This blog has now closed. You can read our latest story hereInside Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ crackdown on US consumer watchdogThe Trump administration is pressing on with its plans to dramatically downsize the government’s workforce, by targeting employees in their probationary periods at a variety of agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will reportedly lose 10% of their staff, while the department of housing and urban development is set for a 50% reduction in headcount. The largest federal workers union decried the layoffs as “politically driven”, while an advocacy group warned the dramatic workforce reductions could harm the ability of agencies to perform their jobs in the future. Across the pond, JD Vance took European countries to task in a speech sure to further rattle allies already concerned about the Trump administration’s shift in policy on Ukraine.Here’s what else has happened today so far:The treasury inspector general will investigate the security of payment systems accessed by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency”, though the report won’t be out until August.The effects of the federal worker layoffs are still being understood, but among the areas set to be disrupted is cancer research.A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore funding to USAid, and prove its compliance within five days. Continue reading...
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