatives that began with a House Rules Committee meeting to advance it at 1:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, which ended nearly 12 hours later on Wednesday morning.

House lawmakers then met to debate the bill at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, though those proceedings were delayed for hours as House GOP leaders – and Trump himself – worked to persuade critics behind closed doors.

THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP

The bill numbers more than 900 pages and advances Trump’s agenda on taxes, the border, defense, energy, and the national debt.

The bill would permanently extend the income tax brackets lowered by Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), while temporarily adding new tax deductions to eliminate duties on tipped and overtime wages up to certain caps. It also includes a new tax deduction for people aged 65 and over.

The legislation also rolls back green energy tax credits implemented under former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which Trump and his allies have attacked as "the Green New Scam."

The bill would also surge money toward the national defense, and to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the name of Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S.

The bill would also raise the debt limit by $5 trillion in order to avoid a potentially economically devastating credit default sometime this summer, if the U.S. runs out of cash to pay its obligations.

New and expanded work requirements would be implemented for Medicaid and federal food assistance, respectively.

Democrats have blasted the bill as a tax giveaway to the wealthy while cutting federal benefits for working-class Americans.

But Republicans have said their tax provisions are targeted toward the working and middle classes – citing measures eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages – while arguing they were reforming federal welfare programs to work better for those who truly need them.

Congress has officially passed President Donald Trump’s "one big, beautiful bill" on Thursday afternoon after back-to-back sleepless sessions for both the House and Senate.

The massive agenda bill now goes to Trump’s desk to be signed into law just in time for Republicans’ self-imposed Fourth of July deadline.

The bill – which advances Trump’s policies on tax, the border, defense, energy and the national debt – narrowly passed the House of Representatives in a mostly party-line vote.

It’s a commanding victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and for the president himself, both of whom spent hours overnight trying to persuade GOP critics of the bill.

148 DEMOCRATS BACK NONCITIZEN VOTING IN DC AS GOP RAISES ALARM ABOUT FOREIGN AGENTS

"The President is very engaged. He was very helpful in the process. He helped answer questions and articulate his vision and what this bill will mean for the country, and his agenda, and how urgent it is for us to get it done," Johnson told reporters the morning ahead of the vote.

The House initially passed its version of the legislation by just one vote in late May.

Senate Republicans took the bill up late last month and passed it after their own marathon voting session, also by just one vote – though the legislation underwent key changes in the upper chamber.

House lawmakers were slated to return to Washington on Wednesday morning to begin debating the bill, which included a procedural hurdle known as a "rule vote."

But even before the rule vote could begin, it was clear the legislation had been hemorrhaging support from both moderates and conservatives in the House GOP.

Moderate Republicans were among those concerned about the Senate bill shifting even more of the Medicaid cost-burden onto states that expanded their health benefit populations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while conservatives were irate that those cuts did not go far enough to mitigate what they saw as excessive spending in other parts of the bill.

But the vote that was initially slated to occur Wednesday morning eventually passed after 3 a.m. on Thursday, after which both Republicans and Democrats hurriedly began to debate.

Among Democrats’ delay tactics included a lengthy speech by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who attacked Republicans for their overnight schedule.

"If Republicans were so proud of this one big, ugly bill, why did debate begin at 3:28 a.m. in the morning? Republicans are once again, which has been the case, Mr. Speaker, through every step of this journey, trying to jam this bill through the House of Representatives under cover of darkness," Jeffries said.

But even before debate, the legislation’s fate appeared in limbo for much of Wednesday as closed-door negotiations paralyzed the House floor.

Five Republicans had initially voted against proceeding with debate on the bill, while eight GOP lawmakers had not voted at all.

TAX CUTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND ASYLUM FEES: HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE THE SENATE'S VERSION OF TRUMP'S BILL

The bill’s future was uncertain on Wednesday evening, but rather than accepting defeat, House GOP leaders kept the vote open for hours as they negotiated with holdouts behind closed doors.

One House Republican told Fox News Digital that Trump was directly involved in trying to persuade holdouts.

The president, meanwhile, aired his frustrations on Truth Social, "FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!"

In the end, they returned to the House floor where nearly all Republicans – save for moderate Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. – voted to begin debating the bill.

