Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'

The comments came amid turmoil as DOGE took over USAID offices last week.

President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.

Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.

Jan 27, 2025, 10:45 AM EST

Texas Gov. Abbott to send 400 troops, military resources to Rio Grande Valley

Texas Gov. Abbott is sending an additional 400 soldiers from military bases in Forth Worth and Houston to assist Border Patrol and the Trump administration's mission to "secure the border."

The 400 soldiers join the thousands of troops Abbott has already deployed under his border mission, Operation Lone Star.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 18, 2024 in Dallas.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, FILE

In addition to troops, he'll also be sending C-130s and Chinook helicopters.

"Texas has a partner in the White House we can work with to secure the Texas-Mexico border," Abbott said in a statement, thanking Trump for his "decisive leadership on the southern border."

– ABC News' Armando Garcia

Jan 27, 2025, 10:24 AM EST

Hegseth responds after uproar over removal of Tuskegee Airmen videos

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday had to respond to criticism after videos of Tuskegee Airmen and Women Air Force Service Pilots were removed from basic training courses, according to a report from Reuters.

An official told Reuters the videos were removed pending a review to comply with Trump's order to eliminate DEI efforts in the federal government. Hegseth, too, has made eliminating DEI from the military a top priority.

But uproar quickly grew over the removal of the videos, including from Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt. Britt called the removal of the videos "malicious compliance" that had to be corrected.

"We’re all over it Senator. This will not stand," Hegseth said in response. Hours later, he posted, "This has been immediately reversed."

Reuters reported on Sunday that the Air Force said the videos will be taught.

Jan 27, 2025, 10:20 AM EST

Trump signs executive orders for ‘full-scale review’ of FEMA, seeks control over California water system

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Friday focused on emergency response, one which creates a task force to conduct a "a full-scale review" of FEMA to "recommend to the President improvements or structural changes to promote the national interest and enable national resilience."

The task force -- which is intended to be no larger than 20 people -- is expected to "meet regularly" for a year. Among the directives in the order is to evaluate "whether FEMA can serve its functions as a support agency, providing supplemental Federal assistance, to the States rather than supplanting State control of disaster relief."

They could recommend that FEMA be dismantled, but Congress would need to act in order to do away with the agency.

The second executive order, called "Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources In California And Improve Disaster Response In Certain Areas," calls for a plan for the federal government to assert power over California's water system.

One section outlines actions for the government to go around state and federal law to more directly assert control of California's water management -- though it's not clear how much of an impact this order will have.

– ABC News’ Molly Nagle

Jan 27, 2025, 9:48 AM EST

Pete Hegseth arrives for 1st full day at Pentagon as defense secretary

Arriving for his first full day at the Pentagon as defense secretary, Pete Hegseth stopped to talk to reporters to lay out some of his priorities.

"It's an honor to be here," Hegseth said after being greeted by Gen. CQ Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Hegseth said that would include removing DEI efforts inside the Pentagon, reinstating service members discharged because of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and building an Iron Dome -- though experts have said the latter may not be realistic for the U.S.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks with the media during his first official arrival at the Pentagon as Secretary in Washington, DC, Jan. 27, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

He also said the Pentagon would provide "whatever's needed" at the southern border as Trump carries out his immigration crackdown.

Hegseth previously suggested the firing of Brown as well as other senior officers who were involved either in the chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan or "woke" DEI initiatives.

Asked on Monday if he wants to fire Brown, Hegseth said: “I’m standing with him right now. Look forward to working with him."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. (L), speaks with the media during his first official arrival at the Pentagon as Secretary in Washington, DC, Jan. 27, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images