The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Chris Wright to serve as Secretary of Energy in President Donald Trump's administration.

The final vote was 59-38. Eight Democrats, including both senators from Colorado, voted in favor.

Wright, the founder and CEO of Denver-based fossil fuel company Liberty Energy, is known as a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking. He has pledged to cut his ties to the energy industry following his confirmation.

Wright has advocated for increased fossil fuel production to address poverty issues, characterized environmental energy policies under Democrats as a "green new scam" and pledged at confirmation hearings to pursue President Trump's energy agenda.

RELATED STORY | Senate confirms former ND Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the Interior

Wright will also serve as a member of a to-be-formed council on national energy priorities.

That group will include "all departments and agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of all forms of American energy," Trump said in a statement when he nominated Wright. "This council will oversee the path to U.S. energy dominance by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the economy, and by focusing on innovation over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation."

A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the Trump administration's planned freeze on federal funding from going into effect.

The ruling is part of a suit brought by a coalition of nonprofits, who have argued that the freeze ordered by the White House's Office of Management and Budget would do "irreparable harm" to their organizations. On Monday, the judge agreed with that claim.

The new order is a legal step above the administrative stay the court had placed on the freeze last week.

RELATED STORY | Judge temporarily puts part of Trumps federal funding freeze on hold

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan ordered OMB to notify all affected government agencies in writing of the court's temporary restraining order.

"The written notice shall instruct those agencies that they may not take any steps to implement, give effect to, or reinstate under a different name the directives in OMB Memorandum M-25-13 with respect to the disbursement of Federal Funds under all open awards. It shall also instruct those agencies to release any disbursements on open awards that were paused."

OMB's order to freeze federal funds, as originally proposed, would impact a huge swath of federal funds already allocated for things like the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill projects, as well as foreign aid commitments and funding for some non-profit organizations and services.

According to a senior administration official, the federal funding freeze would not apply across the board and would not impact individual payments or assistance, including things like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for low-income families. Social Security and Medicare payments were also not slated to be impacted.

The judge has ordered the parties in the suit to schedule next steps in the case, which will involve discussion of a potential preliminary injunction, no later than Friday, Feb. 7.

Roses, chocolates, wine consumers are expected to dish out a record $27.5 billion for Valentine's Day this year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said.

That's according to the organization's annual survey that provides insights on holiday spending.

The number is up from last years $25.8 billion and slightly above the previous record of $27.4 billion set in 2020, NRF said.

One factor for the rise in total spending could be that more people are planning to celebrate the holiday this year compared to last year, the survey said.

RELATED STORY | Financial experts share tips to help your accounts stay in the green in 2025

There's also a rise in people who plan to buy their friends a gift for Valentine's Day this year in addition to their loved ones.

Most people will put their money towards candy (56%) followed by flowers (40%), greeting cards (40%), an evening out (35%) and jewelry (22%), the survey found.

On average, shoppers will spend $188.81 on the holiday, the NRF said.

Even if they don't celebrate the holiday, 28% of people said they still plan to mark the occasion in some way, the survey found.

More than 50 senior level employees with the U.S. Department of Education have been placed on paid administrative leave following President Donald Trump's effort to rid the federal workforce of employees associated with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Sources say the Education Department sent letters to employees informing them that their e-mail accounts were being suspended, but ensured workers they would continue to receive their paychecks for an indefinite period. The union representing the workers impacted claims some of those effected have served the department for decades.

RELATED STORY | Presidential Shift: Trump reverses key Biden administration DEI policies

It comes after President Trump, last month, signed an executive order that ultimately reversed multiple Biden administration-era executive orders that promoted DEI within the federal government. President Trump's orders also eliminated several executive orders signed by previous presidents, dating back to Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Trump administration claimed that the Biden administration "embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the federal government."

RELATED STORY | Trump suggests DEI could be to blame for fatal mid-air collision amid ongoing investigation

"The injection of 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DEI) into our institutions has corrupted them by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy," the Trump administration said in its executive order.

The Trump administration also rescinded a Biden administration order that required federal agencies to consider diversity and inclusion when choosing federal contractors.

"Billions of dollars are spent annually on DEI, but rather than reducing bias and promoting inclusion, DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict," the Trump administration said.

Crews have begun working to remove wreckage from the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, following last week's deadly mid-air collision involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter.

