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A Republican congresswoman said she is referring the Democratic sanctuary city mayors who testified before Congress on Wednesday to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said that the mayors who testified during a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary cities were in violation of Title 8, U.S. Code § 1324, a federal law that makes it illegal to bring in and harbor unauthorized aliens. It also prohibits the unlawful employment of aliens. 

“I just referred the sanctuary city mayors to the Department of Justice for CRIMINAL investigations based on evidence from their own comments and policies, proving that they were breaking federal law,” Luna wrote on X with a video accompanying her announcement.

“Open borders ideologies hurt people on both sides. If you hold federal office and are breaking the law, you’ll be criminally investigated by the DOJ.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu testifies during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on March 5. Following the hearing, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said she was referring the mayors to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. (Anadolu via Getty Images)

ANNA PAULINA LUNA TO LEAD TASK FORCE ON DECLASSIFICATION OF JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS, EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu all defended their respective city’s sanctuary policies at the fiery hearing. They defended their communities as welcoming and called on Congress to pass immigration reform.

Republican members of Congress hammered the mayors for their sanctuary city policies, accusing them of endangering Americans and threatening to prosecute local officials. 

Luna told the mayors that their policies were hurting citizens as well as migrants.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said the mayors were breaking federal law by harboring illegal migrants. (Getty Images)

DENVER MAYOR GRILLED OVER AREA’S TREN DE ARAGUA PROBLEM AS GOP LAWMAKER SAYS POLICIES TO BLAME

“I do not think you guys are bad people, but I do think you are ideologically misled,” Luna said.

“Which is why, unfortunately, based on your responses, I’m going to be criminally referring you all to the Department of Justice for investigation,” she said, holding up copies of the referrals.

“As soon as I leave here, these will be going over to [Attorney General] Pam Bondi.”

A congressional criminal referral does not require the DOJ to initiate a prosecution and does not hold as much weight as a referral from an entire chamber.

Republicans, the mayors said, were trying to paint their cities as overrun by criminal immigrants even as crime was falling. The mayors said a key to safety is creating cities where residents feel comfortable reporting crimes and working with police.

Illegal immigration was a key plank of Trump’s presidential campaign, and he has repeatedly pressed on the theme since coming to office, including a Tuesday night speech to Congress where he vowed to “complete the largest deportation operation in American history.”

Migrants are seen sleeping outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on July 31, 2023.  (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Luna, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, also leads the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, a new task force focused on the declassification of federal secrets – including records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other documents in the public interest.

She has also been pressing the Justice Department for the release of classified records related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

A federal appeals court cleared the way for President Donald Trump to fire Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, on Wednesday.

Dellinger, appointed to the role by former President Joe Biden, sued the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., federal court after his Feb. 7 firing.

D.C. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had argued in a filing last month that Dellinger’s firing was “unlawful.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the Trump administration in a Wednesday ruling, however. Dellinger is likely to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

SUPREME COURT PAUSES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORT TO FIRE HEAD OF WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION AGENCY

President Donald Trump and Hampton Dellinger. Trump is trying to dismiss Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel. (AP / Reuters)

FEDERAL JUDGE HINTS SHE WILL CONTINUE BLOCKING TRUMP FROM FIRING HEAD OF WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION AGENCY

Jackson claimed that the court “finds that the elimination of the restrictions on plaintiff’s removal would be fatal to the defining and essential feature of the Office of Special Counsel as it was conceived by Congress and signed into law by the President: its independence. The Court concludes that they must stand.”

Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger poses for a portrait in an undated handout image.   (U.S. Office of Special Counsel/Handout via REUTERS )

Dellinger has maintained the argument that, by law, he can only be dismissed from his position for job performance problems, which were not cited in an email dismissing him from his post.

Journalists work outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Earlier in February, liberal Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted to outright deny the administration’s request to approve the firing.

Conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented, saying the lower court overstepped. They also cast doubt on whether courts have the authority to restore to office someone the president has fired. While acknowledging that some officials appointed by the president have contested their removal, Gorsuch wrote in his opinion that “those officials have generally sought remedies like backpay, not injunctive relief like reinstatement.”

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., called out his own party the day after President Donald Trump’s address before a joint session of Congress, warning that the Democrats are becoming like a blaring car alarm that people ignore.

“A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to—and it may not be the winning message,” the senator said in a post on X.

Some lawmakers held signs up during Trump’s speech with messages including “FALSE,” “SAVE MEDICAID,” “PROTECT VETERANS” and “MUSK STEALS.”

‘COULDN’T CLAP FOR A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY’: GOP SLAM ‘CHILDISH’ DEM SILENCE ON SUPPORTING CANCER SURVIVOR

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks to reporters in the Senate Subway during a series of confirmation votes for U.S. President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees at the U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 12, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed from the chamber after being disruptive. 

Some Democrats opted not to attend the address and a few others who did attend chose to walk out.

“The Democrats should lose the Midterms based on their behavior at last night’s Joint Address to Congress,” Trump declared in a Wednesday post on Truth Social.

Trump declared that “Republicans should utilize the footage provided on the total disrespect they showed to all of those that were honored that night, including young ladies who were killed by illegal migrants, people with terminal cancer, etc. They didn’t even have the common courtesy to stand, smile, or applaud. This could be, on analyzing the full tape of this Historic Event, your full CAMPAIGN TO VICTORY! In other words, Republicans can take what happened last night, and win any Race in the Country.”

BILL TO PREVENT MALES FROM WOMEN’S SPORTS RECEIVES NO SUPPORT FROM SENATE DEMS: WHO WERE THEY?

Fetterman on Wednesday agreed with Trump’s strong warning toward the terror group Hamas.

“You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.”

“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”

Fetterman, a staunch supporter of Israel, approved of Trump’s warning.

“Free all the hostages or start killing Hamas members again. I fully agree with @POTUS,” the senator tweeted.

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An agreement between the terror group and Israel called for negotiations regarding a second phase during which hostages would be freed in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and Israel pulling out of Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said that the “best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages” is via negotiations regarding that phase, the AP reported.

