What is an autopen? The signing device at the heart of Trump’s attacks on Biden pardons
President Donald Trump accused former President Joe Biden on Sunday of using an autopen to sign important documents — including pardons on including some for lawmakers who served on the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Trump claimed that Biden’s more than 8,000 pardons were void and that Biden did not know what documents he was signing through the automated device, calling into question Biden’s mental sharpness while in office and whether he personally approved all official actions. What is an autopen, and how does it work? An autopen is a device that physically holds a pen and is programmed to replicate a person’s signature. It is not a stamp or a digitized print of someone’s signature, and various autopen machines have the capability to hold different types of pens, ranging from ballpoint to permanent marker, according to descriptions of autopen machines available for purchase. TRUMP CLAIMS BIDEN PARDONS ARE ‘VOID,’ ALLEGING THEY WERE SIGNED VIA AUTOPEN Modern machines allow someone to save a signature on a smart card or USB flash drive, and then transfer it to the machine. To activate the device, one inserts the pen and then either presses a button or uses a foot pedal to create the signature. Other autopen machines have the capacity to write full-length letters for mass, handwritten mail campaigns, where one can select various fonts and input data to determine spacing, size, angle, among other things. Use of an autopen is common for lawmakers and other figures like celebrities, who may be required to sign a large swath of documents at one time. For example, former President Barack Obama signed off on an aide using an autopen machine in 2011 to reauthorize the Patriot Act, while he was abroad in France and unable to physically sign it himself. That episode marked the first known incident of a president signing legislation with an autopen, even though other presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson were photographed with the machine and reportedly used it to sign correspondence after the machine’s invention during World War II. A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital Tuesday that Trump uses his hand signature on every legally operational or binding document, in keeping with his administration’s official policy during both terms. However, Trump admitted he uses one for letters. Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday that although he employs an autopen for correspondence, it is “disgraceful” to use one when signing documents such as pardons. BIDEN’S ‘AUTOPEN SIGNATURE’ APPEARS ON MOST OFFICIAL DOCS, RAISING CONCERNS OVER WHO CONTROLLED THE WH: REPORT However, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel determined in 2005 that the president is authorized to use an autopen to sign bills into law. More recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a ruling in February that said the absence of “a writing does not equate to proof that a commutation did not occur.” “The constitutional text is thus silent as to any particular form the President’s clemency act must take to be effective,” the circuit court said in its opinion. Despite Trump’s concerns over the validity of Biden’s pardons due to the alleged use of an autopen, constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley told Fox News Digital that the odds of successfully legally challenging them in court are “vanishingly low.” “Presidents are allowed to use the autopen and courts will not presume a dead-hand conspiracy,” Turley said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A spokesperson for Biden did not provide comment on the record to Fox News Digital. Trump’s attacks on Biden over the use of an autopen come after the Oversight Project with conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation released a report March 6 claiming that it conducted an analysis of Biden documents, and found that a majority of documents signed during his administration used an autopen. “This apparent use raises concerns about: whether President Biden personally authorized each official act; whether or which unelected staff controlled the autopen device; and whether they acted with his approval,” the Oversight Project said in a report released Monday. The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Newsom’s free-phone giveaway to state business leaders paid for by nonprofit run by ex-staffers
