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Here's what's happening…

-Rubio pushes back against Mahmoud Khalil defenders: ‘Not about free speech'

-Poll flashes warning sign on one of top issues for Trump during campaign

-House GOP member tells local law enforcement to 'gear up' to help with immigration enforcement

FIRST ON FOX: The Environmental Protection Agency announced the "most consequential day of deregulation" in U.S. history Wednesday, as it put the Biden administration's Clean Power Plan 2.0 — which cracked down on power plants — on the chopping block.

"President Trump promised to kill the Clean Power Plan in his first term, and we continue to build on that progress now," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an announcement, first obtained by Fox News Digital. "In reconsidering the Biden-Harris rule that ran afoul of Supreme Court case law, we are seeking to ensure that the agency follows the rule of law while providing all Americans with access to reliable and affordable energy." 

The Biden administration finalized its Clean Power Plan 2.0 in April 2024, cracking down on existing and future fossil fuel-fired power plants as part of the previous administration's sweeping climate agenda. The plan required existing coal-fired power plants and new baseload natural gas-fired power plants to install carbon capture technology by 2032 in an effort to effectively eliminate carbon emissions by 2050…Read more

'PERMANENT FIX': Trump ban on funding for trans procedures would be law under GOP senator's bill

'POLITICIZING THE JUDICIARY': Federal judge appointed by Trump quits group over statement on threats

'RADICAL LEFT'S TWISTED GAME': Pro-Hamas activist’s deportation not a 'free speech' matter and law is on Trump’s side

'HYSTERIA': White House shuts down concerns over USAID document purge

'DE-GENDER RESTROOM ACCESS': Biden's EPA pushed to 'de-gender' agency bathrooms, hire more LGBTQ staff, unearthed memo reveals

FAST AND FURIOUS: Dems outraged by Trump 'playing cars salesman' for Tesla

GET SCHOOLED: Chinese nationals banned from US student visas under new House GOP proposal

'HELL TO PAY': Lindsey Graham to push 'bone-breaking sanctions and tariffs' to pressure Russia into peace with Ukraine

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: US to require Canadians visiting for over 30 days to have fingerprints taken, register with authorities

'AXIS OF EVIL': Iran, China and Russia huddle for nuclear talks while UN meets behind closed doors on possible sanctions

RARE PHONE CALL: CIA director, Putin's spy chief hold first phone call in more than 2 years: report

HOUSE ON FIRE: GOP lawmaker calls trans Dem 'Mr. McBride,' abruptly ends hearing after ultimatum from another Dem

TAKING AIM: House Republican campaign arm targets vulnerable Democrats who 'voted to shutdown' govt.

SHE'S OUT: Longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen not seeking re-election in 2026 in key northeastern swing state

'BASIC MEDICAL ETHICS': GOP moves to defund hospitals that perform sex-change procedures on minors

'HE'S A PALESTINIAN': Trump says Schumer 'has become a Palestinian': 'He's not Jewish anymore'

'ON THE TABLE': House divided over consequences for controversial congressman

TRIO OF BILLS: Oregon legislature weighing trio of bills that could result in less oversight for convicted sex offenders

'DISTRACTED BY IDENTITY POLITICS': NASA spent over $13 million on DEI under Biden while critical missions flailed

'TIP OF THE ICEBERG': EPA terminates Biden admin's green grants worth $20B, Zeldin says

'FINANCIAL BURDEN': FL spent $660M on healthcare for illegals as hospitals ordered to verify legal status, report shows

VAPID BANS: 21,000% spike in MA vape seizures throws cigarette ban into question, ex-ATF official says

‘NO EVIDENCE’: New study from key swing state shatters popular narrative against Voter ID

DESERT SHOWDOWN: NM lawmakers warn sweeping gun control bill primed for passage shows Dems ‘are dead-set on disarming us’

'WE WILL FIGHT': Anti-woke beer company fires back at beer giant for 'intimidation' amid trademark dispute

WON'T 'SPECULATE': Federal judge rips DOJ lawyers, demands written retraction from Hegseth over transgender military policy post

'RADICAL GENDER POLICIES': Ohio college 'illegally forcing students' to share bathrooms with opposite sex

'DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING': Blue state county faces backlash after failed vote to scrap 'super sanctuary' policy

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

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner shut down a hurricane relief draft plan put forth by the city of Asheville, North Carolina, that included a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiative that would have prioritized some residents over others, his office said.

"Once again, let me be clear DEI is dead at HUD," Turner said of axing the plan. "We will not provide funding to any program or grantee that does not comply with President Trump’s executive orders."

"HUD looks forward to helping thousands of North Carolinians rebuild after Hurricane Helene by directing funding assistance to impacted businesses, nonprofit organizations and neighborhoods," Turner added. "However, Asheville’s draft action plan incorporated DEI criteria to prioritize some impacted residents over others, which was unacceptable. After HUD informed Asheville that its plan was unsatisfactory and it would not be approved, the city assured us that it was updating its draft action plan to be compliant." 

The city of Asheville, North Carolina, which is a Democratic stronghold in a state that has elected Republican presidential candidates since 2012, posted a draft plan to its website on March 4 on how it could distribute millions of dollars for Hurricane Helene disaster relief, including a section that focused on DEI.

HUD OFFICES BECAME AS VACANT AS A ‘SPIRIT HALLOWEEN’ STORE UNDER BIDEN: ADMIN SOURCES

HUD allocated $225 million in a Community Development Block Grant in January under the Biden administration, after Hurricane Helene ripped through the state in September 2024, devastating thousands of residents, most notably in the western Appalachian region, with flooding, high winds, power outages and complete destruction of communities. At least 106 people died in the Tar Heel State during the storm, according to the state.

The city of Asheville, North Carolina, detailed under a section in its draft plan titled, "How Programs Will Support Vulnerable Populations," that minority- and women-owned businesses would be prioritized for assistance. 

HUD TERMINATES OBAMA-ERA HOUSING RULE THAT TRUMP WARNED WOULD 'DESTROY' HOME VALUES

"Within the Small Business Support Program, the City will prioritize assistance for Minority and Women Owned Businesses (MWBE) within the scoring criteria outlined within the policies and procedures," reads the draft plan, which was reviewed by Fox News Digital. 

HUD was alerted to the language in the draft plan and took appropriate action against it after investigating the matter, Fox News Digital learned. 

HUD cited that on President Donald Trump's first day in office, he signed an executive order focused on "ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs" and one focused on restoring merit-based opportunity and "ending illegal discrimination," which ended DEI practices at the federal level in favor of merit-based systems.

"At HUD, we are taking a detailed and deliberate approach in every aspect of our work to ensure we are serving all communities regardless of race, color, or creed," Turner said in a comment Wednesday to Fox News Digital. "Let this send a clear message that no detail will go unnoticed, adherence to President Trump’s Executive Orders is mandatory. We appreciate that Asheville has reversed course and is now working with us to get this right." 

Democratic Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said in comments provided to Fox News Digital that the city was "working closely with HUD as we continue to navigate the changing compliance requirements of the new administration."

"We are grateful for the administration’s support in our recovery efforts," Manheimer continued. "The City will ensure it meets current federal standards in order to facilitate approval of critically needed funding to help the city recover from the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene." 

The city released an updated draft March 10 that did not include a section on prioritizing minority- and women-owned businesses, Fox New Digital found. 

EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP HUD SECRETARY CANCELS $4M IN DEI CONTRACTS AFTER LAUNCHING DOGE TASK FORCE

TRUMP ADMIN DIRECTS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO END DEI CONSIDERATIONS IN GOVT CONTRACTS AS DOGE'S IMPACT SPREADS

Turner announced on Fox News in February that HUD was in the midst of canceling $4 million in DEI contracts after the federal agency's freshly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force uncovered $260 million earlier in the month. 

