White House says some employees were fired by mistake

After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Emily Chang, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Julia Reinstein, Ivan Pereira, and Jon Haworth
Last Updated: February 16, 2025, 11:07 PM EST

President Donald Trump's administration, including Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, is continuing its sweeping effort to cut much of the federal government -- but it's being met with legal challenges.

Trump is also making his second administration's first forays on the diplomatic front with calls to Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ending the 3-year-old war that began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.

And a day after Hamas released more hostages taken when it attacked Israel in October 2023, Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the militant organization needs to be "eliminated."

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 15, 2025, 5:06 PM EST

US floats proposal to own 50% of revenue of Ukraine's rare earth minerals

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented a proposal to Ukrainian officials that would have the United States own 50% of the revenue from Ukraine's rare earth minerals, according to a U.S. official.

A U.S. official said the Trump administration views this proposal as recouping American taxpayer investment, adding that it believes strong economic ties binding America and Ukraine more closely serve as a guarantee against further or future aggression from Russia.

Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 16, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Trump recently said Ukraine had "essentially agreed" to give the U.S. billions of dollars' worth of Ukraine's rare earth minerals.

A U.S. official noted that Ukrainian representatives are not expected to be part of the meetings in Saudi Arabia.

-ABC News' Selina Wang

Feb 15, 2025, 4:33 PM EST

Trump officials to head to Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks: Source

Top Trump administration officials will head to Saudi Arabia next week to start peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, according to a source familiar with the matter.

National security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will be traveling to Saudi Arabia, the source said.

Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speak to reporters outside the White House Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

The trip comes just days after President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone about starting negotiations -- and after Trump said he expects to have an in-person meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia.

Rubio, Waltz and Witkoff are expected to meet with top Russian officials, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

The specific timing of the trip is not clear, though it is expected to happen this week, and it is unclear whether Ukraine will be involved in the talks.

-ABC News' Selina Wang, Rachel Scott and Katherine Faulders

Feb 15, 2025, 3:06 PM EST

Rubio speaks with Russian foreign minister, just a day after Ukraine talks

PHOTO: Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards a plane as he departs Joint Base Andrews with him to the Munich Security Conference, Germany, from Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Feb. 13, 2025.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards a plane as he departs Joint Base Andrews with him to the Munich Security Conference, Germany, from Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Feb. 13, 2025. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was forced to turn back on February 13, 2025 on his second trip abroad due to a mechanical issue with his airplane, the State Department said.
Evelyn Hockstein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The call follows President Donald Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. 

"The Secretary re-affirmed President Trump’s commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. "In addition, they discussed the opportunity to potentially work together on a number of other bilateral issues."

Feb 15, 2025, 2:40 PM EST

Trump to consider value-added taxes in tariff plan

President Donald Trump said he'll consider value-added taxes as part of his reciprocal tariff plan.

"We will consider Countries that use the VAT System, which is far more punitive than a Tariff, to be similar to that of a Tariff," Trump posting on Truth Social.

President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 14, 2025, en route to West Palm Beach, Fla.
Ben Curtis/AP

VATs are used in Europe as taxes that are imposed on goods at each stage of production. It's different from a sales tax in the United States, which is imposed on the final sale of the good. In Europe, the VAT rate depends on the country, but on average, it's about about 20%.

-ABC News' Selina Wang and Hannah Demissie

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