President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government and crackdown on immigration -- and is being met with dozens of legal challenges.
On the foreign policy front, Trump's press secretary said the White House believes it can reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine this week even as Trump attacks Ukraine's president and blames it for starting the war, which even some in his own party are calling him out over.
Meanwhile, heads of federal government agencies were telling employees not to reply to an email from Elon Musk, Trump's ally who he picked to cut government waste, which asked for them to list their accomplishments for the week or face termination.
Vance to speak at CPAC this week, source tells ABC News
Vice President JD Vance will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, a source familiar confirmed to ABC News.
Vance spoke at the event last year, where much of his speech centered around foreign policy. The vice president recently spoke at the Munich Security Conference, where he stoked controversy by focusing much of his remarks on criticizing European allies.
Vice President JD Vance delivers his speech during the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich on Feb. 14, 2025.
Thomas Kienzle/AFP via Getty Images
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Feb 18, 2025, 9:43 AM EST
US and Russia focus on restoring diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow, Rubio says
Following their meeting with a high-level Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said top on the agenda would be restoring U.S. and Russian diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow, which have been reduced to skeleton staffs due to reciprocal cuts over the course of the last decade.
The secretary said both the U.S. and Russia would "appoint a high-level team to negotiate and work through the end of the conflict in Ukraine in a way that's enduring an acceptable to all parties engaged."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 17, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP
Rubio remained vague when asked about what concessions they expect Russia to make, and if sanctions on Russia should or would be lifted.
"Again, we're not going to pre-negotiate nor an end to this conflict. These are the kinds of things that have to happen through hard and difficult diplomacy in closed rooms over a period of time," Rubio said.
Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, also described the meeting as "positive, upbeat, constructive," and "solution-based."
– ABC News' Shannon Kingston
Feb 18, 2025, 3:15 AM EST
Musk sets sights on Fort Knox gold reserves
As Elon Musk's DOGE continues to target federal agencies like the Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service, the world's richest man has now set his sights on U.S. gold reserves at Fort Knox.
In recent days, Musk repeatedly posted about wanting to "make sure" the gold is still at the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky, which holds approximately 147.3 million ounces of gold, according to the U.S. Mint.
Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 11, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Musk has cast doubt on whether the gold remains at Fort Knox, writing on X: "This gold is the property of the American people. I sure hope it's still there!"
"Who is confirming that gold wasn't stolen from Fort Knox?" Musk also posted.
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin visited the facility in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first administration. The vault was last opened to journalists and a congressional delegation back in 1974. According to the U.S. Mint website, "The Treasury Secretary allows the visit when rumors persist that all the gold had been removed from the vaults."
Musk on Monday even floated the idea of live-streaming a walkthrough of Fort Knox, responding to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' coverage of his comments by suggesting he'd like to film inside the vaults.
-ABC News' Will Steakin
Feb 17, 2025, 11:55 PM EST
Top Social Security official steps down after clash with DOGE: Sources
The top official at the Social Security Administration stepped down after a clash with DOGE employees over access to sensitive personal records, two sources told ABC News.
Michelle King, a career official who served at the agency for more than 30 years, was serving as acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration but left the agency after she was replaced with Leland Dudek this weekend.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk arrives to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025.
Chip Somodevilla/via Reuters
Sources said that DOGE employees were seeking access to an internal data system that houses the sensitive, personal information of Americans.
It's not clear if DOGE employees ultimately gained access to the system following the dispute with King.
