Thursday morning news: February 6, 2025

Trump order protecting women’s sports » President Trump welcomed a crowd in the East Room of the White House as he prepared to sign an executive order aimed at protecting women’s sports.

TRUMP: Thank you very much.

He chose to sign the order on Wednesday to coincide with National Girls and Women in Sports Day. And the president welcomed many female athletes and their families to the White House to mark the occasion.

TRUMP:  We will defend the proud tradition of female athletes and we will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls. From now on women sports will be only for women. (cheering)

The order reinterprets Title IX to make clear that only other biological females should be permitted to compete against women and girls in school sports.

Title IX is a section of civil rights law intended to protect women’s equal rights in education.

And the president added:

TRUMP: We're putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice that if you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding. There will be no federal funding.

President Biden had sought to reinterpret Title IX in exactly the opposite way prioritizing transgender accommodations over women’s rights. Federal courts put that order on hold.

And numerous groups are vowing to sue over President Trump’s order.

Reaction to Trump Gaza proposal » At the Pentagon:

SOUND: [Military band playing]

A U.S. military band helping to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Wednesday was day-two of the prime minister's visit to Washington. Inside, Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth and the prime minister both highlighted the bond between the two nations.

HEGSETH: You have a long memory. We have a long memory. And may our relationship continue to endure.

NETANYAHU: I truly believe Israel obviously has no greater friend than the United States. And I think the United States has no better friend than Israel.

The meeting came roughly 24 hours after President Donald Trump said he wants the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and rebuild it.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the move would help secure peace and safety for Israel.

JOHNSON: It's a bold move, certainly, far bolder than what's been done before. But, I think we've got to stand unequivocally, in an unwavering manner, as the whip said, with Israel, our closest ally and friend in the Middle East.

Democrats, though, are blasting the plan. Senator Chris Coons said “You can put me down as this is between offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish.”

Political battle over DOGE » Republicans and Democrats are also clashing over DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. That’s an independent office led by Elon Musk that President Trump has commissioned to identify wasteful spending in Washington.

Democrats say DOGE is a nefarious, shadowy entity. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER:  Democracy does not skirt the rule of law. The American people deserve to have a seat at the table when these important decisions are made.

But White House Press Secretary Karline Leavitt says the American people had a seat at the table when they elected President Trump.

LEAVITT:  He campaigned across this country with Elon Musk vowing that Elon was going to head up the Department of Government Efficiency and the two of them with a great team around them were going to look at the receipts of this federal government and ensure it's accountable to American taxpayers.

And the White House notes that DOGE cannot make spending cuts. It can only then recommend them to the duly elected president and his administration.

Sen. Schumer said he’s asking government employees to come forward with any complaints against DOGE.

DPS border numbers » The Texas Department of Public Safety is reporting a sharp drop in migrant encounters at the southern border. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Texas officials say they’re seeing the lowest number of illegal immigrants at or around the border in years.

The DPS says it recorded just 446 encounters on Monday. Officials say that number is two to three times smaller than in President Biden’s final week in office when daily encounters in Texas ranged from 1,200 to 1,400.

The decline comes as the first group of Mexican National Guard troops arrived at the border. Mexico's president has pledged to send a total of 10,000 troops in exchange for the U.S. delaying tariffs.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Vance at Religious Freedom Summit » Vice President JD Vance says the Trump administration is ready to stand up for religious freedoms.

He spoke Wednesday at the annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington:

VANCE:   Before he was elected president, John Adams observed that politicians, quote, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.

He said religious liberty is not just about legal safeguards but also about fostering a culture in which faith can thrive.

And Vance said the Trump administration intends to do that, both at home and abroad.

He vowed that the administration will end what he called weaponization of government against religious Americans, including against pro-life groups.

And he said foreign aid dollars would be redirected to support groups that promote religious freedoms.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: confusion at the southern border as executive orders change U.S. immigration policies. Plus, a couple pro-life stories dealing with presidential pardons and rescuing abandoned babies.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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