President Donald Trump said he has notified Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser that she needs to “clean up all of the unsightly homeless encampments” within the city or the federal government “will be forced to do it for her.”

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, the president specifically referenced areas near the State Department and the White House that are populated with homeless encampments that need to be removed, adding that the nation’s capital “must become CLEAN and SAFE!”

“If she is not capable of doing so, we will be forced to do it for her!” Trump wrote, in part. “We want to be proud of our Great Capital again. Thank you Mayor Bowser for your efforts on behalf of the Citizens of our Country. Hopefully you will be successful!”

TRUMP THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKING OVER DC 

President Donald Trump said the federal government “will be forced” to clean up the “unsightly” homeless encampments within Washington, D.C., if Mayor Muriel Bowser doesn’t have it done herself. (Getty)

Trump has previously stated that he supports the federal government taking over the nation’s capital if it cannot be managed correctly, adding that the city cannot remain as it is when foreign leaders come to town.

“They’re not doing the job,” Trump said last month, arguing that there is “too much crime” and “too many tents on the lawns – these magnificent lawns.”

Despite his criticism of the city, Trump has said he likes the Democratic mayor personally. The two met in December to discuss their shared priorities for Washington, D.C., a moment that was described by Bowser as a “great meeting.”

Homeless people live in tents on the sidewalk near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2025. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“President Trump and I both want Washington, DC to be the best, most beautiful city in the world and we want the capital city to reflect the strength of our nation,” Bowser said in December.

DC BLACK LIVES MATTER PLAZA TO GET NEW LOOK, REPLACE STREET MURAL AS PART OF ‘EVOLUTION’ 

Trump’s social media post on Wednesday also comes one day after Bowser announced the city will be replacing its controversial Black Lives Matter Plaza with murals by students and artists as part of DC’s America 250 project ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary next year.

When the plaza was constructed in 2021, Bowser said it would be a permanent installation.

Black Lives Matter Plaza was constructed in Washington, D.C., near the White House in 2021. It was initially planned to be a permanent installation within the city. (Andrew Harnik, file)

“The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference,” Bowser’s statement said, referencing a recently-introduced bill that calls for changing the plaza. “The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern.”

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Details surrounding a date for the plaza’s transformation were not given.

As calls continue to grow for the Democratic Party to moderate following a disappointing performance in the November election, the Democratic National Committee announced the hiring of an executive director with a history of promoting far-left ideologies. 

The DNC announced the hiring of Roger Lau as executive director in a press release highlighting his long career, which includes working on campaigns for Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

A Fox News Digital review found multiple instances of Lau associating with progressive causes, including signing onto a letter in 2020 that claimed the United States is built on “racism” and “genocide.” 

“Our country was built on the foundation of racism, ranging from the genocide of indigenous people, chattel slavery, racial profiling of young men of color, and a criminal justice system that tears families apart,” the letter signed by Lau and over 100 other AAPI community leaders in June 2020 stated at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement as rioters were attempting to burn down cities across the country. 

LEFT-WING STREAMER WALKS BACK COMMENT ABOUT KILLING RICK SCOTT FOLLOWING TWITCH SUSPENSION

Roger Lau was recently named executive director of the DNC  (Getty)

The letter announced support for a “10-point plan” to address “police violence” and “racial justice” which contains measures that include a commission on “structural racism” and declaring racism a “public health crisis.”

Lau’s adherence the Black Lives Matter platform at the time made its way into one of Sen. Warren’s speeches according to an ABC News report in 2020 that said Lau was behind putting hidden BLM messages into the senator’s DNC speech. 

MEET THE FAR-LEFT GROUPS FUNDING ANTI-DOGE PROTESTS AT GOP OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reacts on the stage on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 22, 2024.  (REUTERS/Kevin Wurm)

Lau can be seen taking part in a video posted on the YouTube page of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who recently sparked controversy by offering condolences to the family of a man shot while trying to stab innocent bystanders in a Chick-fil-A, that warned about “white supremacy culture.”

Lau’s resume also includes opposition to a resolution that condemned the Chinese Communist Party for misleading the world on the origin and spread of coronavirus. 

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David Hogg, American gun control activist, speaks during the Texas Democratic Party Convention in El Paso, Texas, at the El Paso Convention Center on Friday, June 7, 2024. (GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK)

“The DNC is laser-focused on equipping Democrats across the country with the tools they need to win, and I am honored to support Chair Martin in this critical work,” Lau said in the press release that announced his hiring. “When we’re in the opposition party, the work of the DNC is more important than ever. This team will leverage the vast infrastructure that we’ve built within the DNC and our state parties while meeting this moment by deepening our partnerships, strengthening grassroots organizing, and turbocharging messaging to win elections.” 

Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC for comment.

The DNC has already faced criticism over some of the other new faces it has brought in to lead the party into the midterms, including new Vice Chair David Hogg, whose old social media posts went viral as conservative activists sounded the alarm about his past policy positions and rhetoric against conservatives.

Conservatives on social media also had a field day mocking the DNC for featuring a handful of “beyond parody” moments during its leadership vote earlier this month, which critics said underscores that Democrats have “learned absolutely nothing” from their 2024 election losses. 

Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey and Emma Colton contributed to this report

The chief of staff for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was recently arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated, Fox News can confirm.

Hayden Haynes was arrested just before midnight on Tuesday evening for allegedly getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk. The arrest took place around an hour after President Donald Trump‘s joint address to Congress wrapped up.

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), who did not identify the suspect, confirmed the arrest to Fox News.

“A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m,” a USCP spokesperson said. “We responded and arrested them for DUI.” 

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED DURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S 6TH WEEK IN OFFICE

Hayden Haynes, inset, the chief of staff for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated. (Mike Johnson/Facebook | Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Haynes has worked in Johnson’s office since 2017 and became chief of staff in October 2023, according to LegiStorm records. He was Johnson’s campaign manager in 2016.

A Louisiana native, Haynes graduated from Louisana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in 2011, later earning a graduate degree from Gonzaga University in 2014.

In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, Johnson’s office said that the speaker still has “full faith and confidence” in Haynes’ “ability to lead the Speaker’s office.”

