A federal judge examining the Trump administration’s use of an 18th-century wartime law to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador vowed Friday to “get to the bottom” of whether the government defied his order to turn the planes around last weekend.
Earlier, Trump announced that student loans will be handled by the Small Business Administration, a day after signing an executive order to begin dismantling the Education Department. Trump added that programs involving students with disabilities would be shifted to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump also announced Friday that Boeing will build the Air Force’s future fighter jet, which the Pentagon says will have stealth and penetration capabilities that far exceed those of its current fleet and is essential in a potential conflict with China.
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Here’s how Friday unfolded.
Reporters and unions sue Trump over Voice of America cuts — 8:32 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A group of reporters and unions are suing the Trump administration. They say it unlawfully shut down the Voice of America and are asking a federal court to restore the outlet that for decades has supplied news about the United States to nations around the world.
The case was filed in federal court in New York. It was brought by Voice of America reporters, Reporters Without Borders and a handful of unions against the US Agency for Global Media and Kari Lake, who is Trump’s representative there.
She has described the broadcast agency as a “giant rot” that needs to be stripped down and rebuilt.
Voice of America dates to World War II as a source of objective news, often beamed into authoritarian countries. Funded by Congress, it is protected by a charter that says guarantees its product pass muster for journalistic rigor.
Homeland Security makes cuts to offices overseeing civil rights protections — 8:16 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Department of Homeland Security is making cuts to three key offices that oversee civil rights protections across its broad mission, suggesting that they were impeding immigration enforcement efforts.
A spokeswoman for the department, Tricia McLaughlin, said in a statement Friday that it was implementing a “reduction in force” for three offices: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman.
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President Trump has made downsizing the federal government a key policy goal.
Federal agencies were directed to submit by March 13 plans that would not only lay off employees but eliminate positions altogether and consolidate programs. The DHS developments were first reported by The New York Times.
McLaughlin said Homeland Security is “committed to civil rights protections” but said these offices were a roadblock to immigration enforcement.
“These offices have obstructed immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles and undermining DHS’s mission. Rather than supporting law enforcement efforts, they often function as internal adversaries that slow down operations,” she said.
Homeland Security revokes temporary status for 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans — 8:05 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that it will revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, setting them up for potential deportation in about a month.
The order applies to about 532,000 people from the four countries who came to the United States since October 2022. They arrived with financial sponsors and were given two-year permits to live and work in the US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said they will lose their legal status on April 24, or 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register.
The new policy impacts people who are already in the US and who came under the humanitarian parole program. It follows an earlier Trump administration decision to end what it called the “broad abuse” of the humanitarian parole, a long-standing legal tool presidents have used to allow people from countries where there’s war or political instability to enter and temporarily live in the US.
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Posts falsely claim federal judiciary members are in secret club, undermining Trump — 7:51 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Following Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ rejection of a call to impeach federal judges who rule against the Trump administration, social media users falsely claimed that Roberts and other high-level legal professionals are part of a “secretive, invite-only club” trying to undermine the president.
Among those named was US District Judge James E. Boasberg, who Trump had demanded be removed from the bench for his order blocking deportation flights.
Here’s a closer look at the facts:
CLAIM: Roberts, Boasberg and other powerful legal professionals are part of a secret, invite-only club that is working against Trump.
THE FACTS: This is false. Roberts was a member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court chapter of the organization prior to his confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2005, but he is not currently an active member of the organization, according to Executive Director Malinda Dunn.
Boasberg is the president of the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, but the chapter disaffiliated from the parent association about 10 years ago.
Trump administration cuts legal help for migrant children traveling alone — 6:55 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The administration is ending a key program providing legal help to migrant children entering the country by themselves, raising concerns they’ll be forced to navigate the complex legal system alone.
The Acacia Center for Justice said they were informed Friday that Health and Human Services was terminating nearly all the legal work the center does, including paying for lawyers for roughly 26,000 children in immigration court proceedings.
They’re still contracted to hold legal orientation clinics for migrant children in federal government shelters.
A spokesperson for the department said in an emailed statement that the department “continues to meet the legal requirements established” under key guidance that oversees how children in immigration settings are treated.
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Researchers say US government tried to erase sexual orientation from their findings — 6:08 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Two California researchers say a US government health publication instructed them to remove data on sexual orientation from a scientific manuscript that had been accepted for publication. The researchers also say they were told to remove the words “gender,” “cisgender” and “equitable.”
