Television star believes Trump’s policies will win in long run
Popular TV host Mike Rowe believes that President Donald Trump’s policies will be better for the country in the long run. Asked by Fox News Digital how he feels about Trump’s first few weeks back in office, Rowe indicated that he is “happy” with what he has seen so far and optimistic about the future outlook. “I’m a one-issue guy, I got a foundation, we’re trying to close the skills gap, he wants to bring manufacturing back, and I am all for it,” Rowe said of Trump from the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. “But right now we got 7.2 million men, able-bodied, who are not looking for work. They’re just sitting out of the workforce. And we’ve got giant shortages already in dozens of skilled trades, so I think part of what has to happen is a PR campaign to reinvigorate the trades as we bring back the manufacturing.” THE AGE OF RELYING ON CREDENTIALS IS NEARING AN END, MIKE ROWE SAYS Rowe noted that he is willing to put his money where his mouth is to assist the effort and indicated he was available to help Trump with the issue as well. “I got a million bucks I am giving away this month to microworks.org to help train the next generation of skilled workers. If I could be of use in any other capacity in that regard, I am at his disposal,” Rowe said. MIKE ROWE WARNS ABOUT STIGMA ‘GUNK’ AROUND TRADES THAT KEEPS KIDS FROM EXPLORING INDUSTRY Touching on Trump’s tariff and trade policies, Rowe acknowledged the possibility of some short-term pain for American industries but argued the payoff would be worth it in the end. “Yes, they will hurt short term. Is it worth it long term?” Rowe said. “Look, do you want to be dependent on China? Do you want to be reliant on other countries? These are really simple, fundamental questions. If the answer is we want to be more independent, there’s going to be some short-term pain.” “I think it will be worth it to be less reliant on countries who hate us,” Rowe added. “I think it will be worth it to be less dependent on countries that aren’t terribly concerned with what’s best for us. I am all for an equal playing field, and I am all for every kind of independence we can muster, whether it’s energy independence, economic independence, workforce independence, all of it.”
Pope penned resignation letter in 2013: report
Pope Francis signed a letter of resignation in 2013 to be used in case he was forced from his duties as a result of bad health. “I have already signed my resignation. Tarcisio Bertone was Secretary of State. I signed it and I told him: ‘In case of impediment for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation,’” the Pope said during a 2022 interview, according to a report at the time from the New York Post. The resurfaced interview comes as Francis has been hospitalized for over a week and was reported to be in critical condition after suffering an asthmatic respiratory crisis on Saturday, according to a report from the Associated Press. POPE FRANCIS HAD PEACEFUL NIGHT’S REST AT HOSPITAL FOLLOWING RESPIRATORY CRISIS, VATICAN SAYS Francis also received blood transfusions after tests revealed he had a low platelet count, according to a Reuters report. Francis, who turned 88 in December, has long faced questions about what he would do if health issues left him unable to carry out his duties. Such questions would have been unheard of prior to 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI resigned, becoming the first papal resignation in over 600 years. Francis revealed during the 2022 interview that he gave his resignation letter to the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, a holdover from Benedict XVI, about six months after being elected to the papacy in March 2013. POPE FRANCIS SHARES WRITTEN MESSAGE WHILE CONTINUING HOSPITALIZATION “You have it. I don’t know to whom Cardinal Bertone may have given it, but I gave it to him when he was secretary of state,” Francis said at the time. As Francis continued his hospitalization in Rome on Sunday, he shared a message thanking those who have kept him in their prayers during his health struggle. “I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,” Pope Francis posted on X Sunday. “Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!” “I urge you to continue your apostolate with joy and to be a sign of a love that embraces everyone, as the #GospelOfTheDay suggests,” another post said. “May we transform evil into goodness and build a fraternal world. Do not be afraid to take risks for love!”
