U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is stepping down, the State Department confirmed Thursday, as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson, said Brink would be leaving her role, though she didn’t give a specific departure date. 

The news comes at a critical moment for U.S. foreign policy as officials work to ease tensions and end the grinding war in Eastern Europe.

Brink, a career diplomat with decades of experience, was nominated by then-President Joe Biden and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in May 2022, just months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

2 CHINESE MEN CAPTURED IN UKRAINE, ZELENSKYY CLAIMS

She became the first U.S. ambassador to serve in Kyiv since 2019, helping reestablish America’s diplomatic presence after embassy staff were evacuated in the early days of the war.

Before serving in Ukraine, Brink was the U.S. ambassador to Slovakia and worked in top roles at the National Security Council. She speaks Russian and is known for strongly defending U.S. interests in Eastern Europe.

US WILL KNOW IN 'MATTER OF WEEKS' IF RUSSIA IS SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE OR USING 'DELAY TACTIC': RUBIO

While in Ukraine, Brink was a vocal supporter of American military aid and often appeared publicly with Ukrainian leaders. Her resignation comes as the Trump administration shifts focus toward ending the war through diplomacy and renewed talks with Russia.

Also on Thursday, U.S. and Russian officials held rare face-to-face talks in Istanbul aimed at repairing long-strained diplomatic relations. The State Department said the two sides exchanged formal notes to finalize an agreement that would stabilize banking services for each country’s embassies, a step seen as key to keeping diplomatic missions operational.

In recent years, both countries have imposed financial restrictions on each other’s embassies and slashed staffing due to the fallout from the war. A finalized banking deal could open the door to restoring some of those lost diplomatic connections.

The State Department said follow-up talks are expected, though no date has been set.

Brink’s departure lands at a moment of major transition in U.S. foreign policy. Her exit may also clear the way for a new ambassador more closely aligned with the Trump administration’s push for a ceasefire deal.

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The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chinese officials acknowledged behind closed doors at a December meeting that their government was responsible for a series of cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure, according to a Wall Street Journal report based on information from people familiar with the matter.

The news comes as the two countries continue to spar over tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and reciprocated and upped by President Xi Jinping.

In an exclusive, the Wall Street Journal reported that those who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed Chinese officials connected the cyberattacks on U.S. ports, airports, utilities and other important targets to America’s support for Taiwan.

The report noted that Biden administration officials learned of the discovery first hand during a summit in Geneva, as their Chinese counterparts blamed the campaign, referred to as Volt Typhoon, on a criminal organization.

CHINA ATTACKED US WITH HACKERS. WE NEED TO HIT BACK HARD

Chinese officials also accused the U.S. of pointing blame at China based on their imagination.

The White House and State Department did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.

The Chinese Embassy told FOX Business News that China "firmly opposes" the smear attacks against it without any factual basis.

BIDEN ADMIN DOUBLING TARIFFS ON CHINESE SOLAR PANEL PARTS AFTER REPORTED 'INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE'

"Cyberspace is characterized by strong virtuality, difficulty in tracing origins, and diverse actors, making the tracing of cyberattacks a complex technical issue," Embassy spokesperson Mr. Liu Pengyu said. "We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude when characterizing cyber incidents, basing their conclusions on sufficient evidence rather than unfounded speculation and accusations.

"The US needs to stop using cybersecurity to smear and slander China, and stop spreading all kinds of disinformation about the so-called Chinese hacking threats," he added.

The Biden administration warned state leaders in March 2024 that cyberattacks by hackers linked to Iran and China could take down water systems across the U.S. if cybersecurity measures were not taken out of precaution.

FORMER GOOGLE ENGINEER INDICTED FOR STEALING AI SECRETS TO AID CHINESE FIRMS

Then Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael S. Regan and Jake Sullivan, the assistant to Biden for national security affairs, said in an email to state governors that cyberattacks were targeting water and wastewater systems throughout the U.S.

In the letter, the two Biden administration officials said the attacks could disrupt clean and safe drinking water and impose significant costs on affected communities.

While one attack was linked to Iran, the other threat came from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hacker group, Volt Typhoon, which compromised information technology of critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water facilities in the U.S. and its territories.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WARNS STATES OF POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON WATER SYSTEMS FROM FOREIGN HACKERS

As U.S. officials issued warnings about Volt Typhoon’s effort, they also accused the PRC of attempting to get into U.S. computer networks in an effort to unleash cyberattacks during any unforeseen conflicts in the future.

The FBI said in December that hackers in Beijing infiltrated networks of "multiple" telecommunication companies, gaining access to customer call records and private communications of "a limited number of individuals." But the targets, the FBI noted in December, were Americans involved in government and politics.

A federal investigation uncovered a massive cyber-espionage campaign by the Chinese government, targeting U.S. telecommunications networks to steal Americans' information. A top White House official confirmed in December that at least eight U.S. telecom companies had been affected by the hacking spree. 

The campaign was believed to have started a year or two ago, the Associated Press reported.

During President Donald Trump's second public meeting with his Cabinet at the White House on Thursday, he said there will soon be a deadline by which illegal immigrants must be gone from the U.S., or they will not be allowed to try to reenter legally. 

The president's comments came as he expressed a willingness to work with undocumented immigrants "right from the beginning" to help them return to the country legally — that is, if they leave "in a nice way," the president added.   

"We're going to work with people, so that if they go out in a nice way, and go back to their country, we're going to work with them right from the beginning on trying to get them back in legally," Trump said following comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

TRUMP ADMIN UNVEILS PLAN COSTING MIGRANTS MASSIVE FINE FOR EVERY DAY THEY DON'T SELF-DEPORT

"So it gives you real incentive, otherwise they'll never come back — they'll never be allowed once a certain period of time goes by, which is probably going to be 60 days."

The Trump administration is currently undergoing a massive voluntary removal effort, with federal officials encouraging immigrants residing illegally in the U.S. to self-deport through the administration's CBP Home app. More than 5,000 immigrants self-deported over the last month, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data.   

"It's a very big self-deport operation that we're starting," Noem said during Thursday's Cabinet meeting.

FLASHBACK: MITT ROMNEY MOCKED IN 2012 FOR SELF-DEPORTATION CONCEPT THAT HAS NOW BECOME A REALITY 

Noem pointed out that currently, under the Alien Registration Act and the president's Executive Orders, if undocumented immigrants still have not registered their status with the federal government, they can be criminally charged, face fines of up to $1,000 per day "and they'll never get the chance to come back to America."