The DEI contracts focused on "culture transformation," according to HUD, including "outward mindset training" — which is a DEI initiative aimed at teaching people to focus their attention on inclusivity and the needs and objectives of others — as well as diversity and inclusion research subscription services.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"It is inexcusable the American taxpayer was footing the bill for the promotion of DEI propaganda," Turner said at the time. "Not only was this costing millions of taxpayer dollars but it was also wasting valuable time that should have been used to better serve individuals and families in rural, tribal and urban communities. DEI is dead at HUD." 

FIRST ON FOX: A longtime ally of California Gov. Gavin Newsom repeatedly helped a now-former CCP official while she was serving as the Chinese consul in San Francisco, according to a LinkedIn post unearthed by Fox News Digital.

Ying He, who served as the Chinese consul general in San Francisco between 2012 and 2016, lavished praise on Darlene Chiu-Bryant in a 2017 LinkedIn recommendation, calling the former Newsom aide and longtime ally of the governor a "Super lady."

"Darlene is the right person when you need to develop business (sic) in either California or Beijing," said He, who was serving as the division director for the Ministry of Commerce, a CCP government arm, at the time of the 2017 LinkedIn post. "She is an excellent PR professional and able to fulfill the most challenging tasks. She helped me a lot when I was consul in SF, promoting US-Sino investment and trade. In all, she is a friend in need and a Super Lady indeed."

He’s LinkedIn reveals that she has served in multiple roles at the Ministry of Commerce for over a decade and her profile boasts that she has "extensive connections with Chinese and U.S. governments" and "15+ years with a Chinese central government agency and 4 years as a diplomat in San Francisco."

CONGRESS EXPOSES CHINA'S POTENTIAL LOOPHOLE FOR TRUMP TARIFFS: 'DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND'

At the time of the LinkedIn post, Bryant was serving as the executive director of ChinaSF, which is facing renewed scrutiny for its ties to the CCP and recruiting over 100 Chinese companies into San Francisco, according to a new book Fox News Digital exclusively reported on Monday. In the book, there is a chapter dedicated to how Newsom helped launch a nonprofit organization almost a decade earlier, in 2008. 

One of the several companies discussed in the book was Suntech, a Chinese solar company developed by the CCP that was personally recruited by Newsom into the United States, and he publicly praised the company’s CEO, Dr. Zhengrong Shi, multiple times, and made him an advisory board member for ChinaSF. 

In addition to green energy companies that streamed through ChinaSF, real estate companies were also involved, and the book alleges that Newsom received over $23,000 in anonymous contributions from Chinese real estate company Z&L, whose billionaire owner was criminally sentenced for bribing a San Francisco government official. In 2017, ChinaSF posted a photo of Bryant, Newsom and others in front of a wall that said Z&L Properties.

"ChinaSF was started by our Lt Governor Gavin Newsom when he was Mayor of San Francisco in 2008," the photo caption said. "Proud to work with our partners and companies recruited to the SF Bay Area."

According to China Daily, a Chinese state media outlet, Newsom launched the group while visiting Shanghai.

"The two most important things for us are energy independence and establishing a stronger relationship with China," Newsom said ahead of the trip.

THE PLAN TO CONFRONT CHINA AND KICK OUT COMPANIES CONTROLLED BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY FROM THE U.S.

Bryant, who traveled with Newsom to China in 2005 when she was serving as his deputy communications director and would later be tapped to run ChinaSF, was repeatedly mentioned in a chapter in the new book, "Fool's Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All."

In the book, authors Susan Crabtree and Jedd McFatter make the case that ChinaSF served as a gateway for CCP officials and Chinese criminals to exploit California. In addition to the book exposing how Bryant was referred to locally as "the Fixer" for any Chinese businesses "wanting to make hay in San Francisco," her personal Facebook profile and other Facebook pages are littered with photos showing her involvement with ChinaSF. There are also several photos of her and Newsom, in addition to other California politicians.

In 2019, GlobalSF posted a photo of Newsom and Bryant at an event. The photo caption, which appears to be written by Bryant, called Newsom a "visionary leader."

"So good to see my ex boss now Governor of our Golden State of [California], [Gavin Newsom]," the post said. "As a visionary leader, he started [ChinaSF] in 2008 to be the China Desk for the city and county of [San Francisco] to facilitate inbound investment."

Another photo on Facebook shows Bryant attending Newsom's inauguration in early 2019.

Fox News Digital has previously reported on another prominent Chinese consul general, Huang Ping, who oversaw the office in New York City for several years and often promoted CCP propaganda while publicly denying the alleged Uyghur genocide in China. 

In addition to his controversial public statements, Ping would often travel to U.S. universities and other events, meeting with business leaders and elected officials, sparking concerns from some about potential influence peddling for the CCP.

"The Chinese Communist Party is playing for keeps at the nuclear level and every layer below that," Michael Sobolik, author of "Countering China’s Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance," told Fox News Digital last year. "And it's not just the universities. The Chinese Communist Party is looking to infiltrate every aspect of American society."

"If we try to edit undo our way out of this whole list of infiltrations and threats that the CCP sends our direction that's good policy work. We need to insulate ourselves. But good housekeeping is the bare minimum of waging a cold war and winning a cold war," Sobolik added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment and received a response pointing to an article about conspiracy theories with the headline, "Conspiracy theorists really do see the world differently, new study shows."

Fox News Digital reached out to Bryant, but did not receive a response by press time.

A New York state elected official was seen Wednesday appearing to attempt to get past police while shouting at border czar Tom Homan, who was in the state capital to call out Democrats over their illegal immigration policies.

Assembly member and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was seen in Albany shouting at Homan over the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and anti-Israel activist.

Video footage posted online shows Mamdani trying to get past New York State police troopers while shouting at Homan.

ICE AGENTS ARREST ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST WHO LED PROTESTS ON COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FOR MONTHS 

"How many more New Yorkers will you detain? How many more New Yorkers without charge?" he shouted. "Do you believe in the First Amendment, Tom Homan?"

Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani and the White House. 

In a post on X, Mamdani said he confronted Homan, who visited Albany to "do Trump’s bidding — push for mass deportations, carry out the assault on working class New Yorkers, and justify the unjustifiable detention of legal permanent resident and father-to-be, Mahmoud Khalil."

Khalil, a Palestinian raised in Syria and a permanent U.S. resident, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-owned apartment Saturday and told they were revoking his green card and student visa, according to Khalil's attorney, Amy Greer.

Khalil played a major role in the protests against Israel at Columbia University and met with university officials on behalf of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a group of student groups urging the university to divest from Israel, according to CNN. 

President Donald Trump unveiled Khalil’s arrest on Monday, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the administration would revoke the green cards of any Hamas supporters in the U.S. and deport them.

FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REVIEW COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S CONTRACTS, GRANTS AFTER 'FAILURE' TO PROTECT JEWISH STUDENTS

"Following my previously signed executive orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a radical foreign pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University," Trump posted Monday on Truth Social. "This is the first arrest of many to come."

Homan planned to stand with state Republican lawmakers fighting to repeal the state’s Green Light law, which is being legally challenged by the Trump administration. The law, also known as the Driver's License Act, allows illegal immigrants to obtain a driver's license.

Mamdani said Homan smirked when confronted. 

"Because there is no answer from taking a man from his pregnant wife who is due to deliver their newborn in a month," he said, noting that Khalil told Columbia University officials that he feared for his life. 

"The cowardice that is on display across our city and our state is unacceptable," he added. "New Yorkers are looking to us. They are looking to their leaders for courage and for conviction, and what they are finding instead is collaboration."