Trump envoy Witkoff seeking ‘extension’ of Phase 1 of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, to head back to Middle East
President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said Sunday that he would aim to negotiate an “extension” of Phase One of the Israel-Hamas hostage release and ceasefire deal when he returns to the region this week. “We have to get an extension of Phase One. And, so I’ll be going into the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that,” Witkoff said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And we’re hoping you have the proper time to finish off to begin Phase Two and finish it off and get more hostages released. And move this – move the discussion forward.” Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly met with Witkoff in Washington, D.C., last week. In regard to the meeting, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Witkoff if he believes Netanyahu “wants to move forward with the ceasefire, or does he want to resume the war to try to eliminate Hamas?” ISRAEL DELAYS PALESTINIAN PRISONER RELEASE AFTER HAMAS’ ‘HUMILIATING’ TREATMENT OF HOSTAGES, NETANYAHU SAYS Witkoff said he believes the prime minister “is well-motivated” and wants to see “the hostages released,” as well “to protect the state of Israel.” “And so he’s got a red line,” Witkoff said. “And he said what the red line is, and that is that Hamas cannot be involved in a governing body when this thing is resolved.” “They can’t be any part of governance in Gaza,” the U.S. envoy said of Hamas. “And, you know, as to existing, I’d leave that – that detail to the prime minister.” In another Sunday show appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Witkoff said he would arrive “probably Wednesday evening” in the Middle East and would visit various countries, including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He added that the last remaining living American hostage, Edan Alexander, remains a top priority in negotiations. “He’s front and center for us,” Witkoff said. “I know his parents. We talk all the time. He’s critical. It’s one of President Trump’s most important objectives is to get all Americans home. And we’re going to be successful in getting Edan home, I believe.” REMAINS OF SHIRI BIBAS, MOM OF TWO KILLED, ALLEGEDLY RETURNED TO ISRAEL FOLLOWING HAMAS’ BROKEN PROMISE According to the May 27 protocol agreement, Witkoff explained that Phase Two involves both “a permanent ceasefire, a cessation of all violence,” as well as “the fact that Hamas cannot be allowed to come back into the government” in Gaza. “And I think the way you square that circle is that Hamas has to go. They’ve got to leave,” Witkoff said, adding, “I would say physically, that’s correct.” The envoy said he was not at liberty to say which countries might take in people from Gaza during ongoing negotiations, but stressed that Gaza would not be a safe living environment for another 15 to 20 years following the war and requires an extension reconstruction plan. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced Saturday night that “in light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.” In a video message Friday, Netanyahu condemned how Hamas “brutally murdered” two young Israeli boys, whose bodies were initially returned to Israel without the remains of their mother, Shiri Bibas. In what Netanyahu decried as a “brazen violation of their agreement,” Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Bibas, whose actual remains were later returned and identified Saturday following an intense standoff with the terrorist group. Hamas handed over another six Israelis on Saturday in the latest scheduled release of living hostages.
Border Patrol taking control of former USAID HQ
The downtown Washington, D.C., Ronald Reagan building will undergo a dramatic shift as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes over the longtime headquarters of the Agency for International Development (USAID), Fox News Digital has confirmed. “CBP has signed a license agreement to occupy approximately 390,000 usable square feet in the USAID tower,” a CBP spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The news, which was originally reported by Politico, comes after a federal judge on Friday declined to keep in place a temporary block that was preventing President Donald Trump from removing all but a small number of USAID staffers, clearing the way for the administration to continue its dramatic cuts to federal departments, according to a report from the Associated Press. USAID WORKERS SEND MESSAGE TO TRUMP ON BOXES WHILE LEAVING OFFICE FOR LAST TIME USAID, a decades-old foreign assistance agency, was one of the first targets for cuts by the new administration, sparking a lawsuit filed by unions representing federal workers in an attempt to block the layoffs. The suit accused the Trump administration of stalling medical evacuations for USAID staffers and family members overseas and cutting off contractors from emergency communications while also challenging the constitutionality of the administration’s sudden cuts, which the suit argues requires congressional approval. “At present, the agency is still standing,” U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols wrote in the ruling. “And so the alleged injuries on which plaintiffs rely in seeking injunctive relief flow essentially from their members’ existing employment relationships with USAID.” ‘WASTEFUL AND DANGEROUS’: DOGE’S TOP FIVE MOST SHOCKING REVELATIONS With the drastic reduction in staffing and the loss of its longtime headquarters, questions remain about the future of USAID and its mission. Earlier this month, the State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been appointed as acting administrator for the agency with an eye toward possible reorganization of its activities under the State Department. “The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long strayed from its original mission of responsibly advancing American interests abroad, and it is now abundantly clear that significant portions of USAID funding are not aligned with the core national interests of the United States,” the State Department said in a statement. “As we evaluate USAID and ensure it is in alignment with an America First agenda and the efforts of the State Department, we will continue to protect the American people’s interests and ensure their tax dollars are not wasted.”