She also added that the agency is working on securing the funding and resources to ensure deported immigrants land on their feet when they return to their home country, pointing to programs in places like Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia that are offering food and housing assistance.

"[We are] making sure that these folks have the opportunity to go home, so that they can get the chance to come back to America is important," Noem told Trump and his Cabinet.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not hear back in time for publication. 

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

Here's what's happening…

-Trump tariff spike fuels new House bill to lock China out of US government tech

-Dems fight bill to stop illegal immigrant voting despite polls showing voter support

-Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax agenda scores major victory in House despite GOP rebellion threats

DOGE Chief Elon Musk says the organization is set to save the U.S. government more than $150 billion in cuts to waste and fraud in FY 2026.

Musk made the comment during a public Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday. 

"We anticipate savings in FY 26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion. And, I mean, and some of it is just absurd. Like people getting unemployment insurance who haven't been born yet," Musk said…Read more

TRUMP CRACKDOWN: Trump admin warns states to comply with housing prisoners by their biological sex or face funding cutoff

'VERY GOOD PERSON': Trump praises Dem Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after slamming her last year: 'Very good person'

'99.9' PERCENT: Hegseth quips '99.9%' of DEI initiatives are gone from the military under Trump’s watch

'SAFEST IT GETS': State Dept upgrades travel advisory for El Salvador, considered safer than France, other European countries

SEALED THE DEAL: Russian-American ballerina released after being wrongfully detained in Moscow for over a year

'WORSE THINGS': China targets Hollywood films in retaliation of tariffs; Trump responds

TAKING SIDES: This Texas Republican congressman endorses Paxton over Cornyn in Senate primary brawl

'WOMEN AS BAIT': Conservative firebrand flips script on House Dem's 'gotcha' response to noncitizen voting crackdown

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MAHA AGENDA: Dr. Marty Makary advances out of key committee in bid for FDA confirmation

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: House scrambles to align with Senate on framework for Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

CALLING FOR ANSWERS: Hawley demands Zuckerberg testify on alleged ties between Meta, China

'OBSTRUCTIONIST POLICIES': Sanctuary Governors Tim Walz, JB Pritzker, Kathy Hochul called to testify before Congress

FIRST ON FOX: 3 senators lead effort to ban Chinese-owned GNC from military installations over spying concerns

'WIN-WIN': FDA phasing out some animal testing in 'win-win' for ethics and public health: commissioner

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BOMBSHELL LINK: Newly surfaced report provides more clues on COVID outbreak source and timeline

'NEXT FEW DAYS': Gabbard says RFK, MLK Jr records ‘ready to release’ in days, has 'hunters' looking at FBI, CIA for more files

MIDTERM MOMENTUM: GOP voters pick a favorite to challenge Dem governor in early battleground straw poll

'HAD TO READ IT SEVERAL TIMES': DOGE reveals bizarre findings of unemployment insurance claims survey
 

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

Attorneys for anti-Israel protester Mahmoud Khalil criticized a two-page letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying the entire case against their client rests on shaky allegations. 

The letter, which was filed in an immigration court this week and published Thursday, said the Trump administration has the authority to expel noncitizens whose presence in the country damages U.S. foreign policy interests.

The memo alleges that Khalil, a legal permanent U.S. resident and Columbia University graduate student who served as spokesperson for anti-Israel protesters during large demonstrations, participated in "antisemitic protests and disruptive activities." His presence in the U.S. would have "potentially serious adverse foreign consequences, and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest."

MAHMOUD KHALIL BLAMES 'ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISM' FOR ARREST IN FIRST STATEMENT SINCE ICE DETAINMENT

"Two pages, that's it," Marc Van Der Hout, one of Khalil's lawyers, told reporters during a virtual news conference Thursday. "Yet this administration wants to silence Mahmoud, wants to silence people speaking out against the government of Israel or the government of the United States."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House. 

The Trump administration is attempting to deport Khalil over his activities at the Ivy League university last year. Federal Judge Jamee Comans said she will rule Friday on whether Khalil can be deported or if he must be freed.

"I think the bigger picture here that we all need to keep focus on is that tomorrow's hearing has momentous implications, whether the government can act in violation of the Constitution, to deport someone, is front and center, and our position is that it cannot," said Johnny Sinodis, another one of Khalil's lawyers. 

TRUMP VOWS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST MAHMOUD KHALIL WAS 'FIRST ARREST OF MANY TO COME'

The attorneys also accused the Trump administration of forum "shopping" in an effort to argue their case against Khalil in a friendly court.

"Just as the government was trying to manipulate jurisdictional rules to keep Mahmood out of federal courts in New York and New Jersey and into the federal circuit in Louisiana where the law is very favorable to the government," said Baher Azmy, the legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Azmy said government lawyers are trying to argue the case in immigration court, which "has to largely accept what the secretary of state has said about Mahmood and largely defer to the executive's conclusions about the fact that he is a threat to foreign policy simply because the secretary of state says without analysis or evidence."

Khalil was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on March 8. The Trump administration has targeted noncitizen, anti-Israel protesters for deportation.

After his arrest, Khalil was taken to Louisiana and Rubio revoked his green card.

Khalil has characterized his arrest as "indicative of anti-Palestinian racism."

A former Marine Corps officer who deployed in the Iraq War and later served at the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration under former President Barack Obama is the first major candidate to jump into the high-profile campaign for an open congressional seat in swing state New Hampshire.

Democrat Maura Sullivan, in an interview with Fox News, said "our country clearly needs a new generation of leadership, period. And the Democratic Party needs new leadership, and I'm running to be one of those leaders."

Sullivan said in a statement announcing her candidacy in the race to succeed four-term Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas, "I am stepping up to serve because the issues we are facing aren’t Democrat or Republican issues, they’re American issues."

Pappas last week launched a campaign to succeed longtime Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who recently said she would retire at the end of next year rather than bid for a fourth six-year term representing New Hampshire in the Senate.

POPULAR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO TRUMP URGED TO RUN FOR SENATE IN KEY SWING STATE MAKES HIS DECISION

His seat, New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, covers the eastern half of the northern New England state, and Republicans are aiming to flip it from blue to red in next year's midterm elections. The race is expected to be expensive and competitive.

