What to know about Trump's and Congress' activities today
- Vice President JD Vance voted in the affirmative on Pete Hegseth's nomination to be defense secretary, breaking the tie after the Senate divided 50-50 on whether to confirm him. Three Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — joined all Democrats in voting against him amid concerns about his treatment of women and alcohol use and a sexual assault allegation. He has denied any wrongdoing.
- President Donald Trump held a round table conversation in Pacific Palisades, California, following the conclusion of his tour of the area's wildfire damage. Trump earlier suggested he could withhold disaster aid to California over disagreements about voter ID and water policies. He also said he would sign an executive order to overhaul or possibly eliminate FEMA.
- Earlier, he embarked on the first trip of his second term with a visit to North Carolina to survey damage caused by the recent hurricane.
- Trump also released a video message to anti-abortion demonstrators at the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. Vice President JD Vance joined in person.
Deportation fears grow for migrants in Florida under Trump and DeSantis
Some undocumented immigrants living in Florida have barely stepped out of their homes this week, fearful of Trump’s pledge to carry out what he has called “the largest deportation program in American history” and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ paralleled efforts to bolster immigration enforcement in the state.
That’s all Magali, an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant in Central Florida, and her friends talk about. The mother of three U.S.-born children, who resides in the city of Ocoee, requested she only be identified by her first name due fear of deportation because of her immigration status.
Pentagon pausing official social media accounts worldwide for review
The Department of Defense has ordered a pause on all of its official social media accounts, unless the posts elevate the second Trump administration’s mission at the southern border or are informational updates, according to three U.S. defense officials.
The officials told NBC News that an official memo detailing the guidelines was distributed Friday, but that service members and non-military employees had been told through word of mouth to stand down on issuing posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, or updates on any other official social media accounts beginning on Thursday. Many DoD social media accounts had already gone quiet by the time the memo went out.
Trump administration gives green light to start firing federal workers in DEI roles
The Trump administration is stepping up its timeline for terminating federal employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles.
In a memo today, the acting head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management said agency heads “shall take action to terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions within sixty days.”
It’s still unclear how many workers would be affected. The White House has not provided detailed estimates. Termination efforts also could be hampered by workplace protections for many career government employees.
Second DOJ official who investigated Trump reassigned to immigration crackdown
Half a dozen senior career Justice Department officials have been told they are being removed from their jobs and reassigned to a new effort to take legal action against so-called sanctuary cities, four DOJ officials familiar with the matter told NBC News.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal personnel matters.
Two of those reassigned, one senior DOJ official said, were Corey Amundson, who had been head of the public integrity section, and George Toscas, who had been deputy assistant attorney general in the national security division.
Trump praises Hegseth as he travels to Nevada
Trump praised Hegseth as he disembarked from Marine One shortly after Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate to serve as secretary of defense.
Trump also praised Hegseth in a post to Truth Social, saying that he "will make a great Secretary of Defense!"
The president is currently traveling to Nevada, his third stop of the day after he surveyed damage from natural disasters afflicting North Carolina and California.
Vance casts tiebreaking vote in Hegseth's favor
Vance, in his constitutional capacity as president of the Senate, voted in the affirmative on Hegseth's nomination, rendering a 51-50 Senate vote confirming him as defense secretary.
"On this vote, the yeas are 50 an the nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed," Vance said.
Applause could be heard in the chamber after Vance announced his vote.
Vance arrives at the Senate ahead of likely tiebreaking vote
Vice President JD Vance has arrived at the Senate, where he will likely have to cast a tiebreaking vote on Hegseth's nomination.
Vance jokes about the possibility of casting a tiebreak vote on Hegseth's nomination
Vice President JD Vance, who served as a senator from Ohio until shortly before assuming the vice presidency, joked about the possibility of having to return to the Senate floor as the prospect of a tied vote on Hegseth's nomination looms.
"I thought I was done voting in the senate," Vance tweeted as the Senate veered toward the possibility of a 50-50 tie on Hegseth's nomination.
So far, three Republicans and all Democrats who have voted have cast votes against Hegseth, while all other Republicans who have cast votes have voted in the affirmative. If the outstanding votes fall along party lines, Vance will be called upon to cast the tiebreaking vote.
Hegseth posts letter addressed to Tillis after Senate voting began, Tillis responds and says he will support Hegseth
As the Senate was already voting, Hegseth posted a public letter to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., responding to Tillis' call for Hegseth to provide a "detailed response" to his former sister-in-law Danielle Dietrich Hegseth's affidavit detailing Hegseth's alleged behavior towards his second wife.
Hegseth has denied the allegations, and Hegseth's second wife, Samantha Hegseth, has said in a statement to NBC News that there was no physical abuse during their marriage. In a 2021 order in their divorce proceeding, both parties noted that “neither parent claims to be a victim of domestic abuse.”
Tillis posted his own response on X about five minutes after Hegseth's letter was posted, saying he would support his nomination.
McConnell votes against Hegseth
Sen. Mitch McConnell voted against the nomination of Hegseth to be secretary of defense.
If one more Republican and all Democrats vote against Hegseth, his candidacy will have been defeated.
If all other Republicans vote for Hegseth and Democrats remain against him, it could result in a 50-50 tie, which would then be broken by the vice president.