Texas foster home linked to boy’s death had history of fight clubs and sexual misconduct, report says
The death of an 11-year-old at a Greenville residential treatment center is among 16 deaths reported in the Texas foster care system in the last 15 months.
Democrat senator backs Trump’s ‘common sense move’ to fire the penny
President Donald Trump has found an ally in the Senate, at least on his plan to stop creating new pennies. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., came out in support of Trump’s latest proposal on Tuesday, calling it a “common sense move.” The Democrat represents a battleground state that both she and Trump won in 2024. SCOOP: TRUMP BUDGET CHIEF VOUGHT TELLS GOP SENATORS $175B NEEDED ‘IMMEDIATELY’ FOR BORDER SECURITY Over the weekend, Trump announced that he “instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.” “For far too long, the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Let’s rip the waste out of our great nation’s budget, even if it’s a penny at a time.” NOEM, HEGSETH, BONDI PLEAD WITH CONGRESS FOR MORE BORDER FUNDING AMID LARGE-SCALE DEPORTATIONS Rosen took to X on Tuesday, writing, “I’m not afraid to embrace a good idea when it comes from the other side of the aisle, and I agree with President Trump on this.” “Eliminating the penny is a common sense move that’ll save taxpayer dollars,” she said. She isn’t the only Democrat who has come out in support of Trump’s idea. LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER: THE LITTLE-KNOWN TRUMP NOMINEE WHO MAY NEED TO RELY ON DEMS “As well as saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, there are major environmental benefits to eliminating the penny. This is a great move,” Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., said of the president’s plan. Trump’s unlikely Democratic backers come as much of the party has revolted amid his Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to aggressively audit and slash spending at executive branch agencies and departments.
Key House Democrat rips Musk for usurping presidential powers, says some have discussed impeachment
Despite not being the president, Elon Musk stands accused of usurping three presidential powers through his Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to cut costs and downsize the scope of the federal government. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., appeared Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” and he was asked if Republicans have joined him and other Democrats to back the “Nobody Elected Elon Musk Act,” which was introduced to rein in DOGE, the cost-cutting agency that has targeted certain government programs. “At this point, they’re either out there cheerleading for Elon Musk or more and more of them are getting real quiet because they see the public does not like this,” said Raskin, who is proposing the legislation. “The public does not like the idea that a guy who would not even be constitutionally eligible to run for president is acting as president. FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS LIMITED DOGE ACCESS TO SENSITIVE TREASURY DEPARTMENT PAYMENT SYSTEM RECORDS “A guy who, if he were president, would be impeached immediately because he’s taking billions of dollars in foreign government emoluments from all over the world,” he added. “And some have actually been talking about impeaching President Elon Musk right now on the theory that he’s usurped the powers of the presidency.” Raskin said Musk wants to create a “techno monarchy” amid his cost-cutting through DOGE. “Elon Musk would really like to completely overthrow our system of government and move us into some kind of techno monarchy under the geniuses of Silicon Valley,” he said. HEGSETH SAYS DOGE WELCOME AT PENTAGON AS DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REVIEWS MILITARY POSTURE GLOBALLY Musk’s role in the Trump administration has garnered praise from Republicans and drawn the ire of Democrats who worry about his access to government databases and say he is trying to take over the government in a way that’s not transparent. “The people voted for major government reform,” Musk told reporters Tuesday from the Oval Office alongside Trump. “There should be no doubt about that. That was on the campaign. The president spoke about that at every rally. The people voted for major government reform. And that’s what people are going to get.” Since President Donald Trump has taken office, DOGE has set its sights on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Treasury Department. A judge recently issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Musk-led department and political appointees from accessing sensitive Treasury Department data. Trump has also directed DOGE to probe the Education and Defense departments for wasteful spending. “Billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse,” Trump said Tuesday. “And I think it’s very important. And that’s one of the reasons I got elected.” Musk defended DOGE, saying the group is targeting bureaucracies that don’t provide anything in return to taxpayers, as well as targeting America’s debt. “What we have is this unelected, fourth unconstitutional branch of government, which is the bureaucracy, which has, in a lot of ways, currently more power than any elected representative,” Musk said. “And this is not something that people want. It does not match the will of the people. So, it’s just something we’ve got we’ve got to fix. “So, what I really would say is it’s not optional for us to reduce the federal expense,” he added. “It’s essential.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: FEMA rebels fired
