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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 23, 2025, 5:17 PM EST

Trump brushes off concerns over revoking Pompeo security protections

Trump was asked about his decision to revoke security protections for his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and Iran special envoy, Brian Hook.

He brushed aside the concerns about the threats issued against the men.

"I mean there are risks to everything," Trump said, suggesting Pompeo and Hook cannot have protection for the rest of their lives.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Kelsey Walsh and Molly Nagle

Jan 23, 2025, 4:26 PM EST

Trump says he's 'open' to meeting with pardoned Jan. 6 rioters

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he plans to meet at the White House with any of the Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned.

"I don't know. I'm sure that they probably would like to," he replied.

Trump argued he "did something important" with the pardons and contended those convicted were "treated very badly."

"So, I'd be open to it, certainly. I don't know of anything like that, but I think they're going to meet in some of the Congress people, congressmen, women, want to -- want to meet," he said.

Trump said he hasn't spoken with any of them yet.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he signs an executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House,  Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he signs an executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington.
Ben Curtis/AP

Jan 23, 2025, 4:21 PM EST

Trump vows to appeal judge's temporary blocking of birthright citizenship order

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he had a reaction to a federal judge blocking his attempt to end birthright citizenship.

"No, obviously, we'll appeal it," Trump responded. "They put it before a certain judge in Seattle, I guess, right. And there's no surprises with that judge."

The judge, John Coughenour, was nominated to the federal bench in 1981 by then-President Ronald Reagan.

Jan 23, 2025, 4:05 PM EST

Trump signs executive order to declassify JFK, RFK and MLK assassination files

President Donald Trump just signed an executive order to declassify files relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"That's a big one," Trump said. He added that people have "been waiting for this for years."

Trump said to give the pen he used to sign the order to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office of the White House, as he signs executive orders, in Washington, Jan. 23, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters