Blue state suing sheriff’s office for helping enforce immigration law
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown is suing a county sheriff’s office in his state for “illegally collaborating” with federal officials and the Trump administration to enforce immigration law. Brown’s lawsuit, which was filed in Spokane County Superior Court, claims that the Adams County Sheriff’s Office’s holding of illegal immigrants in custody based on their immigration status, helping federal agents question people in custody and “routinely” sharing personal confidential information of Washington residents with federal officials “expressly violates state law.” The suit cites a 2019 law called the Keep Washington Working Act, which prohibits law enforcement in the state from providing aid in immigration enforcement. Brown is asking the court to force the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Dale Wagner, to comply with the Keep Washington Working Act. “Washington has the right and the responsibility to decide for itself how to use its own resources to keep residents safe and the economy strong,” the lawsuit says. “The State cannot stand by when elected officials publicly boast that they are breaking state law and putting their own communities at risk.” MASSIVE ICE OPERATION NABS NEARLY 650 ILLEGAL ALIENS IN TEXAS, OVER 80% WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES OR CONVICTIONS In a statement released by Brown’s office on Monday, the office said that almost all the sheriffs’ departments in the state are complying with the Keep Washington Working Act, except for a very select few. “The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is illegally collaborating with federal immigration officials and aiding the Trump administration’s efforts to enlist local officials for federal civil immigration work,” the office said. “The lawsuit is to enforce the Keep Washington Working Act. The act is based on a simple premise that it is not the job of state law enforcement, county sheriffs, or local police departments in Washington to enforce federal immigration law.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Brown claimed in the statement that “late last year Adams County was engaged in good faith settlement negotiations with our office,” but “after the inauguration of Donald Trump, the county and its Sheriff’s Office suddenly hardened their stance, broke off settlement talks, and aligned themselves with an organization founded by a top Trump aide who is among the most virulent anti-immigrant voices in the administration.” YOUNG FATHER KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HIGHLIGHTS ‘BETRAYAL’ OF SANCTUARY CITIES, SAYS REPUBLICAN Said organization – a group called “America First Legal” – is a conservative law firm founded by Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term. In a Feb. 26 statement released by America First Legal, the law firm said it was “taking action to defend Adams County, Washington, against the unlawful and abusive effort by Washington state officials to enforce illegal and dangerous sanctuary laws and policies and compel Adams County to violate federal immigration laws.” “Federal law is clear: it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield illegal aliens, and it is a crime to prevent federal officials from discharging their duties. It is also against federal law to prevent local officials from communicating with DHS about the immigration status of individuals,” said America First Legal Senior Counsel James Rogers. “Our nation’s immigration laws reflect the democratic will of the people, and it is outrageous that the State of Washington has been working to subvert it while at the same time facilitating the invasion of our country,” he went on. “It is even more disgraceful that the State of Washington would target one of its own counties because the officials there have the courage to follow the law and have been cooperating with ICE to help keep our country safe.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Buying Time
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -AOC slapped with ethics complaint over ‘troubling expenses’ made to dance company -US judge orders Trump administration to pay ‘unlawfully’ restricted USAID funds –The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the House voting to avoid a government shutdown today Vice President JD Vance told House Republicans that putting a government funding bill up for a vote today was critical to President Donald Trump keeping the lights on for his border security goals and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Two lawmakers present at the closed-door meeting on Tuesday morning said DOGE and the border were part of Vance’s pitch to Republicans who were still undecided about the bill. One lawmaker said Vance also signaled that future federal spending cuts could be on the table at a later date, a similar pitch House Freedom Caucus leaders have been making to fellow fiscal conservatives…Read more TRUMP VS COURTS: Who is Judge Amir Ali? The Biden-appointed federal judge at the center of Trump’s USAID battle ‘BACK TO BASICS’: Top Trump agency scraps memos pushing ‘equity initiatives’ ‘SWIFT AND UNRELENTING’: Trump’s top accomplishments 50 days into his return to the Oval Office ‘PSYCHICAL PHENOMENON’: Trump energy chief declares climate change a ‘global physical phenomenon’ amid reversal of Biden-era policies ‘GREAT AMERICAN’: Trump says he will