Executive order banning trans service members has ‘unadulterated animus’ toward members of the community, judge says
CNN
A federal judge considering whether to indefinitely block President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender service members described it on Tuesday as having “unadulterated animus” toward transgender Americans.
A federal judge considering whether to indefinitely block President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender service members described it on Tuesday as having “unadulterated animus” toward transgender Americans. “We’re dealing with unadulterated animus,” US District Judge Ana Reyes said during a hearing Tuesday in a case challenging the ban, which she went on to say is “arguably rampant with animus.” The remarks from Reyes, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, are key to the case because the challengers are arguing that the divisive language sprinkled throughout the executive order demonstrate that its mandate “stems from ‘negative attitudes,’ ‘fear,’ and ‘irrational prejudice’ rather than legitimate military needs.” During the hourslong hearing, Reyes repeatedly questioned an attorney for the Trump administration about how various provisions of the order relate to its stated goals of ensuring the military’s preparedness, unit cohesion and lethality. But the lawyer struggled at times to respond to those inquires, causing the judge to grow visibly frustrated. “How does this policy of ending ‘invented’ pronoun use (in the military) … relate to the purpose of military preparedness and unit cohesion?” Reyes asked at one point, borrowing language from the order. “I don’t have an answer to give, I’m sorry,” Justice Department attorney Jason Lynch replied.
As the long-fraught relationship between President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky ripped apart Wednesday, a question that lingered among allies of both men was whether the fight would dash hopes for a US-brokered peace — or, potentially, help it along.
Whitley Award-winning biologist Fernanda Abra’s Reconecta Project is building canopy bridges across highways in Brazil to protect endangered primates.
Brazilian biologist Fernanda Abra was recognized by the Whitley Fund for Nature for her pioneering work to build and monitor low-cost canopy bridges over Highway BR-174 in the Amazon rainforest, to protect tree-dwelling mammals from road vehicles.
A young girl in Texas died by suicide after being bullied about her family’s immigration’s status, according to her family.
An appeals court will not allow the Trump administration to end birthright citizenship for certain children of immigrants, in a ruling that could propel the issue to the Supreme Court.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to prepare plans to make drastic budget cuts over the next five years, with an exception for border security, according to a new memo obtained by CNN.
Senate Republicans announced Wednesday they are muscling ahead with their preferred legislative strategy to jumpstart Donald Trump’s agenda — just hours after the president himself backed a much different approach.
At least two people are dead after two small aircraft collided in midair at an Arizona airport Wednesday, authorities said.
Some defense officials responsible for drafting lists of civilian Pentagon employees to be terminated as soon as this week are raising concerns with their superiors that the summary firings could break the law and potentially harm US military readiness, a senior defense official told CNN.
Charlotte Peet, 32, last contacted a friend in Rio de Janeiro on February 8, according to a Tuesday statement from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in Brazil (ACIE).
The federal judge overseeing the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to hear from the attorneys Wednesday afternoon about the Justice Department’s controversial motion to dismiss the charges against him.
When Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts by a jury last May, there was one person in his courtroom entourage who wasn’t one of his lawyers, aides or family members: Steve Witkoff.
As federal workers get fired by the thousands, the news has sometimes come in unceremonious, callous ways.