The fatal collision occurred Wednesday near Reagan National Airport, leaving all 67 passengers aboard the two aircraft dead. So far, authorities have recovered and identified the bodies of 55 of those killed in the crash, but remain confident they will find those still unaccounted for.

RELATED STORY | Families visit crash site days after the deadliest US air disaster since 2001

The crash happened as the American Airlines regional jet traveling from Wichita, Kansas was preparing to land at the airport, when it suddenly collided with the helicopter, which was on a training flight.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that it was a clear night and both the jet and helicopter were in a "standard flight pattern" at the time of the crash. Duffy added that he believes the incident could have been prevented, but expressed confidence in flight safety.

The planes passengers included figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and a group returning from a hunting trip.

RELATED STORY | Black boxes recovered from jet after fatal collision with helicopter

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Baltimore, along with the U.S. Navy supervisor of salvage and diving, are now working together to remove the remnants of the jet. The salvage operation is expected to take about three days to complete.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the proposed tariffs between the U.S. and Canada will be paused for 30 days.

Trudeau posted a statement on X following his conversation with President Donald Trump.

"Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border," Trudeau stated. "In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million."

The development came hours after President Donald Trump said he would pause his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico for a month after speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

"It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States," President Trump stated on Truth Social.

The 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports were due to go into effect on Tuesday. President Trump said the tariffs were being imposed because of illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the country.

RELATED STORY | What are tariffs and how do they work?

Sheinbaum, meanwhile, described her conversation with President Trump as positive, noting that the U.S. has committed to working to prevent high-powered weapons from entering Mexico.

Conversations between the two countries are expected to continue over the next month. President Trump said they will involve "Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico."

"Mexico is happy, United States is happy," said Peter Navarro, senior counselor for trade and manufacturing for President Trump. "We've got a long way to go. There's a lot of things to be done, but this is the way President Trump negotiates, and you can rest assured that if we do not get cooperation from countries, then, of course, the tariffs will be implemented. We have no other choice. President Trump wants to save American lives."

The 10% tariffs on goods from China are still slated to go into effect on Tuesday.

A medical transport jet crashed shortly after takeoff in the northeast region of Philadelphia Friday. A child patient, a passenger and four crewmembers were aboard, according to a statement from Jet Rescue Air Ambulance.

"Our immediate concern is for the patients family, our personnel, their families and other victims that may have been hurt on the ground," the company said in the statement.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker confirmed that all six people on board were killed. She added that a person on the ground was also killed.

"This is a tragedy in our City. People have lost their lives and many injured in this horrific crash and the damage is significant," she said. "Our prayers are with the families, friends, neighbors and all of those impacted by the tragic crash. We are unified in our approach - a One Philly philosophy with all hands-on deck."

Officials said 19 injuries occurred in nearby parking lots, streets, cars and homes.

"The area of impact, that area is roughly four to six blocks, and we also have debris in remote areas where something happened with the aircraft and that's something we'll need to leave the NTSB to talk about," said Adam Thiel,  managing director who serves as the city's chief operating officer. "So it's a very widespread area and we are still trying to understand the entire scope."

The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping center.

The crash caused a fire that burned multiple homes and damaged several vehicles, according to fire officials. Photos from the scene show fires in residential buildings sending thick columns of smoke into the air.

Doorbell footage captures moment of plane crash in Philadelphia (Via AP / Jim Quinn)

The crash occurred less than three miles from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which frequently serves small planes and business jets. The FAA says the plane was a small business-style jet that was bound for Springfield, Missouri. The FAA put a ground stop in place at the airport following the incident.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was directing state resources to respond to the crash.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about the incident on Friday night.

"More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged," he wrote. "First responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow."

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has placed a temporary restraining order on the Trump administration's planned freeze on federal funds and grants, after a coalition of state Attorneys General sued to block the White House's decision.

Under the new order, disbursement of federal funds to the states must continue while the case proceeds. The judge held that states were likely to suffer irreparable harm if funding was cut off.

"Defendants shall not pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate Defendants compliance with awards and obligations to provide federal financial assistance to the States, and Defendants shall not impede the States access to such awards and obligations," Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. wrote in the order.

RELATED STORY | Judge temporarily puts part of Trumps federal funding freeze on hold

The judge also ruled that the White House's withdrawal of the memo from the Office of Management and Budget that announced the freeze will not change the court's jurisdiction or decision in the case. It likewise prohibits the White House from putting the memo back into effect.

