Trump administration updates: Schumer continues to face calls for new leadership

The Senate minority leader says he's not going anywhere.

Last Updated: March 23, 2025, 9:39 PM EDT

Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday he has no plans to step aside as Senate minority leader as criticism of Schumer and of Democrats' ineffectiveness in combatting President Donald Trump's agenda continues.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration sent another group of migrants to Guantanamo Bay, alleging many are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, an official with knowledge of the flight told ABC News. But deportation flights of Venezuelans to El Salvador remain on hold while the administration fights a judge's order to curtail those flights while their legality is decided.

Trump on Friday announced a new F-47 fighter jet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and signed a series of presidential actions before departing the White House for his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The actions included one rescinding the security clearances of several former Biden officials and political opponents.

Mar 18, 2025, 6:27 PM EDT

Trump doubles down criticism of 'radical left' federal judge over deportation flights

Trump did not back down from his criticism of a federal judge who temporarily blocked deportation flights of noncitizens in an interview on Tuesday.

The president told Fox News' Laura Ingraham that "many people" called for the impeachment of Judge Jeb Boasberg, who ordered the administration to temporarily halt deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members.

"Well that's a presidential job, that's not for a local judge to be making that determination," Trump claimed in a clip of the interview which will air later Tuesday.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington, Mar. 16, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Trump was asked about his reaction to the statement released by Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts.

“He didn't mention my name in the statement. I just saw it quickly. He didn't mention my name,” Trump said of Roberts.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle, Hannah Demissie and Michelle Stoddart

Mar 18, 2025, 5:40 PM EDT

Trump signs EO banning DEI from State Dept hiring

Trump signed two executive orders behind closed doors Tuesday.

One removes diversity, equity and inclusion as a factor in hiring for the State Department.

The order removed DEI as a guiding principle in recruitment and promotions within the Foreign Service.

It also directed the government not to factor "an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin" into hiring decisions or in "any element of the Foreign Service," according to a fact sheet from a White House official.

A view of a U.S. State Department building in Washington, Mar. 4, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

The second EO launched a "National Resilience" strategy aimed at state and local preparedness against cyber attacks and weather events, according to officials.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Mar 18, 2025, 5:22 PM EDT

Rubio threatens Venezuela with 'severe' sanctions if it doesn't accept more deportation flights

Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed "new, severe and escalating sanctions" against Venezuela unless the Maduro regime "accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights, without further excuses or delays."

"Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation. Nor does it merit any reward," Rubio wrote in an X post Tuesday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters at the State Department in Washington, Mar. 18, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The threat comes in the wake of the administration's deportation of Venezuelan nationals who are allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

Mar 18, 2025, 3:33 PM EDT

Judge says dismantling of USAID was unconstitutional, orders Musk to restore access for employees

Elon Musk's attempt to unilaterally dismantle USAID likely violated the Constitution, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.


U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ordered Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to immediately give USAID employees access to their "email, payment, security notification, and all other electronic systems," and ordered a pause on any efforts to shut down the agency.


Tributes are placed beneath the covered seal of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) at their headquarters in Washington, DC, on Feb. 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE


Chuang wrote that Musk's takeover "usurped the authority of the public's elected representatives in Congress to make decisions on whether, when, and how to eliminate a federal government agency, and of Officers of the United States duly appointed under the Constitution to exercise the authority entrusted to them."


While Chuang rebuked Musk's role within the Trump administration, the exact implications of the decision on the operations of USAID remain unclear.


-ABC News' Peter Charalambous and Lucien Bruggeman

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