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… –House Dems organize rapid response task force and litigation group to combat Trump agenda -$1,300 coffee cups, 8,000% overpay for soap dispensers show waste as DOGE locks in on Pentagon -Noem, Hegseth and Bondi plead with Congress for border money amid large-scale deportations The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News that “four employees are being fired today for circumventing leadership and unilaterally making the egregious payment for hotels for migrants in New York City.” The firings come after Elon Musk wrote on X Monday that “The DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.” “Firings include FEMA’s Chief Financial Officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist,” the DHS also said. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS will not sit idly and allow deep state activists to undermine the will and safety of the American people.”…Read more NOT SO FAST: Judge blocks Trump order limiting ‘indirect’ NIH research costs after public outcry…Read more GOODBYE GREEN STANDARDS: Trump reverses Biden crackdown on lightbulbs and dishwashers, returning to ‘common sense standards’…Read more ‘DEREGULATORY FLAVOR’: Here’s JD Vance’s vision for the future of AI under the Trump administration…Read more CASE DISMISSED: Federal appeals court dismisses classified records case against former Trump co-defendants…Read more REACHING NEW HIGHS: Trump has higher approval rating than at any point during first term…Read more NO MORE PAPER: Trump signs executive order ending ‘forced use of paper straws’…Read more DOCUMENTS DRAMA: FBI must release Mar-a-Lago probe records despite Trump’s criminal immunity: judge…Read more ‘SO WASTEFUL’: How Trump might get rid of the penny – and what could come next for your pocket change…Read more ‘HORRIFYING’: Extremist groups raked in millions of dollars from USAID, multiyear study reveals…Read more BINGE WATCHING: GOP lawmakers set sights on PBS, NPR amid Trump’s DOGE crackdown…Read more ‘IN GOOD SPIRITS’: Democrat lawmaker freezes on House floor after suffering adverse reaction to medication…Read more ‘TRUST PRESIDENT TRUMP’: Murkowski and Cassidy announce they’ll vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard to Trump cabinet post…Read more LOCKING IN LABOR: Lori Chavez-DeRemer: The little-known Trump nominee who may need to rely on Dems to cross finish line…Read more REBEL FORCE: GOP rebels mutiny against House leaders as Trump budget bill talks hit impasse…Read more ‘NEW IDEAS’: Trump nominees debut new science journal aimed at spurring scientific discourse, increasing transparency…Read more NO JAIL FOR BANNON: Steven Bannon pleads guilty to scheme to defraud in border wall fundraiser, avoids jail time…Read more BACKING PATEL: More than half a million law enforcement personnel back Patel to be FBI director…Read more ‘I AM RUNNING’: Former Biden cabinet member launches New Mexico gubernatorial bid…Read more NEW PROTOCOL: Louisiana resumes executions after 15-year pause, approves use of nitrogen gas method…Read more ‘ISN’T IT BEAUTIFUL?’: Google Maps, FAA officially acknowledges Gulf of America after Trump declaration…Read more BIPARTISAN BET: Super Bowl inspires bipartisan wager as Pennsylvania senators go ‘all in for the birds’…Read more NEW ‘PROJECT?’: Heritage president reacts to ‘Project 2025′ promptly dropping from liberals’ lips as DOGE takes ax to DC…Read more ‘WIN FOR EVERY STUDENT’: DOGE slashes over $100M in DEI funding at Education Department: ‘Win for every student’…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
‘Playing with the courts’: Trump admin hit with dozens of suits after years of president condemning ‘lawfare’
President Donald Trump’s court battles have not ended now that he’s back in the Oval Office — instead, dozens have piled up against his administration as Democrats and activists vow to fight Trump and his policies in the judicial system. Trump faced four criminal indictments during the interim of his first and second administrations, which landed accusations of “lawfare” on the national stage as Trump maintained his innocence and slammed the cases as efforts by the Democratic Party to hurt his political chances for re-election during the 2024 cycle. Despite the left-wing efforts to ensnare Trump in a web of legal cases, Trump was re-elected president — with a resume that now includes “convicted felon” and a famous mugshot frequently displayed on pro-Trump apparel. Upon Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, he has issued near-daily executive orders and actions to shift the federal government to fall in line with his “America First” policies, including snuffing out