Musk’s demand that fed employees list their accomplishments roils workforce: ‘Mass civil disobedience’
Department of Government Efficiency chair Elon Musk announced that federal employees must report their accomplishments from the last week or face losing their jobs, which has roiled the federal workforce as some Democratic lawmakers and unions call on employees to flout the directive. “This is a good opportunity for mass civil disobedience. Musk has no authority to do this. Encourage all federal employees to report to work, prepare GFY letters and continue to demonstrate the public service and patriotism he lacks,” Illinois Democratic Rep. Sean Casten posted to X on Saturday evening. The acronym GFY is internet slang typically meaning “go f— yourself.” “It takes a remarkable combination of arrogance and stupidity to think that this is the best use of time for our intelligence officers, VA workers, air traffic controllers, and everyone else we depend on to do their job well,” he continued. Musk said on Saturday that federal employees would receive an email directing them to list their accomplishments from the week prior, with the DOGE leader adding later that day that the assignment should take less than five minutes to accomplish. Employees have until 11:59 pm on Monday to send the list or lose their employment, according to emails regarding Musk’s directive that were sent by the Office of Personnel Management. TRUMP RATTLES OFF ‘FLAGRANT SCAMS’ UNCOVERED BY DOGE, TAKES AIM AT FORT KNOX IN CPAC SPEECH “Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,” Musk wrote on X. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” “To be clear, the bar is very low here. An email with some bullet points that make any sense at all is acceptable! Should take less than 5 mins to write,” Musk added. Musk’s message followed President Donald Trump remarking that he’s been pleased with Musk and DOGE’s work investigating various federal agencies for government overspending, fraud and mismanagement, but that he would like to see Musk “get more aggressive.” Musk responded on X: “Will do, Mr. President!” CPAC STRAW POLL REVEALS WHO CONSERVATIVES BELIEVE WILL BE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE Unions lambasted Musk’s directive that federal employees detail their work accomplishments to DOGE, with a chapter of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents FDA employees, telling members they “strongly” encourage them to flout the order. “We work for HHS/FDA, not OPM: OPM directives that have not been formally adopted or communicated by our employer, the FDA, do not create an obligation for you to respond,” the NTEU chapter’s guidance stated. The chapter’s website states in bolded, all-capitalized letters: “NTEU ADVISES YOU NOT TO SIGN THAT EMAIL… UNTIL WE GET MORE INFO.” ELON MUSK SAYS ‘BAR IS VERY LOW’ AFTER ORDERING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES TO FILL OUT PRODUCTIVITY REPORTS OR RESIGN The chapter noted in a comment to Fox News Digital that it is only one chapter of hundreds under the national NTEU’s umbrella, and only represents FDA employees in five states, as well as Washington, D.C. Fox Digital reached out to the national NTEU’s press office on Sunday morning, but did not immediately receive a reply. The national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Everett Kelley, also released a statement on Saturday evening, arguing that Musk and the Trump administration were showing “their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people.” “It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life,” Kelley said in a statement. “AFGE will challenge any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country.” ELON MUSK SAYS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST FILL OUT PRODUCTIVITY REPORTS OR RESIGN Trump joined the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday afternoon, where he took a victory lap for the breakneck pace of work his administration has accomplished in his first month back in the Oval Office, while lauding Musk for his DOGE efforts. “I signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency – you probably haven’t heard of it – which is now waging war on government waste, fraud and abuse. And Elon is doing a great job,” Trump said at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Saturday in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital. “He’s doing a great job.” WHITE HOUSE OUTLINES WHERE DOGE SAVINGS COULD GO AFTER TRUMP FLOATS RETURNING 20% TO AMERICANS Trump also touted that his administration is gutting the government of “corrupt” and “incompetent” federal employees. “We have a very corrupt group of people in this country, and we’re finding them out,” Trump said during his speech. “We’re removing all of the unnecessary, incompetent and corrupt bureaucrats from the federal workforce.” The Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new director of the FBI last week, and he reportedly told staffers on Saturday that his office will handle reviewing their productivity. “FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information,” Patel reportedly told employees. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses.” The State Department also reportedly issued a similar message to employees on Saturday, informing them that department officials “will respond on behalf of the Department,” according to a message sent by Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy, who serves as acting under secretary of state for management. The NSA told its employees that “NSA and CYBERCOM are awaiting further guidance” from the Defense Department, the Washington Post reported. Musk doubled down on X on Sunday that the initiative is important due to an alleged swath of government employees who accomplish such little work that they are not even