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

FIRST ON FOX: California is funneling billions of federal taxpayer dollars into paying for illegal immigrants’ healthcare, a new study claims.

"They are exploiting an existing loophole within law," Paul Winfree, president and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), told Fox News Digital.

"States can do these provider taxes to funnel money back to the state, that they are then using to pay for, to put illegal immigrants on Medicaid. That’s quite literally what’s going on."

The paper released by EPIC and the Paragon Health Institute draws a line between California’s Medicaid provider taxes and what, on paper, appears to be nearly $4 billion in state funding going toward illegal immigrants’ healthcare and other initiatives.

TRUMP GOES TOE-TO-TOE WITH SANCTUARY CITIES OVER DEPORTATION AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN SET TO BEGIN

But that funding is actually coming from the federal government, according to EPIC, via reimbursements to California.

Winfree suggested it could be an area to claw back federal dollars as House Republicans work to find between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion in savings to offset the cost of President Donald Trump’s budget priorities.

Under current law, states are required to pay Medicaid providers the same amount as taxes raised.

The federal government then matches those payments by 60% in an effort to help states recoup some Medicaid costs.

"Medicaid spending is supposed to be jointly financed by the federal government and states. However, states are increasingly designing Medicaid money laundering schemes that result in massive federal expenditures without any state financial obligation," the paper said. 

"The state of California, colluding with insurance companies who cover Medicaid beneficiaries, has created one of the most outrageous ones yet, a money laundering scheme that results in California obtaining more than $19 billion in federal money without any state contribution over the period from April 2023 through December 2026."

The paper continued that those funds were "used to implement major expansions in the Medicaid program to fund illegal immigrants and long-term care (LTC) for the wealthy."

"This scheme enriches insurers, attracts illegal immigrants to the United States, and adds mountains to the federal debt, all at the expense of working Americans," it said.

Winfree said closing a loophole that allows states like California to significantly raise the provider tax could save up to $630 billion, adding it was something Republicans are looking at as they seek as much as $2 trillion in savings or more in the budget reconciliation process.

House and Senate Republicans are looking to use their majorities to pass a massive bill covering Trump’s border security, defense, energy and tax policies. 

They can do so because reconciliation allows the Senate to lower its threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, provided measures in the legislation are related to budgetary and fiscal policy.

As part of the framework resolution House Republicans passed last month, which has been sent to the relevant committees with instructions on how much to find cuts, or in some cases, spend extra dollars.

ICE ARRESTS MORE THAN 530 MIGRANTS IN ONE DAY AMID TRUMP'S CRACKDOWN

The Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid and Medicare, is charged with finding $880 billion in spending cuts.

Republicans have insisted they are only looking to root out waste, fraud and abuse, but Democratic opponents of the Trump budget bill are accusing the GOP of trying to significantly cut federal medical benefits for millions of Americans.

"One of the things that Congress is looking at right now is limiting the Medicaid provider tax loophole. It's actually one of the most significant offsets that is within the Medicaid portfolio that the Energy and Commerce Committee and Finance Committee over in the Senate can look at while they're putting together their reconciliation bill," Winfree said.

He cited a projection that said eliminating the loophole could save as much as $630 billion but added that it was an unlikely scenario.

"It’s much more likely that they will reduce what's called the safe harbor. So, in other words, what they'll do is they'll just reduce the amount of gaming that goes on, including this kind of gaming. And if that happens, it is more likely to affect some of the big blue states than it is the red states, simply because it's the blue states that have really tested the upper limits of this kind of this kind of gimmick," Winfree said.

Even without total elimination, reforming the tax could still potentially save billions in federal spending.

Fox News Digital reached out to the California Department of Public Health for comment but did not hear back.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests since President Donald Trump took office are already outpacing arrests made in all of 2024, the agency said Wednesday — while saying the Biden administration had been "cooking the books" on its numbers.

"We have uncovered that the previous administration… was cooking the books on ICE data," acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told reporters. "They were purposely misleading the American people by categorizing individuals processed and released into the interior of the United States as ICE arrests."

"A comprehensive review was done internally here with ICE. We found tens of thousands of cases that were recorded as arrests when, in fact, these instances were illegal aliens that were simply processed and released into the American communities," he said.

‘LEAVE NOW’: TRUMP ADMIN REPURPOSES CONTROVERSIAL CBP ONE APP TO ENCOURAGE SELF-DEPORTATIONS

Senior officials said that the majority of the overall 113,431 arrests made in FY 2024 were "pass-through" arrests, meaning that ICE didn’t take an enforcement action against those foreign nationals, and they instead just passed through ICE before being released into the interior and were told to report to an ICE office.

They stressed that none of the arrests made by ICE under the Trump administration have been pass-through arrests.

"What we are doing now is actual immigration enforcement, not enforcement theater," an official said.

As for interior arrests, in FY 2024, ICE enforcement removal operations made 33,242 at-large arrests, only 29% of all ICE arrests. For comparison, officials say that ICE made 32,809 arrests from Jan. 20 to March 10, meaning they will surpass the FY 2024 number this week.

NEARLY 17 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE US, 16% INCREASE SINCE 2021: ANALYSIS 

Of those arrests,14,111 were convicted criminals and 9,980 have pending criminal charges. Over 1,150 were suspected gang members, two and a half times the 483 arrested in the same period last year.

"The difference between these recent arrests and those from last year is now we are actually taking enforcement actions on each and every illegal alien arrested," officials said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

The Trump administration took office with a promise to launch a "historic" deportation campaign and reverse the Biden-era crisis at the southern border. It quickly reversed Biden-era parole programs, surged military to the border, limited the use of asylum and secured agreements from certain countries to take back their nationals. It also launched a number of raids in "sanctuary" cities that refuse to cooperate with ICE enforcement.

The administration says the efforts are already having an effect, with not only a sharp increase in arrests but also a significant drop in encounters at the southern border. Just this week, DHS announced that it had replaced the controversial CBP One app with a new CBP Home app that helps facilitate self-deportations.

"We are empowering [ICE agents] to do their jobs," Lyons said. "After four years of not being allowed to effectively do their jobs, our agents and officers are excited to get to work and fulfill the agency's mission."

Fox News' Bill Melugin and Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing an executive order seeking to penalize Democrat-linked law firm Perkins Coie, siding with plaintiffs from the firm who argued that the order was unconstitutional and a violation of due process protections. 

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell came shortly after attorneys representing the law firm Perkins Coie filed an emergency lawsuit in federal court over the Trump administration's executive order, which called for all employees to be stripped of their security clearances, be banned from government buildings and would force the firm to terminate of all its contracts with government clients. 

"It truly is life-threatening," Perkins Coie attorneys told the judge. "It will spell the end of the law firm."

They said that it would effectively force its business to a halt, and violated due process protections under the U.S. Constitution. 

FBI AGENTS SUE TRUMP DOJ TO BLOCK ANY PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED ON JAN. 6 INVESTIGATIONS

Judge Howell appeared to uphold this claim, noting at one point in the hearing that it "sends little chills down my spine" that the Trump administration moved to label the firm as a threat and deny them access to government entities and businesses. 

Lawyers for Perkins Coie argued the executive order would be "like a tsunami waiting to hit the firm" in terms of damaging impact.

The order, signed by President Donald Trump last week, sought to penalize Perkins Coie, which has long represented Democratic-linked causes and candidates, including Trump's former opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 presidential election. 

The firm also played a role in hiring Fusion GPS, an opposition research firm that commissioned the so-called "Steele Dossier" and published it shortly before the 2016 election. 

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, appeared in federal court to represent the Trump administration in the lawsuit. The hearing, and rare court appearance from Mizelle, a senior member of the U.S. attorney general's office, comes one week after Trump signed the executive order.

