According to a CIA spokeswoman, the Trump administration's most recent attempt to restructure and reduce the size of the federal government is the CIA's offer of "buyouts" to its employees. Similar to postponed resignation offers made to employees at other federal agencies, this offer consists of eight months of pay and benefits. However, some CIA workers, such as those in charge of high-priority duties, will not be qualified for the offer. The spokeswoman stated that Director [John] Ratcliffe is acting quickly to guarantee that the CIA workforce responds to the Administration's national security interests. Ratcliffe pledged at his confirmation hearing to avoid using loyalty tests to hire or fire CIA employees and to keep politics out of intelligence-related decisions. According to the CIA...

Nearly all direct hires worldwide will be placed on administrative leave this week, the U.S. Agency for International Development announced Tuesday evening. Following days of criticism by members of the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, the organization's website announced the relocation. According to the notification, all USAID direct hire employees worldwide would be placed on administrative leave starting soon before midnight on Friday, with the exception of those assigned to mission-critical tasks, core leadership, and specially designated programs. Go here to watch live broadcast. By 3 p.m., those who are anticipated to continue working will be informed. "The government is working on a plan to return workers who are not in the country back to the United States if...

President Donald Trump's announcement Tuesday night that the United States will occupy the Gaza Strip sparked outrage and anxiety on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described the plan as problematic and stated that he does not believe his constituents would be enthusiastic about the idea of deploying American troops to take over Gaza. "We'll see what the Arab world has to say, but that would be problematic on a lot of different levels," Graham stated. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, denounced the plan as insane and crazy, claiming that the US military's presence in the area is a surefire way to cause conflict. Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, stated, "I don't know where this came from, but I can tell you... that would not get many expressi...

At the Port of Sudan, shipping containers containing antimalarial medications and life-saving antibiotics are being kept in limbo. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, essential medications are running out of stock after a government contractor with limited funds was compelled to turn off the air conditioner. Instead of going to refugee camps abroad, millions of pounds of soybeans cultivated in the United States are being diverted to warehouses. Nonprofit organizations, farm industry groups, and federal lawmakers claim that President Donald Trump's attempt to overthrow the U.S. Agency for International Development—a government agency entrusted with reducing global poverty and providing humanitarian relief—has stalled efforts to distribute vital food, medicine, and other life-saving sup...

Federal health professionals are expressing anxiety and terror after a website known as DEI Watch List made public the names, photographs, and personal information of several employees from various health agencies, characterizing them as targets at one point. The website's launch date is unknown, however it features a list of predominately Black personnel who work for agencies mainly inside the Department of Health and Human Services. Using pronouns in their profiles, contributing to Democratic causes, and working on diversity, equity, and inclusion projects are among the offenses committed by the employees featured on the website. According to a government employee, the webpage is being shared via social media connections and several private group chats of federal health officials from se...

Nearly all direct hires worldwide will be placed on administrative leave later this week, the U.S. Agency for International Development announced Tuesday night. Following days of attacks by the Trump administration, including by President Donald Trump himself, the news was made on the organization's website. According to the USAID release, all USAID direct hire employees worldwide will be placed on administrative leave starting soon before midnight on Friday, with the exception of those assigned to mission-critical tasks, core leadership, and specially designated programs. Go here to watch live broadcast. By 3 p.m., those who are anticipated to continue working will be informed. The administration is developing a mechanism to bring foreign workers back to the United States if contracts are...

In recent days, tech billionaire and recently hired special government employee Elon Musk has been quietly reminded by the White House that although he has a great deal of almost unheard-of authority to cut spending and reorganize the federal government at a rapid rate, his authority is not unchallenged. Trump has implied in public and in private that Musk is still a staff member and should answer to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Go here to watch live political coverage. When Musk was informed that he would have to respond to Wiles, a Trump adviser told NBC News, "I'm not sure it was his preferred direction, and it did not seem like he was expecting it." However, he has been reminded repeatedly that he does indeed report to the chief of staff. Musk has admitted that she is the t...

The administration of President Donald Trump is taking steps to increase its influence over federal government technology, transforming the individuals in charge of that infrastructure into political appointees that it can hire and dismiss as it pleases. At the moment, the position of chief information officer for each agency is a nonpartisan civil servant position designated as "career reserved" in the OPM, which offers some protection from termination. The positions will become general, making them available to a broad spectrum of appointees, according to a document released by the Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday. The change is scheduled to take place by February 14 at the latest. Charles Ezell, the interim director of OPM, stated in the memo that the action will better align t...

The PresidentAfter claiming that Palestinians have no choice but to flee their homes in the war-torn Gaza Strip, Donald Trump declared during a White House news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the United States would assume control of the region. Trump declared, "We'll own it," on Gaza. He stated that a long-term ownership position by the United States would greatly stabilize the Middle East. "We're going to take over that piece, develop it and create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it will be something the entire Middle East can be proud of," he added. Trump responded, "I envision the world people living there, the world's people," when asked who would reside there. You'll turn that into an amazing place on a global scale. I believe the Gaza ...

Fort Mill, S.C. At Tuesday night's school board meeting, Dr. Chuck Epps, the superintendent of the Fort Mill School District, announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2025. This announcement marks the end of an incredible 49-year career in education, 45 of which were spent with the Fort Mill School District. Dr. Epps offered additional reflections and analysis on his choice in a letter that was included in the meeting minutes. "I find it hard to express the feelings I have as I declare my retirement," Epps stated. My professional life has been a privilege to serve this district. A teacher's assistant, coach, teacher, assistant principal, principal, administrator, and, for the last 15 years, superintendent are just a few of the roles that Dr. Epps has had in the district. The district...