TRUMP GIVES JOHNSON ‘COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT’ AHEAD OF SPEAKERSHIP FIGHT

President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Behind him are Vice President JD Vance, left, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La. (Win McNamee/Pool via Reuters)

“The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police,” the statement read. “The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress.”

“Because of this and Hayden’s esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Hayden’s ability to lead the Speaker’s office.”

Before the arrest took place, Johnson appeared on “Hannity” to praise Trump’s speech and said that Democrats “brought shame on themselves and their party” by disrupting the event.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump onstage at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Nov. 13, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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“I’m sure it was received as well at home as it was there by the Republicans and the audience up in the gallery,” Johnson said. “It was really shameful what the Democrats did. I mean, they really it was quite a spectacle. They brought shame on themselves and their party.”

“But the American people are following what the president is delivering, and they are appreciating it.”

DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor with a dream of working in law enforcement, visited President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House just hours after warming millions of hearts Tuesday night when he was named an honorary Secret Service member during the president’s joint address to Congress.

In a video shared on X, Daniel could be seen standing next to Trump in the Oval Office before saying, “There’s one more thing I got for ya: a big hug.”

The president responds, “OK good, that’s very nice,” as they embrace.

13-YEAR-OLD CANCER SURVIVOR EARNS STANDING OVATION AS HE BECOMES SECRET SERVICE AGENT DURING TRUMP SPEECH

DJ Daniel meets President Donald Trump in the Oval Office a day after being named an honorary Secret Service member.

Trump then shakes Daniel’s father’s hand and asks how he is doing, before adding, “That was a big evening last night, right? That was a big evening.”

The Texas boy’s expression during the surprise Tuesday night went viral on social media, along with video of his father holding him up in the air to hug director of the U.S. Secret Service Sean Curran, who presented him with a customized Secret Service badge.

SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLODES AFTER DEMS DO NOT STAND FOR 13-YEAR-OLD CANCER SURVIVOR: ‘TRULY SICK PEOPLE’

“I was not expecting it,” Daniel told “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy on Wednesday. “Nobody even told us [it was going to happen].”

Doctors gave him just five months to live after his brain cancer diagnosis in 2018, yet he survived and endured numerous surgeries.

Devarjay “DJ” Daniel holds an honorary U.S. Secret Service special agent ID, presented to him by director of the U.S. Secret Service Sean Curran, right, as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

During the address, Trump noted Daniel’s father had been on a “quest” to make his son’s dream of becoming a police officer come true, and Daniel had already been sworn in as an honorary member of several local police departments.

DJ Daniel shows off his custom Secret Service badge. The 13-year-old is battling brain cancer. (Fox News Digital)

Daniels later told “Fox & Friends” he hoped the brown cowboy hat he gifted Trump from Texas made it past security.

Tuesday night’s honor was not the first heartwarming moment for Daniels caught on camera.

Tennessee Highway Patrol shared a flashback video of Daniel being sworn in as an honorary trooper and Nashville Police Department officer in 2022.

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“From an honorary Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper and @MNPDNashville Police Officer, to the newest honorary Special Agent of the United States @SecretService – Congratulations #DJDaniel,” the agency wrote.

Fox News’ Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing a new Democratic challenger in his bid to replace Eric Adams as New York City Mayor, according to reports. 

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, 64, will officially launch her campaign with a rally over the weekend, per reporting from FOX 5 NYC. 

With the Democratic primary just four months away, Adams is expected to immediately petition to secure ballot access. 

In a statement to media outlets, Adams said New Yorkers couldn’t afford to live in the city, that City Hall was “in chaos,” and alleged that President Donald Trump was “corrupting our city’s independence.” 

NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, AN EX-COP, HAS ‘UPPER HAND’ OVER OTHER SANCTUARY CITY MAYORS: BLUE LIVES MATTER FOUNDER

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams launches run to replace incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, challenging the front-runner, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

“It’s time to stand up. I never planned to run for Mayor, but I’m not giving up on New York City,” Adams said in the statement, first shared with Politico. 

NYC GIVES MIGRANTS MORE WAYS TO OBTAIN CITY ID MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GET BENEFITS, HOUSING: REPORT

First elected to the city council in 2017, Adams went on to become the first Black council speaker five years later. 

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams during rally on the steps of New York City Hall before convening the entire Council to vote and override Mayor Adams’ veto of the “How Many Stops Act” on Jan. 30, 2024.  (New York Daily News for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Adams is the latest high-profile figure to throw her hat in the ring, challenging the front-runner, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to replace embattled NYC Mayor Eric Adams. 

Cuomo resigned in 2021 after a report released by the state attorney general concluded that he had sexually harassed nearly a dozen women.

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams speaks during a press conference before a New York City Council meeting at City Hall in Manhattan, New York, in December 2023. (Shawn Inglima for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Cuomo has apologized for having “offended” the women with remarks he said were intended to be collegial, and admitted that he had sometimes been “too familiar” with people, but he denied touching anyone inappropriately and said the investigation of his conduct was flawed and politically motivated.

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The race comes after Mayor Eric Adams was indicted in September on federal corruption charges. He is now dealing with a tempest of criticism after Trump’s newly installed Justice Department leaders asked a court to drop the case, so Adams could assist with the federal government’s immigration crackdown.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Speaker Adams’ office for comment. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas in a Truth Social post Wednesday, calling for the terrorist group to release all hostages immediately.

The post came after Trump met with several former Hamas hostages who traveled to Washington, D.C., this week. The group included Eli Sharabi, Doron Steinbrecher, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Omer Shem Tov, Iair Horn and Noa Argamani, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” the president’s post began. “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.

“Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”

KAROLINE LEAVITT EXPLAINS US EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE WITH HAMAS TO FREE AMERICAN HOSTAGES

Trump added that he is “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job,” and that “not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.

“I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed,” Trump added. “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”

“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., an unflinching supporter of Israel, offered his approval of Trump’s post.

“Free all the hostages or start killing Hamas members again. I fully agree with @POTUS,” Fetterman posted on X. 

ISRAEL AGREES TO TRUMP ENVOY’S TEMPORARY GAZA CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL AS FIRST PHASE EXPIRES: REPORTS

President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 18. (Pool via AP )

Trump’s post came hours after the White House was challenged by Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on its decision to negotiate with the Palestinian terrorist group.

