Key Events (10)
Harvard University sued the Trump administration over efforts to freeze approximately $9 billion in federal funding, alleging the administration is attempting to 'gain control of academic decision-making.' Over 150 university presidents signed a letter condemning the administration's 'undue government intrusion,' with more than 220 academic leaders signing a statement opposing what they characterized as Trump 'overreach.'
The International Monetary Fund warned of major risks to global financial stability from Trump's tariffs, slashing the global growth forecast to 2.8% this year and cutting growth forecasts for most advanced economies. The UK is expected to grow by only 1.1% this year, down from 1.6%, amid warnings that the trade tensions could trigger 'sharp repricing of risks' in financial markets.
The US imposed tariffs of up to 3,521% on solar panels from south-east Asia, while Trump indicated that China tariffs currently at 145% will drop 'substantially' but will not reach zero. UK Chancellor Reeves traveled to the US to negotiate for reduced tariffs on British exports.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a sweeping reorganization of the US State Department that will close a number of overseas missions and reduce staff. The announcement comes as the administration continues to reshape key institutions.
The Veterans Affairs agency ordered staff to report each other for 'anti-Christian bias,' establishing a new taskforce to root out 'policies, procedures... or understandings hostile to Christian views.' The action represents an effort to enforce religious conformity within federal agencies.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied texting war plans in a second Signal chat scandal involving military operations, blaming ousted officials for leaks. Trump backed Hegseth despite the reports of the encrypted messaging group discussion.
A 60 Minutes executive producer left the program, stating in a staff memo that 'it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,' citing concerns over journalistic independence. The departure reflects broader concerns about editorial control at the news division.
Vice President JD Vance spoke in India, warning that the 21st century could be a 'dark time for humanity' without a close India-US alliance, contrasting India's potential with the West's 'self-loathing.' The speech emphasized strengthening bilateral relations with India.
Trump stated he has no plans to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after recently calling him a 'major loser.' Powell's position had been questioned following Trump's criticism of the Fed's reluctance to cut interest rates more aggressively.
Elon Musk announced plans to pull back from his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) role starting in May, reducing his White House involvement to one to two days per week as Tesla faced a 71% dip in profits, with analysts attributing the decline partly to the branding crisis from his government role.