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Trump 2nd term live updates: Dan Bongino named as deputy FBI director

He hosts the popular right-wing and pro-Trump podcast "The Dan Bongino Show."

Last Updated: February 23, 2025, 5:03 PM EST

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.

Feb 19, 2025, 11:04 PM EST

Trump signs executive order to block benefits to people in the US illegally

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday night directing federal agencies to "identify all federally funded programs currently providing financial benefits to illegal aliens and take corrective action," according to a fact sheet released by the White House.

It intends to ensure that federal funding will not be used to "support 'sanctuary' policies or assist illegal immigration" and mandates improvements in eligibility verification.

The order also calls for identifying all other sources of federal funding for those unlawfully present in the United States, and it seeks recommendations for additional agency actions to align federal spending with the order within 30 days.

Agencies are tasked with referring "improper receipt or use of Federal benefits to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for appropriate action."

The White House noted in its fact sheet that illegal migrants are already barred from welfare programs, raising the question of how much funding Trump might be expecting to withhold. It also fails to define "illegal alien" -- the term it applies -- for the purposes of executing this order.

- ABC News' Molly Nagle

Feb 19, 2025, 10:34 PM EST

Appeals court rules against lifting the block of Trump's birthright citizenship order

President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday lost its appeal to lift a nationwide injunction against his executive order on birthright citizenship.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said a closer review of the case will move forward in its court, with arguments slated for June.

In a concurring decision, Judge Danielle Jo Forrest -- who Trump nominated to the Ninth Circuit in 2019 -- defended the court's decision to deny the request for an emergency stay, arguing that rushing the decision birthright citizenship risks "eroding public confidence" at a critical moment in the country's history.

"When we decide issues of significant public importance and political controversy hours after we finish reading the final brief, we should not be surprised if the public questions whether we are politicians in disguise," Forrest wrote, before defending her decision to deny Trump's emergency appeal.

Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship was blocked by four separate federal judges across the country, each of whom determined that the policy directly violated the Constitution.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous

Feb 19, 2025, 8:41 PM EST

US, Mexican defense officials agree to coordinated border patrols

The top U.S. Northern Command official and Mexico's top general met recently to discuss cooperation in enforcing security along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a statement from the Department of Defense.

PHOTO: Members of the Texas National Guard stand guard near the border wall between Mexico and the United States, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Jan.  14, 2025.
Members of the Texas National Guard stand guard near the border wall between Mexico and the United States, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Jan. 14, 2025.
Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters, FILE

U.S. NORTHCOM Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot met with General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Mexico's secretary of national defense, according to the statement.

The officials signed an agreement that called for coordinated patrols on each side of the border, increased information sharing between the respective officials and to establish methods for immediate communications.

"Both leaders expect their agreement will serve to enable further conversations and coordination in greater detail at varied levels to ensure the mutual security of the border," the DOD statement read.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Feb 19, 2025, 8:18 PM EST

Trump considering giving 20% of DOGE savings 'back to Americans'

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his administration is considering giving 20% of savings from DOGE’s work "back to Americans."

The president made the announcement while on stage at the Miami Summit, Saudi Arabia’s annual investment conference in South Florida.

President Donald Trump speaks at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute summit in Miami Beach, Fla., Feb. 19, 2025.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP

"We're thinking about 20% back to the American citizens and 20% down to pay back and pay down debt," Trump said.

Similarly, Elon Musk posted on X Tuesday that he would "check with the president" on a proposal floated by the CEO of an investment firm to deliver a tax refund check to every taxpayer "funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE."

The Department of Government Efficiency claimed on its federal website this week the agency had made $55 billion in government cuts so far.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

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