“If the U.S. has a long-standing policy that we do not negotiate with terrorists, then why is the U.S. now negotiating directly and for the first time ever with Hamas?” Doocy asked.

“Well, when it comes to the negotiations that you’re referring to, first of all, the special envoy who’s engaged in these negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded.

Leavitt added that Israel was “consulted on this matter,” and that Trump believes in putting forth “good-faith effort[s] to do what’s right for the American people.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House Feb. 4.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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“These are ongoing talks and discussions. I’m not going to detail them here,” she continued. “There are American lives at stake.”

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Elon Musk met with a small group of House Republicans on Wednesday evening where he discussed avenues for cost savings in a quest to find as much as $1 trillion in government waste, people familiar with the discussion told Fox News Digital.

“The executive DOGE team is confident, they think they can get $1 trillion,” one lawmaker familiar with the meeting told Fox News Digital. “Now, we’ll see, right? And the thing is, he acknowledged that we’re going to make mistakes, but we’re going to correct them very quickly.”

The GOP lawmaker said some concerns were raised about whether other government offices like the Treasury Department “have the bandwidth to do” what Musk is detailing. “And he says, ‘We’re gonna help them,'” the lawmaker said.

Multiple sources said Musk met with the House DOGE subcommittee led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., for about 45 minutes before a wider meeting with the House GOP Conference.

DOD TELLS CIVILIAN WORKFORCE TO IGNORE ELON MUSK’S REQUEST TO REPORT PRODUCTIVITY

Elon Musk spoke with House Republicans on Wednesday night

Several people said Musk pointed to areas where the government could be made more efficient, including an audit of how many dead people were de-listed off some federal benefits like Social Security but still had taxpayer dollars going into their accounts for unemployment or other programs.

“A lot of this is cross-referencing databases, making sure they’re talking to each other,” Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, a member of the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital.

Two lawmakers present for the meeting also said the idea of a congressional rescissions package was floated as another way to claw back excessive government spending, as Republicans and Democrats battle over giving President Donald Trump leeway to spend less money than Congress appropriates.

Rescissions authority is granted to Congress to allow for the cancelation of some planned government spending. 

MUSK TELLS CABINET THAT DOGE EMAIL WAS ‘PULSE CHECK’ FOR WORKERS, WARNS US WILL ‘GO BANKRUPT’ WITHOUT ACTION

It’s also among the special cases where the Senate only needs 51 votes to pass a bill, rather than 60 – meaning Senate Republicans can pass it without Democratic support.

Greene confirmed the sit-down to reporters but did not mention talk of congressional spending authority.

“We had a very lengthy meeting, just my DOGE committee with Elon Musk and his team, and learned a lot of valuable information. The collaboration is going to be fantastic and it needs to happen,” Greene said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene leads the House DOGE subcommittee (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Also present at both of Musk’s House meetings was his adviser Steve Davis, people told Fox News Digital.

After the smaller-scale meeting, Musk had a wider discussion with House Republicans where he spoke for roughly 15 minutes and then took questions.

“What we were doing was getting a deeper insight into what Elon Musk is doing and kind of being able to strategize with him, how we can coordinate what we’re doing,” Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who is also on the DOGE subcommittee, told reporters.

Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital that “systematically there were no checks in order to make sure the taxpayer dollars were spent correctly.”

He said Musk did not discuss other fiscal battles ongoing in Congress, and that Musk “was just trying to outline what they are finding in a very short period of time and how little accountability exists in the operating system of our government.”

“It made me laugh and it made me sick all at the same time,” Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., told Fox News Digital. “The level of waste and what they are finding is mindblowing.”

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said Musk was “just getting started.”

“He just says, ‘I’m investigating and finding things that you really can’t argue with.’ He said he’s making mistakes, he’ll correct them, but his mission is to uncover where our tax money is. Let the chips fall where they may,” Norman said.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden said he raised concerns about veterans and farmers. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

It comes as some House Republicans have faced contentious town halls or demonstrations related to Musk and DOGE in their home districts. GOP lawmakers previously shared frustrations with Fox News Digital that they were often left somewhat in the dark on Musk’s work. 

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., told reporters he aired similar concerns in the closed-door meeting. Musk was receptive to those issue, he added.

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“I spoke to Elon specifically about this. There are our veterans and our farmers. So there’s a lot of angst going right now because people don’t understand what’s going on,” Van Orden said. “And I expressed very clearly the concerns of our veterans community. And Mr. Musk was explicitly clear that we will make sure that we have no degradation of the benefits for our veterans that they have earned.”

The back-to-back House meetings for Musk came after he spoke with Senate Republicans in a similar closed-door setting.

President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order, possibly Thursday, aimed at abolishing the Department of Education, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The newspaper cited several people briefed on the matter and reviewed a draft of the order. 

It directs newly sworn 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.” 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CANCELS ANOTHER $350M IN ‘WOKE’ SPENDING FOR CONTRACTS, GRANTS

Trump has tapped Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education. (Reuters)

“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,” the draft order reads. 

Shortly after taking her position, McMahon said she would “send education back to the states.” 

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.”

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAUNCHES ‘ENDDEI’ PORTAL FOR PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS TO REPORT DISCRIMINATION

McMahon was confirmed by the Senate on Monday to serve as the next Secretary of Education. (Getty Images)

In a letter to Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), McMahon said that she “wholeheartedly” agreed with Trump’s plan to abolish the department. 

With around 4,500 employees, the department is the smallest cabinet-level agency, the Wall Street Journal reported. It is currently offering an incentive of up to $25,000 to the majority of its staff to resign or retire by Monday evening ahead of rumored work force reductions.

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“President Trump believes that the bureaucracy in Washington should be abolished so that we can return education to the states, where it belongs. I wholeheartedly support and agree with this mission,” McMahon wrote.

Under McMahon, the department will work from three base convictions, according to her letter: that parents are the primary decision makers in their children’s education, that taxpayer-funded education should refocus on “meaningful learning in math, reading, science, and history—not divisive DEI programs and gender ideology,” and that post-secondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs.

