President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.
And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.
Trump appeals judge order forcing administration to pay millions in foreign aid
As the Trump administration faces an 11:59 p.m. deadline Wednesday to repay nonprofit organizations millions for foreign aid they have already completed, lawyers with the Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal in federal court in Washington.
President Donald Trump holds a hat reading 'Trump was right about everything' after signing an Executive Order at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Yuri Gripas/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The filing signals its intention to challenge Tuesday's court ruling that determined the Trump administration violated a court order blocking Trump's attempt to freeze foreign aid for 90 days.
-ABC News' Peter Charalambous
Feb 25, 2025, 6:26 PM EST
USAID staff given 15 minutes to gather belongings, told not to bring "prohibited items"
Leadership at the U.S. Agency for International Development has sent an email to laid-off agency staffers instructing them that they will have 15 minutes to enter their former offices at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C., to retrieve their personal belongings.
"This Thursday and Friday ONLY–on February 27 and 28, 2025 –USAID staff will have one opportunity to retrieve their personal belongings," according to the message, which was also posted to USAID.gov.
Recently fired U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staff carry boxes with a message as they leave work and are applauded by former USAID staffers and supporters during a sendoff outside USAID offices in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
"Staff will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete this retrieval and must be finished removing items within their time slot only," it continued.
The email included a timetable giving staffers a window in which they can collect their belongings based on their bureau or independent office. For some, the time frame is as long as an hour and a half. For others, it's just half an hour.
-ABC News' Lucien Bruggeman and Shannon Kingston
Feb 25, 2025, 6:08 PM EST
DHS says migrants must register in online database
The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that migrants who are in the country without legal status must register their information in a database that tracks them in an effort to "compel" self-deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security logo is seen during a news conference in Washington, Feb. 25, 2015.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP, FILE
The department said there are "criminal penalties" for those who don't self-deport, aren't fingerprinted or fail to let the government know if their address has changed.
It is unclear how this affects parole recipients who would technically be in the country illegally after their parole program expires.
-ABC News' Luke Barr
Feb 25, 2025, 5:49 PM EST
Trump floats selling 'gold card' for $5 million for pathway to citizenship
In the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced his administration plans to sell a "gold card" -- his version of a green card that will cost $5 million.
"We're going to be selling a gold card. You have a green card. This is a gold card. We're going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million. And that's going to give you green card privileges. Plus, it's going to be a route to citizenship, and wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card," Trump said.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office, at the White House in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025.
Yuri Gripas/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
"They'll be wealthy and they'll be successful and they'll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people. And we think it's going to be extremely successful and never been done before anything like this," Trump added, saying he expects to roll it out in the next two weeks.
Trump said he doesn't need Congress to act because it is not giving citizenship to those who purchase it, but rather a "strong pathway" to it.
Pressed if a Russian oligarch would be eligible, Trump said "possibly," adding that there are "some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people."