Johnson told reporters when asked about Fitzpatrick's defection, "I talked with him at length. Brian is a very good and trusted friend, and he just has convictions about certain provisions of the bill, he's entitled to that."

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told reporters that critics were made to understand the bill is their only option on the table.

"They recognized this is the vote that's before us and it's not going to change. There are other things we can do down the road, and we want to do. But we've got to get this bill done first," Scalise said.

The bill would permanently extend the income tax brackets lowered by Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), while temporarily adding new tax deductions to eliminate duties on tipped and overtime wages up to certain caps. It also includes a new tax deduction for people aged 65 and over.

The legislation also rolls back green energy tax credits implemented under former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which Trump and his allies have attacked as "the Green New Scam."

The bill would also surge money toward the national defense, and to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the name of Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S.

The bill would also raise the debt limit by $5 trillion in order to avoid a potentially economically devastating credit default sometime this summer, if the U.S. runs out of cash to pay its obligations.

New and expanded work requirements would be implemented for Medicaid and federal food assistance, respectively.

Democrats have blasted the bill as a tax giveaway to the wealthy while cutting federal benefits for working-class Americans.

But Republicans have said their tax provisions are targeted toward the working and middle classes – citing measures eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages – while arguing they were reforming federal welfare programs to work better for those who truly need them.

President Donald Trump is set to deliver a patriotic speech in Iowa to kick off not only the 4th of July weekend, but also a year of celebrations focused on the U.S.' 250 years of independence. 

America250, a bipartisan commission of private citizens and lawmakers planning celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, announced in June that Trump was slated to travel to the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 3 for a patriotic event. 

"This special event serves as the magnificent start of a dynamic, year-long commemoration across our beautiful country, unveiling a vision for a renewed commitment to America's future," Monica Crowley, the principal media representative for America250, said in a press release previewing the event in June. 

Trump confirmed on Tuesday he would head to Des Moines on Thursday evening for a "very special event."

TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE WILL KICK OFF INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND WITH 'VERY SPECIAL' PATRIOTIC EVENT

"I am thrilled to announce that I will be traveling to one of my favorite places in the World, beautiful Iowa, on Thursday, July 3rd, to kick off the very beginning of our exciting Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary!" Trump posted to Truth Social Tuesday afternoon. 

"Iowa voted for me THREE TIMES, because they love my Policies for our Wonderful Farmers and Small Businesses, and they LOVE AMERICA! This will be a very special event, honoring our Great Country, and our Brave Heroes who fought to keep us FREE," he continued, and included a link for people to RSVP. "I’ll also tell you some of the GREAT things I’ve already done on Trade, especially as it relates to Farmers. You are going to be very happy with what I say – Should be a BIG Crowd!"

TRUMP TO HOST MILITARY PARADE TO CELEBRATE ARMY'S 250TH BIRTHDAY, HONOR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS

The celebration comes after Trump held a military parade honoring the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on June 14, which included tanks chugging down the streets of Washington, D.C., military flyovers and a grand fireworks display over the National Mall. The parade was held on Flag Day, which also marked Trump's 79th birthday. 

"Every other country celebrates their victories," Trump said during the parade last month. "It's about time America did too – that's what we're doing tonight."

TRUMP WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO SERIES LEADING UP TO AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY: 'ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE'

"As we celebrate tonight, we also think of the hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation and selflessly laid down their lives in every war, from the revolution to the war on terror, to the Gold Star families with us today," he said. 

Other patriotic events are already on America250's schedule as a year of celebration kicks off on July 3, including an ongoing Department of Transportation’s Great American Road Trip initiative, which encourages Americans to explore the nation’s highways and byways, as well as a 4th of July celebration at President George Washington's Mount Vernon, and historical battle reenactments. 

"This momentous gathering in the heartland signals the beginning of an extraordinary year ahead – one where America250 will unite our nation through events in every state and territory, culminating in the most monumental celebration our Country has ever known," America250 said of Trump's visit on Thursday. 

Predictions of President Donald Trump bringing economic doom to the U.S. fell flat once again with the release of the latest jobs report Thursday.

The Labor Department reported that employers added 147,000 jobs in June, a figure above the estimate of economists polled by LSEG, who projected 110,000 jobs would be added. The strong and growing economy comes after months of Democrats painting a gloomy picture of America's economic future under Trump.