Fox News Digital’s Aubrie Spady contributed to this report. 

The acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) told congressional lawmakers Wednesday his staff was preparing potential criminal referrals against those who misused taxpayer dollars intended for foreign development programs.

The New York Times said Peter Marocco made his remarks while speaking with members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee during a closed-door meeting.

An internal review is in its early stages, but members of Marocco’s team believe they’ve uncovered a pattern of illegal activity at the agency, which serves as the main component used by the United States to deliver foreign aid. 

TRUMP TEMPORARILY THWARTED IN DOGE MISSION TO END USAID

An American flag and USAID flag fly outside the USAID building in Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 2025.  (Reuters/Annabelle Gordon)

Marocco has been tasked by President Donald Trump with dismantling USAID and told lawmakers he was looking at contracts and grants awarded by the agency. 

Much of the money given by USAID is supposed to promote stability and economic growth and supply humanitarian assistance in fragile regions. 

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court’s order for the administration to make nearly $2 billion in USAID payments, delivering a near-term reprieve to international aid groups and contractors seeking payment for previously completed projects.

HERE’S WHY DOZENS OF LAWSUITS SEEKING TO QUASH TRUMP’S EARLY ACTIONS AS PRESIDENT ARE FAILING

Peter Marocco and President Donald Trump  (Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., the chairman of the foreign affairs panel, told the Times USAID is structured in such a way that makes accountability difficult. 

“Mr. Marocco was very clear in exposing the waste that goes on out there and in pointing out the way that many of these programs in state and USAID were designed to not be accountable,” he said. 

USAID was one of the first targets by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is charged with rooting out wasteful spending. 

Demonstrators and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Fox News Digital has reached out to USAID for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report. 

Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins, a Republican, said during a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary cities that President Donald Trump has “ripped the curtains from the rods,” revealing the impact of the Biden administration’s illegal immigration policy and sanctuary policies across America.

Testifying during the hearing were New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, all of whom are Democrats and oversee cities with sanctuary city policies.

Higgins said that “Americans are fed up with this betrayal of oath” and that mayors will be “held accountable” for upholding sanctuary policies that ban or limit law enforcement from cooperating with ICE to deport dangerous criminal illegal immigrants.

Higgins pointed to the case of Welsey Hayes, a young Louisiana husband and father, who he said was killed by an illegal immigrant in Texas, leaving behind his wife, Olivia Hayes, and daughter, Anne Marie.

BOSTON’S MAYOR WU OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF SUSPECT SHOT AFTER ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO STAB PEOPLE

Higgins pointed to the case of Welsey Hayes, a young Louisiana husband and father, who he said was killed by an illegal immigrant in Texas, leaving behind his wife, Olivia Hayes, and daughter, Anne Marie. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images and House Oversight Committee livestream)

“The policies of these mayors and our previous president have consequences, real-life consequences,” said Higgins. “I have a family here today, Mr. Chairman, who lost their beautiful loved one.”

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“This young man was killed by an illegal immigrant in Texas that never should have been in our country,” he continued. “He’ll never be here to raise his daughter, Anne Marie, and to love and cherish and honor and uphold his beautiful wife, Olivia.”

Raising his voice, Higgins took aim at the mayors, saying: “You mayors, you have a responsibility not just to your communities and citizens you’re sworn to serve but by extension to the entire republic.”

CHICAGO ALDERMAN SAYS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON CAN’T DEFEND SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES

Tren de Aragua (TdA) members arrested in Texas (Tren de Aragua (TdA) members arrested in Texas)

“All you want to talk to the children, separation of children,” he said. “If you commit a felony in America, you get arrested and prosecuted and convicted and incarcerated. You can expect to be separated from your children. But let me say there’s a sunset to that separation, because when you do your time, you’ll be released. You can return to your family. This young man will never return to his family, and he should have never been removed from his family if we had a president and heads of our municipalities that were willing to uphold the federal law that exists.”

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“Three months ago we were at the tail end of four years of millions and millions of illegals coming into our country, [it] was out of control. The only thing that has happened since then is we had an election in November, and now we’re not pulling the curtain back, we have ripped the curtain from the rods. We have revealed to America just how fast we could have secured our border if you had an executive that was willing to enforce the law,” he said. “America is moving into a new era of enforcement of our own laws. Welcome to it.” 

Democrat Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico went off in a curse-laden tirade against the Trump administration and Republicans during a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary cities, calling the hearing “absolute bulls–t.”

Testifying at the hearing were mayors Eric Adams of New York City, Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Mike Johnston of Denver, all of whom are Democrats and lead cities with migrant “sanctuary” policies.

These laws ban or restrict law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to deport illegal immigrants, including those with criminal charges.

Stansbury, who represents a heavily blue border state, came to the defense of the sanctuary mayors and bashed Republicans for what she said was an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.

‘SANCTUARY’ CITY MAYOR CONFRONTED AFTER GANG MEMBER ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTS FEDERAL OFFICERS

“I always think that we should sage this room after these hearings because we hear a lot of crazy stuff in here,” she began. “Our mayors are sitting here, enduring this ridiculous, ridiculous hearing as they’ve been threatened in front of the American people.”

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“I want to reject the fundamental premise of this hearing,” she went on. “Because what this entire effort is about is intimidating state and local officials, attacking law-abiding immigrant families and spending millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars both in the administration and in Congress to make ads that are complete smoke and mirrors, trying to say that Donald Trump has somehow secured America’s safety.”

“Its total bulls–t, absolute bulls–t,” she yelled. “They are not making America safer again, and what they are doing is terrorizing immigrant families. That is what they are doing.”

TOM HOMAN: MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR SHOULD BE ‘BRINGING HELL’ TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RAPISTS WITH ME

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) speaks during a hearing of the House Oversight Subcommittee in the U.S. Capitol on February 26, 2025, in Washington, DC.   (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Stansbury also asserted that President Donald Trump “failed to execute on the most basic thing that he said he would do, which was to pass immigration reform when he got into office.”

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Throwing up her hands and looking around the room, Stansbury said: “Here we are Donald Trump, where’s your immigration bill? Oh wait, you don’t have one, that’s right. Because none of this is actually about making America safer.”