The order, titled "Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP," accused Perkins Coie of "dishonest and dangerous activity" that they alleged undermines "democratic elections, the integrity of our courts, and honest law enforcement," as well as "racially discriminating against its own attorneys and staff" through its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Trump told reporters last week it was an "absolute honor" to sign the order, adding that "weaponization" against a political opponent "should never be allowed to happen again."

However, Perkins Coie attorneys argue the Trump administration has done just that by targeting the firm. 

"Its plain purpose is to bully those who advocate points of view that the President perceives as adverse to the views of his Administration, whether those views are presented on behalf of paying or pro bono clients," the lawsuit reads.

Attorneys representing Perkins Coie told Howell that roughly 25% of total firm revenue comes from its contracts with government clients, which they noted would be terminated by Trump's executive order.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

FIRST ON FOX: West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey hosted former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines in Charleston on Wednesday to sign into law the Riley Gaines Act — codifying the definitions of "man" and "woman" into state law.

The bill, sponsored by Senate President Randy Smith, R-Blackwater Falls, and Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Huntington, passed overwhelmingly in the 31-3 GOP-majority upper chamber.

A sole Democrat, Sen. Joey Garcia of Fairmont, voted "nay," and the House approved the Senate’s bill 90-8 along party lines.

According to text of the measure, it "reaffirms longstanding meaning[s]" of sex, male and female in state law, preserves women’s restrooms, sleeping quarters, locker rooms and other private facilities for the sole use of women – to prevent "abuse, harassment, sexual assault and violence committed by men."

US-CHINA ENERGY RACE HINGES ON APPALACHIAN COAL, WV GOV SAYS, AS CHARLESTON SEEKS TO BOLSTER TRUMP PLANS

Morrisey said Wednesday he was inspired by the story of 14-year-old shot-put athlete Emmy Salerno from Shinnston, outside Clarksburg. 

Salerno and her teammates refused to participate in the 2023 Harrison County middle school championship event as a protest against being primed to compete against a transgender student athlete.

Morrisey, then attorney general, threw his support behind a lawsuit over the situation.

"This is an incredible day for West Virginia," Morrisey said Wednesday, noting that Gaines, along with Independent Women’s Forum president Heather Higgins, stood beside him.

He went on to credit House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay; state Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Charles Town; and Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Buffalo, as crucial in getting the law passed: "I worked on this issue for a very long time, and even right now we have multiple cases up at the U.S. Supreme Court," Morrisey said, adding that in the end, the true heroes of the movement are the athletes themselves, like Gaines and Salerno.

Hess Crouse told Fox News Digital that she was happy to see the bill succeed.

"I have stood firmly in support of this bill alongside Riley Gaines," she said. "There are undeniable biological differences between men and women, and allowing men and boys to compete in women's sports or enter female-only spaces is not only unfair but also a serious safety concern."

MOUNTAIN STATE CRACKDOWN: WV GOV'S ORDER LEADS TO 60 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINAL DETENTIONS

"Protecting the integrity of women’s sports and single-sex spaces is essential, and this law is a victory for women's rights, fairness, and safety," Hess Crouse added.

Rucker told the Wheeling Intelligencer the bill is "not a question of hating [transgender people] or calling them names or wanting them abused."

"I know several [transgender people] and I respect them and I believe they should be safe to live their lives and choose what they want to do — but it does not override the right of women who do not want to share space with… a biological male." 

Meanwhile, Garcia — the lone Senate Democrat in opposition — said transgenderism is not "a decision people make but who they are," and questioned the bill’s necessity.

Additionally, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin denounced Wednesday's ceremony as a "photo op" for Republicans.

"I hope Riley Gaines enjoyed her quick stop in West Virginia to celebrate Gov. Morrisey’s bill to make bathrooms great again," quipped Pushkin, who is also a delegate representing Charleston.

"While Republicans lined up for selfies and high-fives over legislation about who uses which restroom, West Virginians were still waiting on lawmakers to tackle real issues — like jobs, healthcare, and roads we can drive on without risking damage to our cars," Pushkin said.

"Maybe next time Ms. Gaines visits, she’ll remind Republicans that working families need fewer political stunts and more actual solutions."

At the ceremony, Morrisey noted that President Donald Trump also led on the issue with his executive order similar to West Virginia’s legislation and his recent White House spat with Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.

"This is an issue that has nearly universal support," he said. "Yes, the woke left, they always dig in their heels, and they try to force the rest of the country to adhere to the radical gender ideology. Well, that's not going to happen here. That's not going to happen in West Virginia."

Gaines remarked that when she took to Morrisey’s podium, it seemed a "little bit silly" that she got a standing ovation for "merely saying men and women are different."

Gaines rose to the fore on the issue after competing against University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships. She offered a "shout out" to Salerno for her courage to stand up against a similar situation, and said it is refreshing that Morrisey and others are leading on this issue.

On the flip side, she said, some governors have dug in their heels with "woke" changes to biological definitions and scholastic sports regulations.

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She pointed to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, who caused a firestorm when his statewide budget proposal changed the term "mother" to "inseminated person" and "husband" to "spouse."

Evers drew heat from Republicans across the country, as well as Mississippi-born Wisconsin icon Brett Favre, who called Evers’ move "nonsense."

Evers later defended the move as a way to give "people a chance that are using IVF, which I think Republicans are kind of OK with — [and] have legal certainty about a mom being able to have a year of care."

At the Charleston event, Gaines added: "We've been called a lot: ‘cervix-havers’, ‘uterus owners’, ‘menstruaters’, ‘chest-feeders’, ‘birthing persons’ — but ‘inseminated persons’ really takes the cake for me."

In response, Morrisey turned to the assembled lawmakers and quipped, "You’re not going to send me a bill with 'inseminated person' written in it, not in West Virginia."

Fox News Digital also reached out to the West Virginia Democratic Party for comment.

FIRST ON FOX: Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer set the tone for her leadership at the agency, reaffirming in a memo to agency executive staff and agency heads that they must comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders and work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, Fox News Digital has learned. 

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained the memo Chavez-DeRemer sent to senior staff at the Department of Labor Wednesday — her first official day on the job. 

TRUMP'S UNION-ENDORSED PICK CONFIRMED BY SENATE TO LEAD LABOR DEPARTMENT

"I am honored to join you as the 30th Secretary of Labor," Chavez-DeRemer wrote. "It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I step into this role, and I am excited about the opportunity to work alongside each of you to implement President Trump’s agenda and carry out the important mission of the Labor Department." 

"I want to take this opportunity to emphasize our mission: to protect workers’ rights and ensure safe working conditions; ensure proper wages for all American workers; promote employee training; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for job growth; and assure work-related benefits including pensions," she continued. "To achieve this, we must stand strong in our commitment to Putting American Workers First."

Chavez-DeRemer said that principle "is at the core of everything we do, and it guides our efforts to enhance the lives of workers across our nation." 

"Under the leadership of President Trump, our focus remains on promoting job creation, enhancing workforce development, and ensuring safe working conditions, wages, and pensions so that every American has the opportunity to succeed," she continued. "I challenge each of you to actively engage with your teams to identify innovative solutions that can help us achieve our goals." 

Chavez-DeRemer said that the Labor Department must align with the priorities of the Trump administration and "must focus on practicing fiscal responsibility, reducing unnecessary spending, and optimizing our resources to ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively." 

"At the direction of the President, the Department of Labor has already saved the American taxpayer $125 million, and this important work must continue to root out waste, fraud, and abuse," she wrote. "I urge each of you to conduct a review of your budgets and operations and identify opportunities for cost savings that can be redirected toward initiatives that directly benefit the American worker and businesses that drive our economy." 

Chavez-DeRemer said that those priorities "are central to our mission and are essential for ensuring that we serve the American people by creating a level playing field for businesses, unions, and the American worker."