Trump goes on ‘unprecedented’ Pentagon firing spree: report
President Donald Trump fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, and a number of other top military officers over the weekend in a dramatic shakeup of Pentagon leadership. Trump announced on social media Friday that he was replacing Brown and planned on nominating retired Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to fill his role as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him the military’s top officer. A report from Reuters noted Trump’s move was “unprecedented,” becoming the first time a president has pulled a military officer out of retirement to head the Joint Chiefs. The move was just one of many changes Trump announced to top military brass in recent days, including plans to replace the U.S. Navy’s top officer, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead one of the military branches. Trump is also removing the Air Force vice chief of staff, Gen. Jim Slife, and the judge advocates general of the Army, Navy and Air Force. OBAMA FIRED TOP MILITARY OFFICERS TO ALIGN PENTAGON WITH HIS POLICY VISION, NOW TRUMP SET TO DO THE SAME “I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump wrote in a social media post. Trump campaigned heavily on the idea of removing “woke” generals from the top of the military, especially those he believed were responsible for botching the U.S. exit from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump’s defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has also made it a point to root out Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military, going so far as to question whether Brown was given the nod as the nation’s top military officer as a result of his race. “Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt – which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” Hegseth wrote in his 2024 book. OFFICIALS PUSH BACK ON CLAIMS OF ‘LIST’ OF GENERALS HEGSETH PLANS TO FIRE AT PENTAGON The decision to move on from Franchetti also reverses a 2023 decision by former President Joe Biden, who surprised Pentagon leaders by tapping Franchetti over Adm. Samuel Paparo, who at the time led the Navy’s Pacific Command and was widely expected to be in line for the service’s top job. But Trump’s decision has also caused “upheaval” at the Pentagon, according to the Reuters report, where the Defense Department was already bracing for mass cuts to its civilian staff. The moves were also condemned by the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed, of Rhode Island, who called the firings “political.” “Firing uniformed leaders as a type of political loyalty test, or for reasons relating to diversity and gender that have nothing to do with performance, erodes the trust and professionalism that our service members require to achieve their missions,” Reed told Reuters. The White House did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Hochul slams Trump’s ‘king’ remark after president’s move to block congestion pricing toll in NYC
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is defending the state’s congestion pricing program in New York City and pushing back against President Donald Trump’s “king” remark after his administration moved to block the scheme. Hochul appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday and was asked about her one-on-one Oval Office meeting with Trump at the White House last week. The governor said she wanted to use the meeting with Trump to make a case for the toll program “because our city is paralyzed with gridlock, and we had a path forward to be able to make the city move again, and it’s working.” “It was an adversarial meeting,” the Democrat said, “but I was very clear, especially after I found that the Trump administration had ended a program that was put in place, congestion pricing, by the duly elected members of our legislature representing the voice of the people, and with a tweet, he claims that he is the king, and therefore he has the power to destroy it.” The Trump administration on Wednesday ordered a stop to the program, which launched Jan. 5 with the goals of thinning traffic and funding mass transit by imposing a $9 toll on most vehicles entering Manhattan’s core south of Central Park. TRUMP ADMIN MOVES TO BLOCK NYC CONGESTION TOLL PROGRAM Trump declared victory on Truth Social after the announcement, writing, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” Hochul immediately fired back on Wednesday, criticizing the remark. She reiterated her stance Sunday. “And I have a problem with that characterization, because we labored under a king 250 years ago, and as I said, we’re not going back there,” Hochul said. NY GOV HOCHUL DECIDES NYC MAYOR ADAMS’ FATE; RAMPS UP OVERSIGHT OF CITY’S TOP OFFICIAL Despite the federal order, the