China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
FDA Memo Raises Questions About Possible COVID-19 Vaccine Links to Rare Child Deaths 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
U.S. Halts Visa Processing for Afghan Nationals Amid Security Concerns 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
National Guard Member Killed in White House-Area Shooting Sparks Terror Probe and Immigration Review 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
U.S. May Withhold $30.4 Million From Minnesota Over Improper Commercial Driver Licenses 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Japan Approves $117 Billion Budget to Power Stimulus and Support Growth 
President Donald Trump’s administration is executing a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. civil service, with tech billionaire Elon Musk spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Thousands of federal employees have been dismissed as part of this controversial restructuring.
Trump claims the initiative will save "hundreds of billions," though Musk’s team reports $55 billion in savings so far—less than 1% of the federal budget. Republicans praise the effort to cut what they see as bloated bureaucracy, while Democrats argue it threatens essential government services and middle-class jobs.
NASA faces 1,000 layoffs, while the IRS has identified at least 7,500 employees for termination. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have also begun dismissals. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to fire hundreds of senior employees deemed not aligned with Trump.
Critics question Musk’s authority as his companies, including Neuralink, remain under federal investigation. Lawsuits challenging his role have produced mixed rulings, with a judge recently allowing the campaign to proceed while raising concerns about oversight.
Trump further asserted executive power by ordering greater presidential control over independent agencies. Meanwhile, lawmakers claim transparency is lacking, with oversight requests going unanswered.
Defending Musk, Trump called him a “patriot” but clarified that he would not have decision-making authority over space-related matters. As mass layoffs continue across federal agencies, uncertainty looms over the future of government operations and thousands of public-sector employees.
