The United States is reducing the number of people deemed nonessential to operations in , the State Department has announced. The U.S. is also authorizing nonessential personnel and family members to leave Bahrain and Kuwait, which will give them a choice on whether to leave those countries.
The State Department said it made the orders after evaluating recent tensions, which are on the rise in the region as high-stakes appear to have hit an impasse.
Meanwhile announced that China will make it easier for American industry to obtain magnets and , clearing the way for trade talks to continue between the world鈥檚 two biggest economies. Trump also said Wednesday that the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of .
Here's the latest:
Trump鈥檚 plan to begin 鈥榩hasing out鈥� FEMA burdens states, experts warn
The president鈥檚 plan for the after the 2025 hurricane season is likely to put more responsibilities on states to provide services following increasingly frequent and expensive climate disasters, experts said.
While there has been bipartisan support for reforming the agency, experts say dismantling it completely would leave gaps in crucial services and funding.
鈥淚t just causes more concern on how states should be planning for the future if the federal government鈥檚 not going to be there for them,鈥� said Michael Coen, FEMA chief of staff during the Obama and Biden administrations.
Disaster response is already locally led and state-managed, but FEMA supports by coordinating resources from federal agencies, providing direct assistance programs for households and moving money to states for repairing public infrastructure.
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Non VIP crowd mingles at Kennedy Center before Trump arrives for Les Miserables
After going through magnetometers and bag searches, the guests are mingling on the center鈥檚 Cross Hall-style red carpet.
Some patrons are availing themselves of several concession stands selling turkey or chicken salad sandwiches, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and boxes of candy.
A canned soda costs $8, and a glass of wine $19.
House uses procedural vote to amend big GOP tax bill
That means Trump鈥檚 massive tax and immigration bill finally will make its way to the Senate.
The changes struck some provisions from the bill that had been flagged as problematic by the Senate parliamentarian.
Provisions that were dropped include $2 billion to enhance military intelligence and about $500 million for the development of cruise missiles.
The House also dropped increased penalties for fraud committed through the employee retention tax credit established during the COVID pandemic.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said most of the changes were technical corrections, but he said the vote also gave Republicans who have expressed concern about the bill a chance to stop it.
鈥淣ow you have a second chance to actually stop this one big, ugly bill and the provisions you disagree with,鈥� Jeffries said.
Raids in Southern California rattle immigrant communities 鈥� including those in the US legally
Jacob Vasquez began working at a clothing warehouse in Los Angeles soon after arriving from Mexico less than three years ago. Now he is among dozens of workers by federal immigration authorities in a series of raids in Southern California.
Vasquez has a three-month-old baby, according to his family, who spoke to reporters outside the Ambiance Apparel warehouse, a clothing company founded in 1999 where he worked.
鈥淛acob is a family man and the sole breadwinner of his household,鈥� said his brother Gabriel, speaking in Spanish during a news conference this week.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know where he is.鈥�
Immigrant advocates say the workers who were detained do not have criminal histories and are being denied their due process rights.
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GOP Sen. Rand Paul 鈥� a Trump bill critic 鈥� says he was disinvited from White House picnic
Paul told reporters that his family, including his young grandson 鈥� who has his own MAGA hat 鈥� were planning on attending the annual event for members of Congress.
The senator said he expects the disinvitation is part of a broader campaign against him over his stated opposition to the deficit numbers in Trump鈥檚 big bill.
鈥淚t鈥檚 people who choose to stand up to the president, and I have stood up to the president on the debt 鈥� but no differently than I stood up to Biden or to Obama,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 like it, and they don鈥檛 want to have a reasonable argument or a discussion over the policy,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey think they鈥檙e gonna somehow needle me or get me me disinvited 鈥� my grandson 鈥� to the picnic.鈥�
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just really petty and juvenile and, I think they should be called out for it.鈥�
Judge says government must release Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil
The judge ruled that the government cannot deport and must release , the student whom the Trump administration jailed over his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.
U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz said Khalil has shown that his continued detention is causing irreparable harm to his career, his family and his free speech rights.
Farbiarz gave the government until Friday to appeal. He also required Khalil to post a $1 bond.