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been sending out cell phones, funded by a closely-tied nonprofit, to CEOs of California companies with his personal number pre-programmed into them in an effort to “connect more directly with business leaders in the state.” “The feedback has been positive, and it’s led to valuable interactions,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Fox News Digital in a statement. The state’s public disclosure rules still apply, meaning both the nonprofit – which was formed in 2002 under former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration – and Newsom must still comply with the rules for making public records available upon request regarding correspondence on the phones. Newsom’s office began sending out cell phones on a rolling basis in November to some of the state’s top 100 companies. The phones are being funded by the California State Protocol Foundation — which functions similarly to presidential inaugural committees — which has three board members, two of whom are former Newsom staffers. TRUMP SURROGATE CORRIN RANKIN PICKED TO LEAD BLUE STATE’S GOP: ‘MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN’ The foundation is funded largely by businesses and private donations, according to reports, and has funded several previous governors on business trips at no cost to taxpayers. According to a Sacramento Bee report last May, the nonprofit funded Newsom’s international trips, including visits to El Salvador in 2019 and to Israel and China in 2023. However, charity watchdog group Charity Navigator gives the foundation a poor rating, noting issues such as no website, a high liabilities-to-assets ratio, no financial statements and having no known whistleblower nor document retention and destruction policies on record. NEWSOM’S ‘UNFAIR’ REMARK ON GIRLS’ SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: ‘ABSOLUTE BULLS—‘ The foundation’s principal officer, Steve Kawa, is a seasoned Democratic strategist who previously worked in the governor’s office, serving as Chief of Staff when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. Other board members include Jim DeBoo, who is also a Democratic strategist and served as former executive secretary to Newsom and Matina Kolokotronis, the chief operating officer for the Sacramento Kings NBA team. NEWSOM ASKS FOR NEARLY ANOTHER $3B FOR STATE HEALTH PROGRAM OVERWHELMED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS The move to give companies a direct line to Newsom comes as the blue-state governor has come under fire in recent years for the state’s high cost of doing business, with several high-profile companies such as Chevron, Oracle and Tesla moving their headquarters to more business-friendly red states like Texas. Attempts by Fox News Digital to reach the California State Protocol Foundation for comment were unsuccessful.
Hawley skeptical of Trump pick Oz: ‘I hope he’s changed his views’
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he was “skeptical” of Dr. Mehmet Oz’s views, particularly on transgender procedures for minors and abortion, and released a series of questions Wednesday that he plans to ask President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during his road to confirmation. “I’ve been reading up on Dr. Oz – I see he’s praised trans surgeries for minors and supported hormone treatments & puberty blockers for kids in the past,” Hawley wrote on X on Wednesday. “And has also criticized state laws protecting life. I hope he’s changed his views to match President Trump! We need the Trump agenda at CMS.” In a series of written questions for Oz, Hawley asked the former heart surgeon and TV personality if his views have changed since hosting a television show. DR. OZ BATS BACK DEMOCRATIC ATTEMPTS TO PAINT HIM AS A ‘SNAKE OIL’ SALESMAN IN SENATE HEARING Hawley noted that Oz had on his show “various transgender advocates as well as a surgeon who performed transgender surgery” and “also invited children to discuss switching genders and praised parents for helping their children ‘transition’.” “Do you support President Trump’s position that gender transition procedures for minors should be banned?” one question directed at Oz and shared by Hawley’s press office asked. The senator also asked if Trump’s nominee supported the president’s executive order barring biological men from competing in women’s sports. “Do you believe that CMS has a role in promoting or supporting gender transition surgery in any way?” Hawley asked. The senator asked Oz if he would commit to never issuing a National Coverage Determination at CMS for “gender reassignment surgery” or equivalent procedures, including the use of hormone and puberty blockers, in line with Trump’s policies. He also asked if Oz would support Trump’s efforts to halt federal funding to hospitals that provide so-called “gender-affirming care” to minors. Hawley noted Oz had stated in the past that he did not want to “interfere” with doctors prescribing puberty blockers for minor children and asked if that was still his position. “Do