"The Trump recession is on its way," Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., declared in March.

"Donald Trump is ruining the economy on purpose," complained Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in April.

LOEFFLER: TRUMP’S ‘ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ COULD CEMENT ECONOMIC LEGACY FOR DECADES

"We'll be paying more for everything – groceries, food, cars, homes, toys, electronics, everything that you buy," he predicted at the time.

Merkley and Schatz did not respond when asked by Fox News Digital whether they stand by their comments.

TRUMP WAGERS US ECONOMY IN HIGH-STAKES TARIFF GAMBLE AT 100-DAY MARK

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., accused Trump of being "irresponsible about the economy" in March, referring to his tariff plan that has since led to trade deals with countries across the globe.

Echoing that sentiment was Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., blasting the tariff plan as "ham-handed."

Jayapal and Markey also did not respond when asked about the current performance of the U.S. economy.

TRUMP, SOUTH KOREA'S NEW PRESIDENT AGREE TO MAKE A DEAL ON TARIFFS THAT WOULD SATISFY BOTH COUNTRIES

Meanwhile, the Trump administration wasted no time in gloating over June's jobs report on Thursday.  

"For the FOURTH month in a row, jobs numbers have beat market expectations with nearly 150,000 good jobs created in June. American-born workers have accounted for ALL of the job gains since President Trump took office and wages continue to rise," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

"The economy is booming again and it will only get better when the One, Big, Beautiful Bill is passed and implemented," she added.

Migrant shelters in the United States are closing their doors in large numbers as the border crisis has waned significantly.

In January, two shelters shuttered in Pima County, Arizona, according to the Arizona Daily Star. In San Diego, the Jewish Family Service closed its shelter in February, specifically citing policy changes like the CBP One app going away as part of the reason for its closure.

In Texas, the San Antonio-based Migrant Resource Center that opened in 2022 closed in February due to the plunge in people crossing into the United States, according to Texas Public Radio.

CBP ENDS USE OF TEMPORARY MIGRANT PROCESSING SITES AS APPREHENSIONS PLUMMET

On the East Coast, New York City closed 63 migrant shelters this year, according to PIX11, and Massachusetts is down to four shelters from over 120 in 2024, according to NBC 10 Boston. The outlet reported that 24 of the Massachusetts shelters closed their doors this week. 

"President Trump ended Joe Biden’s illegal alien invasion and ushered in the most secure border ever. Migrant shelters are shuttering because illegal aliens are no longer being released into our great country – that’s the Trump Effect," White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The White House is also touting that processing facilities along the border have closed, as the United States Customs and Border Protection told Fox News Digital in May that all of its "soft-sided" facilities in Texas, California and Arizona have shut down.

"Due to the unprecedented drop in apprehensions of illegal aliens as a result of the President’s recent executive actions, CBP is not operating any temporary, soft-sided processing facilities where illegal aliens have been held in specific locations along the southwest border. CBP no longer has a need for them as illegal aliens are being quickly removed," a CBP spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time.

TEXAS BORDER SHERIFF SAYS ILLEGAL CROSSINGS HAVE SEEN ‘DRAMATIC DECLINE’ AS CA MIGRANT CENTER SHUTS DOWN

"The U.S. Border Patrol has full capability to manage the detention of apprehended aliens in USBP’s permanent facilities. Manpower and other resources dedicated to temporary processing facilities will be redirected toward other priorities and will speed CBP’s progress in gaining operational control over the southwest border," the spokesperson added.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

In Mexico, there has also been a reported drop in people seeking to come to the U.S. illegally. The latest border numbers revealed that numbers remain significantly lower than they were compared with the Biden administration, as there were only 6,070 southern border apprehensions in June by Border Patrol, and there were zero releases in May or June. On June 28, there were only 137 encounters at the southern border, according to CBP data.

The comments from the White House come as the House is in its closing hours of deciding on the Trump-backed reconciliation bill, which includes major funding for the president’s border and immigration agenda totaling out to roughly $170 billion, according to Reuters.

'TRUMP EFFECT' TOUTED AS SOUTHERN BORDER NUMBERS STAY LOW, INCLUDING NEW RECORD

Billions will go toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the agency ramps up its deportation efforts, including a goal of hiring at least 10,000 more agents, according to the White House. In addition, the bill seeks to more than double the detention capacity for those in deportation proceedings and fund further border wall construction, according to Reuters.

