Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy – President-elect Donald Trump’s picks to steer the newly shaped job power to assessment authorities spending – mentioned they are going to push for eliminating work-from-home insurance policies for federal staff, an thought that might spark clashes between the brand new administration and authorities worker unions.
“Requiring federal staff to come back to the workplace 5 days every week would lead to a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal staff do not wish to present up, American taxpayers should not pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying house,” they wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday.
Musk and Ramaswamy mentioned the brand new Department of Government Efficiency – which will likely be arrange exterior the federal government, however advise the White House on price range and spending points – would assist cut back the federal workforce by compelling staff to resign. In the op-ed, they mentioned they’d serve of their roles as “exterior volunteers, not federal officers or staff.”
A full return to workplace for federal staff might shore up the native Washington, DC economic system, since post-pandemic workplace emptiness charges stay excessive and financial exercise within the metropolis’s downtown has plateaued at 68% of pre-pandemic ranges, per a 2023 report from the Downtown DC Business Improvement District. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested President Joe Biden to carry staff again to the workplace – or relinquish workplace actual property – in a bid to revive the town’s downtown.
There are greater than two million federal staff and over 400 businesses throughout the nation. Eighty p.c of federal staff work exterior of Washington, in accordance with the Partnership for Public Service.
If formally embraced by Trump, the return-to-office has the potential to set off a wave of fights between the White House and the labor unions that cowl staff at many federal businesses. Some workplaces have longstanding tele-work preparations that predate the Covid-19 pandemic.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, has panned work-from-home insurance policies, telling CNBC in 2023 that tech staff ought to “get off the goddamn ethical excessive horse with the work-from-home.”
Here’s the newest on Trump’s transition:
Ambassador to Canada
Trump is nominating former Representative Pete Hoekstra of Michigan to be the US ambassador to Canada. Hoekstra beforehand served as Trump’s ambassador to the Netherlands throughout his first time period and is the chair of the Republican Party in Michigan – a swing state the president-elect carried on this month’s election.
“In my Second Term, Pete will assist me as soon as once more put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump mentioned in a press release. “He did an excellent job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands throughout our first 4 years, and I’m assured that he’ll proceed to signify our Country nicely on this new position.”
During his first time period, Trump scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he had mentioned was costing the US jobs and negotiated a successor pact, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, a transfer he touted in his assertion.
“We introduced Trade with Mexico and Canada to a stage enjoying discipline for our fantastic Farmers and Working Families,” Trump mentioned.
Trade coverage will likely be on the forefront of Trump’s second administration as nicely, with the president-elect floating 10% or 20% baseline tariffs on all imports, with larger charges for China.
Trump Opposes Press Freedom Bill
Trump urged Republicans to dam a invoice geared toward defending press freedom.
“REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL!,” Trump wrote in a put up to his Truth Social community, linking to a video from PBS News Hour discussing the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, referred to as the PRESS Act.
Supporters of the measure say that it could shield journalists from being spied on by the federal authorities, permitting them to maintain their sources and supplies, equivalent to writings, recordings and images, confidential.
The invoice handed the US House earlier this 12 months and is now earlier than the Senate.
Advocacy group Reporters Without Borders earlier this month urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats to go the legislation earlier than the present Congress ends, calling it a “commonsense, bipartisan press protect” and warning that Trump and Republicans who will management the Senate in January will likely be unwilling to enact such laws.
Trump’s put up urging Republicans to dam the PRESS Act comes days after the president-elect sought to downplay tensions with the media, which he usually criticizes and claims is biased.
“It is essential – if not very important – to have a free, truthful and open media or press,” Trump mentioned in an interview with Fox News Digital on Monday, including that he believes he has an “obligation” to work with the media.
The president-elect throughout the marketing campaign usually attacked the press as “pretend information” and has sued CBS Broadcasting Inc., alleging it altered clips of an interview together with his normal election rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
NATO Envoy Pick
Trump has picked Republican lawyer Matthew Whitaker to be the US Ambassador to NATO, choosing a former loyal aide from his first administration as his envoy to a global alliance he usually criticizes.
“I’ve full confidence in Matt’s skill to signify the United States with Strength, Integrity, and unwavering Dedication,” Trump mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. “I look ahead to working intently with him as we proceed to advertise PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Freedom, and Prosperity across the World.”
Trump has assailed NATO allies over their protection spending. On the marketing campaign path he has threatened that the US won’t come to the help of allies who don’t spend sufficient for their very own militaries. The NATO put up requires Senate affirmation.
In Whitaker, 55, Trump has enlisted a trusted ally who was a middle of controversy because the nation’s high legislation enforcement official. He served as appearing lawyer normal from November 2018 to February 2019 after Trump pressured out his first lawyer normal, Jeff Sessions.
Whitaker has accused Special Counsel Jack Smith of utilizing “novel authorized theories” to cost Trump with crimes with a view to intrude with the 2024 election. Smith introduced two instances in opposition to Trump, one for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election and the opposite accusing him of mishandling labeled info and obstructing justice after he left workplace.
As appearing lawyer normal, Whitaker oversaw Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether or not Trump conspired with Russia to intrude within the 2016 election. At the time, critics feared that Whitaker would intrude with Mueller’s investigation or shut it down. However, he allowed Mueller to proceed unimpeded.
Gaetz Meets Graham
Senator Lindsey Graham, the highest Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, mentioned he was dedicated to dealing with the nomination of Trump’s selection for lawyer normal, Matt Gaetz, with “equity” and urged lawmakers to not rush to judgment after a gathering with the controversial decide on Wednesday.
Graham in a press release urged fellow Republicans to permit the affirmation course of to play out and permit Gaetz, who’s going through intense scrutiny over a House sexual misconduct probe, to make his case for being the nation’s high legislation enforcement official.
“I are inclined to defer to presidential cupboard decisions until the proof suggests disqualification,” Graham mentioned. “I concern the method surrounding the Gaetz nomination is popping into an offended mob, and unverified allegations are being handled as if they’re true.”
Matt Gaetz, left, and JD Vance on the US Capitol on Nov. 20. Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Republicans will likely be in command of the Senate in January, however Gaetz’s affirmation is just not assured.
Gaetz and Graham have been joined within the assembly by Vice President-elect JD Vance, an Ohio senator. Vance is arranging sit-downs between key Republicans and two of Trump’s most controversial picks for his cupboard, Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, a Fox News Channel host and Army National Guard member, who has been tapped for Defense secretary.
Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault whereas Gaetz has been investigated for sexual misconduct. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
The House Ethics Committee, which has confronted strain to publicize its findings on the sexual misconduct probe into Gaetz, on Wednesday voted to maintain confidential its report, the panel’s high Democrat mentioned.
All of the panel’s GOP members voted to dam the report’s launch, Democratic Representative Susan Wild of Pennsylvania mentioned after the committee met behind closed doorways for greater than two hours. Democrats searching for to reveal the findings wanted a minimum of one Republican to again them, she mentioned.
Read extra: Gaetz’s Sexual Misconduct Report Release Blocked by House GOP
The Justice Department investigated allegations that Gaetz had intercourse with a minor in alternate for cash however determined in February 2023 to not file any fees in opposition to him. Gaetz has denied the allegations.
Gaetz resigned from Congress days earlier than the Ethics committee was scheduled to deliberate on how you can deal with outcomes from its investigation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)