buy a Tesla to support Elon Musk and his ‘baby’ BIG CHANGE$: China ‘ripping off’ American businesses — but the DOJ can fight them, GOP lawmaker says GOING BACK TO RUSSIA: Trump envoy heading to Russia for second time later this week, source says ‘COMMUNIST REGIME’: Romania’s now-barred presidential frontrunner Călin Georgescu claims he is facing Trump-like charges FIRST ON FOX: U.S. continues to share data to protect Ukrainians against Russian strikes, despite intel pause: sources LAND LINE: Dem seeks to halt Trump from ‘invading’ Greenland, Canada and Panama SCOOP: Key House Freedom Caucus member ‘seriously considering’ run for governor in 2026 ‘DEFENDING FREEDOM’: Mark Kelly accuses Trump of ‘trying to weaken Ukraine’s hand,’ responds to Elon Musk branding him a ‘traitor’ HEATING UP: GOP lawmakers take crucial step to ‘unlock’ American energy to reverse Biden-era ‘disaster’ ‘RACIST AND DEROGATORY’: House Dem pushes to censure Boebert over TV interview about Al Green FLIP FLOP: Video of Dems railing against past shutdowns unveiled by GOP ‘HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED’: Trump pledges to ‘lead the charge’ against Rep. Massie, likens him to Liz Cheney BAD DOGE: Dems threatening government shutdown over Elon Musk hate, Republicans say NOT PLAYING GAMES: Risch, GOP lawmakers demand Olympic committee comply with Trump order to ban trans athletes in women’s sports MAGA FOR MEDICAID?: Trump voter dons MAGA hat in warning to House Republicans against Medicaid cuts ‘ABSOLUTE BULLS—‘: Newsom’s ‘unfair’ remark on girls’ sports belies record as governor CHIPS ACT: Kamala Harris roasted for trying to tie love of Doritos to Big Tech innovation during AI conference MAJOR ENDORSEMENT: Top conservative group aligns with Trump as it makes major endorsement in high-profile race PULLING THE PLUG: DOGE and agencies cancel 200,000 federal government credit cards DOGE IN THE DISTRICT: GOP spending bill would force DC to cut $1B from city government, officials say ‘UNUSUAL SECRECY’: Judge rules DOGE likely subject to public records requests, says department operating in ‘unusual secrecy’ ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’: Abbey Gate terrorist, human smuggling ring leaders, cartel bosses among Bondi DOJ’s first-month successes SACRAMENTO SWEEPS: Former Rep. Katie Porter joins crowded California governor’s race FOLLOW THE MONEY: ‘He cannot buy an election here in Wisconsin’: Sanders slams Musk in state Trump won by less than 1% NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN: Rubio reserves the right to revoke green card or visa of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil NON-ESSENTIAL’: Pentagon gives civilian employees a $1 limit on their travel credit cards Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
One year after devastating Panhandle wildfires, Canadian resident reflects on the work of rebuilding
Remelle Farrar discusses how Texas communities big and small can prepare and rebuild after the worst happens.
SCOOP: Freedom Caucus threatens to force vote on Al Green measure if Johnson doesn’t act
FIRST ON FOX: The House Freedom Caucus could force a vote on a bill to strip Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, of his committee assignments if Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., does not announce a punishment for the Democrat that conservatives see as sufficient. “He will see what he deems appropriate, and then if that’s adequate, that’s fine,” House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, D-Md., told Fox News Digital. “If not, then we likely will file our privileged resolution to strip him of his committees.” Freedom Caucus members told Fox News Digital that the group was in touch with Johnson’s office about the issue. The conservative caucus threatened to file a resolution to remove Green from all committees last week after his disruption during President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CONCLUDES REMARKS AFTER DECLARING ‘AMERICA’S MOMENTUM IS BACK’ The protest got the Texas Democrat thrown out of the House chamber minutes after the address began. “We’re gonna ask what Mike Johnson wants to do moving forward. We talked about a lot of things, but different people had different thoughts. But I guess what weighed on our minds is, he said he’s going to do it again,” Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital. “My one thing, that kind of action needs consequences.” Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., said, “There’s all sorts of options, and I don’t think any of them have been decided upon yet.” Green was censured in a 224 to 198 vote on Thursday morning after repeatedly disrupting the beginning of Trump’s primetime speech. He shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!” at Trump and shook his cane in the air as the president touted Republican victories in the House, Senate and White House. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., after giving a warning, had Green removed from the chamber The 77-year-old Democrat was unrepentant, posting on X on Thursday afternoon, “Today, the House GOP censured me for speaking out for the American people against [Trump’s] plan to cut Medicaid. I accept the consequences of my actions, but I refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice.” But members of the House Freedom Caucus want to go further, floating everything from fining Green to making good on their resolution threat. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital he didn’t want to give the Green issue “any more oxygen” but suggested a suitable punishment would be stripping the Texas lawmaker of any seniority privileges. “No seniority on offices, no seniority on parking spots, on committees – all of that,” Burlison described. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS Meanwhile, Green’s House Democratic allies briefly plunged the House floor into chaos after the censure vote. They crowded Green as he stood ready for Johnson to read out the censure, another formal part of the process, and sang “We shall overcome.” Johnson was forced to pause House floor proceedings after trying and failing multiple times to call the Democrats to order., Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., another Freedom Caucus member, filed a resolution in response to strip all the offending Democrats from their committees. Harris and Clyde signaled the current discussions with leadership were focused on Green alone, however. “No one [else] waved a cane at the president and didn’t accept…having a censure resolution read without interruption,” Harris said. Clyde added, “And nobody else had to be thrown out.” Johnson, for his part, confirmed in an interview on Fox News on Friday that he was in talks with the House Freedom Caucus on a punishment for Green. “I talked to Freedom Caucus members and other Republicans who are deeply concerned about this,” Johnson told “Outnumbered.” “They say we have to restore control one way or the other and there need to be real consequences, and it’s something that we’ll be looking at early next week.” Green currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he is the top Democrat on the subcommittee for oversight. Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Johnson and Green for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Trump-backed bill to avert government shutdown passes House despite mutiny threats
House Republicans passed a federal funding bill backed by President Donald Trump largely on their own Tuesday. It also marked one of the rare occasions in recent memory that a majority of House Democrats voted against a bill that would prevent a government shutdown. The bill passed largely along partisan lines in a 217 to 213 vote. Just one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against the bill. One lone Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, joined the rest of the GOP in advancing it. Republicans erupted into cheers on the House floor when the bill passed, and now the House will be out of session until March 24. DEMOCRATS PRIVATELY REBUKE PARTY MEMBERS WHO JEERED TRUMP DURING SPEECH TO CONGRESS: REPORT The measure, a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding known as a continuing resolution (CR), will now head to the Senate. It must pass there and get to Trump’s desk before the end of Friday, March 14, to avert a partial shutdown. In a major victory for Trump and House GOP leaders, however, several House Republicans who professed to never have voted for a CR supported the current bill. Among them was Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., who fully credited Trump with his decision to “barely” support the bill. “The ‘barely’ is Donald Trump,” Burlison said. “He is the difference maker. I would never support this language, but I do trust Donald Trump.” Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., was in a similar boat. He told reporters, “I’ll be the first guy to tell you I don’t like CRs. I’ve never voted for one.” “But the Democrats aren’t going to help us. And the Democrats are just going to put any shutdown on the president, which obviously isn’t good for for the party,” Steube said. “So I think it’s important that we give the party, the president and the conference time to come up with a good budget.” And despite passing the House, the legislation could still see an uphill climb in the Senate. At least one Republican there, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has already rejected the bill. Republicans will likely need the help of as many as eight Democrats to meet the upper chamber’s 60-vote threshold. The bill includes an additional $8 billion in defense dollars in an apparent bid to ease national security hawks’ concerns, while non-defense spending that Congress annually appropriates would decrease by about $13 billion. There’s also an added $6 billion for healthcare for veterans. TOP CONSERVATIVE GROUP VOWS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PRESIDENT AFTER PAST CLASHES WITH TRUMP The White House has requested additional spending in areas that were not present in the last government funding extension, known as “anomalies.” Among the anomalies are some added funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) federal benefits program, and nearly $1 billion to aid with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations. There is also some added funding for defense in a bid to ease national security hawks’ concerns, and about $13 billion in cuts to non-defense spending. Rank-and-file Republicans like Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, cheered the bill’s passage. He told Fox News Digital, “My vote for this clean, fiscally conservative continuing resolution ensures that we pay our troops and fully fund our border patrol agents while continuing our work to extend the Trump Tax Cuts” in addition to a host of other Trump priorities.