This is Sullivan's second bid for Congress in the district. She came in second to Pappas in a crowded 11-candidate Democrat primary in 2018, when the congressman first won the office. 

Sullivan, a New Hampshire Democratic Party vice chair, took aim at President Donald Trump and his most visible White House adviser in a campaign launch video she posted on social media.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TAKES AIM AT TRUMP, MUSK IN SENATE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

"I saw too many of my fellow Marines give their lives for this country to just sit by and watch Donald Trump and Elon Musk tear it down," Sullivan said in a video shared on X. "They’re driving up costs for New Hampshire families, making it even more difficult to own a home and pay the bills. And that's why I'm running for Congress, to protect the promise of America and ensure a better future for our kids."

Sullivan, in her Fox News Digital interview, said that "I'm hearing from folks all around New Hampshire that they're worried, they're scared, they're frustrated, and I am too."

HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN CHAIR TELLS FOX NEWS WHAT HE'S MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENDING THE MAJORITY

While Sullivan is the first major candidate to enter the race, she likely won't be the last.

Former state Sen. Tom Sherman, a physician and the 2022 Democrat gubernatorial nominee in New Hampshire, told Fox News he's "definitely interested" in a potential bid for Congress and said he is "keeping my options open."

DEM CONGRESSMAN LASHES MUSK IN OPENING SALVO OF POPULIST BID IN 2026 SWING-STATE SENATE RACE

Also mulling a run is former state Sen. John Morgan, a cybersecurity executive who told Fox News he's "kicking the tires" on a possible congressional campaign. 

"New Hampshire is part of my heart and soul," Morgan said, adding that "it's really a time that calls for bold leadership."

Democrat state Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka is also thought to be a possible contender for the nomination.

In the race for the Republican nomination, former state senator and former executive councilor Russell Prescott, the 2024 nominee who lost to Pappas, is mulling another run for Congress.

So are Hollie Noveletsky, Joe Kelly Levasseur and Chris Bright, who came in second, third and fourth, respectively, behind Prescott in the 2024 GOP primary in the district.

State Attorney General John Formella is also thought to be a possible contender for the GOP nomination.

New U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency records show that more than 25,000 of the agency’s detainer requests were declined by sanctuary jurisdictions throughout the country over the last few years, resulting in the release of dozens of illegal immigrants convicted of homicide.

A total of 72 criminal aliens with homicide convictions or charges were released from U.S. jails despite having ICE detainers between Oct. 1, 2022, and Feb. 6, 2025, according to ICE data provided to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), which tracks the immigration laws of states and local municipalities.

Seventeen of those releases came from just three detention centers: the Illinois River Corrections Center and Santa Clara County jails, which released six, and the Stateville Correctional Center in Illinois, which released five.

THOUSANDS LEAVE COUNTRY VOLUNTARILY AMID TRUMP SELF-DEPORT PUSH, DHS SAYS

The data comes as debate over "sanctuary" jurisdictions, those that limit or ban local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, has intensified as President Donald Trump has doubled down on his campaign promise of mass deportations.

Trump has hinted at federal action against the jurisdictions in recent weeks, including a Truth Social post Thursday in which the president threatened to withhold federal funding.

"No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims," Trump wrote in the post. "They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!"

Meanwhile, the ICE data provided insight into which jurisdictions were the least compliant with the agency’s detainer requests. Those numbers show that more than half (52%) of the declined detainer requests were from jails in California, which is considered a sanctuary state by CIS.

IMMIGRATION THINK TANK COOKS UP SCHEME TO USE ‘SNITCHES’ TO FORCE MIGRANTS TO SELF-DEPORT

Other states with a large share of declined detainers were Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Illinois, Massachusetts and Connecticut are all sanctuary states, according to CIS, while Virginia does not have a statewide sanctuary policy but is home to dozens of jurisdictions with their own such policies.

"It’s shocking that over half of the declined detainers were refused by jails and prisons in California," Alfonso Aguilar, the director of Hispanic engagement at the American Principles Project, told Fox News Digital. "Gov. [Gavin] Newsom and mayors in the state have a lot of explaining to do to their constituents."

Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

The main jail in Santa Clara County was responsible for the highest number of declined detainers, the ICE data showed, with nearly 3,000 criminal aliens being released during the 2022-2025 period.

Cook County Jail in Illinois and Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Virginia were also responsible for a large share of released criminal aliens, with both declining more than 1,000 ICE detainers during the same period.

"What’s happening in these jurisdictions is unconscionable," Aguilar said. "Their leaders evidently don’t believe that illegal immigrants that have been charged or convicted with crimes should be removed from their communities. And by ignoring ICE detainers and releasing them into the community, they’re putting in danger the lives and property of their citizens."

EXCLUSIVE: Freshman GOP Congressman Gabe Evans revealed during an interview with Fox News Digital how Republicans have fared, and what's next, after 90 days of the new session of Congress have now passed.

"Obviously, the Republican conference has come together three times to do things that all the pundits said weren't going to happen," Evans told Fox News Digital this week. 

"We had a speaker on the first ballot and people said we weren't gonna be able to do that. We passed the reconciliation resolution out of the House. Folks said that that was gonna be a long shot. And we kept the government funded by passing a clean CR. And so three different times we've seen the conference pull together to do things many folks were doubtful that we could get done."

Evans said he believes that success will continue to "breed success."

"I think that is going to lay just some absolutely fantastic foundational groundwork for being able to actually deliver the big things that we need to deliver, particularly around cost of living and affordability," Evans said. 

'FULL COURT PRESS': FRESHMAN GOP LAWMAKER REVEALS BLUEPRINT TO FLIP SCRIPT ON GREEN ENERGY MANDATES

Evans, a former captain in the National Guard and former police officer, was elected to Congress in November, defeating incumbent Democrat Yadira Caraveo in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. 

Evans told Fox News Digital he has been very "excited" over the past three months to work on issues he campaigned on, including securing the border, ending the "scourge of fentanyl" and working to lower crime rates. 

"It's been really, really rewarding to be able to do things like pass the the Halt Fentanyl Act out of the U.S. House, introduce my bill, the Uplift Act, unhandcuffing police to locate and interdict foreign transgressors so that we can empower state and local law enforcements and sanctuary states like Colorado to work with their federal counterparts to get violent criminals and cartel members who are illegally present in the country and committing other crimes out of the community. For me that's been the flavor of the first three months."