you believe the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which every Justice appointed by President Trump supported, was correctly decided?” Hawley asked. The senator questioned whether Oz’s position has changed since he in 2019 opposed state limitations on abortion related to fetal heartbeat by describing it as “little electrical exchanges in the cell that no one would hear or think about as a heart.” In 2019, Oz predicted a state would face a “big sucking sound of business leaving” over its pro-life law, the senator noted, asking Trump’s nominee to answer if he would allow his decisions as head of CMS to be “influenced by corporate preferences.” Oz testified last week that CMS would abide by the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. 3 THINGS DR. OZ CAN DO AS CMS ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP FIX AMERICAN HEALTH CARE “As a physician, I’ve been in the room when there’s some difficult conversations happening. I don’t want the federal government involved with that at all,” Oz stated in 2022, according to Hawley’s office. The senator cited how Oz also said he did not want the federal government “impinging” on actions the states may make regarding abortion. “But many federal laws and regulations implicate life issues,” Hawley said. “President Trump’s administration has opposed federal funding for abortion, for example, at home and abroad. Will you support the President’s position and commit to upholding existing laws that prevent federal funds from being used for abortions?” Hawley asked Oz if he would uphold protections for conscience rights related to abortion, including under the Weldon, Church and Coats-Snowe Amendments. The senator noted that CMS under Trump approved waivers allowing states to exclude abortion-performing clinics from the Medicaid program and asked Oz if he would support the president’s policy and back similar waivers if he is confirmed by the Senate. Hawley questioned whether Oz would “support action at the federal level to directly exclude abortion providers from the Medicaid program.” “The Biden administration issued guidance via CMS suggesting that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) required hospitals to perform abortions, overriding state laws,” Hawley noted. The senator asked Oz if he would return to the Trump policy and “clarify that EMTALA does not mandate abortions.” Finally, Hawley noted that CMS under Trump required separate billing plans that covered abortion in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketing plans and the Biden administration eliminated that requirement. He asked if Oz would support returning Trump’s policy of “transparent billing practices and ensure that consumers pay properly separate charges for abortion.” The 64-year-old was a respected heart surgeon who turned into a popular TV pitchman. He sold everything from supplements to private health insurance plans on “The Dr. Oz Show,” which ran for 13 seasons and helped him amass a fortune. If confirmed, Oz will oversee health insurance for about 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or ACA coverage. As CMS administrator, he could wield significant power over most health companies operating in the U.S., because he can make decisions about who and what is covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Oz faced over two and a half hours of questioning Friday before the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee, which has yet to vote on whether to forward his nomination to the full Senate for consideration. Hawley is not a Finance Committee member and did not question Oz during the hearing last week. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Left-wing dark money groups ramp up pressure on House and Senate Dems against key industry: ‘No Immunity’
Environmental groups with ties to anti-Israel groups, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and billionaire mega-donors are pressuring Democratic congressional leadership to pursue an agenda of “no immunity” for the fossil fuel industry. “We write to urge Democratic members of the House and Senate to proactively and affirmatively reject any proposal that would shield fossil fuel companies from the growing number of legal and legislative efforts to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis,” a letter from almost 200 environmental groups to Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., reads. The signers include the Westchester People’s Action Coalition (WESPAC), a fiscal sponsor of Students for Justice Palestine, a pro-Palestine group that has orchestrated dozens of anti-Israel protests since the Oct. 6 terrorist attack. Fox News Digital previously reported on the financial ties between WESPAC and liberal megadonor George Soros. WESPAC, whose