‘Entire families’ killed in Syria fighting, UN says
Hundreds reported killed in violence in Syria’s coastal region, which is heavily populated by Alawites. Entire families including women and children have been killed in Syria’s coastal region as part of recent a series of sectarian killings by rival groups, the UN human rights office said. The wave of violence broke out last Thursday, when armed groups loyal to deposed former President Bashar al-Assad ambushed security forces in the province of Latakia, killing at least 16 members of the security forces, according to the Ministry of Defence. The attacks escalated into sectarian violence, with pro-government forces rampaging through coastal provinces heavily populated by Alawites, as well as the nearby provinces of Hama and Homs, killing people, sometimes entire families, on streets, in homes, on rooftops. Of the roughly 1,000 civilians killed, nearly 200 were in Baniyas, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor. Al Jazeera was not able to independently verify the death toll. “In a number of extremely disturbing instances, entire families – including women, children and individuals hors de combat – were killed, with predominantly Alawite cities and villages targeted in particular,” UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said on Tuesday. Advertisement He said initial reports indicated that the perpetrators, who have not been identified, were both members of armed groups supporting Syria’s interim authorities and those associated with the former government. “They appear to have been carried out on a sectarian basis, in Tartous, Latakia and Hama governorates – reportedly by unidentified armed individuals, members of armed groups allegedly supporting the caretaker authorities’ security forces, and by elements associated with the former government.” On Sunday, the country’s new presidency led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the formation of a fact-finding committee to “investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them”. It said it would present its findings within 30 days and that those found to be responsible for violations would be referred to the judiciary. “The new Syria is determined to enshrine justice and the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, prevent unlawful revenge and guarantee that there is no impunity,” Yasser al-Farhan, the spokesperson of the new fact-finding committee, told a news conference in Damascus on Tuesday. Farhan added that the committee was working on “gathering and reviewing evidence” related to the wave of violence. When al-Assad fell last December, Syrian analysts feared there would be revenge attacks against the Alawite community – the second-largest religious group in Syria after Sunni Muslims. So far, the UN human rights office has documented the killing of 111 civilians and expects the toll to be significantly higher, Al-Kheetan said. Of those, 90 were men; 18 were women; and three were children, he added. Advertisement “Many of the cases documented were of summary executions. They appear to have been carried out on a sectarian basis,” Al-Kheetan told reporters. In some cases, men were shot dead in front of their families, he said, citing testimonies from survivors. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday also called on Syria’s new authorities to ensure accountability for the mass killings. “Syria’s new leaders promised to break with the horrors of the past, but grave abuses on a staggering scale are being reported against predominantly Alawite Syrians in the coastal region and elsewhere in Syria,” HRW’s Deputy Regional Director Adam Coogle said in a statement. “Government action to protect civilians and prosecute perpetrators of indiscriminate shootings, summary executions, and other grave crimes must be swift and unequivocal,” he added. Adblock test (Why?)
Ukraine ready to accept 30-day US-brokered ceasefire plan
The United States has agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv expressed “readiness” to accept a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia. The two countries issued a joint statement after officials met on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, saying that Ukraine was open to the US proposal “to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that the ceasefire proposal would “establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only regarding missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line”. US President Donald Trump said he hoped Russia would agree to the ceasefire plan, signalling that the US will hold a meeting with Russia later on Tuesday or Wednesday. Following the progress made in talks, the US said that it would “immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance” to Kyiv, which it had suspended last week, effectively hobbling Ukraine’s ability to track Russian troop movements, shield against missile strikes and carry out attacks. Advertisement The suspension came after a blow-up last month between Trump and Zelenskyy, who had travelled to Washington to discuss a rare earth minerals deal, which would see the US gain access to the lucrative resources in Ukraine. The joint statement indicated that the deal was back on the table, with the two countries set to “conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security”. Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher noted that the joint statement did not include any mention of the explicit security guarantees that Zelenskyy had been seeking during his contentious meeting with Trump at the Oval Office. “But those [security guarantees] appear to be missing at the moment. Perhaps that’s something that can be discussed, although we know that Donald Trump is really, really against that idea of explicit security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said. ‘Yes or no’ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ball was now in Russia’s court. “We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,” he said. “If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.” US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added: “The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear: that they share President Trump’s vision for peace.” Advertisement Waltz said negotiators “got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end”, including long-term security guarantees. Zelenskyy said on Telegram that Ukraine was “ready for peace” and that it now fell to the US to “convince” Russia. “Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war. It is time for the full truth,” he said. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago and now holds around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to discussing a peace deal. But he has ruled out territorial concessions, saying Ukraine must withdraw fully from four Ukrainian regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia. The talks in Saudi Arabia started only hours after Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region, claiming that it had struck an oil refinery near the Russian capital and a facility in Russia’s Oryol region. The attack, in which 337 drones were downed over Russia, killed at least three employees of a meat warehouse and caused a short shutdown at Moscow’s four airports, Russian officials said. Adblock test (Why?)
