Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Germany Moves to Approve €2.9 Billion Defense Procurement Package 
Japan Approves $117 Billion Budget to Power Stimulus and Support Growth 
Afghan Suspect in Deadly Shooting of National Guard Members Faces First-Degree Murder Charge 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Peru Moves to Declare State of Emergency at Chile Border as Migrant Tensions Rise 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
FDA Names Tracy Beth Høeg as Acting CDER Director After Richard Pazdur Announces Retirement 
The Trump administration is pressing ahead with sweeping federal job cuts despite court rulings ordering reinstatements. Since taking office in January, Trump’s administration has aggressively reduced government staff, with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leading the effort. More than 100,000 jobs have been slashed, impacting agencies like the IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Energy Department.
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged errors in the downsizing process but defended the push to streamline the government. “Mistakes happen, and they should be corrected quickly,” Vance told NBC News, adding that the administration aims to retain effective workers while eliminating inefficiencies.
Federal courts in California and Maryland ruled that thousands of probationary employees had been unlawfully terminated, ordering their reinstatement. The White House dismissed these rulings as partisan interference, vowing to appeal. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt argued that a district judge should not override presidential authority.
The IRS, a frequent target of Republican-led budget cuts, plans to eliminate up to 25,000 jobs by May 15. This includes 5,000 employees who accepted buyouts and 7,000 probationary workers affected by recent rulings. Additional cuts may follow as part of a broader federal restructuring.
To avoid legal challenges, some agencies have offered voluntary retirement packages rather than forced layoffs. However, legal battles continue, with unions and Democratic-led states contesting the mass firings. Judges ruled that several departments, including Defense, Treasury, and Agriculture, violated federal layoff regulations.
Amidst these changes, financial markets have been volatile. A global trade war and fears of economic downturn have erased $5 trillion in market value, though Wall Street saw slight recovery on Friday. Despite legal and economic pushback, the administration remains committed to its drastic federal workforce reduction plan.