The reason given for the changes was to comply with an executive order from Trump.
Researchers Tamar Antin and Rachelle Annechino said Friday in a blog post they withdrew their paper from Public Health Reports, the official journal of the US Surgeon General.
The researchers plan to publish their findings elsewhere, Antin told The Associated Press.
Columbia University grants President Trump’s demands — 5:21 p.m.
By Mike Damiano, Globe Staff
Columbia University granted Trump nearly every demand his administration made in a letter last week that laid out conditions for the school’s “continued financial relationship with the United States government.”
The administration sent the demands last week after saying it would cancel around $400 million of Columbia’s federal funding over the university’s alleged inaction on antisemitism and its handling of last year’s pro-Palestinian protest movement. Immigration authorities also arrested and threatened to deport two activists involved with the Columbia protest movement.
In response to the demands, Columbia announced it will clarify rules governing campus protests, transfer final decision making authority on student discipline to the university president, ban masks that conceal the identity of protesters, officially adopt a definition of antisemitism a Columbia task force developed last year, expand the “intellectual diversity” of its faculty, and appoint a new administrator who will oversee all departments studying the Middle East to ensure “the educational offerings are comprehensive and balanced.”
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Judge vows to determine if Trump administration ignored order blocking deportation flights — 4:56 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A federal judge examining the Trump administration’s use of an 18th-century wartime law to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador has vowed to “get to the bottom” of whether the government defied his order to turn the planes around.
Chief Judge James Boasberg is trying to determine if the administration ignored his turnaround order last weekend when at least two planeloads of immigrants were still in flight.
“I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order, who ordered this and what the consequences will be,” Boasberg said during a hearing for a lawsuit challenging the deportations.
State Democracy Defenders Action leader criticizes executive order expanding OPM’s power — 4:13 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Norm Eisen, founder of State Democracy Defenders Action, said Congress has not given the Office of Personnel Management the authority “to willy-nilly fire federal employees across the government, and the president cannot change that simply by signing an executive order.”
Eisen, speaking in a statement, called the attempt to expand OPM’s power illegal and “an admission of what courts in Maryland and California have already made clear to President Trump: gutting federal agencies created by Congress won’t be tolerated.”
Eisen said the actions, led by Elon Musk and DOGE, are harming the nation’s citizens.
“This latest EO is an illegal attempt to grant themselves even more unchecked power,” he said.
State Democracy Defenders Action leader criticizes executive order expanding OPM’s power — 3:49 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Norm Eisen, founder of State Democracy Defenders Action, said Congress has not given the Office of Personnel Management the authority “to willy-nilly fire federal employees across the government, and the president cannot change that simply by signing an executive order.”
Eisen, speaking in a statement, called the attempt to expand OPM’s power illegal and “an admission of what courts in Maryland and California have already made clear to President Trump: gutting federal agencies created by Congress won’t be tolerated.”
Eisen said the actions, led by Elon Musk and DOGE, are harming the nation’s citizens.
“This latest EO is an illegal attempt to grant themselves even more unchecked power,” he said.
EU delays retaliatory trade action to mid-April to work out the impact of Trump’s tariffs — 3:29 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump has said he’ll impose “reciprocal” tariffs against Europe and other nations around the globe on April 2.
The European Union had intended to respond by imposing taxes on goods from the United States worth some $28 billion in two phases, on April 1 and April 13. The European tariffs would target US steel and aluminum products, but also American beef, poultry, bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter and jeans.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that by delaying phase 1, the commission’s goal is “to get the balance of products right, reflecting the interests of our producers, our exporters, our consumers, and of course, minimize the potential negative impact on our economy.”
US imposes travel ban on former Argentine president and planning minister over corruption charges — 3:27 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The State Department has banned former Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, her planning minister Julio Miguel De Vido and their families from entering the United States, accusing them of involvement in “significant corruption” while they were in office.
Kirchner and De Vido “abused their positions by orchestrating and financially benefiting from multiple bribery schemes involving public works contracts, resulting in millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement released on Friday.
He noted that multiple courts had convicted the pair on corruption charges.
“The United States will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain,” Rubio said. “These designations reaffirm our commitment to counter global corruption, including at the highest levels of government.”
Johnson & Johnson to invest more than $55 billion in four new US factories in the next four years — 3:18 p.m.
By the Associated Press
It’s the latest company to highlight US investments, a focus of Trump administration.
