Good morning! Today is February 27th, and here is your morning news rundown. I know I told many of you that I was burnt out last night, and truthfully, I was. But, this morning, I woke up feeling better after a great night’s sleep!
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With that, here is all the news you missed:
Andrew Tate and his brother have been released from custody in Romania and are now en route to Florida by private jet. According to the Financial Times, the Trump administration exerted significant pressure on the Romanian government to lift their travel ban, despite the fact that they are currently facing charges of rape and sex trafficking. The brothers stand accused of running a criminal operation that exploited women. However, their public support for the current U.S. president appears to have played a role in securing their ability to travel freely.
According to The New York Times, the FDA’s advisory panel on vaccine policy— which has faced criticism from RFK Jr.— was informed on Wednesday that its upcoming meeting to discuss next year’s flu vaccines has been canceled.
Dr. Paul Offit, a committee member from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, confirmed the cancellation and warned that it could disrupt or delay flu vaccine production.
The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted a lower court's order that required the Trump administration to release billions in foreign aid by midnight. Chief Justice John Roberts issued the stay, allowing the administration to continue freezing funds allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) while the Court reviews the case.
Elon Musk claimed that DOGE made a mistake by cutting USAID’s Ebola prevention efforts but said the funding had since been “restored.” However, current and former officials tell the Washington Post otherwise.
The most significant effort to reduce the federal workforce is now in motion, with agencies required to submit plans for major staff cuts by March 13.
The Social Security Administration has been directed to cut its workforce by 50%.
The General Services Administration (GSA) has indicated that terminations are imminent.
The Department of Labor is reportedly planning to reduce staff by 90%.
A widespread cancellation of federal building leases is underway, including over 100 IRS office leases, according to records.
The Trump administration is reconsidering a $590 million contract awarded to Moderna for the development of a bird flu vaccine, according to Bloomberg News. This review is part of a broader government initiative to assess spending on messenger RNA-based vaccines, the technology behind Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.
U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore has announced his retirement, effective March 3, following significant staff reductions within the agency. In an email to employees, Moore described the recent weeks as "incredibly difficult" due to mass layoffs resulting from the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government.
The Pentagon intends to discharge transgender service members who fail to meet the requirements outlined in its new policy, according to guidance revealed in a Wednesday court filing.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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