"The evidence shows that the alleged rescission of the OMB Directive was in name-only and may have been issued simply to defeat the jurisdiction of the courts. The substantive effect of the directive carries on," the order read.

The restraining order goes into effect right away and will remain in effect indefinitely, until the court orders otherwise. The judge has directed the state plaintiffs to bring evidence to support their request for a preliminary injunction to a future hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

Three service members aboard an Army Black Hawk helicopter are believed to have died Wednesday when their aircraft collided with a passenger jet near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

On Friday, the U.S. Army released information on the crew:

Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin OHara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, is believed to be deceased pending positive identification.

RELATED STORY | Court TV reporter remembers childhood friend Staff Sgt. Ryan OHara

OHara began service as a UH-60 helicopter repairer in the Army in July of 2014.

The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, have not yet been recovered. Eaves is therefore listed as on duty status whereabouts unknown.

Eaves served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017. He became a UH-60 pilot for the regular Army in September 2017.

The identity of the third crewmember has been withheld at the request of their family. They are therefore also considered duty status whereabouts unknown.

"Our deepest condolences go out to all the families and friends impacted during this tragedy, and we will support them through this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of the Joint Task Force for the National Capital Region/ U.S. Army Military District of Washington. "Our top priority is to assist in the recovery efforts, while fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other investigative agencies to determine the cause of this tragic incident."

RELATED STORY | Investigators begin review of black boxes following deadly mid-air collision

Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, said the helicopter crew had experience with navigating crowded Washington, D.C. airspace.

"Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasnt something new to either one of them," Koizol said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Loved ones and communities across the country are mourning the 67 lives lost in a mid-air crash that happened just outside of Reagan National Airport between a passenger jet and a military helicopter on Wednesday.

One of those victims on board the Black Hawk helicopter was crew chief Ryan O'Hara, who was a childhood friend of Reporter Cody Thomas with Scripps News' sister network, Court TV.

Thomas said he and O'Hara met at 9 or 10 years old when he transferred to O'Hara's elementary school. He said he was one of the first friends he met at the new school and he welcomed him with open arms into his friend group at the time.

Thomas said he and O'Hara knew each other through high school, where O'Hara joined the JROTC and was determined to join the military after graduating.

"That's what he always wanted to do," Thomas said. "[He] was never in any trouble. Just a real good-natured, good-hearted guy." Thomas said he felt proud to know O'Hara had followed his dreams of joining the service and becoming a hero.

O'Hara had a wife and 1-year-old child.

News of his tragic death was shared in their school's alumni pages on Facebook. Thomas said he never imagined while watching the coverage of the crash that someone he knew was a victim.

"I was like 'wait a minute. That's my old friend, Ryan.'" said Thomas. "It was like surreal. I had to realize that this was real life. I had to take a step back and kind of take a breath and just really process it all."

"It was the tough. It was real tough," he added.

Thomas said it's been difficult to see the way so many people have polarized the tragedy and wanted to immediately place blame.

"I'm not an aviation expert, but I will just go on to say the Ryan that I knew was very attentive. He cared about people. He cared about the work he was doing...He cared about everything that he loved whether that was work or his family," Thomas said. "This just happens to be a very tragic accident...He would not have let something happen on his watch."

Investigators say they have recovered the flight and voice recorder from an Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet on Wednesday outside of Reagan National Airport.

In a Friday news conference, NTSB officials said the agency has recovered the helicopter's single-unit black box and removed it to agency headquarters. It will now be analyzed to begin the data recovery process.

NTSB also says it is confident it will be able to extract all the relevant data from the flight and voice recorders that were recovered from American Airlines Flight 5342 on Thursday. The voice recorder showed signs of water intrusion, officials said, and noted that such damage is not uncommon in cases of water accidents.

The agency is conducting salvage operations on the Potomac River where the aircraft fell. New barges are expected to arrive by Saturday to continue salvage. NTSB says it is working with the Washington, D.C., Medical Examiner's office so that any victims recovered can be immediately taken for identification.

Two distinct debris fields corresponding to the fallen aircraft. Investigation so far has identified large debris from each aircraft that will be recovered and analyzed. NTSB is using an example aircraft with the same configuration as the Bombardier CRJ700 involved in the crash to aid in identification of recovered debris.