J&J’s Friday announcement said it should add more than $100 billion a year to the US economy. J&J rival Eli Lilly and Co. also announced four new US factories last month, and both pharmaceutical corporations cited Trump’s 2017 tax cuts as one reason why.
Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. announced another $100 billion in planned US investments, on top of $65 billion announced previously. And Apple said it would invest than $500 billion in the US during Trump’s second term, hiring 20,000 people and building a new server factory in Texas.
A group funded by Musk is offering Wisconsin voters $100 to oppose ‘activist judges’ — 2:46 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The petition comes less than two weeks before the state’s Supreme Court election and after the group made a similar proposal last year in battleground states.
The campaign for Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court, said Musk’s America PAC is trying to buy votes ahead of the April 1 election that will determine ideological control of the court.
The offer was made two days after early voting started in the hotly contested race between Crawford and Brad Schimel, the preferred candidate of Musk and Republicans.
Democracy group is going after Chuck Schumer in Times Square billboard — 2:15 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Common Cause is targeting the Senate Democratic leader for supporting passage of the Republican funding plan rather than risk a government shutdown.
“Chuck just sold us out,” the New York City billboard says.
The democracy and voting advocacy group said its members made more than 18,000 calls to congressional offices last week to oppose the funding bill.
The New York Democrat has taken the brunt of the blame from the left for allowing the bill to gain final passage. He’s described the bill as “terrible,” but argued that a shutdown would cede even more unilateral power to Trump.
Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appears in immigration case — 2:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appeared briefly Friday in immigration court at a remote Louisiana detention center as his lawyers fight in multiple venues to try to free him.
Khalil, 30, a legal US resident with no criminal record, sat alone next to an empty chair through a brief court session that dealt only with scheduling. His lawyer participated via video.
Weekslong lockups fuel anxieties about tourist travel to US — 1:34 p.m.
By the Associated Press
At least four international travelers tell The Associated Press they were detained at U.S. borders and held for extended periods behind bars, even though they did not violate their visa terms or commit any crimes.
The U.S. government did not comment on why they were detained and not simply denied entry. The incidents are fueling anxiety as the Trump administration prepares for a ban on travelers from some countries.
“Nobody is safe there anymore to come to America as a tourist,” said Lucas Sielaff, a German who had a 90-day U.S. tourist permit to travel with his U.S. citizen fiancee. He spent 16 days locked up in a crowded detention center before he was allowed to go home to Germany.
Representative Dan Crenshaw tells constituents: ‘There’s been some babies thrown out with the bath water’ — 12:47 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Texas Republican was pressed during a town hall in his district to see about getting jobs back for veterans laid off amid wide-ranging federal job cuts.
“Just because you’re a veteran doesn’t mean you’re good at it,” said Crenshaw, a former Navy Seal. “But if you’re doing a job that we need you to do, and you’re doing it well, we’ve got to fight for you.”
According to an internal memo obtained earlier this month by The Associated Press, the Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to cut more than 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care and other services for millions of veterans.
Small Business Administration to cut its workforce by 43 percent — 12:44 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The SBA cuts amount to about 2,700 jobs at the agency, which was established in 1953 to support companies that represent 99 percent of all US businesses, employ 46 percent of American workers and generate 43 percent of GDP.
The SBA said loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, as well as its field and veteran operations, won’t be affected. But Trump just announced a major new SBA responsibility, taking on student loans as the Education Department is eliminated.
The SBA distributed aid that kept businesses operating during the pandemic. Trump’s SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler says the reorganization should return staffing to pre-pandemic levels and cut some programs started during the Biden administration.
Trump says he’ll pay astronauts who were stranded overtime — 12:35 p.m.
By the Associated Press
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent 278 extra days on the International Space Station after their spacecraft malfunctioned, but aren’t eligible for overtime pay.
But the president says not to worry — he’ll make them square for their lost time in space.
“If I have to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket,” the billionaire real estate developer told reporters.
Trump raises Musk’s potential conflicts of interests regarding China — 12:21 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump rejected reports that Musk was getting briefed on plans for a potential war with China while he was at the Pentagon on Friday.
The president said Musk was there to help address costs, part of his goals at the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump suggested that he wouldn’t want to share war plans with an entrepreneur like Musk because of his financial interests.
“Elon has businesses in China,” he said. “And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that.”
Trump defends exposure of social security numbers in unredacted JFK files — 12:18 p.m.
By the Associated Press
“We have nothing to hide,” Trump said. “We even released social security numbers. I didn’t want anything deleted.”