Stansbury also caught the spotlight Tuesday night when she was spotted standing on the House floor shortly before Trump’s joint address to Congress, holding a sign reading: “This is not normal.”

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…

-Elon Musk PAC thanks Trump for ‘saving the American Dream’ in new million-dollar ad

–Dem Rep. Al Green, booted from Trump’s address to Congress, doubles down on impeachment

-Conservatives erupt with praise on social media after Trump’s speech to Congress: ‘Run through a wall’

Supremes Deny Trump Request on Foreign Aid Freeze

The Supreme Court on Wednesday denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court’s order for the administration to pay nearly $2 billion in foreign aid money, delivering a near-term reprieve to international aid groups and contractors seeking payment for previously completed projects.

In a 5-4 ruling, the justices said that the Feb. 26 deadline imposed by a lower court for the Trump administration to pay the funds had already expired and directed the case back to the district court to clarify any additional details on payment.

“Given that the deadline in the challenged order has now passed, and in light of the ongoing preliminary injunction proceedings, the District Court should clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order, with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines,” the Court said…Read more

Employees and supporters gather to protest outside of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters on February 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. Elon Musk, tech billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said in a social media post that he and U.S. President Donald Trump will shut down the foreign assistance agency.  (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

White House

‘WE NEED GREENLAND’: Trump says America would welcome Greenland during joint address to Congress

GREEN TO GOLD: Trump touts $5 million ‘gold card’ as new path to citizenship

‘WORST PRESIDENT’: 6 times Trump bashed Biden in address to Congress

THUMBS UP: Snap polls reveal how speech watchers reacted to Trump’s address to Congress

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) applaud behind him. (Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS)

‘INAPPROPRIATE’: Trump earns largely positive speech reaction, but ejected Dem’s behavior widely deemed inappropriate: CNN poll

‘MAKING AMERICA HEALTHY’: Trump NIH appointee defends president’s research funding cuts, lays out new vision for future

World Stage

CONFESSED: ISIS-K member confessed to scouting Abbey Gate attack route, training Moscow attackers: affidavit

‘READY TO FIGHT’: China, reacting to Trump tariffs, promises to ‘fight till the end’ in trade war ‘or any other type of war’

Flags of the U.S and China sit in a room where U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Beijing, China.  (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

‘FEEL THE PAIN’: Canadian premier threatens to cut off energy to US in response to Trump tariffs: ‘They need to feel the pain’

MONEY TALKS: Columbia battles radical activists, limits entry to former Israeli leader’s visit as Trump weighs pulling $5B

Capitol Hill

‘THEY ARE AFRAID OF THIS’: After Trump speech, AOC tells Democrats to organize in GOP districts against Medicaid cuts

BAD SIGN: ‘Squad’ member delivers real-time whiteboard responses to Trump: ‘No king!’

‘OLIGARCHIC SOCIETY’: Bernie Sanders seethes US has become ‘oligarchic society’ following Trump speech

Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered a response speech to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.  (Joe Maher/Getty Images For Fane)

TRUMP CARD: GOP rebels head to White House for meeting to avoid government shutdown

‘MOST DIVISIVE’: House Minority Leader Jeffries describes Trump’s address to Congress as ‘most divisive’ in American history

GRASS IS GREENER: Dueling Al Green censure efforts stir frustrations within GOP as Republicans demand consequences

STANDING O: Independents and Republicans went wild for Trump’s declaration that ‘America is back’

WILL HE RUN?: Buttigieg says he’s ‘looking at’ possible Senate run in battleground state

‘TREMENDOUS LOSS’: Texas Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner dead at 70

‘DEFIANT’: Resolution punishing Al Green circulates House after Dem is thrown out of Trump speech

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, left, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.  (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

NOT MOVING THE DIAL: Democrats unimpressed by Trump’s gesture to family of young girl killed by illegal migrants

‘SHERLOCK HOLMES’ NOT NEEDED: Inside Elon Musk’s Huddle with GOP senators: Don’t need to be ‘Sherlock Holmes’ to find waste

‘COMPLICATED QUESTION’: Democrats refuse to define ‘woman’ when pressed on Capitol Hill

Across America 

‘ATROCIOUS’ ALLEGATIONS: Andrew and Tristan Tate face Florida criminal probe days after US homecoming

‘BIG IMPACT’: Red state sheriff credits Trump’s border policies for already helping his small county

Fox News Digital spoke with Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and Meade County Sheriff Pat West, his guest for President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.  (Fox News Digital)

DC ‘EVOLUTION’: DC Black Lives Matter Plaza to get new look, replace street mural as part of ‘evolution’

Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

A resolution to reprimand Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, survived a procedural hurdle late Wednesday afternoon, teeing the measure up for a House-wide vote.

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., introduced a censure resolution against the Texas Democrat earlier in the day amid widespread GOP anger at Democrats who protested President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday.

Democrats pushed for a vote to table the resolution, which would have effectively killed it. But it failed to pass, and a vote on the measure itself is expected sometime this week.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CONCLUDES REMARKS AFTER DECLARING ‘AMERICA’S MOMENTUM IS BACK’

House Speaker Mike Johnson asked Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, to leave the chamber after disrupting President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on March 4, 2025.  (Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS/Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Fox News Digital was told that Newhouse had been in contact with House GOP leadership about his resolution since Trump’s speech ended last night.

There had been multiple resolutions circulating among House Republicans to censure Green for interrupting Trump’s speech, but Newhouse’s appears to be the measure with House GOP leaders’ blessing.

“I believe it is the first one out of the gate,” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, told reporters on Wednesday morning. “I think [Green’s protest is] unprecedented. Certainly in the modern era. It wasn’t an excited utterance. It was a, you know, planned, prolonged protest.”

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.  (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

The 77-year-old Democrat was removed from Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night after repeatedly disrupting the beginning of the president’s speech.

He shouted, “You have no mandate,” at Trump as he touted Republican victories in the House, Senate and White House.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had Green removed by the U.S. Sergeant-At-Arms.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

Rep. Dan Newhouse introduced the resolution. (Tom Williams)

Green remained defiant when he stopped to speak with the White House press pool on the first floor of the U.S. Capitol after being thrown out of the second floor House chamber, where Trump was speaking.