Khalil was detained by immigration agents March 8 in the lobby of his university-owned apartment in New York. He was then taken to an immigration detention center in Jena, Louisiana.
Khalil鈥檚 lawyers have challenged the legality of his detention. They say the administration is trying to crack down on free speech.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he has the power to deport Khalil because his presence in the U.S. could harm foreign policy.
Farbiarz had ruled earlier that expelling Khalil on those grounds was likely unconstitutional.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. names 8 vaccine committee replacements, including COVID shot critic
The U.S. health secretary named the new vaccine policy advisers to replace the panel that he abruptly .
They include a scientist who researched mRNA vaccine technology and transformed into a conservative darling for his criticisms of COVID-19 vaccines, and a leading critic of pandemic-era lockdowns.
Kennedy鈥檚 decision to 鈥渞etire鈥� the previous 17-member panel was widely decried by doctors鈥� groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy鈥檚 desire to reassess 鈥� and possibly end 鈥� longstanding vaccination recommendations.
The new appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include Dr. Robert Malone, the former mRNA researcher who emerged as a close adviser to Kennedy during the measles outbreak.
Malone, who runs a wellness institute and a popular blog, rose to popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as he relayed conspiracy theories around the outbreak and the vaccines that followed.
At concert in Berlin, Bruce Springsteen criticizes Trump administration again
The veteran rock star, a longtime and high-profile critic of the president, called the administration 鈥渃orrupt, incompetent and treasonous.鈥�
Springsteen was addressing tens of thousands of fans Wednesday at a stadium built for the that still bears the scars of World War II and contains relics from the country鈥檚 dark Nazi past.
鈥淭onight we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism and let freedom reign,鈥� he said.
Springsteen has made increasingly public statements in recent concerts.
He denounced Trump鈥檚 politics during a show last month in Manchester, calling him an 鈥渦nfit president鈥� leading a 鈥渞ogue government鈥� of people who have 鈥渘o concern or idea for what it means to be deeply American.鈥�
Trump gave a less-than-optimistic view about reaching a deal with Iran
The president told the New York Post鈥檚 鈥淧od Force One鈥� podcast that he was 鈥済etting more and more less confident about鈥� a deal over Iran鈥檚 rapidly advancing nuclear program.
鈥淭hey seem to be delaying, and I think that鈥檚 a shame. I鈥檓 less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them,鈥� he said in the interview recorded Monday and released Wednesday.
The talks seek to limit Iran鈥檚 nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions that the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.
National Guard troops have temporarily detained civilians in LA protests, commander says
National Guard troops already have temporarily detained civilians in the , the commander in charge said Wednesday, but they quickly turned them over to law enforcement.
Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman said about 500 of the National Guard troops have been trained so far to accompany agents on . Photos of Guard soldiers providing security for the agents have already been circulated by immigration officials.
Sherman is commander of Task Force 51, which is overseeing the more than 4,000 Guard troops and 700 Marines who have been deployed to Los Angeles to provide security during the protests.
Bessent says tariff delays 鈥榟ighly likely鈥� for countries negotiating in good faith
The treasury secretary made his comment before the House Ways and Means Committee.
Trump imposed tariffs on countries around the world in early April, then set the pause button and promised 90 deals in 90 days.
The clock is ticking as the U.S. has come up with an framework agreement with the United Kingdom, delayed tariffs for the European Union and reached a plan on minerals and foreign students with China.
鈥淚t is highly likely that those countries that are negotiating in good faith, we will roll the date forward to continue good faith negotiations,鈥� Bessent said.
鈥淚f someone is not negotiating, then we will not.鈥�
Hundreds of laid-off CDC employees are being reinstated
More than 460 laid-off employees at the nation鈥檚 top public health agency are being reinstated, according to a union representing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workers.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed reinstatement notices went out, but provided few details.
About 2,400 CDC employees lost their jobs in a wave of cuts across federal health agencies in early April. Whole CDC programs were essentially shut down.
An estimated 200 of the reinstated workers are based at a CDC center focused on sexually transmitted diseases. Also reinstated are dozens of employees at the CDC鈥檚 National Center for Environmental Health.
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US Central Command confirms Hegseth OK鈥檇 voluntary departure of military dependents
The command confirmed the authorization in a statement.
