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Trump 2nd term live updates: WH sidesteps question on hiring disabled federal workers

Leavitt said Trump is trying to bring more merit back to hiring.

President Donald Trump's rapid reshaping of the federal government continues with executive orders and action from his acting agency heads.

Trump Cabinet nominees -- including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel -- were questioned by senators during confirmation hearings on Thursday while another -- Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum -- was confirmed by the Senate.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the plane crash that killed 67 people near Washington's Reagan National Airport, the president raised the question of whether the previous administration's DEI policies had something to do with it.

Jan 22, 2025, 6:53 PM EST

Waltz dismisses more than 150 national security staffers

Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz sent home 160 National Security Council aides while the Trump administration undergoes staffing reviews to ensure personnel support Trump’s America First agenda.

The career government employees were told on Wednesday that they are not needed to report to the White House. The council is responsible for briefing the president on national security and foreign policy advice, but insists despite staffing shakeups they have what is needed to fulfill their mission.

"National Security Advisor Mike Waltz promised and authorized a full review of NSC personnel. It is entirely appropriate for Mr. Waltz to ensure NSC personnel are committed to implementing President Trump’s America First agenda to protect our national security and wisely use the tax dollars of America’s working men and women," NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement.

"Since 12:01 pm on Monday personnel reviews and decisions based on the evaluations are being made," Hughes said.

An official told ABC News, "We have dozens of people as detailees. Some have already concluded their service, some will be shortened, new detailees will be onboarded. NSC has and will continue to have what it needs to fulfill its mission in support of POTUS and his agenda. But POTUS won a historic victory with a clear mandate that the American people embraced. Ensuring the team to keep that promise is NSA Waltz’s role at NSC on behalf of President Trump."

In a recent interview with Breitbart News, Waltz indicated that he wanted the NSC to be staffed by personnel who are "100 percent aligned with the president’s agenda."

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

Jan 22, 2025, 6:02 PM EST

Oath Keeper founder on Capitol Hill following release

Just one day after being released from prison, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes showed up on Capitol Hill in a blue Trump hat.

Rhodes was serving an 18-year sentence for a seditious conspiracy conviction for his role in the Jan. 6 riots, but his sentence was commuted by Trump on Monday.

Stewart Rhodes speaks with press after being released last night after spending the past 3 years in Cumberland, Maryland at the Federal Correctional Institution on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Rhodes told ABC News he was meeting with members of Congress, specifically Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla.

Speaker Mike Johnson told ABC News that he didn't meet with Rhodes.

“What about it? He’s a U.S. citizen, right?" he added.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Beatrice Peterson, Arthur Jones and Allison Pecorin

Jan 22, 2025, 5:30 PM EST

Kennedy's confirmation hearing set for next Wednesday

The Senate Finance Committee announced Wednesday afternoon that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Jr. will be Jan. 29.

-ABC News' Anne Falherty

Jan 22, 2025, 5:13 PM EST

White House asked about Elon Musk's criticism of AI Stargate deal

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off Elon Musk's comment suggesting investors don't have the money to fund the Stargate AI project during an interview on Fox News.

"President Trump is very excited about this infrastructure announcement in the field of AI, which is of his growing United States and it needs to capitalize on it because adversaries like China are very advanced in the field," Leavitt dodged when asked for the Trump's reaction specifically to Musk's comments.

PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt  arrives at the White House in Washington, Jan. 22, 2025.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt arrives at the White House in Washington, Jan. 22, 2025.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Musk has repeatedly poured cold water on the $500 billion project, which Trump rolled out at the White House on Tuesday evening with fanfare.

Leavitt said that the American people should trust Trump at his word.

"So, the American people should take President Trump and the CEOs' words for it. These investments are coming to our great country and American jobs are coming with them," she said.