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"Once the One, Big, Beautiful Bill is passed, this historic border security progress will be made permanent and the largest mass deportation campaign in American history will be carried out," Huston added.

Unsurprisingly, not everybody is on board with the immigration measures outlined.

"A deportation machine will be unleashed on steroids," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies said during his lengthy House floor speech on Thursday. 

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., shattered a speech record in the House of Representatives on Thursday, as lawmakers continue to wrestle with President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill."

Jeffries has been able to command the House floor via a "magic minute," a privilege for party leaders in the chamber that allows them to speak for however long they want.

He's used it as a stalling tactic to delay the final vote on Trump's massive tax and immigration bill, after a marathon House-wide session considering the bill that began around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

TAX CUTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND ASYLUM FEES: HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE THE SENATE'S VERSION OF TRUMP'S BILL

It's now the longest-enduring "magic minute" in U.S. House of Representatives history, breaking the previously record held by ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

McCarthy spoke for eight hours and 36 minutes in November 2021 to oppose Democrats' progressive Build Back Better bill.

Like Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act, lawmakers were working to pass it via the budget reconciliation process – which fast-tracks certain pieces of fiscal legislation by lowering the Senate's threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51.

The New York Democrat began speaking minutes before 4 a.m. on Thursday and broke McCarthy's record about 1:30 p.m.

"I feel the obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time," he said at one point.

The first part of Jeffries' speech saw him read from a binder that he said contained accounts of people who could lose their Medicaid coverage under the GOP bill, taken from residents of states with Republican lawmakers.

"This Congress is on the verge of ripping food out of the mouths of children, veterans and seniors as a result of this one big ugly bill in order to reward billionaires with massive tax breaks and exploding the debt in the process," he said at one point.

Jeffries said this "one big, ugly bill" that "our Republican colleagues are trying to jam down the throats of the American people will undermine their quality of life."

At another point in the wide-ranging speech, he accused Republicans of cutting federal benefits to pay for tax breaks for wealthy Americans like Elon Musk – who notably opposes the bill.

THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP

"I think it's important for the American people to process… SNAP on average provides $6 per day. At the same time, Elon Musk, his federal contracts, as we understand it, amount to $8 million per day. Mr. Speaker, if Republicans were really serious about targeting waste, fraud and abuse in the United States of America, start there – $8 million per day, start right there," Jeffries said.

"Don't take it. Don't rip it from the mouths of children, seniors or veterans. If Republicans were really serious about targeting waste, fraud and abuse, start right there with Elon Musk."

House Republicans are expected to hold their vote.

As anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil is now free for now in the United States, a Republican legal expert revealed what steps the Trump administration could take as the hotly debated immigration case continues.

Khalil, who’s technically a legal permanent resident, was arrested in March over his pro-Palestinian activism on the Columbia University campus in New York City, and an immigration judge ruled he could be removed from the country based on a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that said his campus protests were at odds with U.S. foreign policy interests.

He was released from federal detention in Louisiana last month after a court ruling.

NEWLY RELEASED MAHMOUD KHALIL SPOTTED BACK AT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

"The judge did not have the authority to decide on Khalil’s detention status. This was specifically an only foreign immigration judge, not a federal judge. He doesn't have the wherewithal, the knowledge, or the legal backing to make this decision. Khalil should have never been released," Attorney Mehek Cooke said, agreeing with the administration’s assessment that Khalil poses a threat due to his anti-Israel activism.

"And the last time I checked, President Trump is the Commander-in-Chief, Secretary Rubio has determined Khalil not only to be a threat to national security, but under his jurisdiction, asked for his removal. And we're constantly seeing judges circumvent federal immigration law, the Commander-in-Chief, and now Secretary Rubio for political gain," she continued.

In addition, the DHS said Khalil allegedly omitted key information from his green card application about groups with which he was affiliated, including the Columbia University Apartheid Divest, and Cooke said the allegations about his application strengthen the case for his removal.

ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL POSTS $1 BOND AFTER FEDERAL JUDGE RULES TRUMP ADMIN CAN'T DETAIN HIM

"I think that the prosecution needs to strategically pursue an appeal that specifically challenges the judge's lack of jurisdiction and get in front of an immigration court judge to say that this district court did not have the authority to remove him and an immigration court judge should be able to then get back to a detention hearing and put Khalil in a detention facility," she said.