FOLLOWING KEY WINS, TRUMP POISED FOR CABINET COMPLETION IN RECORD TIME

"By adhering to the principles of fiscal responsibility and efficiency, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of Americans," she wrote.

Fox News Digital has learned that the Labor Department canceled $125 million in contracts, including $32 million in diversity, equity and inclusion training and consulting, along with discriminatory DEIA duties from more than 100 contracts. It also shut down internal gender ideology programs. The Labor Department also canceled $56 million in communication support redundancies and $4.4 million for "policy handbook modernization." 

Chavez-DeRemer is instructing agency heads within the Department of Labor to conduct a review of budgets and identify opportunities for cost savings, including "wasteful contract spending," and recommendations to "cut redundancies and low-performing employees," a source told Fox News Digital. 

Meanwhile, Chavez-DeRemer said that she looks forward to meeting with staff individually in the coming days to discuss "your agency priorities and how we can collectively advance the Department’s mission." 

"Thank you for your dedication to our mission of Putting American Workers First as we work together on behalf of President Trump to usher in a new Golden Age of economic prosperity," she wrote. "I look forward to collaborating to create a positive impact on the lives of millions of workers and their families." 

She added: "Let’s get to work." 

The Department of Labor has nearly 14,000 employees. 

"The Secretary is fired up and ready to start fighting for the American Worker under the leadership of President Trump and his America First Agenda, and that starts with implementing the President’s executive orders and partnering with DOGE to ensure the Labor Department is safeguarding hardworking Americans’ tax dollars," a Department of Labor spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

Chavez-DeRemer was the final person of Trump’s formal Cabinet to be confirmed. She was confirmed by the Senate Monday night with a 67–32 vote margin. Seventeen Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm her. 

Chavez-DeRemer was sworn-in Tuesday at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building by Florida Rep. Laurel Lee.

President Donald Trump touted the House’s passage of a funding bill to keep the government up and running, labeling it a "big win" for America. 

The House passed the funding measure by a 217 to 213 margin Tuesday evening, mostly along party lines. The legislation is now headed to the Senate, where lawmakers must pass the measure before Friday or else face a partial government shutdown. 

"Big WIN for Republicans, and America tonight," Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday night. "Congratulations to ALL!" 

The White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump’s post when asked for additional comment. 

TRUMP-BACKED BILL TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PASSES HOUSE DESPITE MUTINY THREATS 

The funding bill largely extends funding levels approved during fiscal 2024 as part of the House’s continuing resolution (CR) until Sept. 30. 

However, there are some funding changes included in the resolution, including an additional $8 billion in defense spending, $6 billion in veterans healthcare and nearly $1 billion to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations. The measure also cuts $13 billion in non-defense spending.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., broke with Republicans and voted against the measure Tuesday evening, while Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, also split with his party and voted in favor of the measure. 

Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has said he plans to vote against the measure in the Senate because he claims it doesn’t do enough to curb government spending. As a result, the bill will require support from at least eight Democrats to pass the 60-vote threshold. 

TOP CONSERVATIVE GROUP VOWS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PRESIDENT AFTER PAST CLASHES WITH TRUMP

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday that Trump pushed all Republicans to vote for the continuing resolution, cautioning that voting against it would stall progress the Trump administration has made so far. 

"He is encouraging all Republicans to vote yes on this clean CR, which freezes funding at current levels and will prevent the Democrats from getting their long-awaited government shutdown," Leavitt said Tuesday. "Voting against this CR will hurt the American people and kill the incredible momentum that President Trump has built over the past 51 days."

The House Rules Committee passed the legislation on Monday evening. 

Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Kelly Phares contributed to this report. 

WASHINGTON - Republican lawmakers appear open to stripping Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, of his committee positions after disrupting President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress, while Democratic members remain widely opposed to the idea.

"In my view, I believe that Congressman Green, by speaking for people on Medicare and Medicaid, showed a lot more respect for the American people than Elon Musk, who calls Social Security a Ponzi scheme," Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas., told Fox News Digital on Capitol Hill of the GOP efforts to remove Green from his committee assignments.

Green was removed from the House chamber after interrupting Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress earlier this month. The Democrat was later censured by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, but some Republicans on the House Freedom Caucus are seeking to take it a step further by threatening a resolution that would remove Green from his committee positions, Fox News Digital recently reported.

Democratic lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital said they were opposed to further punishment against Green, saying it's "a step too far."

REP. AL GREEN BLAMES 'INVIDIOUS DISCRIMINATION' FOR BEING CENSURED AFTER DISRUPTING TRUMP'S SPEECH

"I think that's a step too far. We didn't do that to Joe Wilson when he called President Obama a liar," said Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.

Beyer added that Congress should require a greater majority of members in order to censure lawmakers. 

"Right now, it's just Democrats censure Republicans, Republicans censure Democrats. It should be something that offends the whole body, not just the other side," Beyer said.

Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., said Green "received censure, he accepted the punishment, and we all need to figure out how we can move forward together and focus on the work of the American people."

SCOOP: DEMS WHO DERAILED AL GREEN CENSURE COULD BE STRIPPED OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ROLES

Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital, however, remained critical of Green's interruption of the president's speech.

Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., said he hadn't seen the resolution, but that "at the end of the day, what he [Green] did was absolutely unconscionable."

"The decorum in the House was violated in such a reckless way," Fry said. "For me, all options should be on the table."

"I did sit during the censorship vote, and that was the first time I ever saw something like that take place," Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., said. "Throughout the whole State of the Union, when you can't even stand to recognize a 13-year-old boy who had multiple brain surgeries, I found that very appalling."

One Republican, Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., said he didn't think Green would actually be stripped of his committee position. 

"I think that what he did was really an embarrassment last week. So we'll see where we go," said Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., adding that he "voted to censure him," but that "I don't know where it's going to go from there."

Fox News Digital reached out to Green's office for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

San Diego County’s "super sanctuary" policy will remain in place for now following a failed vote to scrap it from Republican county officials. 

"The Biden Administration forced San Diego County onto the front lines of its relentless border crisis and now fringe Democrats in the County are trying to do the same," Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

"The people in my district want no part of policies that have contradicted our laws, blocked law enforcement, and gotten innocent Americans killed. Mark these words: Sanctuary policies are going away," Issa, whose district includes part of San Diego County, continued.

The county’s policy further constrains the ability of authorities in San Diego, a border county, to comply with federal law enforcement when it comes to turning over illegal immigrants, and opponents believe the policy opens the door to the county protecting those suspected of serious crimes.

ICE, DEA ARREST CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS ON IDYLLIC NEW ENGLAND ISLAND

"This is deeply disappointing," Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond said in a statement. "This was not about politics. This was about ensuring that criminals—rapists, child abusers, burglars, and violent offenders—are removed from our communities. Instead, fear and misinformation won the day, leaving law-abiding residents at greater risk."

Although Desmond and Supervisor Joel Anderson voted to get rid of the policy that was put in place by the board’s Democratic majority in December, Democratic Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe argued that repealing it would then give a role outside the scope of the county’s purview.

"Even in the very wording of policy L-2, it doesn’t protect criminals. What it was about is ensuring that this county stays in its lane and protects our region and that the federal government stays in its lane," Democratic Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe said during the meeting before voting "no." Her Democratic colleague, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, abstained.

VENEZUELAN GANGS ARE FAR FROM A 'FAKE' PROBLEM, COLORADO DA SAYS: 'GIANT ISSUE'

The move comes as immigration and border policies changes have had a sweeping impact, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to conduct raids around the country and border crossings have plummeted.

In addition, Trump border czar Tom Homan has been a vocal opponent of governments with sanctuary city policies. 

