Billionaire Elon Musk shouldn’t be an worker of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) and has no decision-making authority, the White Home mentioned in a courtroom submitting.
Musk’s function within the Donald Trump administration is restricted to that of a White Home worker and senior adviser to the president, in line with the submitting signed by director of the Workplace of Administration on the White Home.
It additional states that “like different senior White Home advisors, Mr Musk has no precise or formal authority to make authorities selections himself.”
In the meantime, Michelle King, the Social Safety Administration’s (SSA) performing commissioner, stepped down from her function on the company over DOGE’s requests to entry Social Safety recipient’s non-public private info.
Appearing Commissioner King’s departure from the company over the weekend – after greater than 30 years of service – was initiated after King refused to offer DOGE staffers on the SSA with entry to delicate information, in line with the Related Press.
Elsewhere, high American and Russian officers are set to carry talks in Saudi Arabia about bettering relations between the 2 international locations and ending the warfare in Ukraine because the battle approaches its third anniversary.
Trump publicizes ‘precision airstrike’ in opposition to al-Qaeda chief in Syria
Let’s begin off with the most recent Reality Social postings from the president.
In amongst a deluge of favorable press clippings from conservative information sources, Trump posted this shock information of an anti-terror operation within the Center East.
He additionally posted this thanks video from a lady held hostage by Hamas, describing her ordeal and expressing gratitude for her releases.
Joe Sommerlad18 February 2025 08:45
Jim Acosta urges media to boycott Trump after administration targets Related Press
Final week, Trump officers raised alarm bells with First Modification advocates and media organizations when it prevented an AP reporter from becoming a member of briefings as punishment for the legacy information outlet refusing to completely check with the Gulf of Mexico by its newly appointed identify, the Gulf of America.
Ariana Baio18 February 2025 07:00
US should present ‘backstop’ to discourage Russia, PM says after talks on Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has referred to as for the US to offer a “backstop” to discourage Russia from attacking Ukraine once more after assembly with European leaders for emergency talks on the way forward for the warfare.
The Prime Minister warned that allies throughout the continent – together with Britain – should “take duty” for its safety by bolstering each defence spending and functionality following a gathering with companions in Paris on Monday.
Sir Keir has mentioned he can be ready to place a peacekeeping drive into Ukraine within the occasion of a deal to finish Russia’s warfare after Washington warned it will scale back its defence commitments in Europe.
Nina Lloyd18 February 2025 06:00
Prime Russian and American officers will maintain talks on ending the Ukraine warfare with out Kyiv
Senior American and Russian officers, together with the international locations’ high diplomats, will maintain talks on bettering their ties and negotiating an finish to the warfare in Ukraine, officers mentioned Monday, in what can be probably the most vital assembly between the edges since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor almost three years in the past.
The talks scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia mark one other pivotal step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. coverage on isolating Russia, and are supposed to pave the best way for a gathering between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The latest U.S. diplomatic blitz on the warfare has despatched Kyiv and key allies scrambling to make sure a seat on the desk amid considerations that Washington and Moscow may press forward with a deal that received’t be favorable to them. France referred to as an emergency assembly of European Union international locations and the U.Ok. on Monday to determine find out how to reply.
Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s overseas affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov arrived within the Saudi capital on Monday, in line with Russian state TV. Ushakov mentioned the talks can be “purely bilateral” and wouldn’t embody Ukrainian officers.
The U.S. delegation, he mentioned, is made up of “severe individuals” however mentioned Russia “got here with a severe strategy too.” It is vital, Ushakov mentioned, “to begin the true normalization of relations” between Russia and the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz and Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet the Russian delegation, State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce mentioned.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the talks might be primarily targeted on “restoring all the vary of U.S.-Russian relations, in addition to getting ready attainable talks on the Ukrainian settlement and organizing a gathering of the 2 presidents.” Bruce mentioned the assembly is geared toward figuring out how severe the Russians are about wanting peace and whether or not detailed negotiations may be began.
“I feel the aim, clearly, for everybody is to find out if that is one thing that may transfer ahead,” she instructed reporters touring with Rubio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bruce mentioned that despite the fact that Ukraine wouldn’t be on the desk for Tuesday’s talks, precise peace negotiations would solely happen with Ukraine’s involvement. Kyiv’s participation in any peace talks was a bedrock of U.S. coverage below Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.
Europe break up over Starmer pledge to ship troops to Ukraine
Divisions turned clear as leaders attended an emergency summit in Paris amid fears Washington will minimize its transatlantic defence commitments.
Sir Keir mentioned he can be prepared to contribute to safety ensures by “placing our personal troops on the bottom if obligatory”, echoing comparable statements by France’s Emmanuel Macron.
Millie Cooke18 February 2025 04:00
White Home says Elon Musk has ‘no formal authority to make authorities selections’
Billionaire Elon Musk’s function within the Donald Trump administration is as a White Home worker and senior adviser to the president, and isn’t an worker of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) and has no decision-making authority, the White Home mentioned in a courtroom submitting.
Based on a submitting signed by Joshua Fisher, director of the Workplace of Administration on the White Home, Mr Musk can solely advise the president and talk the president’s directives.
“Like different senior White Home advisors, Mr Musk has no precise or formal authority to make authorities selections himself,” it mentioned.
Mr Fisher’s submitting, made in a case introduced in opposition to Musk by the State of New Mexico, mentioned that Mr Musk was not an worker of the US DOGE Service, or the US DOGE Service Non permanent Organisation. It added: “Mr Musk shouldn’t be the US DOGE Service Administrator.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar18 February 2025 03:55
GOP lawmakers are ‘grumbling’ about Musk’s ‘poorly executed’ mass authorities cuts
Assaults on Musk from Democrats are additionally rising as he takes an axe to company after company, creating chaos and uncertainty. One Republican senator mentioned that Musk’s try to get federal employees to resign in trade for seven months of severance was “poorly executed,” in line with The Hill.
“I feel they’re simply seeking to scale back numbers — it’s not effectivity, it’s not output. It’s, ‘We simply want our bodies gone.’ And I don’t know that’s the metric that you just use,” the senator added.
Gustaf.Kilander18 February 2025 03:15
RFK Jr shares weird pic with lizard, Russell Model — and shirtless Dr. Oz
Kennedy, sworn into his cupboard place final week, shared the picture Sunday afternoon on X with the caption: “Northern Curly Tailed Lizard with Russel Model & Dr Oz.” The picture exhibits Model along with his arm across the different two as Kennedy and Ouncessmile on the digicam.
Katie Hawkinson18 February 2025 02:30
,
#Trumps #White #Home #Musk #cost #DOGE #high #official #quits #Reside,
https://static.the-independent.com/2025/02/17/02/TRUMP-SEGURIDAD_NUCLEAR-DESPIDOS_18031.jpg?width=1200&peak=800&crop=1200:800 ,