Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'

The Department of Education has put employees who led DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave following recent directives across the government to stamp it out of the federal workforce.

"These actions are in line with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the federal government. They are the first step in reorienting the agency toward prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in our schools," the department said in a statement.

The department did not provide the exact numbers of employees who were affected.

At least two councils within the department were dissolved: the Diversity & Inclusion Council, which has been in place since the Obama administration, and a council within the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, told Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren that he paid the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017 $50,000 in a settlement.

The information of a subsequent settlement agreement has already been reported and made public by Hegseth's lawyer, but the dollar amount has not been previously disclosed.

The information provided to Warren was in response to the senator's request that sought more information about Hegseth as part of the vetting process, two sources with knowledge of the vetting told ABC News.

Hegseth's attorney Tim Parlatore declined to comment to ABC News on the dollar figure.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders

Trump was asked about his decision to revoke security protections for his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and Iran special envoy, Brian Hook.

He brushed aside the concerns about the threats issued against the men.

"I mean there are risks to everything," Trump said, suggesting Pompeo and Hook cannot have protection for the rest of their lives.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Kelsey Walsh and Molly Nagle

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he plans to meet at the White House with any of the Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned.

"I don't know. I'm sure that they probably would like to," he replied.

Trump argued he "did something important" with the pardons and contended those convicted were "treated very badly."

"So, I'd be open to it, certainly. I don't know of anything like that, but I think they're going to meet in some of the Congress people, congressmen, women, want to -- want to meet," he said.

Trump said he hasn't spoken with any of them yet.