Trump hints at big changes coming to FEMA, suggests states should handle their own disaster relief
Trump suggested during a Fox News interview tonight that individual states should handle disaster relief themselves with reduced federal assistance.
“If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it," Trump said. "And then the federal government can help them out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything."
Trump reiterated his criticism of FEMA’s operations during the Biden administration. FEMA coordinates the federal response to disasters including wildfires, hurricanes and floods.
Federal employees are told to name colleagues who work in DEI roles or risk ‘adverse consequences’
Federal employees received emails today warning that they could face repercussions if they did not report on coworkers who work in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility positions that might have gone unnoticed by government supervisors.
“We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language,” said emails sent to government employees and obtained by NBC News.
Employees were directed to notify the Office of Personnel Management if they are “aware of a change in any contract description or personnel position description since November 5, 2024 to obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies.”
Rubio to shut down State Department's Diversity and Inclusion program
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be shutting down the State Department’s Diversity and Inclusion program, shuttering the doors of an office first created by his predecessor, according to an internal cable obtained by NBC News
“No Department personnel or personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) authority shall as part of carrying out their job duties promote a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy,” Rubio said in the memo to all diplomatic and consular posts sent today. “Instead, all personnel shall promote merit. They shall work to advance the interests of the United States.”
In a warning similar to that proffered by the Office of Personnel Management, the memo said those who fail to comply “may be subject to counseling or discipline on the basis of insubordination, as applicable.” U.S. diplomats were also advised to report any evidence of fellow employees acting in contradiction to the directive or face “adverse consequences.”
The future employment of those currently involved in DEI work at the State Department was not made immediately clear.
One part of the cable suggests State Department employees currently involved in DEI work could be redirected to “perform other substantive duties consistent with this directive, or be detailed or reassigned as appropriate.” Several paragraphs later, the memo states that all employees of Office of Diversity and Inclusion “will be placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately.”
The head of the American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents U.S. Foreign Service Officers, said the group is still working with its labor lawyers to make sense of the memo and the implications for its members.
“We want to make certain that if our members are caught up in this, that they have the ability to do another have another position, and continue on with their career,” AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi told NBC News. “Just because the position has been eliminated, it doesn’t mean your career is going to be eliminated.”
The cable mandates all assistant secretaries, senior bureau officials and chiefs of mission undertake comprehensive reviews of the actions they have taken to implement the anti-DEIA directive in their respective bureaus and embassies and provide 90-day and 180-day updates to the secretary.
Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio back home after Trump’s Jan. 6 clemency
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio returned home today to Miami two days after he was released from a federal prison when Trump granted clemency to him and more than 1,500 of the Jan. 6 rioters.
Wearing a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap, Tarrio was greeted by his family, friends and a crush of reporters after he landed.
“I think I love my family,” Tarrio said before he was whisked away in a black SUV.
Relief, revenge but little repentance: Trump’s pardons delight Jan. 6 offenders
Gina Bisignano’s strategy paid off. For years, the Jan. 6 defendant had done anything and everything she could to delay her criminal case in connection with her actions during the Capitol attack, hoping and praying that Trump would be re-elected and pardon her.
On Monday, just two days before her 56th birthday, Bisignano had another reason to celebrate, when Trump issued pardons that erased the case against her. A federal judge signed the dismissal on yesterday. Today, Bisignano was a free woman.
“I have no regrets,” Bisignano said, adding that she wouldn’t change anything even if “you handed me a million dollars.”
Trump names Sean Curran as new Secret Service director
Trump announced on Truth Social tonight that Sean Curran, a member of Trump's security detail during the July assassination attempt, will be the next director of the U.S. Secret Service.
"Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World," Trump wrote. "He proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have complete and total confidence in Sean to make the United States Secret Service stronger than ever before."
The head of the Secret Service does not require Senate confirmation.
Capitol rioter says 'Trump can shove his pardon up his a--'
Jason Riddle, who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol and theft of government property during the attack on the building four years ago, blasted Trump's decision to pardon Jan. 6 defendants, telling ABC News in an interview that “Trump can shove his pardon up his a--.”
Riddle ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for a House seat last year.
Riddle admitted to chugging wine he found in an office inside the Capitol, according to court filings. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in prison.
“I am guilty of the crimes I have committed and accept the consequences,” Riddle told ABC News.
He also criticized Trump's pardoning of rioters who had assaulted police officers.
“If I was one of the people who crossed the line into assaulting police officers that day, I’d probably believe I can get away with anything I want now,” Riddle told the outlet.
Government webpages vanish under Trump, from DEI to reproductive rights
In the first few days of Trump’s second presidency, his administration has already overhauled the federal government’s online footprint.
The White House website no longer has a Spanish-language version. It has removed a disclaimer promising to make it accessible to people with disabilities. And a number of federal agencies have removed web pages related to reproductive rights and diversity.
It’s standard for a new president to remake the White House website to reflect their administration’s goals and values, and some of the missing pages appear to be temporary changes.
ODNI says it's complying with Trump order revoking security clearances for former intel officials
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a social media post that it is complying with Trump’s executive order revoking security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials who signed a letter in 2020 saying Russia was possibly behind the release of Hunter Biden’s emails as part of Moscow’s effort to influence the presidential election.
The CIA said earlier today that it had complied with the order to strip former senior intelligence officials of their security clearances, NBC News previously reported.
The president’s order appears to be a primarily symbolic act of retribution, as it’s not clear how many of the former officials still had active security clearances.
The letter’s signatories included former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta, former acting CIA Director Michael Morrell, former CIA Director and head of the National Security Agency Gen. Michael Hayden and former acting CIA Director John McLaughlin.
Trump issues more immigration orders on third day in office, while enforcement details remain unclear
In his third day in office, Trump signed more executive orders aimed at shutting down the U.S. southern border to immigration and ramping up deportations — though large scale deportation raids had yet to materialize as of Wednesday afternoon.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, Trump signed an executive order that “suspends the physical entry of aliens engaged in an invasion of the United States through the southern border.”