NTSB hopes debris from the accident can be recovered in "quick order," so long as the crash site is preserved and victims can be recovered.

Officials believe that despite tricky conditions in the Potomac River, they will be able to recover all 67 bodies of the victims.

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said Friday that, so far, more than two dozen bodies were pulled from the jet, and one body was recovered from the helicopter.

NTSB officials reiterated on Friday that the agency will not identify any of the victims in is reporting.

"The NTSB will not and has not released a manifest. We have not in our history; we will not in this accident," said NTSB board member Todd Inman. "Any release of that information will come from other individuals or groups."

NTSB expects to produce a preliminary report on the accident within 30 days.

RELATED STORY | Black boxes recovered from jet after fatal collision with helicopter

The crash happened when the jet attempted to land at Reagan National Airport and collided with the Army Black Hawk helicopter, causing both the plane and helicopter to plunge into the river.

The recovery efforts for the crash, which involved 64 people on the plane and three soldiers on a helicopter, were suspended Thursday night but resumed Friday. Authorities believe there are no survivors from the incident.

The NTSB's analysis of the flight data and voice recorders will be crucial in determining the cause of the crash, as the investigation continues.

Skating community devastated by tragedy

Numerous members of the figure skating community were on board Flight 5342. The Skating Club of Boston confirmed that six of its members, including two former Olympians, were on board the flight.

These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

Wichita just hosted the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championship. The event served as the final qualifier for the U.S. World and World Junior Championship teams.

US Army identifies 2 of the soldiers killed

On Friday, the U.S. Army released information on the crew.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin OHara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, is believed to be deceased pending positive identification.

RELATED STORY | Court TV reporter remembers childhood friend Staff Sgt. Ryan OHara

OHara began service as a UH-60 helicopter repairer in the Army in July of 2014.

The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, have not yet been recovered. Eaves is therefore listed as on duty status whereabouts unknown.

Eaves served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017. He became a UH-60 pilot for the regular Army in September 2017.

The identity of the third crewmember has been withheld at the request of their family. They are therefore also considered duty status whereabouts unknown.

Trump suggests DEI to blame for crash

While there are still many questions on whether air traffic controllers had any fault in Wednesday's collision, President Donald Trump used the plane crash to complain about diversity hiring initiatives within the Federal Aviation Administration.

President Trump said that race and gender might have played a role in Wednesday's crash.

RELATED STORY | Here's what we know about the victims of the DC-area plane crash

"It may have. I don't know. Incompetence might have played a role. Well, we'll let you know that, but we want the most competent people. We don't care what race they are. We want the most competent people, especially in those positions," President Trump.

The FAA has long struggled with understaffing. On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that air traffic control staffing at Reagan National Airport was "not normal" at the time of the disaster.

A ground stop put in place at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, has been lifted following a deadly overnight multi-aircraft crash.

Takeoffs and landings resumed Thursday morning at the airport, though travelers have been advised to expect delays.

The mid-air collision involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training flight and a regional American Airlines flight originating from Wichita, Kansas which ultimately crashed in the nearby Potomac River.

RELATED STORY | Champion figure skaters among those on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said 60 passengers and four crew members were on the plane. At least three people were in the Black Hawk helicopter.

All passengers involved have been presumed dead.

Trump administration officials confirmed at least 30 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday morning as a recovery mission remained active.

Multiple investigations are underway in attempt to understand what actions were taken leading up to the fatal collision. But aviation experts say this is not the sort of crash that would typically take an extended period of time to comprehend considering it was a passenger plane on a very familiar landing path and a military helicopter in an area where drills are often conducted.

RELATED STORY | Army crew involved in mid-air collision with jet was 'fairly experienced'

Airport communications obtained by Scripps News from the time of the collision indicate that air traffic control did ask the military helicopter whether it saw the plane in sight. We did not hear the cockpit respond with a clear "yes" or "no."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that it was a clear night and both the jet and helicopter were in a "standard flight pattern" at the time of the crash. Duffy added he believes the incident could have been prevented, but expressed confidence in flight safety and said the investigation is ongoing.

Everyone on board a passenger jet and Black Hawk military helicopter that collided near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, has died, the president confirmed on Thursday.

Both aircraft ended up in the Potomac River after Wednesday's crash.

"Sadly, there are no survivors," President Donald Trump said. "This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital and in our nation's history."