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“I’m willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me. I didn’t say to anyone, don’t punish me. I’ve said I’ll accept the punishment,” Green said, according to the White House press pool report. “But it’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president’s desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.”

In addition to Newhouse’s resolution, Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, has his own measure with more than 30 House GOP co-sponsors.

The House Freedom Caucus is backing a third censure resolution being led by Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. 

The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Wednesday said several grants for transgender experiments on animals have been canceled, and a pilot program to audit federal agencies with unused credit cards has expanded amid “a lot of shady expenditures happening,” said DOGE leader Elon Musk.

The cost-cutting group said the National Institutes of Health (NIH) canceled seven grants, some of which included $532,000 to “use a mouse model to investigate the effects of cross-sex testosterone treatment” and another $33,000 to test “feminizing hormone therapy in the male rat.”

DOD TELLS CIVILIAN WORKFORCE TO IGNORE ELON MUSK’S REQUEST TO REPORT PRODUCTIVITY

Elon Musk is celebrating a new poll that found most voters agree there should be a government agency dedicated to efficiency and that DOGE is helping to make major spending cuts.  (Getty Images)

In a statement, the agency said it remains committed to “advancing biomedical research under NIH’s priorities and promoting radical transparency in alignment with the @POTUS agenda.” 

“Our work is driven by accountability to all Americans as we push forward in science and public health,” it wrote on X. 

In recent weeks, Republicans have railed against taxpayer funds being used for transgender animal studies.

During a Feb. 6 House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing titled: “Transgender Lab Rats and Poisoned Puppies: Oversight of Taxpayer Funded Animal Cruelty,” Justin Goodman of the White Coat Waste Project (WCW) watchdog group said the federal government spent millions on “transgender animal testing.”

MUSK TELLS CABINET THAT DOGE EMAIL WAS ‘PULSE CHECK’ FOR WORKERS, WARNS US WILL ‘GO BANKRUPT’ WITHOUT ACTION

Under President Donald Trump, the Elon Musk-led DOGE has slashed billions in what it deems wasteful government spending.  (Reuters | iStock | Getty)

“In a lot of these cases, they involve mice, rats, monkeys, who are being surgically mutilated and subjected to hormone therapies to mimic female to male or male to female gender transitions, gender-affirming hormone therapies, and then looking at the biological, psychological and physiological effects of the gender transitions, looking at the effects of taking vaccines after you’ve transitioned these animals from male to female or female to male, looking at the size of their genitals changing after you’ve put them on estrogen or testosterone therapies to transition them,” Goodman said at the hearing.

In addition to the canceled grants, DOGE said a pilot program to audit federal agencies for unused and unneeded credit cards has expanded to 16 more agencies.

After two weeks, 146,000 credit cards were deactivated.

“As a reminder, at the start of the audit, there were ~4.6M active cards/accounts, so still more work to do,” a DOGE post on X states. 

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Musk said many of the limits on government-issued credit cards are up to $10,000. 

“There are still almost twice as many credit/purchasing cards as people in the government, and the limits are $10,000! A lot of shady expenditures happening,” he said.

President Donald Trump repeatedly returned to the subject of illegal immigration during his Tuesday night address to a joint session of Congress, touting his success at the southern border and taking aim at the policies of the Biden administration.

Here were the top five moments of the night:

DEMOCRATS UNIMPRESSED BY TRUMP’S GESTURE TO FAMILY OF YOUNG GIRL KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS 

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“They heard my words”

Trump took credit for a sharp drop in encounters at the southern border. In February, there were just 8,326 southern border encounters, down from 189,913 in February 2024. The administration has so far removed more than 55,000 illegal immigrants from the U.S.

“Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border, and I deployed the U.S. military and border patrol to repel the invasion of our country. And what a job they’ve done. As a result, illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded ever,” he said.

“They heard my words, and they chose not to come, much easier that way,” he said.

TRUMP HONORS LIVES OF LAKEN RILEY, JOCELYN NUNGARAY WHILE CELEBRATING STRIDES ON SECURING BORDER

Trump renames sanctuary after Jocelyn Nungaray

Trump used the address to announce that a wildlife sanctuary would be renamed in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl sexually assaulted and murdered at the hands of Venezuelan illegal migrants last year.

“One thing I have learned about Jocelyn is that she loved animals so much. She loved nature. Across Galveston Bay, from where Jocelyn lived in Houston, you will find a magnificent National Wildlife Refuge, a pristine, peaceful, 34,000-acre sanctuary for all of God’s creatures on the edge of the Gulf of America,” Trump said.

He then showed an executive order renaming the refuge in honor of Jocelyn, whose mother Alexis was in the audience for the address.

“Alexis, moments ago, I formally renamed that refuge in loving memory of your beautiful daughter, Jocelyn,” he said.

Trump honors ‘beautiful’ Laken Riley

Trump also paid tribute to Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant last year. 

Trump noted that the killer “was arrested while trespassing across Biden’s open southern border.”

“And then set loose into the United States under the heartless policies of that failed administration. It was indeed a failed administration. He had then been arrested and released in a Democrat-run sanctuary city, a disaster, before ending the life of this beautiful young angel. With us this evening are Laken’s beloved mother, Alison, and her sister Lauren,” he said.

Trump declared during his speech that the U.S. “will never, ever forget our beautiful Laken Riley” through legislation he signed into law, the Laken Riley Act.

Trump dings Biden, Dem hopes for border bill

Trump took aim at Democrats who had spent much of 2024 arguing that the solution to the crisis at the southern border was sweeping legislation. He again pointed to the low numbers he is overseeing.

“Since taking office, my administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history. And we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossing ever recorded. … The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation. We must have legislation to secure the border,” he said.

But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president,” he said.

A U.S. Border Patrol officer deploys on the Rio Grande on a patrol of the US-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 24, 2025.  (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump touts gold card, like a ‘green card, but better and more sophisticated’

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Trump used the address to tout his idea for a “gold card” visa, which would allow foreign nationals to buy a path to U.S. citizenship for $5 million.

