Trump admin updates: White House asks court to stay order to ground deportation flights

U.S. Department of Education employees have been notified their offices in the National Capital Region and regional buildings will be closed for "security reasons" beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, a source with knowldge of the letter told ABC News.

"You must vacate the building by that time," a department email to employees reads in part, adding, "All ED offices in the NCR and the regions will be closed to employees and contractor employees on Wednesday, March 12th."

The email also said employees with approved telework agreements may work from home as the department will reopen on Thursday. But some Education Department employees tell ABC News such telework agreements are largely no longer in place. The department’s total workforce returned to its offices in D.C. and regional stations late last month.

"Please take your laptop with you when you depart on Tuesday. Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday March 12th for any reason. All offices will reopen on Thursday, March 13th, at which time in-person presence will resume," the email said.

The notice comes as President Donald Trump weighs an executive order to shutter the agency. Last week, ABC News reported the executive order signing was pulled due to concerns over questions the administration might get about vital programs that could potentially be gutted by such an order.

-ABC News' Arthur Jones II

Elon Musk delivered three Teslas to the White House on Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump vowed to buy one to support the billionaire as his car company's stock continues to drop.

Trump checked out three vehicles, including a Cybertruck, and got inside one of them during the photo op and claimed he was going to pay full price for one.

The president, however, said he can't drive it and the car would be kept at the White House for a staff member to use.

"I just want people to know that you can't be penalized for being a patriot," he said.

A senior USAID official sent an email to remaining bureau leaders with guidance on "clearing our classified safes and personnel documents" at the aid agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters on Tuesday, according to a copy of the email obtained by ABC News.

The message urged officials to "shred as many documents first" and to "reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break," according to the email, sent by Erica Carr, the acting executive secretary. "The only labeling required on the burn bags are the words 'SECRET' and 'USAID/(B/IO)' in dark sharpie, if possible."

It was not immediately clear why the message was sent. But current and former USAID officials speculated that it has to do with clearing out office space that is expected to be taken over by Customs and Border Patrol, as Elon Musk announced on X last month.

A person familiar with the agency's work told ABC News that "specialized shredding and burn bags are standard procedures to destroy classified printouts and notes." But the person added that this seems to be a "shoddy process" that might run afoul of the Federal Records Act.

It also remains unclear whether those ordered to destroy these records have the appropriate clearance to review them before determining whether they should be disposed.

"The event will take place all day" on Tuesday, the email read.

-ABC News' Lucien Bruggeman

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced he had a "productive conversation" with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and suspended the 25% tariff on electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

"Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday, March 13 alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline," Ford's office said in a post on X Tuesday.