government overspending and mismanagement, banning biological men from competing in women’s sports, and deporting thousands of illegal immigrants who flooded the nation under the Biden administration. Trump has signed more than 60 executive orders, in addition to other executive actions, as of Tuesday, which has resulted in at least 49 lawsuits against Trump and his administration, Fox News Digital has found. ‘ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY’: LEGAL EXPERTS SHRED NY V. TRUMP AS ‘ONE OF THE WORST’ CASES IN HISTORY The lawsuits come as Democratic elected officials fume over the second Trump administration’s policies, most notably the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is investigating various federal agencies in the search of cutting government spending fat, corruption and mismanagement of funds. “Right now, we’re going to keep focus on the need to look out for everyday New Yorkers and everyday Americans who are under assault by an extreme MAGA Republican agenda that is trying to cut taxes for billionaires, donors and wealthy corporations and then stick New Yorkers and working-class Americans across the country with the bill,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in January. CLIMATE LAWFARE IS RUNNING INTO A POWERFUL FORCE LIBERALS DIDN’T EXPECT “That’s not acceptable,” he said. “We are going to fight it legislatively. We are going to fight it in the courts. We’re going to fight it in the streets.” “We are gonna be in your face, we are gonna be on your a–es, and we are going to make sure you understand what democracy looks like, and this ain’t it,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said at a protest over DOGE and its chair, Elon Musk, earlier in February. With just over three weeks back in the Oval Office, at least 49 lawsuits have been filed against Trump or the federal government over Trump’s policies and executive actions. Among the list of plaintiffs are a handful of groups that brought forth suits against Trump in previous years, most notably New York Attorney General Leitita James, as well as labor unions and left-wing advocacy groups. James, a former city council member in New York and public defender, launched her run for New York attorney general during the 2018 cycle, while emphasizing that if she were elected she would aggressively pursue legal charges against Trump. HOW TRUMP, AG BONDI CAN PERSUADE DEMOCRATS TO ABANDON LAWFARE “I’m running for attorney general because I will never be afraid to challenge this illegitimate president when our fundamental rights are at stake,” James declared in September 2018. “From the Muslim ban, to efforts to deport immigrants, to denying transgender students the ability to choose whatever bathroom they want, rolling back regulations to protect our planet, colluding with foreign powers, putting profits over people, dividing us in ways we haven’t seen in generations.” “And what is fueling this campaign, what is fueling my soul right now, is Trump and his abuses, abuses against immigrants, against women, against our environment. We need an attorney general who will stand up to Donald Trump,” she said during a debate in August 2018. James won her election that year, about two years into Trump’s first administration, and took a victory lap while vowing to expose the “con man.” James brought forth a civil fraud suit against Trump, the Trump Organization and its senior leadership in 2022, frequently sitting in the courtroom throughout the proceedings, and celebrated the prosecution of Trump in the Manhattan criminal trial over the 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump was ordered to pay a $454 million civil fraud judgment in James’ lawsuit against him, which is currently on appeal. All in, James said back in November 2024 that her office took nearly 100 legal actions against Trump’s first administration — vowing to restart the efforts during the second administration. AS DEMOCRATS REGROUP OUTSIDE DC, GOP ATTORNEYS GENERAL ADOPT NEW PLAYBOOK TO DEFEND TRUMP AGENDA “We did not expect this result, but we are prepared to respond to this result. And my office has been preparing for several months because we’ve been here before,” James said following Trump’s election win in November 2024. “We faced this challenge before, and we used the rule of law to fight back. And we are prepared to fight back once again because, as the attorney general of this great state, it is my job to protect and defend the rights of New Yorkers and the rule of law. And I will not shrink from that responsibility.” So far in 2025, James has spearheaded at least five legal actions against the Trump administration, including leading a coalition of state attorneys general to sue the federal government to halt DOGE’s access to the Treasury Department’s internal systems, as well as another lawsuit related to the Trump admin slashing grant funding to research institutions and universities. “As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law,” James said of the DOGE suit. “President Trump does not have the power to give away Americans’ private information to anyone he
TribCast: What is Texas’ role in Trump’s immigration crackdown?
