Wednesday morning news: January 29, 2025

Federal grants & loans review/freeze » A federal judge has temporarily blocked a push by President Trump to pause funding of most federal grants and loans.

The White House said earlier in the day that the funding would be paused until February 10^th, while the administration conducted a top-to-bottom review of federal spending. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT: The reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken.

Laevitt said it would mean no more funding for illegal DEI initiatives, some Biden-era environmental programs, and other holdover spending from the prior administration.

Democrats strongly rebuked the move. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: 

SCHUMER: This decision is lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel. It's illegal. It’s unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the funding freeze just minutes before it was scheduled to take effect.

Leavitt White House presser debut / NJ drones » Karoline Leavitt's remarks Tuesday were her first from the White House podium.

And the new press secretary is shaking things up.

She’s providing seats traditionally used for aides to reporters from so-called “new media” outlets. She said the administration will speak to all kinds of outlets, and not just legacy media because—her words­, recent polling shows that “Americans’ trust in mass media has fallen to a record low.”

Leavitt also provided new information on those mysterious drone flights over New Jersey:

LEAVITT:  After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons.

She added that many of these drones were also hobbyists and recreational drones. And she said it got worse “due to curiosity” but they were not “enemy” drones.

Military trans order » President Trump is reversing President Biden’s policy, which had allowed transgender service members in the military. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The president signed an executive order Tuesday stating that allowing transgender service members … is not consistent with the Pentagon’s focus on troop readiness.

The order cites the “medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria.”

It goes on to say that … “A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”

LGBT and liberal activist groups are suing to block the order.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Trump youth protection from tans procedures » President Donald Trump has also signed an executive order cutting off federal funds from paying for transgender surgeries performed on people 18 years old or younger.

The order says “It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.”

Transportation secretary confirmed » The U.S. Senate has confirmed Sean Duffy as Transportation secretary.

AUDIO (Duffy vote): On this vote, the yeas are 77. The nays are 22. The nomination is confirmed.

Duffy, a 53-year-old former Wisconsin congressman turned reality TV star says he’s ready to get to work.

He’s promised less regulation, but also clear rules to help companies developing self-driving cars.

Duffy also vowed to hire more air traffic controllers, cut DEI programs, and help “restore global confidence” in Boeing.

Israel - UNRWA » Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon says his country will no longer cooperate with the United Nations' leading Palestinian aid group.

DANON: UNRWA has miserably failed in its mandate, and it has failed the people who are supposed to benefit from its services.

He said that UNRWA has failed to stop the infiltration in its ranks of Hamas and other terrorist groups.

Danon announced that starting January 30^th, Israel will end all cooperation with the organization, adding that the decision was not made lightly: 

DANON: It follows decades of betrayal by an agency that has placed political agendas, neglect and coverups over humanitarian principles.

Israeli officials say there are other, more effective aid groups with which the UN can partner that would have Israel’s blessing and cooperation.

Colombia update » The first deportation flight from the US to Colombia touched down on Tuesday.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday initially refused to accept two U.S. military planes with migrants. Trump responded swiftly by announcing tariffs on all Colombian imports of up to 50 percent and Petro reversed course just hours later.

The tariffs could have dealt a devastating blow to Colombia’s economy and to Gustavo Petro, politically. Elected in 20-22, recent polls have Petro’s approval rating below 40 percent. He is the country’s first leftist president in more than 50 years.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: an update from the nation's capital on Washington Wednesday. Plus, bringing hope to the battle line.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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