Chaos and uncertainty after Trump freezes spending
A federal decide yesterday quickly blocked an order by President Trump to freeze trillions of {dollars} in federal grants and loans. Individually, Democratic attorneys common in 22 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in opposition to the order, saying Trump had gone far past his authorized powers.
Even earlier than 5 p.m., when the freeze was to take impact, a wide range of techniques and packages have been disrupted, leaving tens of millions not sure if they’d lose entry to jobs, companies and well being care. Right here’s the most recent.
Trump’s order, which has led to confusion and outrage, is a part of an effort to remake the federal government in his picture, following sweeping cuts to worldwide assist that he launched final week and an effort to scuttle any authorities coverage or program that he and his allies would possibly name “woke.”
His administration says the freeze would let it examine packages to ensure they don’t battle with its agenda, subjecting them to what my colleague Nicholas Nehamas calls “ideological litmus assessments.” The White Home says authorities cash shouldn’t “advance Marxist fairness, transgenderism and Inexperienced New Deal social engineering.”
Overseas assist: The Trump administration informed organizations in different nations to cease distributing H.I.V. medicines bought with U.S. assist. Humanitarian organizations in Ukraine stated they’d been compelled to droop operations that embrace the supply of help to conflict veterans and to civilians displaced by the battle there.
What to know: The leaders of worldwide humanitarian organizations stated that they had “by no means seen something as sweeping” as Trump’s suspension of assist, stated Edward Wong, a diplomatic correspondent. “Many packages,” he added, “gained’t have the ability to keep the integrity of their tasks in the event that they cease at times wait to restart their work later, if they’re even allowed to.”
In different information:
-
The Trump administration gave roughly two million federal staff the choice to resign however be paid by way of the tip of September.
-
A deliberate effort by the president and his staff to “flood the zone” with an unceasing circulate of initiatives has knocked his rivals off stability.
-
Caroline Kennedy urged senators to reject her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for well being secretary, calling him unfit and a “predator.”
-
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s decide to supervise nationwide intelligence, was subjected to particular scrutiny final yr whereas en path to an occasion organized by a European businessman who was on an F.B.I. watchlist.
Eight hostages slated for launch are useless, Israel stated
Eight of the 26 hostages who’re anticipated to be returned to Israel by Hamas within the subsequent few weeks as a part of the Gaza cease-fire deal are useless, in keeping with Israeli officers.
That info, which Hamas gave to Israel on Sunday, matched Israeli intelligence findings, in keeping with a authorities spokesman, David Mencer. He stated the record offered by Hamas didn’t specify by identify which hostages had died. Eight households have been informed there’s a excessive chance that their relations is not going to come again alive, Mencer stated.
A brother’s grief: Chatting with the Israeli Parliament yesterday, Dani Elgarat, whose brother Itzik Elgarat is a hostage, stated his household anticipated to obtain his physique, based mostly on what that they had been informed. He stated he believed his brother’s life might have been saved had a cease-fire deal been reached earlier.
From the area:
Protesters attacked embassies in Congo
Protesters attacked a number of embassies and a U.N. constructing yesterday within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, looting and setting fires. The French, U.S., Ugandan and Belgian embassies have been amongst these focused.
Anger at overseas allies has been rising in Congo over their incapacity to cease an assault on the important thing jap metropolis of Goma by M23, a militia that the U.N. and the U.S. say is managed by Rwanda. Rwanda has denied the declare and blamed Congo for failing to keep up order.
Context: Western powers have but to strain Rwanda to rein within the rebels. Analysts say the nation is searching for to occupy Congolese territory and plunder its huge mineral wealth.
The newest: The U.S. suggested its residents to depart Congo on business flights.
MORE TOP NEWS
Can something cease a flood of unruly vacationers? Charges and taxes aiming at limiting guests in journey sizzling spots like Croatia, above, have had combined outcomes, as competing pursuits have impeded makes an attempt to stem the tide.
“The laborious reality is that after overtourism has arrived,” one professional stated, “it’s exceedingly tough to show again the clock.”
Lives lived: François Ponchaud, a French Catholic priest who alerted the world to the atrocities being dedicated in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge, died at 86.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
Mona Lisa is getting her personal room
The enigmatic smile of the world’s most well-known portrait will quickly greet guests from a brand new exhibition house on the Louvre. President Emmanuel Macron of France stated yesterday that the Mona Lisa could be moved as a part of a sweeping renovation of the museum to handle overcrowding.
Practically 9 million folks go to the Louvre yearly, and an estimated 80 p.c are there to see Leonardo da Vinci’s 16-century masterpiece. Macron intends to lift customer numbers to 12 million a yr, and to cost extra to these from outdoors the E.U. to pay for the renovation.
That’s it for immediately’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha
P.S. Do you’ve gotten questions on how we cowl the Trump administration? Ask us right here.
Attain Natasha and the staff at briefing@nytimes.com.