funding is largely unknown, has espoused anti-Israel rhetoric for years, including accusing the government of “apartheid,” “ethnic cleansing,” “collective punishment” and “war crimes,” according to NGO Monitor. BIDEN BURIED GOV’T STUDY ON US GAS EXPORTS THAT CUT AGAINST CLIMATE GOALS, OFFICIALS SAY Another letter-signer was the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the nation’s largest environmentalist groups, which has been accused by Republican members of congress of having “substantial” ties to the CCP. NRDC’s president and CEO, Manish Bapna, is a council member of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, a “platform for cooperation and policy development between Chinese and international researchers.” Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. James Comer sent a letter to the attorney general in 2023 to investigate NRDC, saying it “acts as a mouthpiece for Chinese propaganda, signaling that it either takes direction from the CCP or that it is willing to self-censor to maintain a positive relationship with the Communist regime.” BIDEN’S ‘WOKE GREEN AGENDA’ ON CHOPPING BLOCK AS EPA ANNOUNCES ‘MOST CONSEQUENTIAL DAY OF DEREGULATION’ Bob Deans, spokesman for NRDC, told Fox News Digital in a statement, “This letter affirms a simple principle: the polluter pays for the harm they cause. The fossil fuel industry shouldn’t be let off the hook for the damage its pollution causes; same as any other industry. Working families shouldn’t have to pay the price for that pollution, in the havoc it wreaks on our homes, pocketbooks, health and farms.” “The NRDC is an independent, non-profit, public-interest group working to confront the climate crisis and protect the environment and public health. When developing our institutional positions—in the United States, China, and anywhere else in the world—we rely on our U.S.-based senior leadership and board of independent trustees, and no one else. We do the bidding of no government, in this country or any other.” Foreign-funded groups Extinction Rebellion and the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) joined in on the letter to Democratic leadership. CCI, in their 2022 990 form, promoted the idea “that climate polluters should be held financially responsible for the climate damage they’ve deliberately caused at the center of the climate debate.” The group, which received a grant of over $1 million from the billionaire-fueled Rockefeller Family Fund in 2018, said that they support “congressional investigations designed to expose the oil and gas industry’s historic and ongoing climate deception.” The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, co-founded by European billionaire Christopher Hohn, donated $7 million to CCI from January 2018 through September 2020 in an effort “to accelerate climate action by supporting litigation that promotes climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.” Extinction Rebellion has been responsible for a long list of attempts to disrupt the public life of innocent bystanders, including blocking an airstrip, blocking traffic and interfering with the tennis U.S. Open in 2023. Another environmental advocacy group, 350.org, is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, a group owned by billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg who, in October, became the second-largest individual donor to then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. The group is funded by the Tides Foundation, a group that fiscally sponsors pro-Palestine groups, such as the Adalah Justice Project, a Palestinian-led advocacy group. Fox News Digital has previously reported that the Tides Foundation has given millions to liberal organizations who have organized pro-Palestinian protests. The foundation financially backs several groups listed as signatories on the letter to Jeffries and Schumer. “Tides is aware of the letter that was sent to Rep. Jeffries and Sen. Schumer to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis,” a Tides Foundation spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Our community of fiscally sponsored projects, donors, and grantees hold a wide range of perspectives, including on how to best protect and care for our planet.” The statement continued, “At Tides, we value and support diverse approaches to advancing equity. We work closely with our partners to ensure they adhere to the guidelines outlined in our handbook and we condemn hate speech, violence, antisemitism and Islamophobia in any form. Tides has never received money from Open Society Foundation or any other donor to fund the student protests on college campuses. We believe that every life lost to violence is a profound injustice.” Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jeffries.