The plane involved was American Eagle Flight 5342, which originated from Wichita, Kansas. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said 60 passengers and four crew members were on the plane. Three people were in the Black Hawk helicopter a captain, a staff sergeant and chief warrant officer 2.

RELATED STORY | Army crew involved in mid-air collision with jet was 'fairly experienced'

Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said Thursday that more than two dozen bodies were pulled from the jet and one body was recovered from the helicopter.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that it was a clear night and both the jet and helicopter were in a "standard flight pattern" at the time of the crash. Duffy added he believes the incident could have been prevented, but expressed confidence in flight safety.

"I guarantee the American flying public that the United States has the most safe and secure airspace in the world," he said. "We have early indicators of what happened here, and I will tell you with complete confidence we have the safest airspace in the world."

The passenger jet was operated by PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said the Army helicopter, based in Virginia, was on a training flight when the collision occurred.

"We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonights incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir," said Joint Task Force-National Capital Region media chief Heather Chairez.

In response to the incident, Reagan National Airport issued a ground stop for all arriving and departing flights. The ground stop was lifted at 11 a.m. Thursday.

RELATED STORY | How to contact American Airlines if you had loved ones on deadly plane crash near Washington

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The final vote was 56-42.

Zeldin has indicated he intends to focus on U.S. energy and manufacturing concerns.

"Through the EPA we have the ability to pursue energy dominance, to be able to make the United States the artificial intelligence capital of the world, to bring back American jobs to the auto industry, and so much more," Zeldin said on Fox News just after news of his appointment broke.

"President Trump cares about conserving the environment," Zeldin said. "His desire to ensure access to clean air and clean water was a top priority."

During confirmation hearings, Zeldin did not discuss specific policies that he might implement as head of America's top environmental agency. He said he supported cooperation with the private sector to achieve agency goals, and said he would "prioritize compliance as much as possible."

I believe in the rule of law and I want to work with people to ensure they do their part to protect the environment," Zeldin said.

RELATED STORY | Former congressman Sean Duffy confirmed as US secretary of transportation

Zeldin previously represented New York's 1st District in the U.S. House from 2015 to 2023. He was also a defense attorney for President Donald Trump during his first impeachment. Following the 2020 presidential election, Zeldin voted against certifying President Joe Biden's victory over Trump.

President Trump has indicated he will reverse the environmental policies of the Biden administration, including power plant and automotive emissions regulations and electric vehicle incentives. The day he took office, President Trump signed executive orders directing the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and expand oil and gas drilling.

A judge sentenced ex-New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez Wednesday to 11 years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme that saw him accepting gold bars and cash in exchange for his influence.

Over the course of a nine-week trial in 2024, prosecutors argued that Menendez abused his power as a senator in exchange for bribes from three New Jersey businessmen between 2018 and 2022. He was also accused of acting as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt.

During an investigation in 2022, investigators said they reviewed Menendez's email accounts and searched his home, where they found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars. Menendez's defense team argued that the gold was inherited by his wife Nadine and that Menendez had a habit of storing cash at home because it's something his family did after they immigrated in 1951 to the U.S. from Cuba.

Menendez was found guilty on all counts in July of 2024. He was convicted on 16 charges, including bribery, fraud, extortion and obstruction of justice. In August of the same year, he resigned from Congress, where he served as a senator from New Jersey.

RELATED STORY | Sen. Bob Menendez resigning from office following his corruption conviction

Speaking before his sentencing on Wednesday, Menendez asked the judge for leniency.

You really dont know the man you are about to sentence, Menendez said. Ive done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context.

Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year sentence. Attorneys for Menendez had asked the judge for a sentence of no more than eight years.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is directing the opening of a detention center at Guantnamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 of the "worst criminal" migrants who are living illegally in the United States.

The president signed a memorandum to make the direction official on Wednesday afternoon.

President Trump made the announcement right before he signed the Laken Riley Act into law as his administration's first piece of legislation. The bipartisan measure means that people who are in the U.S. illegally and are accused of theft and violent crimes would have to be detained and potentially deported even before a conviction.

A senior White House administrator told Scripps News the administration feels like they are within their legal rights to make it happen.

Also called Guantnamo Bay Naval Base, the facility is a U.S. military detention center located on the coast of Guantnamo Bay in southeastern Cuba constructed in the early 2000s.

It's been notoriously used to house suspected terrorists and became the focus of worldwide controversy in the past over the alleged treatment of detainees.

