Florida AG bans law firms with DEI policies from serving as outside counsel
FIRST ON FOX: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier will announce new policy changes Tuesday prohibiting law firms which have diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from working with the attorney general’s office as outside counsel. “I am deeply troubled that these discriminatory practices have been embraced and amplified by many of our nation’s law firms,” Uthmeier wrote in the policy memo. “If we are truly committed to the rule of law, then we must be truly committed to equal justice under law. DEI and ESG practices flout those bedrock principles.” “Beginning immediately, the Florida Attorney General’s Office will no longer engage or approve the engagement of private law firms who have or continue to engage in illegal and inappropriate discrimination and bias. Racial discrimination, in any form, is wrong and illegal. Florida taxpayer resources should not redound to the benefit of law firms who pretend otherwise,” the policy reads. JASMINE CROCKETT SETS OFF SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER TOUTING BEING BLACK AS QUALIFICATION FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER JOB Law firms with a history of so-called racially discriminatory practices will be banned from collaborating with the state unless they demonstrate significant changes, the memo states. The ban targets law firms involved in several types of DEI programs, including those with Mansfield Certification, which mandates diversity in leadership roles; minority diversity scorecards; and racial diversity targets in hiring, promotions, and contracting. “My office will immediately commence a review of existing outside counsel engagements to assess compliance with this policy,” Uthmeier said. When reviewing its counsel, the AG’s office will also consider “excellent” individual lawyers who “personally reject the DEI and ESG rouses,” even if they are part of law firms with DEI programs. COLORADO DEMS RAM ABORTION, TRANSGENDER BILLS THROUGH ON LIMITED SUNDAY SESSION DEBATE: ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ Other practices under scrutiny include diversity fellowships limited to specific racial or ethnic groups, diversity mentorship programs, DEI-focused hiring websites, and workplace DEI trainings that “are so egregious as to constitute a plausible basis for a hostile work environment claim or allegation.” Firms involved in third-party diversity programs such as the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity may also be disqualified, as well as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. As President Donald Trump targets DEI programs and initiatives across the federal government and U.S. institutions, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been waging his own years-long battle against them at the state level. CONCERNED PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS COMPARED TO ‘HATE GROUPS’ BY COLORADO DEM: WOULDN’T ‘ASK THE KKK’ FOR OPINION Florida enacted the Stop WOKE Act in April 2022, which restricted employers from mandating DEI training that could be construed as promoting certain concepts, such as inherent racism or sexism. But a federal district court permanently blocked provisions of this act last year, declaring that it violated free speech rights under the First and 14th Amendments. In 2023, DeSantis signed legislation banning public colleges and universities from allocating state or federal funds to DEI programs. In March 2025, the state’s high court considered eliminating the requirement that law students graduate from American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited schools due to the ABA’s diversity mandates.
Musk spars with White House advisor Peter Navarro: ‘Dumber than a sack of bricks’
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk sparred on social media Tuesday with White House Senior Counselor Peter Navarro, after Navarro said in an interview Monday that Tesla was a car “assembler” rather than a manufacturer. “Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks,” Musk said in an X post on Tuesday. “Navarro is truly a moron,” Musk said in a separate post. “What he says here is demonstrably false.” Both Navarro and Musk are two of Trump’s closest advisors, and Navarro previously served in Trump’s first administration as the director of the White House National Trade Council and the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. Musk is currently spearheading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative to curb government waste and spending as a “special government employee.” The executive or legislative branches are permitted to take on temporary employees to address short-term projects for up to 130 days in a single 365-day period, which will expire at the end of May for Musk. This is a breaking story and will be updated.