TRUMP SAYS HE'LL 'TAKE A LOOK' AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS

Evans, who has introduced six bills since becoming a member of Congress, said he is looking forward to continuing moving legislation forward, including the bipartisan Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act and the Uplift Act. 

Over the next few months, Evans told Fox News Digital that his constituents in Colorado want Congress to focus on issues like cost of living. 

"We actually just did a town hall earlier this week. We had over 8,500 people dial in and stay on the line for that town hall and we did some just unofficial polling with all of the people who were on the line and the number one issue, no surprise, that came up was cost of living," Evans said. "So being able to deliver relief in that cost of Living space by being able to work on cutting through just some of the absolute punitive red tape that's out there that particularly impacts my district around things like energy production, like agricultural production, like air quality permitting."

Evans told Fox News Digital that Republicans will also continue to address crime and illegal immigration, which he says the president has already made important strides on. 

"In the crime space, what we're really seeing now is a push-pull between the priorities of the new administration and Congress and blue sanctuary cities and states like Colorado and like Denver," Evans explained. "So here's the fact, Denver's homicide rate in 2024 was double San Francisco's homicide rates. Colorado is number one in the nation again, three of the last five years running, for our auto theft rate. We're number two in the nation for teenagers overdosing and dying on fentanyl. We're the third most dangerous state in the country and so that fixing that problem requires a partnership between the federal state and local government."

"Under the new administration in this Congress, the federal government has suddenly gotten back to business and is doing their part. The border is secured. Border crossings are at historic lows and we have federal law enforcement agencies. who are going out into communities like mine and getting violent criminals and gangs and drug traffickers out of the community."

After Columbia University took steps to align itself with President Donald Trump's demands regarding antisemitism on its campus, the Trump administration now reportedly wants to take additional steps to ensure Columbia does not falter. 

Sources in the administration leaked to the Wall Street Journal that it is pursuing a legal arrangement, known as a consent decree, that would create a court-enforced compliance agreement to make certain that Columbia continues to align its policies and practices with executive directives on antisemitism laid down by Trump. 

After facing the threat of losing $400 million in federal funding over its response to alleged antisemitism on its campus, Columbia took steps to revise its policies and practices. These included changes to its protesting policies, an expansion of the school's Jewish studies program, placing the school's Middle Eastern studies program under new supervision, alterations to student disciplinary procedures and more.  

IVY LEAGUE ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL DENIES ALLEGATIONS AS JUDGE AWAITS DEPORTATION EVIDENCE

To ensure those changes last, the Trump administration is reportedly moving to usher in a consent decree, which could place Columbia in contempt of court if a judge determines that the school is not in compliance with the administration's directives. 

Such violations could lead to further monetary penalties for Columbia. While the Trump administration has said Columbia is on the "right track" to restore its $400 million in federal funding, no formal announcement has been made indicating it has been.

The consent decree must be voluntary, so Columbia must be a willing partner in the arrangement. Fox News Digital reached out to Columbia for comment, and to inquire whether the school plans to voluntarily enter into the consent decree, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Columbia can fight the move in court if it so chooses. 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT QUESTIONED FORMER COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT OVER CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM

Consent decrees are not an unusual tool for an administration to use to ensure its policy priorities are being implemented. Under former President Joe Biden, the government entered into consent decree arrangements with police departments to ensure they were implementing the president's desired criminal justice reforms. Biden also pursued these legal arrangements with various universities, including Brown and Rutgers, over antisemitism concerns after the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israeli, according to the Wall Street Journal.

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According to the sources who leaked the information about the consent decree arrangement, the Trump administration is pursuing the matter because it has doubts about Columbia's desire to follow the president's federal directives on antisemitism in good faith, despite its public actions to do so. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

President Donald Trump has extended the deadline to April 24 for states and school districts to certify compliance with his executive order banning DEI policies, a Department of Education spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital.

"Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right. When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal anti-discrimination requirements," acting Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor said in a statement. 

"Unfortunately, we have seen too many schools flout or outright violate these obligations, including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI."

So far, several states have either certified their compliance or signaled their intent to do so, while blue states like New York, Minnesota and Illinois signaled defiance this week in the face of the administration's funding threat. Education Secretary Linda McMahon commended Puerto Rico in a post on X "for being the first to certify that discrimination or harmful race-preferencing is not allowed in your classrooms."

TRUMP ADMIN WARNS STATES TO COMPLY WITH HOUSING PRISONERS BY THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX OR FACE FUNDING CUTOFF

"Every state that wants to continue receiving federal funds should follow suit," McMahon said Tuesday. 

On Monday, Willie Jett, Minnesota's education commissioner, said DEI-related funding threats "without backing in law or established requirements put key programs at risk that students and schools depend on every day."

Illinois' education board also issued a scathing response to the threats, saying the administration "is once again threatening funding for Illinois’ children and attempting to exert power over every district in the country — even as it claims it’s returning education to the states." 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOLED OUT OVER $200M TO UNIVERSITIES TO INJECT DEI INTO COUNSELING COURSES: REPORT

"Illinois will never waver in its commitment to helping every child from every community, background, socioeconomic status, gender, and race — which is consistent with federal and state laws and our values," the board said in a statement.

Federal funding accounts for 16% of the Chicago Public Schools budget — over $1 billion — and $6.4 billion statewide, according to a report from Axios Thursday.

Wisconsin is also bucking Trump's demands, and the state's Department of Public Instruction published a letter raising "several concerns" with the president's certification requirements Wednesday.

Benjamin Jones, an attorney representing Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction, wrote in a letter that Wisconsin had already "certified assurances of compliance with federal law," including "federal statutes related to nondiscrimination."

He called Trump's order "unauthorized, unlawful and unconstitutionally vague."

NEW YORK PREPARES TO BATTLE TRUMP’S DEI FUNDING THREATS IN FIGHT OVER SCHOOLS

"We are deeply concerned that the [certification requirement] allows the federal bureaucracy to threaten the loss of crucial education funding in order to dictate local education agency policies and decisions on what is best for kids," the letter states. 