The White House said Wednesday the expanded facilities would be run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel and used "for high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States, and to address attendant immigration enforcement needs."

Speaking to reporters, border czar Tom Homan and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem both said the facility would house "the worst of the worst."

Cuban government officials immediately criticized the decision.

"The US governments decision to imprison migrants at the Guantanamo Naval Base, in an enclave where it created torture and indefinite detention centers, shows contempt for the human condition and international law," said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodrguez.

RELATED STORY | President Trump signs Laken Riley Act in first legislative action of second term

President Trump, who won back the White House in part by tapping into public anger over illegal immigration, has made the promised crackdown a centerpiece of his political career and is now suggesting the new law might only be the beginning.

The swift passage of the Laken Riley Act legislation and President Trump's signing nine days after taking office adds to the potent symbolism for conservatives. To critics, the measure has taken advantage of a tragedy and could lead to chaos and cruelty while doing little to fight crime or overhaul the immigration system.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to meet with him at the White House.

An Israeli official confirmed Wednesday that Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., early next week and does not have any other meetings scheduled with any other U.S. officials at this time.

RELATED STORY | Israel frees 90 Palestinian prisoners as ceasefire takes hold

"I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries," a letter from Netanyahu's office said, according to The Associated Press.

It comes as Netanyahu was meeting earlier Wednesday in Jerusalem with Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

Witkoff worked closely alongside former President Biden's special envoy to the region to help negotiate the ceasefire and hostage release deal earlier this month between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

RELATED STORY | Trump calls for a US 'Iron Dome' missile defense system

This is expected to be the first time President Trump and Netanyahu will meet in-person since July, when Netanyahu took a trip to Florida to meet with then-presidential candidate Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

At the time, Trump pressed the Israeli prime minister on the importance of ending his country's war against Hamas and bringing peace to the Middle East.

Following widespread confusion, lawsuits and backlash, the Trump administration rescinded a memo that attempted to pause federal funding for grants and loan programs.

A memo to heads of executive government departments says, "OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the Presidents Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel."

The original memo stated the order was set to go into effect on Tuesday, but was halted after a federal judge granted a "brief administrative stay."

The order stemmed from a lawsuit brought by Democracy First on behalf of the National Council of Nonprofits, American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance and SAGE.

Facing legal pressure from our clients and in the wake of a federal judge ruling in our case last evening, the Trump-Vance administration has abandoned OMBs ordered federal funding freeze. We are proud of our courageous clients -- who represent communities across the nation -- for going to court to stop the administration's unlawful actions," said Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to clarify why the Trump administration rescinded the memo.

"In light of the injunction, OMB has rescinded the memo to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage," she stated. "The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments. This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the Presidents orders on controlling federal spending. In the coming weeks and months, more executive action will continue to end the egregious waste of federal funding."

About two dozen states, including New York and California, also sued to fight against the funding freeze, which could have impacted federal infrastructure projects, foreign aid commitments and grants for nonprofit organizations and services.

https://x.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1884675329496649832

The proposed pause was not meant to be permanent and was intended to give federal agencies time to ensure their grants, loans and programs comply with Trump administration policies and goals, officials said.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to halt what he calls radical indoctrination in K-12 schools, specifically targeting "critical race theory" and "gender ideology."

The order prohibits federal funding for schools that incorporate critical race theory and other teachings Trumps administration deems inappropriate.

It also directs the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Defense, who oversees Department of Defense-run schools, to develop a strategy within 90 days to halt such teachings from classrooms.

The order fulfills a promise President Trump made while campaigning.

On day one, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children, Trump previously said.

RELATED STORY | Trump order aims to end federal support for gender transitions for those under 19

The executive order reinstates a previous Trump-era policy, which reintroduces the 1776 Commission. It's an initiative aimed at promoting patriotic education.

"Unfortunately, some versions of American history offer a misconstrued and one-sided account of our founding in an effort to paint America as a systemically racist country," the original policy stated.

The wide-ranging impact of Trump's latest executive order remains to be seen as most education decisions are made a the local level.

What is critical race theory?

Critical race theory is an academic concept that was originally taught at the college level. It involves analyzing how race and racism intersect with social structures and institutions.

The extent to which critical race theory is taught in K-12 schools. While it may not be taught in its original form, critical race theory has taken on a new meaning for some. Some conservatives argue discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion amount to critical race theory.