New Navy chief ‘regrets’ costly missile strikes against Houthis, pushes for cheaper Red Sea defense
New acting Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. James Kilby said he regrets the Navy’s reliance on expensive, high-powered missiles to counter the Houthi threat in the Red Sea and pledged to push for cheaper, more efficient solutions. Speaking to reporters at the Sea Air Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Kilby said he was “not concerned” about the Navy’s ability to protect its people – such as the 350 sailors aboard the USS Carney missile destroyer – or its ability to safeguard commercial shipping. He is concerned, however, about “not having better ways to more economically attrit the threat.” In his former role as vice chief of naval operations, Kilby said he was “focused on a high-end laser – 500kW to one megawatt – and I have regret for that.” TRUMP ADMIN FIRES NAVY ADMIRAL AT NATO TARGETED BY CONSERVATIVE GROUP “I had not been thoughtful enough to think about the UAV threat, where I think a much lesser-powered weapon would have done what we needed it to do,” Kilby said. He promised the Navy was now working to overhaul its costly defense tactics with “much more cost-effective” technologies to counter autonomous vehicles in the Red Sea, as he called on the defense industry to more quickly produce munitions for the mission. “We have to get after our industrial base or munitions industrial base the same way we have to get after our shipbuilding industrial base,” said Kilby. When asked if the Navy had enough munitions to counter the Houthi threat, Kilby replied, “I think we need more munitions.” “We certainly need more depth of magazine, if we’re going to get into a protracted conflict.” The U.S. launched a renewed offensive campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels last month, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday, “it’s about to get worse” for the Houthis. Onlookers have long decried the disproportionate cost of taking on the Yemeni rebels. Naval missiles that run around $2 million a shot have been used to take out drones that cost the Houthis no more than $2,000. Since the March 15 offensive began, the Houthis have also downed three MQ-9 Reaper drones — each worth about $30 million. Kilby replaced Adm. Lisa Franchetti in an acting capacity in February, after she was let go as part of a broader purge of high-level military leadership by the Trump administration. Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife were also relieved of command. It is not yet clear whether Kilby will be nominated to serve as CNO in a permanent capacity and put forward for Senate confirmation. However, Kilby said he would continue Franchetti’s goal of getting the Navy to a point where 80% of its ships are ready to deploy for combat at any given moment. Currently, he said, submarines are operating at 67% combat readiness, ships are at 68% and aircraft carriers are at 70%. Kilby told Fox News Digital he was pleased that “awareness seems to be higher” regarding the nation’s shipbuilding issues, adding, “it’s going to take a national effort.” He also said he was “super focused” with the Marine Corps commandant and deputy commandant on getting the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program back on track. HOUTHIS SHOOT DOWN 3RD US REAPER DRONE AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES DAILY AIRSTRIKES The LSM program, viewed by many as crucial to moving Marines around remote islands in the Indo-Pacific in the event of conflict with China, has been plagued by delays, with work on the program stalling late last year. The vessel is envisioned to be able to transport forces right onto a beach without any port access, where they would be able to fire anti-ship cruise missiles and collect intelligence. Kilby said Navy and Marine Corps leadership are now looking to get approval to procure a ship to enter the testing phase of such a vessel. “We’re going to go through we’ll look at those requirements, make sure we produce a ship that can meet the needs of the Marine Corps and support their force design. But I’m thankful we’re doing it now not when our ship’s in construction. So I’m optimistic here. And we need that. You know, we need to have this expedition.” Kilby also laid out his goals for sailor recruitment shortfalls. “I’ll take that 23,000-person gap, make it 18,000 this year and 8,000 the next year.”
Supporters defend Trump’s pick to control America’s nuclear arsenal before Senate grilling
A former GOP congressman tapped by President Donald Trump to oversee the country’s nuclear arsenal is facing a grilling before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday on his road to confirmation. Brandon Williams, nominated to become Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, is a Navy veteran who formerly chaired the energy subcommittee for the House Science, Space and Technology Committee during his brief stint in Congress. He brings with him thousands of hours of experience supervising the operation of a nuclear power plant and propulsion plant on a nuclear submarine, and he’s undergone rigorous training to supervise two naval reactor designs, sources tell Fox News Digital. Tom D’Agostino, a former administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration himself who served under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, said Williams’ nomination comes at a critical time for nuclear deterrence. “There’s no question in my mind that he has what it takes from a technical expertise, technical competence and technical leadership standpoint, because he’s already proven it,” D’Agostino told Fox News Digital. “He’s proven it in the Navy. And just having gone through and made it through the nuclear propulsion program, which is the heralded program started by Admiral Rickover over 50 years ago, I have absolutely no doubt at all that he could run this organization.” REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SAYS