tolls are remaining in place for now because of a federal lawsuit aiming to keep them alive that was filed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a state agency that runs public transit in New York City. The congestion tolling has been divisive in New York, with most opposition coming from suburban commuters or from those living in areas not well-served by the subway system. Advocates say it is an innovative way to speed up traffic and reduce air pollution. Hochul said that while her meeting with Trump may not have persuaded the president to rethink his move to block the program, she will continue to fight for it. “The people in my state need to know I’m willing to take the fight wherever I have to,” she said. Hochul said that she believes the state’s case will be won in the courts and that the congestion pricing toll program will continue. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DHS will release some of Prince Harry’s immigration docs amid allegations he lied about drug use
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will release parts of Prince Harry’s immigration records with some redaction, in the ongoing lawsuit over the royal’s move to the United States. The move comes after federal Judge Carl Nichols ordered the agency to provide the court with a redacted version of Harry’s file for review with the ultimate goal of making the records public, according to a New York Post report Friday. At issue is whether the British royal lied on immigration documents or was given preferential treatment when he moved to the U.S. in 2020, with Harry later revealing in his memoir “Spare,” which was released in 2023, that he had used illegal drugs. PRINCE HARRY SEES COURT SETBACK ON IMMIGRATION RECORDS CASE IN FIRST HEARING SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, sued DHS in an attempt to get Harry’s record released, hoping to find out if the 40-year-old royal failed to disclose his former drug use on his immigration application. In a DHS filing to the court, the agency said it could turn over “items 1-3” of Harry’s records with some redactions, but would not release “item 4.” PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE SLAMMED BY JUSTINE BATEMAN FOR BEING ‘DISASTER TOURISTS’ AMID CALIFORNIA FIRES It is unclear what information the items DHS is set to release will contain, though Nichols said at the hearing earlier this month that he wanted the records to be disclosed “in stages” in order to prevent violating U.S. privacy laws. DHS will have until March 6 to provide the redacted version of the records for the judge’s review, the report notes. Nile Gardiner, the director of the Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, has argued that “transparency” is important when it comes to how immigration cases are handled. “It’s important because this is an issue of the rule of law, transparency and accountability. No one should be above the law,” Gardiner said earlier this month. “Donald Trump is ushering in a new era of strict border control enforcement, and you know, Prince Harry should be held fully to account as he has admitted to extensive illegal drug use.” DHS did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
SecDef Hegseth responds to rumors he drafted ‘list’ of military officials he will purge
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth denied rumors that he drafted a list of senior military leaders he allegedly planned to purge after the rumor tore through the Pentagon last week and reportedly kept flag officers on their toes. “I gotta ask you about this rumored list of people that you allegedly put together that we’re all going to be cleaned out. Is there a list? Is there anybody left on the list if it exists?” “Fox News Sunday” host Shannon Bream asked Hegseth in an exclusive interview on Sunday morning. “There’s no list, Shannon,” Hegseth responded. “I’ve heard that, seen that very rumor, although we have a very keen eye toward military leadership and their willingness to follow lawful orders.” Republican lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees said Thursday that they had heard about such a list of senior military officials facing the chopping block, but had not been presented anything. OFFICIALS PUSH BACK ON CLAIMS OF ‘LIST’ OF GENERALS HEGSETH PLANS TO FIRE AT PENTAGON The rumors flew through the Pentagon Thursday, creating fear among top-ranked officers, as reports that thousands of probationary DOD employees, including many military veterans, could be affected by the federal workforce reductions ordered by the White House, Fox News Digital reported last week. The list allegedly contained a “handful of names.” “I may have heard a rumor, but I’m not going to speculate on rumors,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told Fox News. “No one has approached me about such a list other than people asking me questions.” HEGSETH ORDERS PENTAGON TO MAKE PLANS FOR MAJOR BUDGET CUTS TO ALIGN WITH TRUMP’S PRIORITIES Concerns over an alleged list mounted on Friday when Hegseth was slated to travel to Guatanomo Bay in Cuba to hold a media availability, but the trip was postponed until later this week. Some officials viewed the postponement as a signal the firings would be imminent, Fox Digital reported. TRUMP ADMIN EXPECTED TO ENACT LAYOFF AT DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AMID DOGE ARRIVAL: REPORT The Trump administration on Friday did fire six Pentagon officials, including Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was the first woman to serve as chief of naval operations. “This is all about defending the Constitution,” Hegseth continued in his remarks to Bream after denying the existence of any “list.” “Joe Biden gave lawful orders. A lot of them are really bad, and it’s unfortunate how they eroded our military, ideological, COVID mandates. President Trump has given another set of lawful orders, and they will be followed.” “And all these orders are in keeping with the Constitution, and norms inside the military. If they’re not followed, then those officers will find the door. And that’s not a tough calculation. We feel really good about the direction the Pentagon is headed under President Trump. We’re going to focus on war fighting and lethality and accountability, and be the most transparent Pentagon that folks have seen in a long time,” he added. Earlier in the interview, Hegseth added that the former Joint Chiefs chairman, Gen. Brown, is an “honorable man, not the right man for the moment.” Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Alexandra Koch and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Trump looking to sell off Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco: reports
President Donald Trump’s White House is looking to sell two prominent federal buildings in San Francisco, including the recently dubbed Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, according to local reports. The Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, a two-decade-old, 18-story tower known as the San Francisco Federal Building until its formal dedication to the former House speaker in December, sits on Mission and 7th streets in an area that has been for years plagued by open-air drug dealing, illegal markets reselling stolen goods and other crime. In addition to Pelosi’s namesake building, the Trump administration is reportedly also considering selling the 1930s-era federal building at 50 United Nations Plaza, which currently serves as the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) regional headquarters. The potential sales were reported by KGO-TV, as well as the San Francisco Chronicle, which cited a GSA document earmarking both federal properties in San Francisco as “non-core” assets to possibly be sold off. In 2023, hundreds of federal employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assigned to the building were instructed to work from home amid worsening safety concerns, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. At the time, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, demanded its closure due to the drug dealing at the building’s doorstep. ‘GREEN’ FEDERAL BUILDING ONCE RIDICULED BY TRUMP BEING DEDICATED TO NANCY PELOSI “It’s another example of how he is coming after Democrats. He’s coming after California, and it’s all about payback,” former Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier told KGO, referring to Trump. “The lease will keep going up and you will end up paying the property taxes of the lessor, whereas you don’t pay federal taxes when you are a federal government.” PELOSI HOPES SHE CAN REPAIR RELATIONSHIP WITH BIDENS, ADMITS SHE STILL HASN’T SPOKEN TO THEM In a 2020 executive order, Trump described the 7th Street federal building – an energy-efficient “green” structure opened in 2007 at a cost of $144 million – as being considered by San Franciscans as “one of the ugliest structures in their city.” Andy Ball, a developer who worked as a concrete subcontractor on the building two decades ago, told the Chronicle the project was a “waste of taxpayer money from day one.” “No investor would have built this building,” Ball said, estimating the costs were about “50% greater” than if the project had been funded by the private sector. “In this market, it will represent the greatest difference between cost to build and its sale value.” The potential building sales come as the Trump administration, through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), continues efforts to downside federal government bureaucracy. Though the lease remains active for the 800,000-square-foot former Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, Musk moved his tech company, rebranded as X Corp., to Texas last year. Last year, the overall vacancy for downtown San Francisco reached 37%, with the vacancy rate specifically in the Mid-Market area sitting at 55%, according to the Chronicle. As of December, the Federal Protective Service ramped up security at the corner since the 7th Street federal building was formally named after Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco for more than 37 years in Congress. Residents who spoke to KGO-TV lamented that the problems just seemed to have been moved a block over, as federal employees would now enjoy the benefit of armed security, while everyday citizens do not. The building, which can accommodate roughly 2,000 workers, currently houses offices for Pelosi, HHS, as well as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Fox News Digital reached out to Pelosi’s office, as well as the GSA and the White House, for comment Sunday but did not immediately hear back.