NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-28-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 28, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. A number of senior career officials at USAID are on leave, forced off the job by the new Trump administration. The officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development are accused of not abiding by President Trump's executive order that freezed foreign assistance, as NPR's Vatma Tenis reports. In a message sent to USAID staff and obtained by NPR, the acting administrator Jason Gray wrote that they had, quote, identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed

to circumvent the president's executive order and the mandate from the American people. The note said that a number of USAID employees had been placed on administrative leave until an analysis of those actions was completed. Speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, an agency staff member told NPR that, quote, it's shocking. They said to their knowledge the stop work order had been closely followed. The memo did not say how many people were placed on leave. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.

The White House is ordering the U.S. military to end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and programs. President Trump's executive order covers the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. The order also prohibits what the president calls divisive concepts. On Capitol Hill, senators are considering several key remaining cabinet nominees. Confirmation hearings for health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are happening this week.

Kennedy has faced criticism over his skepticism of vaccines among other controversial viewpoints. This is Democratic Senator Dick Durbin on the Senate floor yesterday. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is dangerously, dangerously unqualified and entirely irresponsible in his judgment. President Trump says Kennedy will restore gold standard scientific research. The first unionized whole food store in the nation

could be in Philadelphia after a majority of workers voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. From member station WHYY, Kristin Mossbrook-Garza reports. With 130 in favor and 100 against, workers at one of the city's whole foods markets just voted to unionize. UFCW local 1776 president Wendell Young says it was an uphill battle. What I am impressed with and surprised about is how well these workers have stuck together to stand up to the company, a company this powerful and an individual like Jeff Bezos,

and say, you know, we're not going to take this. The National Labor Relations Board, led by a Trump appointee, must certify the results. Amazon could challenge the votes. For NPR News, I'm Kristen Mosbrook-Rogarsa in Philadelphia. This is NPR News. A new survey finds the vast majority of parents still have positive views of childhood vaccines, although vaccine confidence is falling among Republicans. As NPR's Selena Sibbins-Duffin reports, the poll comes as the Senate prepares to consider Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the position of Health Secretary. Among all parents, 82 percent say they keep their child up to date with recommended childhood vaccines.

That's according to a survey published Tuesday by KFF, a nonpartisan health research organization. The survey of 1,300 adults was conducted earlier this month. However, trust in vaccines overall has fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among Republicans. Among Republican parents, more than one in four say they have skipped or delayed vaccinations for their kids. That's double the percentage it was just two years ago. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News. NPR has learned that U.S. public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

have been ordered to immediately stop working with the World Health Organization and await further guidance. The WHO and the CDC collaborate on a wide range of health efforts, such as the bird flu outbreaks ongoing in the U.S. and M-pox in Africa. CDC officials say this memo came as a surprise. President Trump started the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO on Inauguration Day. That process takes one year. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News in Washington.