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.
Department of Education says 70% of its workforce returned to the office
More than 70% of the U.S. Department of Education’s total workforce returned to its offices in D.C. and regional stations Monday, according to the department.
The US Department of Education building is seen in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
The statement said all employees will be back in the office by June 1 following the completion of building renovations and relocation arrangements.
It comes as the agency's future hangs in the balance -- secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon could be confirmed by the Senate as early as this week.
-ABC News' Arthur Jones
Feb 24, 2025, 5:09 PM EST
White House remains vague regarding change in OPM policy
The White House is not saying much when asked about the change in OPM policy relating to the five bullet point order from Elon Musk. A White House official said "DOGE is moving fast, at the direction of POTUS, and that's exactly the point," when asked to confirm the change in policy to ABC News.
"It's all about efficiency, even internally," the official added.
"Everyone is working together as one unified team at the direction of President Trump. Any notion to the contrary is completely false," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in the statement.
-- ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Feb 24, 2025, 4:59 PM EST
Trump administration tells agencies they don't need to cooperate with Musk's email order
The Trump administration on Monday told federal agencies they don't have to direct workers to comply with Elon Musk's request for information about their activities at work -- and that doing so is voluntary, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
People gather to protest outside the headquarters of the Office of Personnel Management after the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency was charged with oversight of OPM, in Washington, Feb. 2, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
The Office of Personnel Management -- effectively the human resources agency for the federal government -- updated agency human resources officers on a Monday call after a weekend of confusion over Musk's call for the Trump administration to fire federal workers who do not submit an email listing their accomplishments from the previous week.
This comes after President Donald Trump on Monday said there was a "lot of genius" behind Musk's proposal, and that workers would be "sort of semi-fired" if they don't respond.
– ABC News' Ben Siegel and Will Steakin
Feb 24, 2025, 4:01 PM EST
Macron says security guarantees must be part of any Russia-Ukraine agreement
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday repeatedly emphasized any agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war must contain security guarantees for long-term peace in the region.
"This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine," Macron said. "It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues that affect it. But is also a country in which we need to shoulder our responsibility so that we ensure security and stability for Ukraine and for the entire region. And for us Europeans this is an existential issue."
President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference in the East Room to the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also pushed that any agreement to end the conflict include security guarantees.
Trump, however, didn't say much on the issue during Monday's news conference.
Earlier in the day, he said he supported European peacemakers going into Ukraine after the war and said Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts that as well. When asked whether the U.S. would support European troops stationed in Ukraine, Trump vaguely replied, "We’re going to have a backing of some kind."