It was Trump who directed this week’s release, without redactions, of tens of thousands of pages of records relating to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
After some people who are still living complained that releasing their personally identifiable information exposes them to identity theft, the White House offered credit monitoring and help getting new social security numbers.
The release has revived some old conspiracy theories, but Trump said “I don’t think there’s anything that’s earth shattering” in the files.
Trump says other federal agencies will assume some Education Department responsibilities — 11:55 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump said student loans would be handled by the Small Business Administration, saying “it will be serviced much better than it has in the past.”
And he said programs involving special needs and nutrition would shift to the Department of Health and Human Services, adding that “I think that will work out very well.”
Trump announced the changes at the beginning of an Oval Office event focused on developing a next-generation fighter jet. His executive order pushing for the dismantling of the Education Department meets a longtime Republican goal.
Boeing will build the Air Force’s future fighter jet — 11:50 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Pentagon says the new jet fleet will have stealth and penetration capabilities that far exceed its current fleet and is essential in a potential conflict with China.
Known as Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, the manned jet will serve as a quarterback to a fleet of future drone aircraft that would be able to penetrate China’s air defenses. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the future fleet “sends a very clear, direct message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere.”
But critics have questioned the cost and necessity of the program. The Pentagon is still struggling to fully produce its most advanced jet and its future stealth bomber will have many of the same advanced technologies.
Senate Democrats say explanations for USAID document-shredding don’t hold up — 11:39 a.m.
By the Associated Press
They’re asking the Trump administration to better account for its burning and shredding of records at the US Agency for International Development.
Sens. Gary Peters, the ranking Democrat on a governmental affairs committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the foreign relations committee, wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday asking for all communications on the destruction of documents as the Trump administration gutted USAID.
The destruction became public when a USAID email asked remaining staff to help in “clearing our classified safes and personnel documents.”
Two federal judges declined to intervene last week after government lawyers said the shredding and burning was limited or had stopped.
Where is Mahmoud Khalil being held now? — 11:34 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Columbia University scholar and pro-Palestinian activist is detained inside an isolated, low-slung ICE complex ringed by tall barb wire fences in the endless pine forests outside the town of Jena in central Louisiana.
The complex, with a capacity of 1,160, is formally known as the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, or CLIPC, and is run by the GEO Group, a large Florida-based private prison company.
Khalil was one of just 3 people in the courtroom Friday. The others were the judge, their secretary, a court officer, three federal attorneys, two members of the media and four observers.
Louisiana became a hub during the first Trump administration with nine detention centers, eight run by private contractors. Only Texas holds more ICE detainees. Rights groups reported last year that life inside them is grim, chronicling everything from rotten food to poor medical care to sexual assault.
Billionaire SpaceX founder and DOGE liaison visits Pentagon — 11:16 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Elon Musk completed a morning meeting at the US military headquarters, telling Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth he’s ready to do “anything that could be helpful,” according to CNN video of the pair exiting their meeting.
Musk refused to answer questions as to whether he received a classified briefing on China as part of the visit.
The Pentagon is working to identify personnel and programs it can cut to save between 5 percent and 8 percent of its budget, but lawmakers and government watchdogs have questioned whether Musk should have any role in decisions at the Pentagon, where his SpaceX company receives billions of dollars in federal contracts.
Education Secretary says she’ll ‘unwind’ regulations — 11:10 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Linda McMahon said she is preparing to relocate the Education Department’s core operations to other agencies and roll back federal regulations.
She sketched out a roadmap for executing President Donald Trump’s order to dismantle the agency in an opinion piece published Friday by Fox News.
McMahon said abolishing the department “will not happen tomorrow,” but she plans to pave the way.
“We will systematically unwind unnecessary regulations and prepare to reassign the department’s other functions to the states or other agencies,” McMahon wrote.
Another Republican lawmaker tries to calm fears over Social Security — 11:06 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Speaking to his constituents on a tele-town hall on Friday morning, Florida Representative Gus Bilirakis defended DOGE’s efforts to fire federal workers and dismantle federal agencies, saying the push has faced a “gross overreaction in the media.”
“It looks radical, but it’s not. I call it stewardship, in my opinion,” the Republican said. “I think they’re doing right by the American taxpayer.”
Bilirakis sought to calm the older adults and veterans who complained about efforts to slash even the agencies that have bipartisan support.
“Elon Musk will not touch Social Security,” he said.