Rubio cited a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act to justify his finding, and a New Jersey federal judge, Michael Farbiarz, later enjoined the secretary from using that determination to deport Khalil. Farbiarz was the judge who ultimately released Khalil on bail, with travel restrictions, as the case continues, according to CBS News.

"I think that what's surprising to me today is that we have a rogue judge in New Jersey that's overriding the law to free somebody who's threatening American interests," Cooke said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"But I think we have to push for an immigration judge to swiftly rule and ensure that not only is Khalil deportable on foreign grounds, but find that because he was fraudulent, redetain him under the [Immigration and Nationality Act] Section 212, and immediately push for removal," she added.

On the flip side, the American Civil Liberties Union has vocally advocated for Khalil, as they believe his detainment was a First Amendment issue.

FEDERAL JUDGE SIDES WITH ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL, HALTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DEPORTATION BID

"It is an enormous relief that Palestinian human rights defender Mahmoud Khalil can return to New York while his case proceeds. Now, Mr. Khalil will thankfully be reunited with his wife and newborn — a bond that never should have been broken in the first place," Donna Lieberman, executive director at the NYCLU, said in a statement on June 20 amid news of his release.

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"Ideas are not illegal, and no administration should ever incarcerate people for expressing opinions they disagree with. We are heartened and relieved that Mr. Khalil can return to his family, community, and counsel, and the NYCLU will continue to fight back against Trump’s unconstitutional attacks on free speech and dissent," Lieberman added.

As for Cooke, she said that "there's a lot of debate about freedom of speech, but when you combat it with national security and terrorism, it isn't free speech anymore."

"It's a megaphone for terror, and that's exactly what Khalil's protests are. It wasn't about debate. It was about destabilizing America," she added.

FIRST ON FOX: The State Department has changed its hiring and promoting criteria for foreign service officers to eliminate any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) considerations. 

Before now, the second of five core precepts used in State Department hiring and promotion emphasized promoting DEI, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. That precept has now been replaced with one focused on "fidelity."

A senior State Department official said it was "unbelievable" fidelity was not already part of the promotion criteria. 

"This is a commonsense and needed change. U.S. Foreign Service Officers represent America overseas and should be judged on their ability to faithfully and dutifully represent and champion our country abroad." 

WHITE HOUSE VOWS TO IMPLEMENT 'SYSTEM OF MERIT' IN US, DISMANTLE DEI 'STRANGULATION'

The department’s previous hiring guide for 2022–2025 required foreign service employees to "demonstrate impact in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility," according to the internal documents.

Entry-level applicants were expected to proactively seek to "improve one’s own self-awareness with respect to promoting inclusivity." Mid- and senior-level supervisors were told to recruit and retain diverse teams, respond immediately to non-inclusive workplace behaviors, and "consult with impacted staff before finalizing decisions."

That guidance is now out.

The department’s new document for 2025–2028 lists "fidelity" as the first of five core precepts, followed by communication, leadership, management and knowledge. Under the new policy, mid- and senior-level Foreign Service Officers must demonstrate loyalty by "zealously executing U.S. government policy" and "resolving uncertainty on the side of fidelity to one’s chain of command."

DOGE HELPS STATE DEPARTMENT ELIMINATE BIDEN ADMIN'S DEI PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REQUIREMENT

The move comes amid a government-wide effort to eliminate DEI within federal agencies, and root out those who they believe to be working to undermine President Donald Trump’s agenda. 

The State Department has also frozen the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) – typically administered three times a year – as it moves to restructure and potentially downsize its workforce. In May, the department submitted a plan to Congress outlining a 15% reduction of its 19,000 employees and the consolidation of over 300 bureaus and agency offices.

While a court order has temporarily paused mass layoffs across federal agencies, a recent Supreme Court ruling determined that nationwide injunctions issued by federal district courts "likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted."

A recent pause in the U.S. sending Patriot missiles and ammunition to Ukraine is part of a wider, global review of military aid driven in part by the Pentagon’s China-leery policy chief, Elbridge Colby.