GOP lawmaker confronted at town hall says protesters’ response to $36T national debt ‘not right’
A House GOP lawmaker’s town hall devolved into chaos minutes after it began this week, and he’s now responding to hecklers who criticized his concerns about the national debt. “We heard from a lot of Nebraskans last night that voiced their concerns about Elon Musk. And I basically said I support [the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE], I support what Elon Musk is doing,” Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital in an interview on Wednesday. “What I asked people to do is think about our debt, not as a red or blue issue, it’s an American issue. It’s going to take all of us to solve it. And what I said last night is we need to balance the budget. I was booed. That is not the right response.” Flood illustrated his focus on the national debt, which is over $36 trillion, with a massive graphic that hung above him in a Columbus, Nebraska, high school auditorium for most of the town hall. BLUE STATE GOP CHAIR UNLEASHES ON GOVERNOR FOR ‘GRANDSTANDING’ WITH SPECIAL DEMAND OF TRUMP ADMIN But any mention of government spending cuts spurred jeers from the crowd, particularly in the context of Musk’s DOGE efforts. Multiple people raised specific concerns about medical programs and veterans funding, which Flood said he was in favor of protecting. “What I told my constituents last night was, ‘Hey, if you have a concern about a federal agency or a federal program or a specific spending item, communicate that with me,’” Flood said. “I heard a lot last night about the [Department of Veterans Affairs]. We have made a promise to these veterans. … If there’s a hiccup in the system, I’ll do what I’ve always done, and that is I’ll interface with the VA. I’ll advocate on behalf of the veterans and will ensure that they receive the care that they’re entitled to.” At one point, a woman who said she lost her sister to breast cancer accused Flood of supporting cuts to critical cancer research programs while noting his wife grappled with the disease. SPACEX DRAGON CAPSULE STICKS SPLASHDOWN LANDING AS NASA ASTRONAUTS RETURN HOME AFTER MONTHS STUCK IN SPACE Flood said he supported medical research funding but also supported efforts to find more efficiency in government, again citing the national debt. He attempted to continue his answer multiple times as people booed, prompting him to incredulously ask, “How can you be against a balanced budget?” Democrat groups had advertised their presence ahead of the packed event. MoveOn promoted a “Musk or Us” protest at the same time and location as Flood’s event. Nebraska Democratic Party staff were also onsite, a top official wrote on X. Flood said Democratic Party staffers were handing out leaflets to attendees outside the event. “I, like every other member of Congress right now, am dealing with a lot from the Democrats. … And last night was an extension of the same at the end of the day,” he said. “I represent them, so I’m happy to visit with them. I’m happy to explain where I am on the issues, but it was obviously fairly coordinated among certain folks last night. Ultimately, we had an exchange of ideas, and that’s what’s important.” The Nebraska Republican was the lone House GOP lawmaker whose office held a formal town hall this week while Congress is in recess. House Republican leaders warned their conference to refrain from in-person events as anti-DOGE demonstrations escalate. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But Flood said he would persist and hold his next town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska, in August. “We have to explain to the people we represent every single day that $36 trillion national debt is a national security issue. It’s a ticking time bomb. And I think confronting the issue by raising it at a town hall, there’s a lot of value to that,” Flood said. “I think last night, the best part of it was that I got the chance to explain and connect the dots for people as to why I’m so supportive of some of the spending cuts that we are engaged in right now.”
Netanyahu gifts Fetterman a silver-plated beeper after he praised Israel’s Lebanon pager operation
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., was gifted a silver-plated beeper during a visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the lawmaker praised Israel’s covert operation in which it detonated pagers last year worn by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. Fetterman repeatedly has voiced support for Israel while breaking with the Democratic Party, which has been critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and has demanded that Hamas return all the hostages the terror group took on Oct. 7, 2023. He was visiting Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem this week when he reiterated his support for the Jewish state. ISRAEL SHOOTS DOWN HOUTHI BALLISTIC MISSILE AFTER CEASEFIRE COLLAPSES “Hamas does not want peace. I unapologetically, 100% stand with Israel, and demand the release of all remaining hostages,” he wrote Tuesday on X. “Sending this from Israel.” During an exchange of gifts, Fetterman gave Netanyahu a framed news article about an effort to memorialize Netanyahu’s brother, the fallen Israeli soldier Yoni Netanyahu, in Philadelphia, where Netanyahu lived as a teenager, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. The fallen prime minister’s brother is considered a hero in Israel after he was killed in the 1976 Israeli raid in Entebbe, Uganda during the rescue of 102 hostages taken by German and Palestinian terrorists in a plane hijacking. Netanyahu then reciprocated with his gift. “What can I give a man who has everything? How about giving him a beeper?” Netanyahu said. “This is a silver-plated beeper. The real beeper is, like, one-tenth the weight. It’s nothing, but it changes history.” FATHER OF HAMAS HOSTAGE: LET TRUMP CLOSE DEAL OF THE CENTURY The beeper references Israel’s September 2024 operation in which it detonated pagers used by members of Hezbollah in Lebanon, killings dozens of people. “When that story broke, I was like, ‘Oh, I love it, I love it.’ And now, it’s like, thank you for this,” Fetterman responded. The operation came before Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, and weeks ahead of an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon. That conflict ended in a ceasefire in late November. In February, Netanyahu also gifted a gold-plated pager to President Donald Trump.