Musk has described Social Security and other federal benefit programs as rife with fraud, suggesting they’ll be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending.
Detained Columbia University student activist appears before immigration judge in Louisiana — 10:52 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Mahmoud Khalil, a legal US resident with no criminal record, sat alone next to an empty chair inside the detention center. His lawyer participated by video conference. The brief session dealt only with scheduling — the judge set a fuller hearing for April 8 — as his lawyers try in multiple venues to free him.
Khalil briefly smiled at two supporters who attended, but he otherwise showed no expression.
Born in Syria to a Palestinian family and married to a US citizen, Khalil served as a spokesperson and negotiator for Columbia students demonstrating against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza last year. He was detained by immigration agents in a crackdown on what Trump calls antisemitic and “anti-American” campus protests.
Khalil said in a statement Tuesday that his detention reflects “anti-Palestinian racism” in the US.
Trump administration is debating invoking a ‘state secrets privilege’ around deportation flights — 10:34 a.m.
By the Associated Press
That’s according to a court filing Friday by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in response to US District Judge James Boasberg’s demand for details about flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador.
Blanche said “ongoing Cabinet-level discussions” continue on whether to provide the details or make a formal claim that revealing them would harm “state secrets.”
The administration has called the judge’s request an “unnecessary judicial fishing” expedition, while Boasberg called its previous response “woefully insufficient,” increasing the possibility he may hold administration officials in contempt.
The judge temporarily blocked deportations under an 18th century wartime law. He is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Friday afternoon.
After job cuts, National Weather Service says its eliminating or reducing weather balloon launches — 10:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Weather balloon launches will be eliminated in Omaha, Nebraska; and Rapid City, South Dakota; “due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing,” the weather service said in a notice. It’s also cutting from twice daily to once daily balloon launches in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Grand Junction, Colorado; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Gaylord, Michigan; North Platte, Nebraska; and Riverton, Wyoming.
Earlier this month, the Weather Service had announced weather balloon cuts in Albany, New York; and Gray, Maine.
Until hundreds, perhaps more than 1,000 cuts at NOAA were imposed by the Trump administration, the weather agency had been launching weather balloon twice a day in 100 locations in the United States, Caribbean and Pacific Basin. The weather balloons have devices attached that measure temperature, dew point, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction.
Trump’s call to dismantle Education Department shows Republican rightward lurch and his grip on GOP — 10:31 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A little more than 23 years ago, Republican President George W. Bush sat at a desk at a high school in Hamilton, Ohio, and signed a law that would vastly expand the role of the Education Department and transform American schooling.
On Thursday, his Republican successor, President Trump, signed a very different document — this one an executive order designed to dismantle the department.
For years, as right-wing activists called for eliminating the agency, many Republicans paid lip service to the cause but still voted to fund it. Now Trump, emboldened and unapologetic in his drastic remaking of the federal government, has brushed aside concerns that deterred his predecessors.
Democrats’ new internet strategy tops trending charts but also draws mockery from allies and foes — 9:19 a.m.
By the Associated Press
For weeks, Democratic lawmakers have met with and mimicked figures they believe may offer them a path back to power in Washington: online influencers and content creators.
Hours before President Trump’s joint address to Congress this month, Senate Democrats huddled with a dozen online progressive personalities who have millions of followers. House Democrats were introduced, without staff, to 40 content creators who Democratic leaders said could help them grow their audience online.
An earlier tutorial session in February featured online personalities like the YouTube commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.
The result has been a burst of Democratic online content, including direct-to-camera explainers in parked cars, scripted vertical videos, podcast appearances and livestreams — some topping trending charts online, others drawing mockery from liberal allies and Republicans in Congress.
Elon Musk to visit the Pentagon on Friday — 8:46 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on the social media that the visit is to discuss “innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”
Musk is a top adviser to President Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency have played an integral role in the administration’s push to dramatically reduce the size of the government.
“We want a guy like Elon Musk in the Defense Department to help us come up with creative solutions to the problems that we face,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends.”
Hegseth, meanwhile, is scheduled to deliver remarks along with Trump at the White House on Friday. Neither the White House nor Pentagon have offered details about the defense secretary’s Oval Office visit.
Trump’s Friday schedule — 8:41 a.m.
By the Associated Press
At 11 a.m. ET, President Trump and his defense secretary will deliver remarks in the Oval Office, according to the White House.