How will Mark Carney deal with Donald Trump?
Sharp words for the US president from Canada’s incoming prime minister. Canada’s incoming prime minister, Mark Carney, says he will confront the challenge his country is facing from the United States. US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on an array of goods coming from Canada. Carney has promised to push back with trade taxes of his own, and is seeking to unite Canadians against this challenge from the United States. With elections on the horizon in Canada, how will this play out politically? And can Canada’s close relationship with the US survive this turmoil? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Jen Hassum – Executive director of the Broadbent Institute, a progressive think tank Amy Koch – Republican strategist who served as majority leader of the Minnesota Senate John Kirton – Professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto Adblock test (Why?)
DOGE protesters rally outside key department after employees are told not to report to work Wednesday
Protesters against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency rallied outside the Department of Education Tuesday and held a moment of appreciation and applause for the federal agency, which is rumored to be next on the chopping block. The protesters, many of them former Education Department officials, chanted, “This is what democracy looks like” and held signs saying, “Boycott Tesla!,” “Elon don’t rob kids” and “No DOGE no kings.” After the protest, FOX Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino posted on X that he had reviewed an email from education department officials telling employees they would have to vacate the agency’s offices by 6 p.m. Tuesday and that the offices would remain closed Wednesday. He also reported that “employees have been receiving multiple emails alerting them of massive cuts in the workforce and opportunities to tap into buyouts and severance.” LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS Rally speakers railed against the Trump administration’s planned cuts to the department and instead called for more funding. At one point, organizers had attendees turn to face the department building and clap for the federal workers inside. President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” based on “the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law,” according to a draft of the order reported by The Wall Street Journal. The draft order says the “the experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars — and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support — has failed our children, our teachers, and our families.” Trump has long talked about dismantling the Department of Education, saying it has failed America’s students. “It’s a big con job,” the president said in November. “They ranked the top countries in the world. We’re ranked No. 40, but we’re ranked No. 1 in one department, cost per pupil. So, we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, but we’re ranked No. 40.” SC SUPERINTENDENT BACKS TRUMP EDUCATION PLAN: ‘FEDERAL SHACKLES FOR FAR TOO LONG’ However, the protesters, who stood outside the Education Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., claimed dismantling the agency “will lead to children and families being hurt.” “This cut in funding is the opposite of what we should be doing. We should be providing more federal funding for these services for these kids, not less,” one protester, a former Education Department employee, told Fox News Digital. She said her biggest worry was that DOGE cuts would make students “suffer” and also affect after-school programs such as special programs and English courses for immigrant children. “We’re going to be going back to the 1800s, the early 1900s, when special ed kids can’t get services, when English learners can’t learn English. This is an outrage,” she said. LOUISIANA SURGES 11 SPOTS ON NATION’S REPORT CARD FOR GAINS IN READING, MATH SCORES Another former federal employee at the rally told Fox News Digital that “seeing all these employees laid off right now breaks our heart,” and “we really have to speak up for what’s been done to the federal government.” One of the rally speakers, Rebecca Pringle, president of the National Education Association, pointed out that, on its own, the Trump administration does not have the authority to close the Education Department. Fully abolishing the department would require 60 votes in the Senate, requiring cooperation from Democrats. Pringle told Fox News Digital her group is organizing a series of national walk-in protests for March 19 to hold Congress members “accountable.” HOUSE EDUCATION CHAIR BACKS TRUMP MOVE TO ABOLISH FEDERAL AGENCY “Educators all over this country are rising up, and they’re saying, no. … We will not stand by while this administration focuses on giving tax cuts to billionaires who already have more, when we know our students need more,” said Pringle. Speaking directly to Trump and Musk, Katie Gates, an activist with the political activism group Voters of Tomorrow, told Fox News Digital her message to the administration is, “Please stop. Just don’t do it.” “You might think that you’re making government more efficient, or you’re getting rid of the deep state or whatever. But, like I said, this has far-ranging impacts on kids, on parents, on communities, on schools,” she said. “Sometimes efficiency isn’t the highest value. Sometimes it’s support. Sometimes it’s learning.” Fox News Digital reporter Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
‘Changes that actually help our veterans’: VA secretary defends proposed 15% workforce reduction