ENERGY ‘UNDERPINS EVERYTHING WE DO’ “It’s obviously proven time and time again, that electricity, power lifts the standard of living for all that have it,” D’Agostino said. “And so having a somebody at the helm of the NNSA, which isn’t a commercial nuclear power organization, it s a national security power organization, but there are relationships between the two, but having somebody like him in that position at this point in time is a really important, it’s very important.” “There’s no question that other powers – China, Russia, whatever, you can throw in, maybe, however you think about North Koreans – but the reality is there’s geopolitical instability,” he said. “Over years, having a strong nuclear deterrent led by people that know what they’re doing and will get the job done is a key of that nuclear deterrance. It’s not just the warheads themselves, it’s the technical competence of the people in the organization.” “Brandon Williams, absolutely, Congressman Williams certainly has that,” D’Agostino told Fox News Digital. “And he’s, you know, he’s confirmed he’ll be leading an organization that is filled with technically competent people that know how to get the job done. So this is an important time. The world is watching. There’s no question about it.” In his opening statement, Williams thanked Trump for the nomination and promised the committee that, if confirmed, he would “work diligently to strengthen the capability, credibility and communication of our strategic deterrence.” Williams said he “shares the president’s commitment to peace through strength” and looked forward to serving under Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “At the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration has functioned in relative obscurity for many decades but has recently been thrust back into the public’s consciousness. In my estimation, the men and women of the NNSA compromise one of the greatest scientific and engineering organizations in human history,” Willaims said. “This workforce, since the Manhattan Project, continues to ensure the safety, security, reliability and effectiveness of our nuclear stockpile. If given the opportunity to lead this extraordinary organization, I will do so humbly in the shadow of great Americans like Admiral Rickover, Ernest Lawrence and Robert Oppenheimer.” Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., penned a letter to Williams arguing that he lacks any of the extensive technical experience of his predecessors. Williams completed training at the Naval Nuclear Power School and served as a junior officer on a nuclear submarine, but Warren said he does not possess any advanced degree in physics or engineering. The Democratic senator said the NNSA is in the middle of a $200 billion nuclear modernization project, which the Government Accountability Office has found has already exceeded initial cost estimates by more than $2 billion and is behind by almost 10 years. Warren also hit at Williams’ experience in the private sector. He founded a software company that focused on modernizing and securing industrial controls for manufacturing industries, but Warren raised concerns over alleged Chinese ties. TRUMP ADMIN ANNOUNCES NEW OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE IN THE GULF OF AMERICA “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars,” Warren said in a statement. “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security.” Trump has touted nominees to his Cabinet as “outsiders,” as the Republican prioritizes upending the entrenched bureaucracy in Washington. American Nuclear Society CEO Craig Piercy told Fox News Digital that Williams participated in a number of discussions over the past few years as a House member focused on ensuring policymakers have a good textual understanding of nuclear energy. “The one thing that I can say about Brandon Williams is he’s thoughtful, he listens, and he asks good questions,” Piercy said. “Those are all the hallmarks of a good leader who cut their teeth in the nuclear Navy, right? And I mean, the nuclear Navy is the source for a significant portion of the workforce in nuclear today. And it brings a certainness free to core.” “He’s always been knowledgeable, he has always demonstrated an understanding, not just of technology, but of the larger, you know, geopolitical consequences of the technology,” Piercy said. Piercy said the next NNSA administrator must focus both on ensuring both the efficacy of the nuclear stockpile and deterring the proliferation of nuclear weapons. “I think that part of the challenge here is also, while we’re doing both of those things, ensuring that American nuclear companies have an opportunity to export civil nuclear technologies to other countries that have
Judge Boasberg cancels planned hearing to review Trump deportations
The federal judge who blocked the Trump administration’s use of a 1798 wartime law to immediately deport Venezuelan nationals canceled a planned Tuesday court hearing to review the case after the Supreme Court handed a win to the president. In a minute order published Tuesday morning, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg announced that the previously scheduled Tuesday afternoon hearing would be vacated in light of the high court’s ruling – which determined, among other things, that the “appropriate venue for such proceedings is the Southern District of Texas,” or wherever plaintiffs that are subject to potential removal are currently held. JUDGE BOASBERG POISED TO HOLD TRUMP ADMIN IN CONTEMPT, TAKES DOWN NAMES OF DHS OFFICIALS: ‘PRETTY SKETCHY’ The 5-4 Supreme Court ruling established due process protections for migrants, including the right to appear in court before they are deported. Boasberg ordered that plaintiffs in the case must file a notice by April 16 indicating whether they believe that they still have a basis to proceed on their motion for preliminary injunction in the D.C. Court. If so, he said, they must propose a briefing schedule, so the case can be reviewed in the D.C. court. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Trump hauls in millions for House GOP 2026 war chest as Dems taunt they are ‘running scared’