It says it 鈥渋s monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East.鈥�
Warning issued to ships in the Middle East region
Earlier Wednesday, a statement from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, a Mideast-based effort overseen by the British navy, issued a warning that it 鈥渉as been made aware of increased tensions within the region which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.鈥�
It urged caution in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. It did not name Iran, though those waterways have seen Iranian ship seizures and attacks in the past.
US military authorizes 鈥榲oluntary departure鈥� of troops鈥� dependents across the Mideast amid Iran tensions, officials say
The U.S. military has authorized the voluntary departure of troops鈥� dependents from locations across the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, two U.S. officials say.
One U.S. defense official said the order came from defense secretary Hegseth.
That official said the U.S. military was working with the State Department and its allies in the region 鈥渢o maintain a constant state of readiness.鈥�
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that had yet to be made public.
鈥擝y Matthew Lee, Tara Copp and Jon Gambrell
White House confirms voluntary evacuation at Baghdad embassy
鈥淭he State Department regularly reviews American personnel abroad, and this decision was made as a result of a recent review,鈥� White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.
EPA set to roll back rules that limit greenhouse gases and mercury from power plants
The Environmental Protection Agency is poised to eliminate the rules for power plants fueled by coal and natural gas.
It鈥檚 part of a wide-ranging rollback of environmental regulations that Administrator Lee Zeldin has said would eliminate trillions of dollars in costs and 鈥渦nleash鈥� American energy.
The agency also plans to weaken a regulation that requires power plants to reduce emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants that can harm brain development of young children and contribute to health problems in adults.
The rollbacks are set to be announced Wednesday.
鈥擝y Matthew Daly
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US prepares to order departure of nonessential staff from embassy in Baghdad over regional tensions, officials say
Two U.S. officials say the order will not affect a large number of personnel, but the State Department also is authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait.
That gives them an option on whether to leave the country.
The Pentagon is standing by to support a potential evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, another U.S. official said.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail plans that had not been made public.
鈥擝y Matthew Lee and Tara Copp
Tensions in the region have been rising in recent days
That鈥檚 because talks between the U.S. and Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program appear to have hit an impasse.
Meanwhile, the Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency was set to potentially vote on a measure to censure Iran. That could set in motion an effort to snap back United Nations sanctions on Iran via a measure in Tehran鈥檚 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that鈥檚 still active until October.
Amid the reports of preparations for embassy departures, Iran鈥檚 mission to the U.N. posted on social media that 鈥渢hreats of overwhelming force won鈥檛 change the facts.鈥�
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Trump reviewing trade framework with China ahead of signing measure to continue negotiations
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump 鈥渋s reviewing the details鈥� of the framework agreement with China 鈥渨ith his trade team right now.鈥�
The Trump administration has said Tuesday鈥檚 yet-to-be-signed agreement would allow trade talks to continue between the world鈥檚 two largest economies.
鈥淲hat the president heard, he liked,鈥� Leavitt said at Wednesday鈥檚 briefing. 鈥淐hina has agreed to open their markets to the United States separately of this deal.鈥�
Leavitt said Trump鈥檚 team did a 鈥渇antastic job鈥� in the negotiations, which will allow the U.S. to get access to critical minerals exports from China.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a great place right now,鈥� Leavitt said.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump announced that a U.S.-China trade deal was 鈥渄one鈥� 鈥� and that in exchange for China's acceptance of 55% tariffs on Chinese goods and an agreement to sell Chinese magnets and rare earth minerals, the U.S. will provide China 鈥渨hat was agreed to,鈥� including allowing Chinese students to attend American colleges and universities.
White House continues criticism of Democratic leaders over LA protests
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt began her Wednesday briefing by continuing to lambaste California Gov. Gavin 蜜桃视频appom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
鈥淢ayor Bass and Governor 蜜桃视频appom fanned the flames and demonized our brave ICE officers,鈥� Leavitt said.
While protests have been largely peaceful, Leavitt continue to criticize the California leaders for failing to restore order. She asserted that local law enforcement efforts have been 鈥渒neecapped by incompetent Democrat policies鈥� that prevent coordination with federal immigration authorities.
Lawyers for the first president found guilty of a crime argue to erase the conviction
Trump鈥檚 lawyer argued in a federal appellate court Wednesday that the case belongs in federal court, where his administration can throw it out. The Manhattan district attorney鈥檚 office 鈥� which prosecuted the case and wants it to remain in state court, argued the contrary.
The judges 鈥� two nominated by President Barack Obama and one by President Joe Biden 鈥� were at turns skeptical and receptive to both sides鈥� arguments on weighty and seldom-tested legal issues.
The one thing everyone agreed on: It is a highly unusual case. Trump lawyer Jeffrey Wall said Trump is in 鈥渁 class of one.鈥�
The judges said they would issue a ruling at a later date.
Trump was of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actor , whose affair allegations threatened to upend his . Trump denies her claim and said he did nothing wrong. It was the only one of his four criminal cases to go to trial.
Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigns in protest
All 12 members of the board overseeing in protest of what they call Trump administration meddling with the program established by Congress nearly 80 years ago as a non-ideological, bipartisan pillar of American diplomacy.
A published by the board members said the administration 鈥渦surped鈥� the board鈥檚 authority by denying awards to scholars who already had been selected for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The resignations were first reported by The New York Times. A message seeking comment was left with the State Department, which runs the international scholarship program.
鈥淲e believe these actions not only contradict the statute but are antithetical to the Fulbright mission and the values, including free speech and academic freedom, that Congress specified in the statute,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淚t is our sincere hope that Congress, the courts, and future Fulbright Boards will prevent the administration鈥檚 efforts to degrade, dismantle, or even eliminate one of our nation鈥檚 most respected and valuable programs.鈥�
Trump says he could forgive Musk but it鈥檚 not a priority
Trump was the first guest on a new podcast launched Wednesday by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. She asked the president if he could reconcile with or forgive Musk.
鈥淚 guess I could,鈥� Trump said, 鈥渂ut, you know, we have to straighten out the country and my sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it鈥檚 ever been.鈥�
Vice President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles called Musk on Friday and urged him to end his feud with Trump, according to two people familiar with the call who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The call was first reported Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal.
鈥� Michelle Price
Hegseth says the National Guard deployment was authorized to get 鈥榓head of a problem鈥�
Hegseth explained to the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee that the National Guard will be on hand to support local law enforcement and help out if protests expand to other areas.
鈥淧art of it is getting ahead of a problem,鈥� Hegseth said. He said most states would welcome the help but 鈥淚n California unfortunately the governor wants to play politics with it.鈥�
As of Tuesday, Trump has authorized 4,100 National Guard members and 700 Marines to deploy to Los Angeles.
White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt began her Wednesday briefing by accusing California Gov. Gavin 蜜桃视频appom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of fanning flames and demonizing 鈥渙ur brave ICE officers.鈥�
While protests have been largely peaceful, Leavitt continue to criticize the California leaders for failing to restore order. She asserted that local law enforcement efforts have been 鈥渒neecapped by incompetent Democrat policies鈥� that prevent coordination with federal immigration authorities.
National History Day competition presents challenging facts about America
Thousands of middle and high school students from all 50 states and several countries are at the University of Maryland for the 51st National History Day Competition.
It comes as Trump targets cultural establishments, downsizing the federal government and ending initiatives seen as promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, which he calls 鈥渄iscrimination.鈥�
The student鈥檚 work shows how difficult scrubbing history can be. Presentations range from the landmark 1954 school desegregation case, to 鈥淭he Dark History of Indian Boarding Schools鈥� and 鈥淭he Thind White Line,鈥� the 1923 Supreme Court case that denied citizenship to Bhagat Singh Thind, a Caucasian, because he was not considered white.
Executive Director Cathy Gorn says the competition鈥檚 goal is to show students 鈥渢hat people of all kinds of backgrounds, people of all kinds of shapes and sizes and colors and ethnicities have contributed to the building of this incredible country of ours. This is a great opportunity to truly show what America is about and at the same time say hey, it鈥檚 also been a struggle.鈥�
Jeffries and Schumer defend 蜜桃视频appom
The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate are defending Gov. Gavin 蜜桃视频appom鈥檚 handling of the Trump administration鈥檚 immigration crackdown in California, which prompted protests and now the president鈥檚 deployment of the National Guard and Marines.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said 蜜桃视频appom 鈥渉as been doing a tremendous job on behalf of the people of California.鈥� Jeffries said Democrats believe along with 蜜桃视频appom that anybody who commits violence or destroys property should be held accountable to the full extent of that law. But he said that people have a right to 鈥減eacefully protest and petition their government.鈥�
Sen. Chuck Schumer said Trump has been trying to bully the governor.
