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Chapter 1: What recent decision did a federal judge make about USAID staff?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. A federal judge is allowing the Trump administration to put thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development staff on administrative leave. NPR's Fatma Tanis has more.
Unions representing agency employees lost their bid to challenge the administration's moves to dismantle America's aid agency. Two weeks ago, Judge Carl Nichols had issued a pause on the moves to put most of the agency's staff on administrative leave and bring back foreign service officers who are posted overseas, many in conflict zones, within 30 days.
The unions argued that dismantling the agency would put its overseas staff in danger and cut them off from communication and resources. Judge Nichols said the unions failed to prove irreparable harm to the employees and removed the temporary block. The administration has significantly downsized USAID. Only 600 people out of the more than 10,000 will be allowed to continue working.
Fatma Tanis, NPR News.
The Senate has passed its budget resolution. That was early today. It acts as a framework to implement President Trump's legislative agenda. As NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports, the resolution would provide $175 billion for border security and $150 billion in military funding.
The resolution would provide $175 billion for border security and $150 billion in military funding. The Senate's adoption is an early step in the process, which requires committees to work out the details of spending, as well as any offsets to help pay for the additional funds. The budget resolution is at odds with the House's approach.
The House wants to pass one bill that addresses spending for the border and extends the 2017 tax cuts. The Senate wants to break those elements into two distinct bills. Both chambers ultimately have to be on the same page to get the legislation across the finish line. Barbara Sprint and Peer News, Washington.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has removed the city's fire chief after the massive wildfires last month destroyed thousands of buildings, leaving at least 29 people dead. Bass says she removed Fire Chief Kristen Crowley because firefighters were sent home instead of being used to fight the fires last month.
We all know that a thousand firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke were instead sent home on Chief Crowley's watch. These actions required her removal.
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Chapter 2: Why did unions challenge the Trump administration regarding USAID?
The man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a busy Manhattan sidewalk was in a courtroom in New York today for a status hearing on state charges. Luigi Mangione was indicted on 11 counts, including one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, along with weapons and forgery charges.
He pleaded not guilty to state charges, but he hasn't yet entered a plea on federal murder charges. The Manhattan District Attorney says he faces life in prison without parole if convicted in the state case. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.