FIRST ON FOX — As congressional Republicans gear up for a bruising battle in the 2026 midterm elections to hold onto their razor-thin House majority, President Donald Trump is stepping up his efforts as well. The president on Tuesday evening will headline a major donor event in the nation’s capital for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which is the House GOP’s campaign arm. The fundraiser is expected to haul in at least $10 million for the NRCC, a source familiar with the event tells Fox News. Republicans currently control the House – when the chamber returns to full strength – with a fragile 220-215 majority, and fundraising will be crucial to the GOP’s game-plan to keep control. CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS TARGETING THESE HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN 2026 MIDTERM BATTLE Asked what concerns him the most when it comes to defending the House majority, NRCC chair Rep. Richard Hudson said in a Fox News Digital interview on Monday that “Democrats have a structural advantage when it comes to fundraising. They always seem to have just mountains of money. So I think the amount of money the Democrats raise is probably the only thing that really concerns me.” “We have to raise enough money to keep up with the Democrats and make sure that our candidates can get their message out,” Hudson emphasized. Hudson, a North Carolina Republican and 12-year veteran of the House, said that “the President understands that he’s got to keep the House majority in the midterm so that he has a four-year runway, instead of a two-year runway to get his agenda enacted.” And pointing to the House Democratic leader, Hudson added, “Speaker Hakeem Jeffries would fight President Trump on every front, and it would be really difficult for him to achieve his agenda. President Trump understands it’s important to hold the House and he’s, he’s been extremely helpful to us and we appreciate it.” WERE LAST WEEK’S ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN AND FLORIDA A CRYSTAL BALL FOR THINGS TO COME IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERMS? Hours before Trump was scheduled to attend the NRCC fundraiser, the House Democrats’ campaign arm took aim at nearly three dozen Republican-held seats in the chamber as they aim to win back the majority. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Tuesday morning released its initial 2026 target list, which included 35 GOP-controlled seats, and launched an effort to fundraise for the party’s eventual nominees in each of the districts. The DCCC emphasized that their moves signal that “Democrats are on offense and poised to win the majority in 2026.” POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS WITH AMERICANS 11 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE The unveiling of the DCCC list came three weeks after the NRCC went up with its initial target list, which took aim at 26 districts controlled by House Democrats. “House Republicans are running scared, and they should be. They’re tanking the economy, gutting Medicaid, abandoning our veterans, and making everything more expensive. In short, they’ve lost the trust of their constituents, and it’s going to cost them the majority,” DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington state charged in a statement announcing the moves. While the party in power, which clearly is the Republicans, traditionally faces serious political headwinds in the midterm elections, the NRCC is optimistic they can defend their majority. “If you look at the landscape for the 2026 election, there are only three Republicans in districts that [former vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee] Kamala Harris carried, but there are 13 Democrats in seats that Donald Trump carried, and half of those are majority Hispanic districts that President Trump has really put in play for us,” Hudson reiterated. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The NRCC also points to the growing number of House Democrats who are seeking statewide office in 2026 rather than running for re-election. Hudson said the trend would “absolutely” help the GOP defend the majority next year. “It’s much easier to win an open seat than a seat with a Democrat incumbent who’s entrenched.,” Hudson said. “I think it’s incredibly helpful, and I think you’re going to see a whole lot more Democrats running for other offices and retiring.”
Gabbard establishes new Intelligence Community task force to restore transparency
EXCLUSIVE: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard established a new task force charged with restoring transparency and accountability in the intelligence community, Fox News Digital has learned. The group, dubbed the Director’s Initiative Group (DIG), is starting by investigating weaponization within the intelligence community. TULSI GABBARD REVOKES SECURITY CLEARANCES, ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION FOR BIDEN, HARRIS, CLINTON, OTHERS Officials said the group will also work to root out politicization and expose unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence. It will also work to declassify information “that serves a public interest.” So far, the Director’s Initiative Group has reviewed documents for potential declassification, including information related to the origins of COVID-19 and the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassination files; the original Trump-Russia investigation; anomalous health incidents; the Biden administration’s domestic surveillance and censorship against Americans and more. Officials told Fox News Digital that the Director’s Initiative Group also is leading assessments of the structure of the intelligence community, its resources and its personnel to “approve efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending.” Gabbard told Fox News Digital that she established the group “in order to rebuild trust in the intelligence community and execute the tasks required by President Trump’s intelligence-related executive orders.” “We are already identifying wasteful spending in real time, streamlining outdated processes, reviewing documents for declassification, and leading ongoing efforts to root out abuses of power and politicization,” Gabbard told Fox News Digital. GABBARD SAYS BIDEN ADMIN IGNORED ‘HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE’ CHATS HAPPENING AT NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES “President Trump promised the American people maximum transparency and accountability,” she continued. “We are committed to executing the president’s vision and focusing the intelligence community on its core mission: ensuring our security by providing the president and policymakers with timely, apolitical, objective, relevant intelligence to inform their decision-making to ensure the safety, security and freedom of the American people.” Gabbard also has held employees who participated in sexually-explicit NSA chatrooms accountable, and is pursuing action on those who have made unauthorized leaks of classified information within the intelligence community. In February, Gabbard said former President Joe Biden’s administration was aware of “very sexually explicit, highly inappropriate and unprofessional chatter” happening on internal agency messaging boards across national intelligence entities for years, but they allowed it to go on. She said the chatrooms “were set up because of DEI policies.” DNI TULSI GABBARD MOVES TO TERMINATE, REVOKE SECURITY CLEARANCES OF NSA EMPLOYEES TIED TO EXPLICIT CHATROOMS Federal employees are still under investigation for allegedly misusing an internal agency messaging board to dish on their sexual fantasies under the guise of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), officials say. Chat logs from the National Security Agency’s (NSA) “Intelink” messaging platform, obtained by researchers from the conservative Manhattan Institute reportedly via sources within the NSA, revealed employees from various intelligence agencies discussing their experiences with gender-reassignment surgery, artificial genitalia, hormone therapy, polyamory and pronoun usage. Some of these agencies reportedly include the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Naval Intelligence and the NSA. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP After the Intelink chat logs were released Monday, an NSA spokesperson indicated to Fox News Digital that it was “actively investigating” potential abuses of the agency-operated messaging platform. Meanwhile, since becoming director of National Intelligence, Gabbard revoked the security clearances of several people, including former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and other Trump political opponents. She also revoked the security clearances of “the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden ‘disinformation’ letter.”
Trump-backed bill to rein in federal judges gets House-wide vote
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Tuesday on a bill to limit federal district court judges’ ability to block President Donald Trump’s agenda on a national scale. The No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA) was introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., earlier this year and quickly became a priority for House GOP leaders after Trump made clear he supported the bill. House Republicans see it as a way to fight back against “rogue” judges blocking Trump’s agenda. The Trump administration has faced more than 15 nationwide injunctions since the Republican commander in chief took office, targeting a wide range of Trump policies from birthright citizenship reform to anti-diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIR URGES JOHNSON TO CHANGE COURSE ON SENATE VERSION OF TRUMP BUDGET BILL Issa’s bill would limit district judges – of which there are more than 670 – from issuing rulings with nationwide effect. Instead, they would be forced to tailor those rulings to the specific parties named in the lawsuit. It has broad support from House Republicans and the backing of GOP leadership. However, Issa told Fox News Digital that he was skeptical it would get any Democratic support. “Sadly, I’m not sure that it will. It obviously should,” Issa said last week. “The administration can win 15 times, and they lose once—they get an injunction. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.” Issa pointed out that district judges overstepping was not just a Republican complaint. “I mean, we could have called [President Joe Biden’s] former solicitor general and ask, have you changed your opinion in less than a year? Of course, the answer would be no,” he said. Former Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued in a December filing to the Supreme Court, regarding a district judge barring the Biden administration from enforcing a financial crimes law, “Universal injunctions exert substantial pressure on this court’s emergency docket, and they visit substantial disruption on the execution of the laws.” MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE The legislation advanced through the House Rules Committee on Monday night with no Democratic support. It was expected to get a vote last week, but an unrelated fight about remote voting for new parents derailed House proceedings and sent lawmakers home less than 24 hours after they had returned to Washington for the week. That matter has since been resolved. A procedural vote is expected on Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m. ET. If it passes, as expected, lawmakers will debate and vote on the final bill later in the day. It must pass the Senate – where it would need at least some Democratic support to reach its 60-vote threshold – before heading to Trump’s desk for a signature.
