Sweeping policy changes and leadership shakeups hit U.S. executive departments. President Trump’s administration, alongside Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), introduced major federal job cuts, new trade tariffs, and diplomatic efforts in Ukraine. Read on for today’s verified developments.
On February 18, 2025, significant developments unfolded across various U.S. executive departments:
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Policy Changes: President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the government to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reduce associated costs. reuters.com
Department of Commerce
- Leadership Actions: The Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as the new Secretary of Commerce with a 51-45 vote. en.wikipedia.org
Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Leadership Actions: President Trump instructed the DOJ to terminate all remaining Biden-era U.S. attorneys, aiming to “restore confidence” in the justice system. reuters.com
- Policy Changes: A federal judge blocked the removal of a Democrat from the government workplace board, challenging the administration’s recent firings. reuters.com
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
- Leadership Actions: Elon Musk, heading DOGE, initiated significant federal job cuts targeting tax enforcers, rocket scientists, and bank regulators, claiming potential savings of “hundreds of billions of dollars.” reuters.com
- Policy Changes: A federal judge declined to block Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data and laying off workers, despite legal challenges to Musk’s authority. apnews.com
Department of State
- Policy Changes: The U.S. and Russia agreed to initiate efforts toward ending the conflict in Ukraine, following discussions between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. reuters.com
Department of Education
- Policy Changes: A U.S. judge permitted Elon Musk’s team to access internal systems containing federal student financial aid information, amidst concerns over data privacy. apnews.com
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Policy Changes: DOGE’s workforce reductions impacted DHS, with plans to dismiss employees not aligned with President Trump’s policies. reuters.com
Department of the Treasury
- Policy Changes: DOGE’s initiatives led to significant layoffs within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), affecting tax enforcement capabilities. reuters.com
Department of Defense
- Policy Changes: The Pentagon provided DOGE with lists of probationary employees as part of potential workforce reductions, aiming to “cut the fat and grow the muscle.” apnews.com
Department of the Interior
- Policy Changes: The National Park Service removed references to transgender individuals and rights from its websites, reflecting the administration’s stance on gender identity issues.
Department of Agriculture
- Policy Changes: DOGE’s actions led to the firing of USDA staff involved in managing the H5N1 outbreak, potentially hindering the national response to the crisis.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Policy Changes: DOGE initiated plans to eliminate 50% of the staff at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), particularly affecting roles related to insured loans for lower-income Americans.
Department of Labor
- Policy Changes: The administration’s mass layoffs across federal agencies have raised concerns about labor rights and the potential impact on essential government functions. reuters.com
Bibliography
- “Trump signs executive order expanding access to IVF, White House says”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters - “US Senate confirms Cantor Fitzgerald’s Lutnick to head Commerce Department”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters - “Trump says he has instructed DOJ to terminate all remaining Biden-era US attorneys”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters - “US judge blocks Trump’s removal of Democrat from government workplace board”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters - “Trump and Musk target tax enforcers, rocket scientists, bank regulators for job cuts”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters - “US and Russia agree to initiate peace talks over Ukraine”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters - “Federal judge allows Elon Musk’s team to access Education Department systems”
Published: February 18, 2025
AP News - “Pentagon provides lists of employees subject to DOGE workforce reductions”
Published: February 18, 2025
AP News - “DOGE-led budget cuts hit IRS, FAA, and Homeland Security”
Published: February 18, 2025
Reuters