鈥淗e has shown he鈥檚 not going to be intimidated, and we鈥檙e all for that,鈥� Schumer said.
Top US military commander sees no evidence of a foreign government invasion
Wednesday鈥檚 testimony by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine complicates .
Asked if he believes the U.S. is being invaded by a foreign power, Caine said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see any foreign state-sponsored folks invading but I鈥檒l be mindful of the fact that there have been some border issues.鈥�
Asked whether he sees evidence of 鈥渞ebellion鈥� in the country 鈥� a word that arguably justifies using the Insurrection Act to send military units into U.S. states and cities over the objections of local officials 鈥� Caine said: 鈥淭here are definitely some frustrated folks out there.鈥�
Responding to the same question, Hegseth repeated Trump鈥檚 argument that 鈥渢here has been an invasion鈥� of migrants entering the country without legal permission, and he said the protests in Los Angeles could spread to other areas.
FAA administrator nominee says $12.5 billion budgeted for upgrades is just a down payment
鈥淭he system is old,鈥� Bedford said. 鈥淪o we have to do better.鈥�
Pilots鈥� unions and Democrats have raised concerns that Bedford may support weakening the 1,500-hour experience standard for airline pilots that was adopted after a 2009 crash, or might consider allowing some airlines to operate with only one pilot.
Senators Maria Cantwell and Tammy Duckworth pressed him on maintaining the rule, noting that he had funded and lobbied to change it while he was running an airline. Bedford refused to make that commitment.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe safety is static,鈥� Bedford said, adding later: 鈥淚 can commit to you that we will not have anything that will reduce safety.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 FAA administrator nominee gets grilled about crashes and near misses
Trump鈥檚 pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration is facing tough questions about safety after a and near misses since January鈥檚 over the Potomac River.
Much of the industry, including the major airlines and their trade groups, supports Bryan Bedford鈥檚 nomination. But pilots unions and Democrats have raised concerns that he might weaken pilot training standards.
Bedford has been CEO of regional airline Republic Airways since 1999 and has more than three decades of experience in the industry. He has pledged to make safety the FAA鈥檚 top priority and work to restore public confidence in flying. Bedford also said he鈥檒l work with Congress on Trump鈥檚 to overhaul the nation鈥檚 air traffic control system.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said the FAA should have acted before the crash in Washington, D.C., because there had been reported around Ronald Reagan National Airport in the years prior. The FAA has to keep helicopters and planes from sharing airspace, but there have been since then.
Hegseth says Qatar still has not signed memo to release Trump 747 to Pentagon
The defense secretary confirmed reports that the Qataris have not come to an agreement with the Trump administration over a memo that would allow the Department of Defense to take possession of the 747 jet, which Trump wants as his temporary Air Force One. This also means that no contracts have been signed to move forward on overhauling the aircraft.
鈥淎 memorandum of understanding remains to be signed,鈥� Hegseth said, while refusing to answer senator鈥檚 questions on the cost or potential timeframe of refurbishing the aircraft 鈥� even though data on two other 747s being reconditioned to serve as Air Force One by Boeing is public.
Trump toured the Qatari plane in February when , his Florida resort.
Hegseth says Europe needs to increase support for Ukraine
The defense secretary told senators that the Pentagon budget includes hard choices and 鈥渞eflects the reality that Europe needs to step up more for the defense of its own continent. And President Trump deserves the credit for that.鈥�
Questioned at a defense appropriations hearing about U.S. security support for Kyiv Hegseth did not respond when asked if the U.S. will send the remaining $3.8 billion in aid already approved.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned that Russia will not stop with its assault on Ukraine and said the U.S. has to end the war. Hegseth said a negotiated peace in Ukraine will make America look strong.
The Associated Press