The Jewish Family Service of San Diego's migrant center shut its doors last month as the number of migrants arriving in the area took a massive tumble. 

"This failure also makes it harder and more dangerous for federal immigration authorities to do their job. It is far safer and less invasive for ICE to detain criminals while they are still in jail — rather than forcing federal agents to enter our communities, neighborhoods, and workplaces to make arrests," Desmond continued.

There is currently one vacancy on the board left open by former Chair Nora Vargas, who exited her position just weeks after putting forth the policy, according to KPBS.

The social media reactions are pouring in after President Donald Trump took the driver's seat to support Elon Musk. Tesla's stock rebounded Tuesday after facing a steep decline to start the week amid the ongoing protests at Tesla showrooms across the country. 

While Tesla stocks rose, Democrats looked down at Trump's latest charade – accusing him of running a Tesla ad at the White House. 

"I’m sure all the people losing their retirement, jobs, and health care because of Trump are glad to see the White House turned into a car dealership for the richest man on the planet," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in an X post. 

Fox News' Peter Doocy asked Trump about his message to Americans who are facing financial uncertainty and worried about their retirement accounts while the president was buying a new Tesla. Trump told Doocy he had to order foreign tariffs to boost the American economy. 

TESLA REBOUNDS AFTER TRUMP DEFENDS MUSK, BRINGS EVS TO WHITE HOUSE

"Well, I think they're going to do great. I think our country had to do this. We had to go and do this. They've taken away – other countries have taken away our business. They have taken away our jobs," Trump replied. "This economy, in my opinion, is going to blow it away."

TRUMP BUYS RED TESLA MODEL S AT WHITE HOUSE ALONGSIDE ELON MUSK: 'I LIKE SIGNING A CHECK!'

"I have to do this. I have to get the workers back. I have to get the factories open. We have 90,000 factories and plants are closed… We're taking it back. We're taking our jobs back," Trump added. 

Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., were quick to oppose Trump's Tesla photo op. "Grocery prices are soaring. Housing costs are skyrocketing. Retirement savings are plummeting. But Donald Trump thought today would be a good day to play car salesman," Warren said in a post. 

"Elon Musk just used taxpayer money to host a car sale at the White House after cutting funding for schools and preparing to fire 80,000 VA workers," the Democratic National Committee (DNC) posted. 

"Earlier today, while hard-working Americans were watching their retirement savings plummet, President Trump was filming a Tesla ad in front of the White House to help Elon Musk's failing stock. This is a brazen conflict of interest and corruption in broad daylight," Democrats on the House Committee on Financial Services said. 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted a photo of Musk and Trump standing by the president's new red Tesla, calling them the "most corrupt administration in American history."

"While Republicans were voting to take health care away from families and veterans, Donald Trump hosted a Tesla car show at the White House for his biggest donor. Peak corruption," House Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said. 

An image of Trump holding handwritten notes about the Tesla cars earned the ire of Democrats on social media. President Joe Biden was often mocked during his term for relying on note cards during press conferences and other public events. 

"After mocking President Biden for using note cards, Trump got caught red-handed today – holding his own notes on what to say about buying a Tesla, a car he clearly knows nothing about. So, is the media gonna make a big deal out of this? Or nah?" Democratic political strategist Chris D. Jackson posted on X. 

But Trump admitted he didn't "need notes," making a jab at his predecessor. 

"Do you want my notes? They gave me notes. I'm not Biden. I don't need notes," Trump told reporters before hopping in the driver seat of his new Tesla Model S. "You think Biden could get into that car? I don't think so," Trump added. 

Despite the criticism from the left, Musk is taking a victory lap. Musk posted a side-by-side photo of Biden snubbing Tesla at his electric vehicle summit in 2021 next to a photo of the Teslas parked in front of the White House on Tuesday. 

Despite Tesla's status as the leading manufacturer of electric vehicles in the United States, they were not invited to the White House event in 2021. White House press secretary Jen Psaki explained to reporters those invited were the "three largest employers of the United Auto Workers, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions."

Musk reposted a clip of CNN contributor Scott Jennings defending him to Abby Phillip on "CNN NewsNight." 

"There’s a video of Joe Biden driving a Jeep around the South Lawn… It's pretty common for the president to boost American industries… He obviously has a close relationship with Elon, who, by the way, is, I think, unfairly under attack and this company is unfairly under attack. You have these insane people all over the country chasing people down in their Teslas in New York City. I had a friend who tried to trade his Tesla in New York the other day, and there were protesters screaming at his children."

Conservatives on social media were quick to defend Trump's Tesla purchase on Tuesday, reminding liberals that Biden drove a hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe around the White House grounds to promote his EV initiative. 

"I don't remember you being a Karen when Biden was a car salesman for Jeep," co-owner of Trending Politics Collin Rugg replied to Warren's post. 

"Teslas are the #1 most American-made cars. Unlike GM, Ford, and Stellantis, every Tesla sold in America is built in America by American workers. Tesla's Fremont factory in California is the single most productive auto plant in North America," EV journalist Sawyer Merritt said in a post. 

"I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American," Trump announced late Monday night. 

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL BUY A TESLA TO SUPPORT ELON MUSK AND HIS 'BABY'

"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s 'baby,' in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for," Trump said on Truth Social. 

Trump's show of support for Musk comes on the heels of protests at Tesla showrooms across the country that have escalated to several instances of vandalism. The demonstrations began as protests against Elon Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has led to massive federal workforce reductions and unveiled wasteful government spending. 

"It's really terrible that there's so much violence being perpetrated against people at Tesla, Tesla supporters, Tesla owners, Tesla stores. These are innocent people who have done nothing wrong," Musk told reporters on Tuesday. 

"Elon Musk is being attacked, and his companies are being targeted because he is fighting to put Americans first," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., defended Musk in a post. 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and fellow Republican House members have called for investigations into the numerous vandalism cases against Tesla vehicles and charging stations across the country. Trump labeled the Tesla attacks "domestic terrorism."

Former President Joe Biden's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought to "de-gender" bathrooms and locker rooms in agency offices as part of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) push, according to an unearthed memo confirmed to Fox News Digital.

A Biden-era EPA internal memo, obtained by the watchdog Functional Government Initiative and first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, recommended that the federal environmental agency "increase participation in voluntary self-disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)" and "incorporate LGBTQIA+ prospective employees into hiring and recruiting activities."

The Biden administration also pushed to "de-gender restroom/locker room access" at agency offices, "add gender pronouns in MS 360" and "change style manual requirement for gendered honorifics in Agency Correspondence," according to the 38-page report, which the EPA confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The agency highlighted their efforts toward "increased access to gender-neutral bathrooms," revealing that a nationwide survey conducted by the Office of Facilities Management found that, at the time, there were 155 gender-neutral bathrooms and locker rooms for the entire agency. 

EPA TERMINATES BIDEN ADMIN'S GREEN GRANTS WORTH $20B, ZELDIN SAYS

Additionally, according to the memo, only four of their 10 regional offices did not have gender-neutral bathrooms.

Another objective of the Biden EPA included ensuring "inclusion of LGBTQIA+ employees in recruitment efforts, career development and training, data collection, analysis, and measurement, DEIA employee engagement, sustainability, accountability, and accessibility."

STACEY ABRAMS SLAMMED AFTER DEFENDING $2 BILLION IN BIDEN-ERA EPA FUNDS TO BUY GREEN ENERGY APPLIANCES

In accordance with Biden's order making DEI a priority of his administration, the EPA charged "all agencies with taking steps to ensure that Federal employees have their gender identities accurately reflected and identified in the workplace, including by exploring opportunities to expand access to gender-neutral facilities inside federal workplaces."

