Breaking News: Courts hand down key rulings on Trump’s overhaul of the federal government….See More

What we’re covering
• Big court rulings: The Supreme Court dashed President Donald Trump’s plan to immediately fire the head of an independent agency that investigates whistleblower claims, allowing Hampton Dellinger to remain in the job through at least the middle of next week. Earlier, a federal judge allowed the administration to move forward with its dismantling of USAID, a decision that is likely to be appealed.

• Military layoffs: The Pentagon said it plans to ultimately fire 5-8% of the military’s approximately 950,000 civilian employees, with an initial tranche of 5,400 probationary workers who don’t have “mission-critical” roles expected to be terminated next week.

Media lawsuit: The Associated Press is suing three administration officials in federal court for banning AP reporters from some of the president’s events. The AP alleges that the ban violates the First Amendment as well as the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.

• Trump again slams Zelensky: Trump continued to rail against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a radio interview Friday — though he admitted Russia attacked Ukraine — even as his own US envoy to Ukraine struck a different tone, calling Zelensky an “embattled and courageous leader.”

New York City is taking legal action against the Trump administration after it clawed back $80 million out of the city’s bank accounts that were supposed to help pay for migrant services last week, filing a lawsuit Friday.

“FEMA took back the funds it paid the City on February 4, 2025, even though it had thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the extensive supporting documentation submitted by the City and approved payment as reimbursement for eligible and compliant expenditures under two federal grants awarded under the Shelter and Services Programs,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York alleges the Federal Emergency Management Agency illegally seized the money without notice or due process motivated by political opposition to FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program. The money was appropriated by Congress and granted to multiple localities dealing with the influx of migrants.

The lawsuit seeks to have the funds returned to the city.

“The $80 million that FEMA approved, paid, and then rescinded — after the city spent more than $7 billion in the last three years — is the bare minimum our taxpayers deserve. And that’s why we’re going to work to ensure our city’s residents get every dollar they are owed,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.

The federal clawback followed a threat by Elon Musk to revoke funds issued by FEMA.

The funds were appropriated by Congress during the previous administration to help the city pay for migrant hotels and other services.

The $80 million dollar claw back ignited political backlash across city lawmakers who say Adams is beholden to the Trump administration after the Department of Justice issued a directive ordering corruption charges against the mayor to be dropped.