"A capability review is being conducted to ensure U.S. military aid aligns with our defense priorities," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters this week. 

That review is part of a plan championed by Colby to conserve U.S. resources that may be needed for war in the Indo-Pacific. 

Upon first news of the pause, Pentagon officials said it was due to concerns about the U.S.' stockpile of munitions, which came after the U.S. and Iran traded strikes on each other in the Middle East. 

PENTAGON'S WEAPONS PAUSE TO UKRAINE COULD ‘ENCOURAGE’ AND ‘ESCALATE’ PUTIN’S WAR AMBITIONS: SECURITY EXPERTS

However, Parnell wrote on X that it was "flat out wrong" to suggest Colby caught other administration officials off-guard with the aid pause. Colby "routinely provides policy recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and the President," but they have the ultimate say, he said.

A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital they were "aware of the pause ahead of time."

"The President and top officials expect the DOD to regularly review aid allocations to ensure they are in line with the America First agenda," the official said. 

Colby has long advocated for limiting resources in Europe and the Middle East in case they're needed in a war over Taiwan. 

"What I have been trying to shoot a signal flare over is that it is vital for us to focus and enable our own forces for an effective and reasonable defense of Taiwan and for the Taiwanese, as well as the Japanese, to do more," Colby said during his confirmation hearing. 

"A Europe first policy is not what America needs in this exceptionally dangerous time. We need to focus on China and Asia - clearly," he wrote on X. last year. 

The weapons put on pause, including missile interceptors and 155 mm ammunition shells, were already on their way to Ukraine, U.S. officials told Fox News.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with nearly $66 billion in security assistance, the Pentagon noted.

"Part of our job is to give the president a framework that he can use to evaluate how many munitions we have and where we’re sending them," Parnell added. "We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world."

Still, critics like former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger claimed Colby had "blood on his hands" over the halt. 

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., requested an "emergency briefing" from the White House and the Defense Department to "review our nation’s weapons and munitions stockpiles, and ensure the United States remains fully committed to providing Ukraine with the resources it urgently needs."

PENTAGON HALTS SOME WEAPONS SHIPMENTS TO UKRAINE OVER CONCERNS ABOUT US STOCKPILES

Dan Caldwell, a former Pentagon official who worked with Colby on policy, defended his past colleague on X. "The incentives at DoD favor maintaining the status quo: Keep troops in Syria, keep sending weapons to Ukraine that we need for our defense, etc. That is why when patriots like @ElbridgeColby put the interests of their own country and own troops first, they are viciously smeared."

Six months into President Donald Trump’s second term, U.S. military prowess has largely focused back on the Middle East: an offensive campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, hitting Iran’s nuclear sites and boosting defenses in the region.

Air Force Gen. Daniel Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said defending the Al-Udeid base from an Iranian counterattack was the largest Patriot missile salvo in history. 

Fox News' Jen Griffin contributed to this report. 

As lawmakers march toward a vote on President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill," House Republicans aren’t too worried about primary threats from tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Musk, who once served as the head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been highly critical of the president’s legislative agenda. He had remained quiet about the bill until earlier this week when Senate Republicans were making strides to pass it.

"We don't take threats lightly up here," Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., told Fox News Digital. "And, you know, Elon, we appreciate all the work he did with DOGE — and he did some fine work, some great work — but at the same time, this is something we've got to do."

JEFFRIES STALLS TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' FOR HOURS AFTER HOUSE GOP MUTINY BREAKTHROUGH

Musk again returned to bemoan Republicans for supporting the legislative behemoth for its staggering $3.3 trillion price tag and the impact it would have on the nation’s already massive, $37 trillion debt. He went so far as to threaten to back primary challengers against any Republican that voted for the bill. 

It wouldn’t be the first time that Musk has been involved — he dumped millions into Trump’s campaign last year.

Now, House Republicans are gearing up to vote after hours of delays, negotiations and a near record-breaking amount of open floor time in the lower chamber. Additionally, many don’t care about Musk’s threats.

TRUMP CALLS OUT REPUBLICAN HOLDOUTS AS HOUSE PROCEDURAL VOTE ON MEGABILL REMAINS OPEN: ‘COSTING YOU VOTES!’

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mi., told Fox News Digital that he was focused on doing the best "we could do, which is, frankly, better than what Elon Musk did."