Later today, Trump will travel to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Judge calls Trump administration’s latest response on deportation flights ‘woefully insufficient’ — 8:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
US District Judge Jeb Boasberg demanded answers from the Trump administration after flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants alleged by the Trump administration to be gang members landed in El Salvador after the judge temporarily blocked deportations under an 18th century wartime law.
Boasberg had given the administration until noon Thursday to either provide more details about the flights or make a claim that it must be withheld because it would harm “state secrets.” The administration resisted the judge’s request, calling it an “unnecessary judicial fishing” expedition.
In a written order, Boasberg called Trump officials’ latest response “woefully insufficient.” The judge said the administration “again evaded its obligations” by merely repeating “the same general information about the flights.” And he ordered the administration to “show cause,” as to why it didn’t violate his court order to turn around the planes, increasing the prospect that he may consider holding administration officials in contempt of court.
Maine found in violation of Title IX over transgender athletes after Trump clashed with governor — 8:22 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Maine’s education office is being ordered to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports or face federal prosecution.
The Education Department on Wednesday said an investigation concluded Maine’s education office violated the Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls’ sports teams and use girls’ facilities. It’s giving Maine 10 days to comply with a list of demands or face Justice Department prosecution.
The federal investigation into Maine’s Department of Education was opened Feb. 21, just hours after President Trump and the state’s Democratic governor, Janet Mills, clashed over the issue at a meeting of governors at the White House. During the heated exchange, Mills told the Republican president, “We’ll see you in court.”
Facing anti-DEI investigations, colleges cut ties with nonprofit targeted by conservatives — 8:20 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Last week, the Education Department said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to the nonprofit organization. That followed a warning a month earlier that schools could lose federal money over “race-based preferences” in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life.
The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries. Many scrambled to distance themselves from The PhD Project, which has aimed to help diversify the business world and higher education faculty.
The rollout of the investigations highlights the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education, which President Trump’s administration has begun policing for policies that run afoul of his agenda even as he moves to dismantle the Education Department.
Trump’s plan to dismantle the Education Department will keep some of its core functions — 8:19 a.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. Republicans said they will introduce legislation to achieve that, while Democrats have quickly lined up to oppose the idea.
Trump’s order says the education secretary will, “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”
It offers no detail on how that work will be carried out or where it will be targeted, though the White House said the agency will retain certain critical functions.
Trump said his administration will close the department beyond its “core necessities,” preserving its responsibilities for Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities.
Utah Representative Maloy offers tepid criticism of some White House spending cuts at town hall — 2:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Republican US Representative Celeste Maloy received applause at a Thursday town hall in Salt Lake City when she told the crowd she’s concerned about the country drifting toward authoritarianism “if we don’t get the executive branch under control.”
But the cheers turned to boos when she added those worries weren’t specific to Republican President Trump.
“When Biden was president, I had the same concern,” she said, referring to former Democratic president Joe Biden.
US senator and Trump supporter Steve Daines is visiting Beijing as tariff fight grows — 1:22 a.m.
By the Associated Press
US Senator Steve Daines is visiting Beijing as the US and China swap tariff threats and harsh words over each others' handling of the illegal trade in fentanyl.
Daines, a strong supporter of President Trump, is in the country for three days of meetings starting Friday, the American Embassy reported.
Hegseth says he’ll meet with Musk at the Pentagon to discuss ‘efficiencies,’ denying New York Times story — 12:37 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said late Thursday that he would be meeting with billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon Friday to discuss “innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”
Musk, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency have played an integral role in the administration’s push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. Musk has faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs, although Trump’s supporters have hailed it.
In a post on Musk’s X platform, Hegseth emphasized that “this is NOT a meeting about ‘top secret China war plans,’” denying a story published by The New York Times late Thursday.
This is 100% Fake News. Just brazenly & maliciously wrong.
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) March 21, 2025
Elon Musk is a patriot.
We are proud to have him at the Pentagon. pic.twitter.com/LiyXrl8gCi
Pentagon set up briefing for Musk on potential war with China — 12:25 a.m.
By The New York Times
The Pentagon was scheduled Friday to brief Elon Musk on the US military’s plan for any war that might break out with China, two US officials said Thursday.
Another official said the briefing would be China focused, without providing additional details. A fourth official confirmed Musk was to be at the Pentagon on Friday, but offered no details.
Hours after news of the planned meeting was published by The New York Times, Pentagon officials and President Trump denied that the session would be about military plans involving China. “China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” Trump said in a late-night social media post.