Roughly two dozen states filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration over sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps, the federal volunteer service program established in 1993. ⁠
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The suit accuses the Department of Government Efficiency of unlawfully gutting the agency and terminating hundreds of millions in congressionally approved grants. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the administration made “abrupt and drastic cuts to staff and volunteers and terminated grants.”⁠
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AmeriCorps programs support more than 200,000 members annually, many of whom receive stipends and education benefits while working in community organizations, disaster relief, and public service projects.⁠
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According to the complaint, at least 85% of staff were placed on administrative leave this month, and some 2,000 members of the National Civilian Community Corps were informed they would be dismissed early. Notices sent to grantees cited a shift in agency priorities.⁠
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The White House defended the move by citing $40 million in improper payments attributed to documentation and coding errors. “President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability to the entire Executive Branch,” said Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. ⁠
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President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to accept a 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 from Qatar’s royal family for temporary use as Air Force One, according to unnamed sources cited by ABC News. ⁠
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The jet, described by Trump as a “very public and transparent transaction,” is expected to be modified by the U.S. Air Force for presidential use before being transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation by January 2029. ⁠
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Trump previously toured the aircraft in Florida, and the estimated $400 million plane will be outfitted with security upgrades by L3Harris.⁠
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The legality of the arrangement has drawn scrutiny due to constitutional restrictions on gifts from foreign governments. ⁠
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According to sources, Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington concluded that because the gift is directed to the government and not conditioned on an official act, it does not violate the emoluments clause or federal bribery laws. ⁠
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Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is following “all applicable laws,” while Qatar’s Ministry of Defense is still in talks with the Pentagon regarding the handover.⁠
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Democratic lawmakers responded critically. Sen. Chuck Schumer posted, “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” while Rep. Adam Schiff referenced the Constitution’s Title of Nobility clause. ⁠
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Trump, meanwhile, argued that rejecting the gift would be “stupid” and claimed Democrats want taxpayers to “pay TOP DOLLAR” instead. ⁠
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The current Air Force One fleet, contracted for replacement since 2018, has faced delays, with new jets not expected until 2027.⁠
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President Donald Trump’s newly released budget plan calls for a $163 billion cut to nondefense spending while increasing the defense budget to $1.01 trillion. ⁠
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The Department of Homeland Security would receive $175 billion to fund expanded border security. The proposal targets “woke” and “radical left” programs and seeks to eliminate funding for climate initiatives, DEI efforts, and agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.⁠
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The Department of Education would lose $12 billion, with funding shifted toward charter schools. Health and Human Services would see a $33.3 billion cut, eliminating grants for mental health, substance abuse, and chronic illness prevention. ⁠
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The EPA faces a $5 billion reduction, with climate programs slashed and limited investment in clean water. Several international aid programs, including disaster relief and peacekeeping, would be eliminated or severely cut.⁠
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Despite widespread cuts, the Department of Defense receives a $113.3 billion boost, with pledges to dismantle DEI and climate programs. The VA would gain $5.4 billion for healthcare and records upgrades, while NASA’s budget would drop by $6 billion, with funding redirected to lunar and Mars exploration. ⁠
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The budget also includes increases for rural development, food inspection, and FAA modernization, while scaling back social programs, housing support, and job training initiatives.⁠
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The Trump administration has admitted 49 white South Africans to the U.S. as refugees, citing “government-sponsored racial discrimination,” according to a senior State Department official. ⁠
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Most of the group are Afrikaners from farming communities. President Donald Trump ordered their resettlement through an executive action titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa,” claiming they face violence and economic exclusion. ⁠
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The move comes amid an ongoing dispute over South Africa’s land reform efforts. In 2017, an audit found that white South Africans—who make up about 7% of the population—own roughly 75% of individually held farmland.⁠
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A 2025 law allows limited expropriation without compensation, which the Trump administration framed as targeting whites. South African officials say the policy is intended to address the legacy of apartheid, during which the Afrikaner-led government denied Black South Africans land rights, political representation, and basic freedoms under a formal system of racial segregation that lasted from 1948 to 1994.⁠
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South Africa’s government rejected Trump’s refugee designation, calling the persecution claims “completely false” and politically motivated. “There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of white South Africans,” said Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola. ⁠
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Critics in the U.S., including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, questioned why this group was prioritized while refugee programs for people fleeing war and famine remain suspended. ⁠
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