The Pentagon on Tuesday provided the first update of its effort to reduce its civilian workforce of 878,000 by up to 8% -- which could number between 50,000 to 60,000 civilian employees, a senior Defense Department official said.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said his high-stakes call with Russian President Vladimir Putin was "very good and productive" as the U.S. president seeks to find common ground for a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
And the White House faces a legal battle over its use of the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law, under which the United States began deporting Venezuelans allegedly linked to organized crime.
IRS probationary workers temporarily reinstated, placed on leave
Probationary IRS workers on Monday received emails reinstating them at the agency but placing them on administrative leave in light of the court order, according to notices reviewed by ABC News.
"While you are being reinstated to federal service, you are also being placed on Administrative Leave," the note read. "You should not report to duty or perform any work until receiving further guidance."
--ABC News' Benjamin Siegel
Mar 17, 2025, 6:09 PM GMT
White House defends deportation flights amid scrutiny
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's defiance of a judge's order to turn around two flights containing hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members as she was peppered with questions during Monday's briefing.
"What do you say to Americans who want safe streets but are concerned due process is being violated?" one reporter asked.
"The president is using every lever of his executive authority and his constitutional authority within the bounds of the immigration laws of our country to ensure that our streets are safer for law-abiding American citizens," Leavitt responded.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Mar. 17, 2025, in Washington.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
When pressed for more details about the individuals deported and how they were determined for removal, Leavitt said that ICE and CBP were "sure about the identities of the individuals who were on these planes and the threat that they posed to our homeland."
On ignoring the judge's order over the weekend, Leavitt contended that the flights had already departed by the time the written ruling was handed down at 7:26 p.m. When asked about the judge's verbal order, which was given earlier than the written ruling, Leavitt repeated her statement and questioned the validity of verbal orders.
Mar 17, 2025, 2:20 PM GMT
Conor McGregor at White House for meeting with Trump on St. Patrick's Day
UFC superstar Conor McGregor is at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump on St. Patrick's Day.
Irish professional mixed martial artist and businessman Conor McGregor speaks from the White House briefing room podium with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in Washington, Mar. 17, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
McGregor appeared in the briefing room with press secretary Karoline Leavitt and took some questions from reporters.
"Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness," he said as he railed against the Irish government's handling of immigration and other issues.
Irish professional mixed martial artist and businessman Conor McGregor speaks from the White House briefing room podium with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in Washington, Mar. 17, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP
Trump expressed his admiration for McGregor when he met with Ireland's Taoiseach Michael Martin last week. When asked who his favorite Irish person was, Trump responded: "I do happen to like your fighter ... Conor's great."
McGregor is a controversial figure who's faced several misconduct allegations throughout his career. Last fall, a civil jury in Ireland found him liable of sexual assault. McGregor had denied the accusations.
Mar 17, 2025, 12:47 PM GMT
Trump border czar defends deportation flights: 'I don't care what the judges think'
White House border czar Tom Homan defended the administration's decision not to comply with a federal judge's order to turn around deportation flights in the air during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" on Monday morning.
"It wasn't until this flight was already [in] international waters heading down to El Salvador that the judge made some comment about returning the flights. We are already in international waters. We are outside the borders of the United States. I'm the border czar. Once you are outside the border, you know, it is what it is," Homan said.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan speaks to reporters outside of the White House on March 07, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Homan said that there would be "another flight every day" when asked about what's next for immigration efforts.
"We are going to make this country safe again. I wake up every morning loving my job because I work for the greatest president in the history of my life. And we are going to make this country safe again. I'm proud to be a part of this administration. We are not stopping. I don't care what the judges think. I don't care what the Left thinks. We're coming," Homan said.