"Under the leadership of then-EPA administrator Michael Regan, in 2021, the agency created an employee-led ‘DEIA implementation team’ that was empowered to establish workgroups and take DEI-related actions," Functional Government Initiative said in a statement that was posted on X and shared with the Free Beacon. "The goal, according to the Biden EPA, was to ‘embed’ DEI agency-wide, create ‘cultural change,’ and establish the agency as a DEI model for the entire federal government."

The report comes as President Donald Trump's EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reworks the key environmental agency with the termination of hundreds of millions in DEI and environmental grants issued by the previous administration. 

The EPA has been working closely with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the cost-cutting department led by Elon Musk, to make the spending cuts.

"I am canceling over 400 DEI and Environmental Justice grants across 9 grant programs totaling $1.7 BILLION, bringing @EPA's total savings to over $2 BILLION!" Zeldin wrote in a post on X on Monday. "This fourth round of EPA/@DOGE cuts was our biggest yet."

Fox News Digital reached out to Biden and the Functional Government Initiative for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

FIRST ON FOX: A conservative beer company is pushing back after beer giant Anheuser-Busch filed a trademark claim against it after the company went viral for criticizing Bud Light’s association with a transgender influencer.

"Anheuser-Busch has filed a federal trademark opposition before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in an act of corporate revenge against Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right Beer," the Conservative Dad beer company said in a press release accompanied by a new video this week, explaining that Anheuser-Busch is claiming Ultra Right Beer's trademark request infringes on the trademark of Michelob Ultra. 

Anheuser-Busch wrote in its opposition that it "believes that it will be damaged by the registration of the mark ULTRA RIGHT" and pointed out that it has "marketed and sold billions of products in the United States under the arbitrary and inherently distinctive mark ULTRA and variants."

CONSERVATIVE BEER COMPANY EXPANDS PRODUCT LINE WITH 'PERFECT DRINK' IN BORDER-THEMED PARODY VIDEO

The trademark filing comes roughly two years after Ultra Right Beer's launch video, which featured founder Seth Weathers smashing a Bud Light can with a baseball bat, went viral in response to Bud Light partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. 

The partnership sparked a social media firestorm causing beer drinkers to boycott Bud Light which appeared to have a significant impact on the brand’s domestic sales. 

"This isn’t about trademarks – it’s about retaliation," Weathers said in a statement. 

"Anheuser-Busch is furious we helped expose their woke disaster with Bud Light, so now they’re using their billion-dollar legal machine in an attempt to financially bleed us dry. But unlike them, we’re not just a corporation looking to maximize profit – we’re a movement of Americans who have had enough."

"Applicant’s ULTRA RIGHT Mark is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake or to deceive consumers with consequent injury to Opposer," the beer giant, who is the opposer, continued, "The likelihood of confusion, mistake or deception that would also arise from concurrent use and registration of Applicant’s ULTRA RIGHT Mark with Anheuser-Busch’s use and registration of its ULTRA Marks is that (a) persons are likely to believe that Applicant’s products have their source in Opposer, or (b) that Applicant and its products are a version of Opposer’s ULTRA Marks or are in some way legitimately connected, associated or affiliated with, sponsored, approved, endorsed or licensed by Opposer when, in fact, they are not."

Ultra Right's press release explains that Anheuser-Busch is a $100+ billion corporation that has a "long history" of using its resources to "crush opposition."

'NEW GOLDEN AGE': ANTI-WOKE BEER COMPANY TEAMS UP WITH 'MAGA BABE' INFLUENCERS TO LAUNCH NEW CALENDAR

The release also points to a 2023 Newsweek article citing an expert who expressed the opinion that the beer giant was unlikely to win any potential trademark case. 

"Now, instead of accepting the consequences of their own marketing disaster, they are weaponizing the legal system to erase a conservative small business that dared to call them out," the press release says. 

"For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has been brewing the world’s most beloved and well-known beers, and we will continue to protect and enforce the trademark rights of our iconic brands as we always have," an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

Companies are permitted by law to continue selling products while trademark applications and disputes are pending. 

In response to what Ultra Right calls "corporate intimidation," the company is launching a GiveSendGo campaign to raise funds to fight for its trademark. 

The press release also included a hint at the return of Ultra Right Beer’s "signature rebellion," which is a reference to the viral launch video with the baseball bat that was seen over 100 million times on social media when it launched. 

Additionally, the company announced a Buy 1, Get 1 Free promotion on Conservative Dad’s Border Wall Tequila, with proceeds supporting the legal fight.

"They think they can drag this case out long enough to force us into submission through excessive legal fees," Weathers said. "I only have one response: We will Fight! Fight! Fight!"

FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans are pushing legislation to ban Chinese nationals from getting student visas in the U.S.

Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., has been sounding the alarm for weeks over what he sees as the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) exploitation of the American visa program meant for studying in the U.S.

He is now expected to introduce the Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act, or the Stop CCP VISAs Act, on Friday.

JOHN MOOLENAAR: WE DON’T WANT A COMPANY THAT IS AFFILIATED WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY

The bill is still being circulated for co-sponsors, Fox News Digital was told, but people expected to support the bill include Reps. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Brandon Gill, R-Texas.

"Every year, we allow nearly 300,000 Chinese nationals to come to the U.S. on student visas. We’ve literally invited the CCP to spy on our military, steal our intellectual property, and threaten national security," Moore said.

"Just last year, the FBI charged five Chinese nationals here on student visas after they were caught photographing joint US-Taiwan live-fire military exercises. This cannot continue."

FIRST-EVER 'CHINA WEEK' TAKES AIM AT AMERICA’S DEPENDENCE ON BEIJING

He called on Congress to act on "China's exploitation of our student visa program."

"It’s time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals," he said.

The incident Moore referenced involved five former University of Michigan students who graduated in May as part of a joint program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China accused of spying on the U.S. military.

They are accused of covering up surveillance efforts on a National Guard facility in Michigan during a training operation with the Taiwanese military.

The former students, all Chinese citizens, were confronted by a sergeant major of the Utah National Guard in August 2023, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court Oct. 1.

Moore's legislation is likely to be challenged by Asian American and progressive groups, as previously similar attempts have been.

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The group Asian Americans Advancing Justice previously criticized Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., for calling for a ban on Chinese nationals studying in the U.S.

"It is unconscionable to suggest limiting the fields of study or remove visa options for all students from China. This rhetoric follows the racial profiling and racist statements made by public officials such as FBI Director Wray and President Trump," the group said in 2020.

A federal judge tore into lawyers from the Justice Department on Wednesday, homing in on a retweet from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about disqualifying transgender troops from service "without an exemption."

U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee who previously stated that the idea of only two sexes is not "biologically correct," heard arguments on the Pentagon’s attempt to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military as trans rights groups seek a preliminary injunction to halt the policy entirely.

During the hearing, Reyes pointed to a post on X in which Hegseth quoted, "Pentagon says transgender troops are disqualified from service without an exemption." The post in question linked to a Fox News Digital article about an internal Pentagon memo.

The memo, revealed in a court filing late last month, says U.S. service members who are transgender or otherwise exhibit gender dysphoria are prohibited from military service unless they obtain an exemption.

SHELTERS, JESUS, AND MISS PAC-MAN: US JUDGE GRILLS DOJ OVER TRANS POLICY IN DIZZYING LINE OF QUESTIONING

When Reyes questioned government lawyers that Hegseth’s repost made it appear that all transgender troops would be disqualified from service, DOJ lawyer Jason Manion argued that Hegseth was only using "shorthand" for the broader policy. 

"Look at the words in the policy," said Manion.

"No!" said Reyes. "Do you really think you can do that, say one thing in public and then come here to court and say something else entirely?"

Reyes then said that Manion had until Monday to deliver a declaration from Hegseth that he didn’t actually mean all transgender people.