“We will allow the most successful job-creating people from all over the world to buy a path to U.S. citizenship. It’s like the green card, but better and more sophisticated,” he said.

He contrasted it with the deportation push his administration launched.

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“So while we take out the criminals, killers, traffickers and child predators who are allowed to enter our country under the open border policy of these people, the Democrats, the Biden administration, the open-border, insane policies that you’ve allowed to destroy our country, we will now bring in brilliant, hard-working, job creating people. They’re going to pay a lot of money, and we’re going to reduce our debt with that money,” he said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted Democrats for acting like “children” at President Donald Trump’s Tuesday address to a joint session of Congress. 

“The behavior of Democrats last night was completely disgraceful and demonstrated how severely out of touch they are with the American public,” Leavitt told reporters Wednesday at a White House press briefing. “It was the most shameful moment in the history of presidential addresses and that beautiful chamber and what was supposed to be a unifying moment for our country.” 

Democrats started to boo Trump when he started his speech, prompting Republicans to respond in turn by chanting “USA.” Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, became particularly rowdy during the address, and started to shout and wave his cane at Trump. Green’s disruption prompted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., to direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Green from the address.

RESOLUTION PUNISHING AL GREEN CIRCULATES HOUSE AFTER DEM IS THROWN OUT OF TRUMP SPEECH 

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed from the chamber as President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Additionally, Leavitt called out Democrats for failing to stand for “everyday Americans” who attended Trump’s address, including DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old boy who survived cancer. Trump honored Daniel on Tuesday and officially swore him in as a member of the Secret Service and received a standing ovation from most in the crowd, although not all Democrats joined in celebrating Daniel. 

Additionally, Leavitt claimed that Democrats ignored the mothers of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray, who were both brutally murdered by illegal immigrants. 

“Last night was a very clarifying moment for our country,” Leavitt said. “The Democrats expose themselves as the party of insanity and hate the party that wants to put America last. They’ve allowed their Trump derangement syndrome to stop them from celebrating America and our people, and we will not allow them to forget that.” 

Trump told members of Congress Tuesday that his administration would work to take “America’s destiny into our own hands” and promised that “this will be our greatest era” where he would fight to forge the most free civilization.

TRUMP PROMISES ‘THIS WILL BE OUR GREATEST ERA’ IN JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, left, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Trump also vowed to cut down inflation costs and would “wage a war” on drug cartels. As a result, he urged lawmakers Tuesday to beef up funding for border security to foot the bill for deportations as his administration has “launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history.” 

Meanwhile, Republicans are working to penalize Democrats for their Tuesday behavior. For example, Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, is spearheading an effort to file a censure resolution against Green for having “willfully disrupted the joint session, remained defiant,” and “brought disrepute to the United States Congress,” according to a draft text viewed by Fox News Digital. 

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However, Green is prepared to face the consequences of his behavior. 

“I’m willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me,”  Green said Tuesday, according to the White House press pool report. “I didn’t say to anyone, don’t punish me. I’ve said I’ll accept the punishment.” 

Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report. 

The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has terminated the lease at the Obama Presidential Library site, although it is unlikely to impact operations there since it is due to shutter later this year and move to a new location.

The library is located at the Hoffman Estates in the northwest of Chicago and is separate to the sprawling 19.3-acre Obama Presidential Center near Jackson Park in the southside of Chicago which is under construction and is expected to be completed next year.

The site at the Hoffman Estates is run by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as are all presidential libraries, while the Obama Presidential Center is a private venture being overseen by the Obama Foundation. 

DOGE has ended the lease at the Obama Presidential Library site. (Alex Wong/Getty Images, left, and Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, right.)

OBAMA CENTER SUBCONTRACTOR FILES $40M DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST ENGINEERING FIRM FOR OVERRUNS

DOGE this week updated its list of nearly 750 federal lease terminations, totaling around 9.6 million square feet in size, which included the Hoffman Estates site. The agency, which has been tasked by President Donald Trump to cut wasteful federal spending, said the terminations will save the taxpayer $468 million in lease savings.

The DOGE website did not provide a timetable for the closures, although a NARA spokesperson told Fox News Digital the Hoffman Estates library was scheduled to close in late Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and move to College Park in Maryland. The government’s FY 2025 runs through Sept. 30, 2025.

There are about 25 million unclassified paper documents at the Hoffman Estate building, according to NARA’s estimate, and they are currently being digitized and will be available in digital format at the Obama Presidential Center when it opens. Under the 1978 Presidential Records Act, NARA gets custody of all presidential records and artifacts when a president leaves office.

The lease for the Obama Presidential Library at Hoffman Estates has been terminated. (Google Maps)

CHICAGO SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS SAY THEY’RE BEING DISPLACED BY OBAMA CENTER: CAUSING ‘HARM TO BLACK FAMILIES’

Currently at the Hoffman Estates are also 35,000 physical artifacts, including gifts given to the Obamas. The library, a converted former furniture showroom, also houses former President Barack Obama’s silver BlackBerry, the draft of Obama’s first inaugural speech he wrote on a paper pad, a signed Pittsburgh Steelers football, a jeweled sword from Saudi Arabia and dresses worn by former first lady Michelle Obama.

Those artifacts will also be sent to Maryland and occasionally lent to the Obama Presidential Center, the Chicago Tribune reports.

NARA began leasing the building in 2016, paying $1.4 million each year in rent, according to the Chicago Tribune, citing the General Services Administration, which runs the government’s real estate portfolio.

The Obama Presidential Library is separate to the Obama Presidential Center, right, which is under construction.  (Scott Olson/Getty Images, left, Fox News, right.)

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The building is owned by Hoffman Estates Medical Development LLC, who bought it in 2011 and transformed it into a fortified, climate-controlled facility.

The Obama Presidential Library is expected to open some time next year and has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. It was initially expected to cost $350 million but that figure ballooned to $830 million in 2021. It is unclear what the total costs will be. 

It will consist of a 235-foot tower museum, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, conference facilities, a gymnasium and a regulation-sized NBA court. It will also house the nonprofit Obama Foundation, which is overseeing the center’s development.