Disgraced ex-Congressman Weiner receives campaign donation from unexpected New Yorker in new race
FIRST ON FOX: Former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner received surprising donations to his campaign for City Council of New York City from ex-wife Huma Abedin and her sister, Heba Abedin, despite his ex-wife saying in 2021 that Weiner’s sex scandals “almost killed her.” Huma Abedin donated $175 to Weiner’s campaign March 13, and her sister, Heba Abedin, donated $150 Dec. 29, 2024, a Fox News Digital review of New York City campaign finance reports revealed. Weiner launched his latest campaign for NYC City Council, a position he held from 1992 to 1998 before controversy derailed his political career, in December 2024. Weiner was elected to represent New York’s 9th Congressional District in 1998 and resigned in 2011 after he posted a photo of himself in his underwear on social media. The incident was followed by years of sexual scandals, and Weiner was charged with transferring obscene material to a minor in May 2017 after sexting a 15-year-old girl. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison. FORMER DEMOCRATIC REP. ANTHONY WEINER, CONVICTED OF ILLICIT CONTACT WITH MINOR, FILES TO RUN FOR NYC COUNCIL Huma Abedin, the longtime Hillary Clinton aide, told CBS “Sunday Morning” in 2021 that anger over her husband’s sex scandals almost killed her. ANTHONY WEINER SPOTTED DINING WITH ESTRANGED WIFE HUMA ABEDIN “I can’t live in that space anymore. I tried that. It almost killed me,” Abedin told Norah O’Donnell. Abedin said she filed for divorce on the same day Weiner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison. The former couple, who co-parent their son, were spotted in 2023 attending the Inner Circle charity show at Ziegfeld Theater in Midtown Manhattan. By July 2024, Abedin announced on social media she was engaged to Alex Soros, chairman of Open Society Foundations and son of billionaire megadonor George Soros. They are expected to get married this summer. After resigning from Congress in 2011, Weiner continued sexting under the pseudonym “Carlos Danger.” The main recipient, Sydney Leathers, who was 22 at the time, claimed the former lawmaker referred to himself as “an argumentative, perpetually horny middle-aged man.” Weiner attempted his first political comeback in 2013 with a mayoral run, but his reputation was damaged by new revelations of explicit photos Weiner had sent under the pseudonym. Weiner was caught in another sexting scandal in 2016, which led to his indictment. In one image Weiner sent, he was lying in bed with his young son. More claims surfaced that year that Weiner had sexted a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina, and his laptop was seized. Investigators found emails relevant to Clinton’s classified documents scandal that dominated the 2016 election. Weiner later checked himself into rehab for sex addiction. In 2017, his federal indictment ruined another bid for mayor. He was released in 2019 and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Abedin and Weiner did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by the deadline of this article.