But Trump is gaining support from other Republican-led states, and several are already pushing for stricter bans on DEI initiatives at public colleges. States like West Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, Texas and Ohio have considered or put forth measures to restrict DEI programs, training and scholarships. In Ohio, the state Senate passed a bill to eliminate DEI-related activities, while Indiana’s Senate proposed legislation that would prohibit faculty members from endorsing DEI with penalties for noncompliance.

New Hampshire's Department of Education has advised school leaders to evaluate their DEI programs for compliance with the new federal directives, and the Indiana Department of Education also announced it will collect signatures from districts and schools verifying their compliance.

The certification document cites Title IX, stating no one "shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

The certification comes after a Dear Colleague letter from the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights was sent in February telling K-12 school districts and universities to end all "admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life" on the basis of race.

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​In January, Trump issued the "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," executive order, which prohibits K-12 schools from teaching materials considered anti-American or promoting "gender ideology" and critical race theory. The order mandates that law enforcement investigate educational institutions suspected of promoting such content and criminally prosecute educators who assist in the social transition of minors.

The City of Newark and its Democratic mayor are facing pushback after filing a legal complaint against Immigration and Customs Enforcement for reopening a building to prep illegal immigrants for deportation without "following proper building safety protocols."

Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement that using the building, Delaney Hall, for processing people in the country illegally goes against state and local law, leading the city to file a lawsuit in the Essex County Superior Court at the end of March.

"The City was informed that construction work is taking place in the building without required permits," the mayor stated. "The Department of Engineering imposed a stop work order to halt any and all construction on the site today. Two ICE officials and the GEO Group facility director on site were made aware of the violations."

"In addition, ICE has failed to apply for construction permits, continued certificates of occupancy, and requests to change the building’s use," he added. Delaney Hall has just under 1,200 beds, according to USA Today.

TEXAS MAN WHO VOWED TO SHOOT, KILL ICE AGENTS, SAID NOEM SHOULD BE IN 'GULAG,' CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT: DOJ 

"The agreement between ICE and the GEO Group to use Delaney Hall with the intention of incarcerating and holding immigrants slated for deportation does not supersede the ordinances and procedures legislated by the City of Newark and the State of New Jersey." the Democrat continued. "As I have stated in the past, without compliance with requirements, Delaney Hall cannot lawfully open. We will not tolerate federal attempts to ignore or evade our laws and statutes, which apply to everyone."

The contractor who runs Delaney Hall, the GEO Group, said this is a political tactic and could put jobs and community safety "in jeopardy."

"The attempt by local and state officials to stop the opening of a lawful federal immigration processing center at the Delaney Hall facility in Newark is another unfortunate example of a politicized campaign by sanctuary city and open borders politicians in New Jersey to interfere with the federal government’s efforts to arrest, detain, and deport dangerous criminal illegal aliens in accordance with established federal law," a spokesperson for the group told Fox News Digital.

NEW JERSEY WOMAN ACCUSED OF HIRING TINDER DATE TO KILL HER EX AND HIS TEEN DAUGHTER: COURT DOCS

"These politically motivated tactics threaten both public safety and the local economy and are based on bogus claims about the Delaney Hall facility, which previously operated as a federal immigration processing center for six years under President Obama’s administration, without opposition from local political leaders," the statement continued.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond in time for publication.

Baraka, who's running for governor, criticized an ICE raid in the city in January, which led to the arrest of eight individuals.

"The problem with this is that none of these people were rapists, or murderers or criminals," Baraka said at the time. "The problem with it is that ICE went in there without a warrant." 

"We don't want an ICE detention in Newark. What we are concerned about is the erosion of the Constitution," he added.

GOP CANDIDATE RIPS BLUE STATE DIRECTIVE MEDDLING IN POLICE FORCE'S COOPERATION WITH ICE: 'HANDCUFFED'

New Jersey state laws on illegal immigrants have continued to spark pushback among Republicans, as state police were directed not to pay attention to warrants requested by the federal government for immigration enforcement purposes, according to an email obtained by Jack Ciattarelli's gubernatorial campaign and reviewed by Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

"The fact that my campaign received this email is evidence that brave and courageous law enforcement officers throughout New Jersey are angry about being handcuffed by liberal Democrat policies in Trenton, making our communities less safe," Ciattarelli, a Republican, said in a statement.

Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth quipped that the Trump administration has wiped out "99.9%" of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI) from the military during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. 

President Donald Trump questioned Hegseth about whether the military had eradicated 100% of DEI efforts under his leadership, as Cabinet members shared updates on their own agencies' attempts to purge such policies. 

"99.9, sir – I’m going to get that last point," Hegseth said. 

The Trump administration has unveiled multiple initiatives to curb DEI initiatives within the military, including signing an executive order in January barring transgender people from enlisting and serving openly in the military. 

However, two federal judges issued nationwide injunctions in March blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the ban while the lawsuit is pending. In a judgment rendered on March 19, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of Washington, D.C., said the Trump administration’s order was "soaked in animus," and discriminated based on a person's transgender status.

A SECOND FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST TRUMP'S REMOVAL OF TRANSGENDER TROOPS

"Indeed, the cruel irony is that thousands of transgender servicemembers have sacrificed – some risking their lives – to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the Military Ban seeks to deny them," Reyes wrote in the decision.

Trump signed another executive order in January banning DEI content in K–12 schools that receive federal funds. While military service academies were originally exempt since they are not classified as K–12 institutions, the Pentagon issued instructions to the Naval Academy to remove DEI-related books from its library in March. 

Included in the list of nearly 400 books purged are "How to be Anti-Racist" and "Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi, as well as "Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America," by former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams.

HERE'S THE LIST OF BOOKS THE NAVAL ACADEMY REMOVED FROM ITS LIBRARY DURING DEI PURGE 

Kendi is the founding director emeritus of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. He rose to national prominence following the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Hegseth has made clear that the Pentagon will not tolerate any DEI initiatives under his watch. 

"The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at @DeptofDefense," Hegseth said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in January. "The Pentagon will comply, immediately. No exceptions, name-changes, or delays." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

China announced the immediate restriction of imported American films as the country retaliated against President Donald Trump’s escalated U.S. tariffs on imported Chinese goods.

Trump was asked about his reaction to China’s latest move of targeting cultural exports from the U.S. on Thursday during a cabinet meeting.

"I think I've heard of worse things," the president said, which was followed by a room full of laughter.

Reuters reported that the financial impact would likely be minimal, according to industry experts, but mainly because box office returns have significantly declined in recent years in China.