Trump admin fires Navy admiral at NATO targeted by conservative group
The Trump administration has sacked a senior NATO official who was recommended by a conservative research group to be fired as part of a broader effort to purge wokeness from the Pentagon. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATO’s military committee, was dismissed from the alliance over the weekend without explanation, according to multiple reports. She is one of only a handful of female Navy three-star officers and was the first woman to lead the Naval War College, a job she held until 2023. Chatfield reportedly got a call from Adm. Christopher Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was told the administration wanted to go in a different direction with the job, according to the Associated Press, citing officials. The officials said they believe the decision was made last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it was unclear whether he received any direction from President Donald Trump. Reuters was first to report on her termination. CONSERVATIVE GROUP COMPILES LIST OF ‘WOKE’ SENIOR OFFICERS THEY WANT PETE HEGSETH TO FIRE It was unclear if her firing was related to any U.S. policy direction on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Trump and Hegseth have been vocal in their insistence that so-called woke policies are dead and have vigorously sought to remove leaders who promoted diversity, equity and inclusion and to erase DEI programs and online content. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is ditching almost 400 books from its library with DEI content. In December, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a conservative research group, sent a letter to Hegseth with a list of 20 general officers or senior admirals whom it said were excessively focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and other similar left-wing initiatives. AAF wrote that focusing on such policies is an impediment to national security and Chatfield was one of eight women who made the list. Chatfield made the list due in part to a 2015 speech where she bemoaned that lawmakers in the House of Representatives at the time were 80% males, proclaiming that “our diversity is our strength.” The group said she also quoted a slide from a presentation by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute highlighting “Investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment can unlock human potential on a transformational scale.” Chatfield, a Navy helicopter pilot who also commanded a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, had been serving as one of the 32 representatives on NATO’s military committee. The panel is the primary source of military advice to the North Atlantic Council and NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, according to NATO. It serves as the link between the political decision-makers and NATO’s military structure. NAVAL ACADEMY TOSSES 400 BOOKS FROM LIBRARY FOLLOWING TRUMP DEI EXPULSION ORDERS Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that he was “deeply disturbed” by her sacking while blasting President Donald Trump. “Trump’s relentless attacks on our alliances and his careless dismissal of decorated military officials make us less safe and weaken our position across the world,” Warner wrote on X. Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also sounded off on the president for the firing of Chatfield, describing it as “disgraceful.” Admiral Chatfield is among the finest military officers our nation has to offer, and she has distinguished herself as the U.S. Military Representative to NATO. Her 38-year career as a Navy pilot, foreign policy expert, and preeminent military educator—including as President of the Naval War College—will leave a lasting legacy on the Navy and throughout the military. Admiral Chatfield’s record of selfless service is unblemished by President Trump’s behavior. Reed also called out Republicans for not voicing their displeasure at her sacking, noting that Trump has fired 10 generals and admirals since taking office. It follows Thursday’s removal of General Timothy Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command. For the Navy, it follows the firing of its top officer, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to become Chief of Naval Operations. “I cannot fathom how anyone could stand silently by while the President causes great harm to our military and our nation,” Reed said. “I will continue to call out this unconscionable behavior and sound the alarm about the dangers of firing military officers as a political loyalty test. I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in demanding an explanation from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.” Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Noem offers Homeland Security employee buyouts in move to shrink department
Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly sent an email Monday night offering employees at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) three options to voluntarily exit and shrink the size of the federal government’s second-largest department. A copy of her email, titled “Reshaping the DHS Workforce,” was obtained by Politico and Axios. In it, Noem reportedly said employees had until April 14 to apply for deferred resignation involving a “brief period of paid administrative leave to complete key tasks, submit retirement documentation and prepare for departure,” a buyout to receive a payment of $25,000 “or an amount equal to severance pay if lower,” or an early retirement program offering reduced pensions and healthcare benefits. “I am writing to share important news regarding new voluntary workforce transition programs approved for immediate implementation across the Department,” Noem wrote, according to Politico. IRS AND DHS REACH HISTORIC DEAL TO AID IN PURSUIT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION She said the options “reflect our commitment to aligning our workforce with the evolving mission needs while supporting the personal and professional goals of our dedicated employees.” “By offering these options, we intend to provide flexibility for employees who may be considering a change, retirement or new career opportunities while also supporting the Department’s operational readiness,” Noem added, according to Axios. A DHS spokesperson told Axios about the voluntary exit offers that “the American people deserve a government that works for them, something President Trump has promised.” NOEM’S HOMELAND SECURITY ‘UNAPOLOGETIC’ ABOUT USING LIE-DETECTOR TEST ON SUSPECTED INTEL LEAKERS “Every dollar spent and position filled at DHS should be focused on our core mission of securing our homeland and keeping the American people safe,” the spokesperson reportedly added. Noem is aiming to reduce the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) by as much as a third, and if the voluntary offers don’t adequately shrink the agency, “reduction in force” notices could come next, Axios reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. At a Cabinet meeting last month, Noem said she would “eliminate” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as the Trump administration moves to hand powers on disaster response back to the states. It’s unclear if Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could also be impacted by cuts, as the Trump administration prioritizes closing the border and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. Politico reported that the memo did not exempt any agencies from the buyout offer. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital also reached out to DHS for comment on the reported employee exit plans.