"I don't worry about Elon Musk," he said. "I do know that DOGE found some good things that we needed to remedy in this government. But the $2 trillion that Elon said he was going to find, he didn't."

Musk took particular issue with the Senate’s changes to the bill, too, and slammed it for adding trillions to the deficit.

Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C., noted that the bill cuts north of $1.5 trillion in an effort to help offset the cost of extending or making permanent Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' STALLS IN HOUSE AMID CONSERVATIVE MUTINY THREATS

"I appreciate Mr. Musk's motivation," he told Fox News Digital. "I appreciate his focus on debt reduction, and I hope he'll take a step back and realize that we're still all on the same team here."

While the Senate’s changes, particularly to Medicaid and a reduction in the rollback of green energy subsidies from former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, among other cost-driving issues, gave fiscal hawks in the House heartburn, House Republican leadership is confident that the bill will pass.

President Donald Trump returns to Iowa Thursday evening.

But his stop in the state that for half a century has held the lead-off contest in the race for the Republican presidential nomination is about 2026 rather than 2028.

Trump will headline a Fourth of July eve event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to kick off America250, a series of yearlong celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Longtime Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann told Fox News it's no surprise that the president picked Iowa to kick off celebrations of America's independence.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE'LL KICK OFF INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND WITH ‘VERY SPECIAL’ PATRIOTIC EVENT

"We’ve always had a special relationship with the president," Kaufmann told Fox News Digital, as he noted that Trump carried the one-time general election battleground turned red state in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. 

Kaurfmann said Trump's stop in Iowa "is very symbolic, but it’s also very telling of what is important to him and I really believe he’s starting here because not only does he love Iowa, but he believes in the heartland. I think this is a huge message that he’s sending to everyone that he hasn’t forgotten who brought him to the dance."

TRUMP WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO SERIES LEADING UP TO AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY: 'ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE'

Veteran Iowa-based Republican consultant Nicole Schlinger said "it's no surprise" that the president has "chosen to kick off America 250 at the best state fairgrounds in the country."

"From the day his helicopter first landed here in 2015, Trump has had a special connection with Iowa. He’s straight-talking, hardworking and unapologetically proud of our country – just like Iowans," Schlinger added. "Starting America’s 250th in Iowa is a reminder that the road to our future runs through the heartland."

Trump is no stranger to the fairgrounds.

Presidential candidate Trump walked through the crowds at the famed state fair in 2015 and 2023, and he held large rallies at the fairgrounds just ahead of the 2016 Iowa caucuses and again in October 2021.

Trump's trip will also spark speculation about 2028.

"Trump 2028" hats are available for $50 and T-shirts that read "Trump 2028 (Re-write the Rules)," sell for $36 on the Trump Organization's website. 

But the rules are quite clear: The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution restricts presidents to two terms in office. 

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THESE SIX REPUBLICANS AS 2028 TALK STARTS TO HEAT UP

And after months of flirting with running for a third term in the White House, Trump appears to be ruling out another campaign.

Despite touting strong support in the MAGA world for a 2028 run for re-election, the president in a May interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" said, "I'm not looking at that."

"I’ll be an eight-year president," Trump added. "I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important." 

But Trump's 2028 flirtations, which he said weren't a joke, and his sweeping moves since the start of his second tour of duty in the White House are keeping the spotlight firmly on him, averting any lame-duck talk and putting a damper on any early moves by those in the Republican Party hoping to succeed the president.

The race for the next GOP presidential nomination won't get underway until Trump's ready to share the spotlight, and he recently said it's "far too early" to begin holding those discussions.

But Trump also added, "I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican, to carry it forward."

Vice President JD Vance is presumed to be the extremely early frontrunner in the race to be the next GOP standard-bearer.

But other Republican politicians, with a likely eye to 2028, already have made stops in Iowa.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 GOP nomination, and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, already have visited Iowa in 2025. 

And Govs. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas stopped in the Hawkeye State in July. 

Kaufmann, pointing to Vance, noted, "I’ve said on multiple occasions that the vice president certainly has a standing invitation."

And Kaufmann, addressing the early 2028 trips to Iowa, highlighted that "it’s 24-7 here, 365 days a year. It’s exactly how we want it and I think our folks are ready for the challenge yet again."