TRUMP TARIFF SPIKE FUELS NEW HOUSE BILL TO LOCK CHINA OUT OF US GOVERNMENT TECH

For about 30 years, China imported 10 Hollywood movies annually. But the National Film Administration (NFA) in Beijing said on its website that Trump’s tariffs would continue to sour its domestic demand for American movies in China.

"We will follow market rules, respect the audience's choices, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported," the NFA said on its website.

China was once looked to by Hollywood to help boost the box office performance of movies, since the former is the world’s second-largest film market.

TRUMP SAYS HE'LL 'TAKE A LOOK' AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS

China’s domestic movies, though, are increasingly outperforming American movies shown in China. For instance, Pixar’s "Inside Out 2" was eclipsed by "Ne Zha 2," to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Reuters reported.

Hollywood movies now only scout for 5% of the overall box office recipes in China. Hollywood studios also only receive 25% of ticket sales in China, though in other markets, they take in double their profits.

It is not clear if China will allow several major blockbusters expected to hit the screen this year.

DONALD TRUMP'S ALLIES, SUPPORTERS AND DONORS, LED BY ELON MUSK, PUSH TO END TARIFF WAR

Walt Disney recently received permission to debut the new Marvel superhero movie, "Thunderbolts" on April 30, but others like Tom Cruise’s "Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning" and James Guns’ "Superman," could be in jeopardy.

The news comes after the White House said Thursday it had imposed 145% in new tariffs on China, up from the 125% Trump announced the day before.

While hiking rates on China, Trump said he would reduce tariffs on other countries that did not retaliate against the U.S. to his baseline of 10%.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling on the tech billionaire to testify on Capitol Hill after a Facebook whistleblower alleged the company had ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

"After yesterday’s shocking revelations, it’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to come to Capitol Hill, take an oath, and answer to America for how he has sold out our country’s security for China profits," Hawley wrote in a post on X that included images of his letter to Zuckerberg.

META IS ENDING ITS FACT-CHECKING PROGRAM

In his letter, Hawley lays out allegations made by Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams during a Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. Wynn-Williams served as the director of global public policy at Facebook for almost seven years.

CONGRESSMAN CALLS FOR ZUCKERBERG TO ANSWER ON CHINA DEALINGS

"We are engaged in a high-stakes AI arms race against China. And during my time at Meta, company executives lied about what they were doing with the Chinese Communist Party to employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public," Wynn-Williams told the committee.

The former Facebook employee claimed that the company deleted the account of a Chinese dissident living in the U.S. after pressure from Beijing and gave the CCP user data. She claims that Meta began briefing the CCP as early as 2015, and said they focused on AI and other forms of "critical emerging technologies."

The dissident that Wynn-Williams referenced was likely Guo Wengui, whose page was temporarily shut down in 2017. At the time, Facebook claimed Wengui violated community standards, according to Reuters.

Then-Sen. Marco Rubio grilled Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch about Wengui’s page in 2017. Stretch denied Facebook was ever pressured by China to delete the page.

Meta denies that it does business in China and refutes Wynn-Williams’ allegations.

"Sarah Wynn-Williams' testimony is divorced from reality and riddled with false claims. While Mark Zuckerberg himself was public about our interest in offering our services in China, and details were widely reported beginning over a decade ago, the fact is this: we do not operate our services in China today," a Meta spokesperson told Fox News.

Fox News’ Alexa Angelus contributed to this report.

Documents related to the 1968 assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. will be released in the coming days, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday during President Donald Trump's Cabinet meeting at the White House. 

Gabbard said that more than 100 people "working around the clock" have been scanning paperwork related to both killings and the subsequent investigations.

"These have been sitting in boxes in storage for decades," she told Trump, who was sitting a few feet away from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "They have never been scanned or seen before. We'll have those ready to release here within the next few days."

EPSTEIN FILES DEBACLE SPURS NEW INTEREST IN CONTENTS OF PROMISED RFK, MLK ASSASSINATION FILES

Trump said, "That's great" before moving to RFK Jr., the son of the former senator. 

"Bobby, how do you feel about that?" he asked. 

"I'm very gratified," RFK Jr., responded. 

"That's hitting close to home," Trump said. "I'm thinking about Bobby when that statement was made."

RFK Jr. then told Trump he was "very grateful."

"And you let Bobby see some of this because, you know, it's very personal stuff. But it's time," Trump told Gabbard, who replied that she spoke with the RFK Jr., who she said told her the "world needs to know the truth."

DEADLINE LOOMS FOR RELEASE OF JFK ASSASSINATION FILES

RFK Jr. was a teenager when his father was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, after addressing campaign supporters following his California Democratic presidential primary win. 

Upon taking office, Trump issued an executive order to declassify files on the assassinations of King, a civil rights icon who was gunned down on April 4, 1968, outside his second-floor Tennessee hotel room in Memphis, Sen. Kennedy and his brother, former President John F. Kennedy. 

In March, declassified documents related to the assassination of the former president were released. 

Gabbard said the government has "hunters" looking in storage lockers at the FBI, CIA and other agencies to see if there is anything else that hasn't been reported. 

"We're actively going out and trying to search out the truth," she said. 

FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., sent letters requesting testimony from "sanctuary governors" on Thursday as part of an ongoing committee investigation into sanctuary jurisdictions and their effects on public safety. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul were called to testify at a May 15 hearing before the committee to discuss the controversial sanctuary laws that are designed to protect illegal immigrants. 

"The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is continuing to investigate sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States and their impact on public safety and the effectiveness of federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws of the United States," Comer told Fox News Digital. "Sanctuary jurisdictions and their obstructionist policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests and remove dangerous criminals from American communities. This threatens Americans’ safety."

CALIFORNIA SHERIFF VOWS TO DEFY STATEWIDE SANCTUARY LAW: ‘THIS IS COMMON SENSE’

In addition to calling the Democratic governors before Congress, the committee is requesting: 

"All documents and communications among or between any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] related to the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] sanctuary status;

"All documents and communications among or between any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] and any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the federal government related to the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] sanctuary status."

President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social post Thursday morning, continuing his push to eliminate sanctuary cities: "No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!"

ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT MINIMIZES VIOLENT ACTS COMMITTED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS JUST 'A FEW CRIMES'

In March, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams testified in a similar hearing before the House Oversight Committee, where members of Congress confronted the Democratic mayors on whether sanctuary status deterred immigration agents and law enforcement officials from successfully enforcing federal laws. 

According to the Congressional Budget Office, roughly 2.4 million immigrants per year entered the U.S. between 2021 and 2024 under the Biden administration. 

While the exact number of illegal migrants currently living in sanctuary cities is uncertain, there is a clear concentration of migrants in metro areas operating under sanctuary laws, creating barriers for ICE and immigration law enforcement officials to enforce laws. 

DHS ENDING PARTICIPATION IN NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES IN SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS

"In addition to the efforts of the Trump Administration to ensure federal immigration enforcement can proceed unimpeded, Congress must determine whether further legislation is necessary to enhance border security and public safety," Comer told Fox News Digital. "It is imperative that federal immigration law is enforced and that criminal aliens are swiftly removed from our communities."

According to a New York Post report last week, a Department of Homeland Security official said the administration has made around 113,000 arrests and deported north of 100,000 illegal migrants. 

FIRST ON FOX: Efforts to remove Chinese-owned GNC from U.S. military bases gained momentum this week as Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., introduced companion legislation to a House-led bill targeting the nutrition retailer.

Some 85 GNC stores currently operate on American military installations. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., first introduced a bill to ban the company from doing business on American bases, citing national security and espionage concerns.

Now, fellow North Carolina Republican Budd is leading a similar effort in the Senate, decrying the stores as hubs to "exploit personal data." 

Budd, joined by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act, which would prohibit the Department of Defense from allowing businesses owned by adversarial nations – including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea – to operate on U.S. bases. 

CHINESE-OWNED GNC STORES OPERATING ON US MILITARY BASES SPARK NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS

At North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, four GNC stores service approximately 53,700 troops, nearly 10% of the U.S. Army.  

"Adversarial nations have no place owning and operating businesses on U.S. military bases, all the while gaining personal identification information of American citizens, just to turn a profit," Budd said in a statement. 

 "We shouldn’t be allowing Chinese-affiliated companies in the United States, let alone on our military bases. This bill will ensure our adversaries can’t exploit our military," Cotton added. 

While much of Congress has focused on preventing Chinese land acquisitions near U.S. military installations, Harrigan said he was alarmed to find that a Chinese-owned company was already operating on U.S. bases largely unnoticed.

"It’s even crazier [than foreign land purchases]," Harrigan told Fox News Digital last week. 

In June 2020, vitamin retailer GNC filed for bankruptcy and was fully acquired by Harbin Pharmaceuticals – a partially state-owned Chinese enterprise that had already purchased a 40% stake in the company in 2018.

​​​​HEGSETH SAYS PANAMA AGREED TO ALLOW US WARSHIPS TO TRAVEL 'FIRST AND FREE' THROUGH CANAL

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

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

Roughly 85 GNC stores on military installations operate under "long-term concessions" contracts, meaning they are operated, staffed and supplied directly by GNC.

"I’m glad to have Sen. Budd step in to help drive this forward and make sure CCP-owned companies have zero place inside America’s military infrastructure," Harrigan said of the new Senate bill.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a GNC spokesperson pushed back on the legislation, saying: "Our systems are independently monitored and meet strict federal standards, partaking in multiple audits throughout the year."

"We love our military customers. Their well-being, whether it’s their personal health or the safety of their information, will always come first. We’re honored to be part of their communities and will continue to safeguard their information just like we do all our customers," GNC said. 

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

In-store WiFi and mobile data tracking could reveal troop geolocations, Harrigan claimed, and loyalty apps or promo emails could be used to embed malicious links or software.

"This should be common sense," said Scott. "Allowing companies controlled by our biggest foreign adversaries – like Communist China, Russia and North Korea – to operate on U.S. military bases is a completely unacceptable threat." 

Some Democrats expressed opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on the House floor Thursday after only four of them voted in support of the legislation.

The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote as opposed to simply affirming that the voter is a United States citizen on a form. 

The list of eligible documents includes a passport, a government-issued photo ID, a birth certificate and other forms of identification. Only one of them would be needed. Opponents have argued the bill would make it more difficult for women who no longer use their maiden name to vote, whereas proponents say it’s a myth.

Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Calif., said it is a "modern-day poll tax, targeting American women and low-income Americans." 

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER FULFILLING ELECTION INTEGRITY PROMISE

During the floor debate, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., dismissed that argument.

"Bless my colleagues' hearts on the other side of the aisle, using women as a ‘gotcha’ for voting. I’ve never had to bring my birth certificate to prove that I was a registered voter. I have an ID that has a different name than my birth certificate," the Republican said.

"Since we're using women as bait here, maybe in the next round of debates they can explain to us exactly what a woman is." 

Other Democrats said it posed serious voter suppression questions. 

DEMS FIGHT BILL TO STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT VOTING DESPITE POLLS SHOWING VOTER SUPPORT

"This bill could force Georgians to pay more than $700 million just to register to vote. Y’all, that’s a poll tax, plain and simple, and it’s blatant voter suppression," Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga, said on the floor. "Voter suppression by any other name is still voter suppression. This bill violates the 14th, 19th and 24th amendments and … every tenant of a free and inclusive democracy. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this disgrace of a voter suppression bill."

Still, proponents believe it would help further secure elections from any noncitizens voting in elections. But opponents argue it's an unnecessary step given the uncommon nature of noncitizens voting and the additional paperwork burden.  

VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT TO VOTE, NEW POLL SAYS

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., posted that it’s a "myth" that "married women’s right to vote" would be restricted.

"The SAVE Act directs states to establish a process for discrepancies, such as a name change, so that individuals can still register to vote," Edwards tweeted. "This bill lists forms of identification that a voter could provide when registering to vote, but that voter only needs to provide one document, including a driver's license or any valid government-issued ID card."

People who are not American citizens are already not legally permitted to register to vote, which essentially makes the legislation an additional safeguard, according to those in favor of it. 

"It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. This could impact almost 150 million Americans," Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said in a video Thursday, adding it might be tough for people to get the proper identification like a birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship. "So the SAVE Act is not solving a problem. It’s creating one."

President Donald Trump supports the bill, and he recently issued an executive order for similar election reforms. The bill made it through the House last year with Republicans and a few Democrats supporting it, but it did not make it through the Senate and could face similar hurdles this time.