The gang discusses the major role that Texas plays in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in his second term
Rep. Roger Williams introduces bill to reimburse Texas for Operation Lone Star
The new bill reinforces Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for the federal government to repay the $11 billion Texas has paid for the border security operation.
Georgia congressman moves to help Trump acquire Greenland and rename it ‘Red, White and Blueland’
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., has thrown his support behind President Donald Trump’s quest to acquire Greenland — and has taken a step in Americanizing the country’s name. Carter introduced a bill on Tuesday proposing that Greenland’s name be changed to Red, White and Blueland. In a press release, the Georgia congressman wrote that “America is back and will soon be bigger than ever” with the addition of the Nordic country. “President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal,” Carter added. Carter also published the text of the bill, which is named the “Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025.” SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO CONFIRMS BECOMING ACTING USAID CHIEF “Greenland shall be known as ‘Red, White, and Blueland,’” the text states. “Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to Greenland shall be deemed to be a reference to ‘Red, White, and Blueland.’” Carter has not spoken to Trump about the bill, which had no cosponsors as of Tuesday evening, Carter’s office told Fox News Digital. Trump has signaled interest in acquiring Greenland since 2019, calling it a potentially “large real estate deal,” toward the end of his first term. In December, he ramped up calls for the U.S. to acquire the Danish territory and called it a national security issue. “[F]or purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” the then-president-elect wrote in a Truth Social post at the time. US FLIES JOINT PATROL WITH THE PHILIPPINES NEAR SHOAL REGION GUARDED BY CHINA At the beginning of February, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen affirmed that Greenland is “not for sale,” but said she was open to the U.S. increasing its footprint in the Arctic region. “I totally agree with the Americans that the High North, that the Arctic region is becoming more and more important when we are talking about defense and security and deterrence,” Frederiksen said, referencing Chinese and Russian activity in the region. “And it is possible to find a way to ensure stronger footprints in Greenland. They [the U.S.] are already there, and they can have more possibilities.” “And at the same time, we are willing to scale up from the Kingdom of Denmark. And I think NATO is the same. So if this is about securing our part of the world, we can find a way forward.” Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
Trump to sign order instructing DOGE to massively cut federal workforce
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Tuesday instructing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to coordinate with federal agencies and execute massive cuts in federal government staffing numbers. The order will instruct DOGE and federal agencies to work together to “significantly” shrink the size of the federal government and limit hiring new employees, according to a White House fact sheet on the order. Specifically, agencies must not hire more than one employee for every four that leave their federal post. Agencies will also be instructed to “undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force” and evaluate ways to eliminate or combine agency functions that aren’t legally required. DOGE Chair Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, told reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office that the American people voted for “major” government reform and that the Trump administration would deliver. Trump voiced similar sentiments about providing voters what they wanted – to tackle “all of this “horrible stuff going on” – and told reporters that he hoped the court system would cooperate. “I hope that the court system is going to allow us to do what we have to do,” Trump said, who also said he would always abide by a court’s ruling but will be prepared to appeal. The order builds on another directive Trump signed after his inauguration implementing a federal hiring freeze, as well as an initiative from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management offering more than 2 million federal civilian employees buyouts if they leave their jobs or return to work in person. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s plan from advancing amid challenges from union groups. Trump’s executive order aligns with DOGE’s “workforce optimization initiative” and would impose restrictions to hire only for “essential positions” as agencies brace for significant cuts to their workforce, according to the White House fact sheet. DC FEDERAL WORKERS IN A ‘PANIC’ OVER NOVEL EXPERIENCE OF JOB INSECURITY WITH JOB CUTS The executive order will leave just a few areas of the federal government unscathed, including positions affiliated with law enforcement, national security and immigration enforcement. DOGE is focused on eliminating wasteful government spending and streamlining efficiency and operations, and it is expected to influence White House policy on budget matters. The group has been tasked with cutting $2 trillion from the federal government budget through efforts to slash spending, government programs and the federal workforce. The White House said on Feb. 4 that it predicted a “spike” in resignations close to the original Feb. 6 deadline for the buyout offer, which would allow employees to retain all pay and benefits and be exempt from in-person work until Sept. 30. “The number of deferred resignations is rapidly growing, and we’re expecting the largest spike 24 to 48 hours before the deadline,” a White House official told Fox News Digital on Feb. 4. JUDGE EXTENDS INJUCTION ORDER TO BAN TRUMP ADMIN BUYOUT OFFER TO FEDERAL WORKERS So far, approximately 65,000 federal employees have accepted the buyout offer, but a federal judge has issued a pause on the deadline for when employees must submit their resignations. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole indefinitely extended a temporary restraining order Monday, pausing the deadline as he evaluates a preliminary injunction request stemming from cases against the buyout program filed by union groups, including the American Federation of Government Employees. When asked about the buyout, Trump said that there are empty office spaces and that his administration is attempting to reduce the size of government. “We have too many people. We have office spaces occupied by 4% – nobody showing up to work because they were told not to,” Trump said. DOGE has moved to slash other areas of the federal government as well. Other recent initiatives by DOGE have included launching an effort to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development, a group that works to deliver aid to impoverished countries and development assistance. The group has come under scrutiny from DOGE amid concerns about wasteful government spending, poor leadership and questionable funding, including an Iraqi version of “Sesame Street” and reportedly millions of dollars in funding to extremist groups tied to designated terrorist organizations and their allies. “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out,” Trump told reporters on Feb. 2. Fox News’ Brooke Singman, Emma Colton and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
‘Serious consequences’: Ted Cruz delivers strong warning to illegal immigrants fleeing Border Patrol
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is launching a new push to target illegal immigrants who flee from law enforcement — named after a Border Patrol agent killed pursuing illegal aliens. Cruz is reintroducing the Senate version of the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act. The bill is named after Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, who was killed in a vehicle crash in Texas in 2022 while pursuing illegal immigrants. The bill would make failure to yield to a Border Patrol agent a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. GOP REVIVES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT DETENTION BILL NAMED AFTER 12-YEAR-OLD MURDER VICTIM If a Border Patrol agent sustains injuries during a vehicle pursuit of an illegal migrant, the offender may receive a sentence ranging from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 20 years in prison. In cases where an agent loses their life during the pursuit, the bill prescribes a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, extending to a potential life sentence. Each of these offenses also may carry a fine of up to $250,000. It further requires that the Department of Justice report to Congress about how often they are prosecuting illegal aliens for endangering Border Patrol agents. “This legislation honors the sacrifice of Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who lost his life pursuing individuals evading capture,” Cruz said in a statement to Fox News Digital. TRUMP ADMIN MAKES AGGRESSIVE MOVE TO EXPAND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT DETENTION: ‘OUTSIDE THE BOX’ “It sends a clear message that if you endanger American lives, you will face serious consequences,” he said. “This bill is a critical step toward protecting our communities and ensuring criminals can no longer exploit past failures.” The bill has been reintroduced in the House by Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz. It’s one of a slew of bills being introduced or re-introduced in Congress now that there is GOP control of both chambers and a new mood in Washington that appears to be more receptive of stiffer consequences for illegal immigration, with the Trump administration launching a massive border security and anti-illegal immigration crackdown. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Congress passed the Laken Riley Act in January, which mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants accused of theft-related offenses. President Donald Trump would sign the bill later in January. Cruz, meanwhile, reintroduced the “Justice for Jocelyn” Act, which would require that every ICE detention bed be filled before any releases of illegal immigrants into the interior. It is named after Jocelyn Nungaray, who was allegedly murdered by two illegal immigrants. Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.