Donald Trump has filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, seeking permission to remove the ethics chief of the federal agency responsible for protecting whistleblowers. This move signals the beginning of what is likely to be a series of appeals aimed at overturning lower court decisions that have hindered his second-term agenda. The appeal has drawn criticism, particularly as Trump faces backlash for comparing himself to Napoleon amidst criticisms of his judicial attacks.
In a related development, US Secretary of State Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet with a Russian delegation in Riyadh on Tuesday. These talks represent one of the first high-level, face-to-face discussions between the US and Russia in years. This diplomatic engagement coincides with the release of a US citizen who was briefly detained in Moscow for allegedly carrying cannabis-laced gummy sweets.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration's immigration policies have instilled fear within the undocumented worker community that supports substantial parts of the US economy. Trump has intensified anti-immigration efforts, promising mass deportations and increasing arrests. A construction worker in Texas voiced their anxiety, saying:
"Every day I wake up and walk out the door, I go with the hope of going to work, but with the fear of not being able to come back."
The chaos extends to the federal workforce, as Trump's executive orders aim to dramatically expand executive powers under the guise of cost-cutting measures. This is compounded by Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge), which seeks to drastically reduce agency workforces and regulations. These actions have created turmoil throughout the US government.
Recently, up to 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were abruptly laid off. However, the Trump administration has since paused further dismissals of federal workers involved in nuclear weapons programs. The sweeping changes have prompted Trump and Musk to criticize judges who have ruled against their initiatives in court. Kris Mayes pointedly commented on this approach:
"In the US, we appeal rulings we disagree with – we don’t ignore court orders or threaten judges with impeachment just because we don’t like the decision. This is a coup, plain and simple."
Musk's Doge is also making an unprecedented bid for access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which holds detailed financial data on every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the country. The aim is to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people," according to a Trump administration official.
International relations appear on the agenda as well. The UK's Prime Minister is set to travel to Washington, DC next week for discussions with President Trump. Keir Starmer's spokesman announced:
"The prime minister looks forward to meeting president Trump shortly to discuss how we can deepen the special relationship across trade, investment and security."
These talks are intended to strengthen ties between the two nations across various sectors. Keir Starmer's spokesman noted:
"There’s going to be a wide range of issues that we’ll be working with the new US administration on."