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has been steadfast in his commitment to shake up the department. And, despite firing at least 2,400 employees, Collins pledges to maintain the VA’s commitment to preserving and improving healthcare benefits for veterans. “VA’s biggest problem is that its bureaucracy and inefficiencies are getting in the way of customer convenience and service to veterans. As I have said before, we owe American veterans and hundreds of thousands of amazing employees solutions. And mark my words, that is what we will deliver,” Collins said in a video posted on X last week. Collins said the VA dismissals are part of President Donald Trump’s commitment to making government more efficient and effective, in conjunction with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The VA announced that last month’s personnel moves will save more than $83 million annually, and they will “redirect all of those resources back toward health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.” Collins, who has faced criticism for his proposed 15% workforce reduction, confirmed the VA’s goal to cut 80,000 jobs during a “Fox & Friends” interview with Brian Kilmeade on Monday. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CUTTING MORE THAN 1,400 EMPLOYEES IN ANOTHER ROUND OF DISMISSALS “Please, before Democrats or anybody else start on this path, this is going to be a deliberative process that’s going to take some time that’s going to include career VA employees. It’s going to include senior executives. It’s going to include all across, even bringing in people if need be, to take a look at: are we being efficient?” Collins told Kilmeade. MARK KELLY ACCUSES TRUMP OF ‘TRYING TO WEAKEN’ UKRAINE, FIRES BACK AT ELON MUSK FOR BRANDING HIM A ‘TRAITOR’ Collins has shut down criticism from the mainstream media and Democrats who have slammed VA cuts, reminding Kilmeade on Monday that operational issues have long plagued the VA. “Let’s all agree on something that for the past 10 years, the GAO has reported that the VA healthcare has been at a high-risk. In other words, they’re on the high-risk list for not only the possibility of fraud, waste and abuse, but also in patient quality, patient care. This has been going on for 10 years. It’s interesting to me that they’re looking at wait times. These are things that have preceded me coming in. I’ve been here for weeks, but it’s interesting that there’s no solutions being proposed,” Collins said. Veterans have reported poor healthcare conditions at the VA for decades, including long wait times, delayed care, slow processing times and corruption. While the Trump administration’s VA has only investigated 2% of their contracts so far, Collins said they have already identified 600 non-mission-critical or duplicate agreements to save almost $1 billion. Collins said that money can be re-invested into making “changes that actually help our veterans.” “The money we’re saving by eliminating non-mission critical and duplicative contracts is money we’re going to redirect to veterans facing healthcare benefits and services, resulting in massive improvements in customer service and convenience. Improving services to the veterans is exactly why the VA exists. That is what everyone – Congress, the media and VA employees – should be focused on,” Collins said. Collins has emphasized there will be no cuts to healthcare or benefits for veterans. “We’re going to accomplish this without making cuts to healthcare or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries. VA will always fulfill its duty to provide veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the healthcare and benefits they have earned. That’s a promise. And while we conduct our review, VA will continue to hire for more than 300,000 mission-critical positions to ensure healthcare and benefits for VA beneficiaries are not impacted,” Collins said. Despite Collins’ reassurances, Democrats have slammed the Trump administration and DOGE for VA cuts. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., led a press conference with fellow Democrats on the issue last week at the U.S. Capitol. “Why lay off veterans? I mean, 30% of the federal workforce is veterans, including a lot of people who’ve been laid off at the CFPB. Can you at least show some compassion to veterans?” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital following a meeting with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employees who were impacted by federal workforce reductions. “They’re going to gut the Department of Veterans Affairs, jeopardizing the health and well-being of millions of veterans,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said at a rally in Wisconsin on Friday. “Cutting the VA and some of the proposals I’ve seen are going to hurt service to veterans. So let’s agree that that’s a bad idea. Bipartisan. It’s a bad idea to do that,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “I go to the VA myself, so I see every day the waiting lists, the long lines to get care, how long it takes to get an appointment. All of that is going to get worse,” Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., told MSNBC on Saturday. Veterans have been speaking out against the proposed VA cuts as well. Veterans are organizing a protest against VA cuts and “Project 2025” on Friday, March 14, in Washington, D.C., and at state capitals across the country. VoteVets, a progressive political action committee, released a memo last week outlining the “extensive damage in the department’s ability to process and pay out benefits.” However, Collins said firing nonessential employees and reevaluating contracts is how the Trump administration is “finally going to give the veterans what they want.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The VA has been a punching bag among veterans, Congress and the media for decades. Things need to change. We owe America’s veterans and the hundreds and thousands of excellent VA employees solutions. For many years, veterans have been asking for a more efficient, accountable and transparent VA. This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want,” Collins said.