All Republicans who were present for the vote supported the act, along with Democratic representatives Ed Case, Jared Golden, Henry Cuellar and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez. The bill is led by two Republicans, Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Utah Sen. Mike Lee. 

FIRST ON FOX: A Trump administration official confirmed Thursday that states failing to comply with federal orders to house inmates based on their biological sex can expect "imminent changes" – and Maine "will not be the last" state to have prison funds slashed.

While the Trump administration's decision to pull federal funding from Maine’s Department of Corrections due to a transgender inmate being housed in a women’s facility is not an isolated case, similar situations involving transgender inmates in female facilities have occurred across the country.

In addition to Maine, California, New York, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington state allow transgender people to be housed in jail and prison facilities that align with their gender identity. Most provide transgender treatments on the taxpayer dime or through other sources of state funding, though it may vary from prison to prison. Following a consent decree, Colorado is the only state to have housing facilities specific for transgender people. 

MAINE TRANSGENDER INMATE CONVICTED OF MURDERING PARENTS MOVED TO WOMEN'S PRISON

The official, who declined to be identified, explained that while much of prison funding is handled at the state level, states still must comply with their own versions of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which is often modeled after federal standards. As federal changes to those regulations are expected, current PREA guidelines discourage housing inmates in isolation. That, the spokesperson said, has led some states to feel obligated to house transgender women in female facilities, even if they might prefer to create separate spaces.

"I think that that's a state call. But, right now, states are really not encouraged to make that call," the official said. "They're encouraged to put those men with women. So, I think some states will just put these men dressed as women, with the men. Some of them will put them in some sort of separate space. I have no opinion on which is better."

Prior to Trump's executive order prohibiting trans procedures and treatments in federal prisons, federal funding was allotted to some Bureau of Prisons facilities to cover cosmetic procedures and treatments that were considered "gender-affirming" for incarcerated men – but not provided to women – such as laser hair removal and other feminine procedures. Guidelines for such services were first earmarked under the Obama administration's second term, and California was the first state to establish policies granting transgender surgeries to state prison inmates in 2017.

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

The administration argues this created a clear case of sex-based discrimination, as in the case of Maine, where women in prison were not afforded similar access to those services.

In January, a transgender woman named Andrea Balcer, 24, was moved from the Maine State Prison to the women’s section of the Maine Correctional Institute. Balcer was convicted in 2018 of stabbing both parents to death, along with the family dog, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a crime that was attributed to struggles with gender identity.

"Under Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice is committed to keeping Americans safe and using taxpayer money to ruthlessly and efficiently go after criminals," a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday. "The Department will no longer fund organizations that promote the invasion of women’s spaces by men and urges states to use commonsense to keep women and girls safe." 

Another transgender inmate in Maine – convicted of murdering a woman who was found tied between two trees with her throat and wrists slit – was identified by Fox News Digital through court documents as Walter William Moore. Moore goes by "Nikki," according to the documents, and complained that Maine corrections weren't doing enough to facilitate his gender transition.

ACLU SUES INDIANA OVER DENIAL OF SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO STRANGLED 11-MONTH-OLD TO DEATH

In January, Moore, who is currently housed in a male facility, filed a complaint against Maine Department of Corrections employees, alleging assault, theft of thousands of dollars in personal property, and denial of requested gender transition treatments. In court testimony, Moore frequently referenced "Nikki," claiming prison wardens promised gender reassignment surgery, feminine cosmetics, and transfer to a women’s facility. Moore also described a regimen of daily cross-sex hormone treatments and Vitamin B-12 injections.

"Maine, of course, is just blatantly violating the rights of women. And the president has made a note that Maine has no intention to change – they have a governor who is particularly intransigent, and so Maine was first, but Maine will not be last," the White House spokesperson said. "There will be no federal funding of the abuse of women by the Department of Justice."

As of February, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) houses 2,198 transgender inmates, including 22 transgender women currently serving sentences in women’s facilities. This figure does not account for state-level facilities, which may also receive federal funding.

The Trump administration is also in court battling the president's executive mandate to strip federal prisons of gender-transition treatments and housing preferences.

In February, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth – a Reagan-appointed judge – temporarily blocked the transfer of three transgender women to men's prisons, citing concerns over their safety. Later that month, another judge issued a restraining order preventing the transfer of a transgender woman from a women's prison to a men's facility. In March, Lamberth ordered the BOP to return two transgender inmates to women's facilities and continue their hormone therapy treatments.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

The State Department upgraded the travel advisory for El Salvador on Tuesday, now ranking the Central American nation as safer than several European countries. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele's leadership as "crucial in improving the security of his country for foreign travelers." 

"Gang activity, violent crime, and murders in El Salvador have significantly dropped," Rubio wrote on X, announcing the U.S. travel advisory for El Salvador has been updated to "Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions." 

FEDERAL JUDGES IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS BLOCK TRUMP DEPORTATIONS AFTER SCOTUS RULING

The travel advisory says "gang activity has decreased over the last three years," and "this has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders." 

"Keeping Americans safe overseas is our highest priority," Rubio wrote. 

Many media users noted that the travel advisories for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden all remain at "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution." 

The State Department warns of the increased risk of "terrorism" in all countries. For France and Spain, "civil unrest" is also considered a concern for American travelers. 

"El Salvador just got the U.S. State Department's travel gold star: Level 1: safest it gets," Bukele wrote. 

PAM BONDI WARNS MIGRANT CRIMINALS 'WE'RE COMING AFTER YOU' AFTER SUPREME COURT LIFTS STAY ON DEPORTATIONS

"EL SALVADOR NOW SAFER THAN MOST OF EUROPE," one X user, who has millions of followers, wrote. In reaction to the contrast, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire heading the Department of Government Efficiency, responded, "Wow." 

Musk has been a vocal critic of mass migration in Western Europe, and the billionaire earlier this year campaigned on behalf of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany ahead of national elections in February. 

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, will welcome Bukele to the White House on April 14 for an official working visit to discuss "El Salvador's partnership on using their supermax prison for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members, and how El Salvador's cooperation with the United States has become a model for others to work with," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Tuesday's press briefing. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the Terrorism Confinement Center, abbreviated CECOT, in El Salvador, where the Trump administration so far has sent more than 200 people removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.