Judge denies embattled government-funded agency’s restraining order request against DOGE
A federal judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration on Wednesday, after a government-funded nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit protecting itself from “ongoing destruction” from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP) filed a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Tuesday, claiming that DOGE had committed “literal trespass and takeover by force…of the Institute’s headquarters building on Constitution Avenue.” The organization also accused the anti-waste initiative of “ongoing destruction of the Institute’s physical and electronic property.” “Defendants have been and are at this minute engaged in conduct that will cause the Institute irreparable harm that will prevent the Institute from performing any of its lawful functions and is likely to utterly destroy it,” the lawsuit stated. WHITE HOUSE UNLEASHES ON ‘ROGUE BUREAUCRATS’ AFTER AGENCY HEAD REFUSES DOGE ENTRY TO HEADQUARTERS In a decision on Wednesday, Judge Beryl Howell motioned to deny the USIP’s request for a TRO. “I think there is confusion in the complaint that make me uncomfortable,” Howell said. “I would say I am very offended by how DOGE has operated in the Institute in treating American citizens…. but that concern about how this has gone down is not one that can sway me in the consideration of factors for TRO, which is emergency relief, which is exceptional,” she continued. Howell, who was appointed as a senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2024, also said she was “particularly concerned about plaintiffs’ likelihood of success.” “Two of the most important tests, likely to succeed on the merits and likely to suffer irreparable harm, are just a stretch here,” Howell added. THE UNELECTED POWER IS THE ROGUE BUREAUCRACY, STEPHEN MILLER SAYS USIP, an independent institution funded by Congress, was established in 1984 under the Reagan administration. Its goal is to “[protect] U.S. interests by helping to prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad,” according to its website. “Our work helps keep America safe, reducing the risk that the United States will be drawn into costly foreign wars that drive terrorism, criminal gangs and migration,” the agency’s website reads. “We help make America stronger by projecting U.S. influence and bolstering partner countries in regions destabilized by China and other U.S. adversaries.” USIP had infamously not complied with President Donald Trump‘s February executive order to pull back the “scope of federal bureaucracy,” refusing to reduce its size to the statutory minimum listed in the order. As such, the Trump administration fired 11 of its 14 board members last week, leaving only Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Defense University President Peter Garvin. Howell’s decision came shortly after the White House told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration had gutted USIP of “rogue bureaucrats.” “Rogue bureaucrats will not be allowed to hold agencies hostage,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a Tuesday statement. “The Trump administration will enforce the president’s executive authority and ensure his agencies remain accountable to the American people.” Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Trump to sign executive order to abolish the Department of Education
President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to abolish the Department of Education. Trump is expected to sign an executive order following through on a campaign promise to disband the department, claiming on the campaign trail that the department was full of “radicals, zealots and Marxists.” A White House fact sheet states that the move will “turn over education to families instead of bureaucracies. Trump and proponents of eliminating the department have long said the agency has failed American students. “NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) scores reveal a national crisis—our children are falling behind,” Harrison Fields, the White House principal deputy press secretary, told Fox News. “Over the past four years, Democrats have allowed millions of illegal minors into the country, straining school resources and diverting focus from American students.” AFT PRESIDENT RANDI WEINGARTEN SOUNDS ALARM ABOUT LEGALITY OF TRUMP ELIMINATING EDUCATION DEPARTMENT “Coupled with the rise of anti-American CRT and DEI indoctrination, this is harming our most vulnerable,” he added. “President Trump’s executive order to expand educational opportunities will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students.” The directive comes after the Senate voted to confirm Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to lead the agency on March 3. McMahon issued a memo later that day outlining her support for the Trump administration’s plans for the department and that she would oversee a “new era of accountability” in the agency’s final days. “The reality of our education system is stark, and the American people have elected President Trump to make significant changes in Washington,” McMahon said in the March 3 memo. “Our job is to respect the will of the American people and the President they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education — a momentous final mission — quickly and responsibly.” Following reports that Trump planned to sign the executive order, the American Federation of Teachers issued a statement imploring Congress to oppose the executive order and will not “abdicate its responsibility to all children, students and working families, who deserve a future full of promise and possibility, not diminished dreams.” The teacher’s union pointed to an NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll conducted in February that found more than 60% of Americans “strongly oppose” eradicating the agency. “The Department of Education, and the laws it is supposed to execute, has one major purpose: to level the playing field and fill opportunity gaps to help every child in America succeed,” the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in a statement March 5. “Trying to abolish it — which, by the way, only Congress can do — sends a message that the president doesn’t care about opportunity for all kids. Maybe he cares about it for his own kids or his friends’ kids or his donors’ kids — but not all kids.” Despite spending billions of dollars on education, student outcomes haven’t fared any better. The White House cited 13 Baltimore, Md., high schools in which no students tested proficient in mathematics in 2023, as well as money spent to teach “radical ideologies.” “The Trump Administration recently canceled $226 million in grants under the Comprehensive Centers Program that forced radical agendas onto states and systems, including race-based discrimination and gender identity ideology,” the fact sheet states. Under the Biden administration, schools have been forced to redirect resources to comply with “ideological initiatives,” social experiments and obsolete programs, the White House said. In addition, Trump has supported bringing education back to the states and a rethinking of schools. “I want every parent in America to be empowered to send their child to public, private, charter, or faith-based school of their choice,” he said. “The time for universal school choice has come. As we return education to the states, I will use every power I have to give parents this right.” Despite Trump’s order, the president needs Congress to sign off on eradicating the agency, under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Such a measure would require 60 votes to pass in the Senate, and there are only 53 Republicans currently. Still, there is some appetite in Congress to eliminate the department. For example, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a measure Jan. 31 to nix the Department of Education by December 2026. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ON REPORTS THAT TRUMP WILL DISBAND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: ‘EXPECT HIM TO DELIVER’ “Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children’s intellectual and moral development,” Massie said in a Jan. 31 statement. “States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students. Schools should be accountable.” Trump told reporters Feb. 4 that even though he’d nominated McMahon to lead the Department of Education, he eventually wanted her to lose her job. “What I want to do is let the states run schools,” Trump said Feb. 4. “I believe strongly in school choice. But in addition to that, I want the states to run schools, and I want Linda to put herself out of a job.” TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS STRIPPING FEDERAL FUNDING FROM SCHOOLS THAT TEACH CRT, SUPPORTING SCHOOL CHOICE White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also signaled that the American people could count on Trump to move forward with such plans to disband the department. “President Trump campaigned on that promise, and I think the American people can expect him to deliver on it,” Leavitt told Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.” Feb. 4. The Department of Education, established in 1980, seeks to improve coordination of federal education programs and support state and local school systems, according to its website. The agency received a budget of $79.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Trump said at a rally in September 2024 that he wanted to reduce the “government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts of things that you don’t want to
Faith leaders gather around Trump to pray in Oval Office: ‘incredible day’
Faith leaders from across the country visited President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday where they prayed with the commander-in-chief. The White House posted an image of the leaders gathered in prayer around Trump as he sat at his desk. William Wolfe, the executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, posted the same image. POPE FRANCIS SEEN FOR FIRST TIME SINCE BEING ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL: PHOTO “It was a huge honor to represent @BaptistLeaders and meet @realDonaldTrump today along with other Christian leaders and pray for him in the Oval Office,” Wolfe wrote on X. “It’s been an incredible day—been keeping this under wraps until it happened, but can’t wait to share more!!” Robert Jeffries, the pastor at the First Baptist Dallas church, also remarked on the visit. “Honored to lead a prayer today for our great president @realDonaldTrump!” he wrote on X. EVEN IF TRUMP SECURES UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE DEAL, CAN PUTIN BE TRUSTED? WallBuilders founder David Barton, who was with the faith leaders, said it was “an honor” to pray for Trump. In a video, Barton said Trump was supportive of faith-based programs and policies that are “reflective of family and faith and values.” WallBuilders aims to educate the public on how the Bible has played a pivotal role in the founding of the nation. In February, Trump signed an executive order to establish the White House Faith Office as part of the Domestic Policy Council. The order states the new office will consult with faith leaders on various topics, including “defending religious liberty.” On Wednesday evening, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, will host the Catholics for Catholics Gala. Speakers at that event will include retired U.S. Army Gen. Michael Flynn and veteran political consultant Roger Stone.