This week at the White House, several key initiatives in tech, STEM, and sustainability are taking center stage. Here’s a look at the major developments taking place in Washington. No opinions—just facts.
President Donald Trump Backs National Security Adviser Amid Information Leak
President Donald Trump expressed support for his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, following an incident where The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a private, high-level Signal chat discussing military plans.
“Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC News. These comments were his first substantial response since The Atlantic reported the story, revealing that journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the chat where military strike plans in Yemen were being discussed. Goldberg stated he was added after receiving a request from someone identified as Waltz.
When asked about how Goldberg ended up in the Signal chat, Trump explained, “It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.”
Trump to Enforce 25% Tariff on All Imported Automobiles
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that a 25% tariff would be imposed on all automobiles entering the U.S.
Trump stated he expects automakers to either relocate to the U.S. and build new facilities or expand existing ones. He criticized companies that have opened plants in Canada and Mexico in recent decades, claiming it came at the expense of American workers.
“If you build your car in the U.S., there’s no tariff,” Trump said.
The tariffs will take effect on April 2 and will be “permanent,” he added.
Trump Hosts Cabinet Meeting With Elon Musk in Attendance
President Donald Trump held a third Cabinet meeting on Monday morning with Elon Musk in attendance, commending his department leaders for their cost-cutting efforts, despite recognizing that these measures might not be “popular.”
Trump addressed the room, emphasizing that the cuts were necessary regardless of their political impact, stating, “I have no idea how it plays out in the public … but it’s something that has to be done.”
Musk, who is heading the Department of Government Efficiency’s cost-cutting initiative, has faced criticism for his downsizing efforts. The meeting seemed strategically planned to showcase the success of these efforts and demonstrate how Musk and department heads were fulfilling the initiative’s objectives.
Trump Announces Shift of Key Education Department Programs to Other Agencies
President Donald Trump announced that the Small Business Administration will assume control of the Education Department’s student loan portfolio, while the Health and Human Services Department will manage services for students with disabilities.
Trump Orders Major Overhaul of Voice of America
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday aimed at downsizing the parent organization of the U.S. government-funded media outlet Voice of America, along with six other federal agencies, marking his administration’s latest effort to reduce bureaucracy.
The order directs these agencies—many of which are lesser-known, including one that funds museums and libraries and another focused on homelessness—to scale back their operations to the minimum required by law.
“This order continues the reduction of elements within the federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary,” the order, revealed late Friday, states. Trump, who had conflicts with Voice of America during his first term, appointed former news anchor Kari Lake as its director for his second term. Lake, a strong supporter of the president, has frequently accused mainstream media of having an anti-Trump bias.