"His words are that this covers all transgender people. I'm not going to speculate that he was just being sloppy," Reyes said of Hegseth.

DOJ ISSUES COMPLAINT ABOUT FEDERAL JUDGE'S ‘MISCONDUCT’ WHILE PRESIDING OVER MILITARY TRANS BAN COURT CASE

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 that requires the Defense Department to update its guidance regarding "trans-identifying medical standards for military service" and to "rescind guidance inconsistent with military readiness." 

Government lawyers have argued that Trump and Hegseth have broad authority to set policies for national defense.

As of December, around 4,240 active duty, guard, and reserve service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

President Donald Trump said during a meeting with the Irish prime minister in the Oval Office on Wednesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "has become a Palestinian." 

"Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I'm concerned. You know, he's become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He's not Jewish anymore. He's a Palestinian," Trump said. 

Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history. Trump made the remark after a reporter asked him about lowering taxes. 

CONSERVATIVES FLIP SCRIPT ON SENATE DEMS PUSHING IDENTICAL TALKING POINTS AGAINST TRUMP: 'LIKE ROBOTS'

"We are planning to lower taxes. Yeah. If the Democrats behave," Trump said, before condemning outbursts and other disruptive behavior from Democrats during his first address to Congress last week. 

Trump particularly took issue with Democrats' behavior when he recognized the mothers of two women murdered by illegal immigrants, as well as when Trump celebrated a boy with cancer becoming an honorary Secret Service agent. 

DEMS CLAIM TRUMP KILLED IMMIGRATION BILL BUT HIS SUCCESS ON THE BORDER PROVES HE HAD THE RIGHT IDEA: EXPERT

"The only thing they liked is when they heard about the death taking place with Ukraine, that they were happy about," Trump said of Democrats. 

FIRST ON FOX: The Environmental Protection Agency announced the "most consequential day of deregulation" in U.S. history Wednesday, putting the Biden administration's Clean Power Plan 2.0, which cracked down on power plants, on the chopping block.

"President Trump promised to kill the Clean Power Plan in his first term, and we continue to build on that progress now," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an announcement, first obtained by Fox News Digital. "In reconsidering the Biden-Harris rule that ran afoul of Supreme Court case law, we are seeking to ensure that the agency follows the rule of law while providing all Americans with access to reliable and affordable energy." 

The Biden administration finalized its Clean Power Plan 2.0 in April 2024, cracking down on existing and future fossil fuel-fired power plants as part of the previous administration's sweeping climate agenda. The plan required existing coal-fired power plants and new baseload natural gas-fired power plants to install carbon capture technology by 2032 in an effort to effectively eliminate carbon emissions by 2050. 

The 2.0 plan was touted in 2024 as one of the Biden administration's most "aggressive" climate policies, while conservative lawmakers slammed it as one that could have a "catastrophic" impact on the nation's electric grid. 

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The Clean Power 2.0 plan followed the 2015 Clean Power Plan under the Obama administration, which worked to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants and set national standards for carbon emissions. The Supreme Court in 2022, however, struck down the Clean Power Plan in the case West Virginia v. EPA, curbing the agency's ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions. 

"The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 2015 Clean Power Plan in West Virginia v. EPA, holding that the major questions doctrine barred EPA from misusing the Clean Air Act to manipulate Americans’ energy choices and shift the balance of the nation’s electrical fuel mix," the EPA noted in its press release. "The Biden Administration issued its own rule in 2024 which many critics say is just another attempt to achieve the unlawful fuel-shifting goals of the Clean Power Plan." 

The EPA continued in its press release that the Trump administration's executive orders and actions to "Power the Great American Comeback," combined with the announcement putting the Biden administration's "Woke Green Agenda" under reconsideration, marks the "most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history."

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"These announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States," the press release stated. "While accomplishing EPA’s core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump’s promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions." 

Zeldin posted a video announcing the EPA is taking 31 actions Wednesday to "advance President Trump's Day 1" executive orders to "Power the Great American Comeback."

"I'm pleased to make the largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history,"  he said in the video, announcing that the Clean Power Plan 2.0 is on the chopping block. "The Environmental Protection Agency is initiating 31 historic actions to fulfill President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, revitalize our auto industry, restore the rule of law and give power back to the States. EPA will be reconsidering many suffocating rules that restrict nearly every sector of our economy and cost Americans trillions of dollars."

Zeldin went on to say that the EPA was reconsidering rules on mercury and air toxic standards, as well as reconsidering rules on light, medium and heavy, cars and trucks, and "so-called social cost of carbon."

Zeldin has been on a warpath against corruption and mismanagement within the EPA in recent weeks, including making waves Tuesday evening when he announced the agency was terminating $20 billion in grants awarded by the Biden administration for climate and clean-energy projects.

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Eight nonprofits had been awarded the funds, according to Zeldin, including the Coalition for Green Capital, Climate United Fund, Power Forward Communities, Opportunity Finance Network, Inclusiv and the Justice Climate Fund. These organizations have partnered with various groups, including Rewiring America, Habitat for Humanity and the Community Preservation Corporation.

"This termination is based on substantial concerns regarding program integrity, objections to the award process, programmatic fraud, waste and abuse and misalignment with the agency's priorities, which collectively undermine the fundamental goals and statutory objectives of the awards," Zeldin said in a Tuesday video announcement. 

"The EPA will once again be an exceptional steward of your tax dollars," Zeldin said. "I will have it no other way." 

Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz and Landon Mion contributed to this report. 

President Donald Trump said during a meeting with the Irish prime minister in the Oval Office on Wednesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "has become a Palestinian." 

Trump made the remark while speaking out against Democrats' reactions to his joint address to Congress last week.

"Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I'm concerned. You know, he's become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He's not Jewish anymore. He's a Palestinian," Trump said. 

Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history. His office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

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Trump's comment came during his response to a reporter's question about lowering taxes. 

"We are planning to lower taxes. Yeah. If the Democrats behave," Trump said, before condemning outbursts and other disruptive behavior from Democrats during his first address to Congress last week. 

Trump particularly took issue with Democrats' behavior when he recognized the mothers of two women murdered by illegal immigrants, as well as when Trump celebrated a boy with cancer becoming an honorary Secret Service agent. 

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"The only thing they liked is when they heard about the death taking place with Ukraine, that they were happy about," Trump said of Democrats. 

"Pocahontas was very happy," Trump said, using his term for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

"These people are sick. They don't know what's happening in the real world. The Democrats have to get their act together, and if they don't vote, then what?" Trump said. "You're going to have taxes that are going to go through the roof. You're going to have a very bad time. You're going to have some very bad things happen and people are going to blame the Democrats."

Trump was asked earlier if a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been scheduled. He declined to comment but championed the negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Ukraine accepted the terms of a potential ceasefire, and Trump said Wednesday it was now up to Russia whether to accept the terms of the deal. 

"We had a great success yesterday. We have a full cease-fire when it, if it kicks in, we have to see, it's up to Russia now. But we've had a good relationship with both parties," Trump said. "People are going to Russia right now as we speak, and hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath -- and it's a bloodbath that is taking place over there." 

On average, Trump said, between 2,000 and 3,000 young people are being killed in the Ukraine-Russian conflict per week. 

"And that stupid war, that would have never happened if I were president," Trump said, also repeating the claim that the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel would never have happened if he were in office at the time.

As far as past conversations with Putin, Trump said, "I've gotten some positive messages, but a positive message means nothing." 

"This is a very serious situation. This is a situation that could lead to World War Three, and Biden should have never let it happen," Trump said. "Incompetence allowed this to happen. This shouldn't have happened. October 7th in the Middle East should have never happened with Israel. The horrible, leaving the way they left Afghanistan should have never happened. Inflation should have never happened."