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Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have outlined their plans to slash the federal workforce with the help of a team of quote small government crusaders. What's in store for federal workers and how are they planning for change? This January 1A's.gov series guides you through various government agencies and the people working for you. Listen to the 1A podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. Investigators have retrieved the flight recorders from the Army helicopter and regional passenger

jet that crashed over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. Efforts continue to recover all 67 victims of the tragedy. NPR's Frank Langford reports from Bragan National Airport. Military helicopters are a common sight in the skies around Washington. At a news conference, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman explained how they navigate the crowded airspace here. They're actually helicopter zones, if you will, or tracks. And this one was transiting, I believe, from track one to four as part of their normal

procedure. Inman said the aircraft's recording devices should provide their altitude when they collided. An important piece of data as investigators try to figure out what led to the crash that left 67 people dead. Frank Langford, NPR News, Reagan National. The National Science Foundation has halted funding for existing research grants.

As Jonathan Lambert reports, the move comes amid efforts to comply with President Trump's executive orders. Jonathan Lambert, Professor of Science, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University

of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of

Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of Illinois, University of is congressionally mandated to consider how its grants will boost underrepresented groups' participation in science. That mandate is at odds with Trump's executive orders aiming to terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the government. The National Science Foundation has an annual budget of around $9 billion to fund research grants. Payments of those grants have been paused since Tuesday as the agency reviews their

grantmaking and the projects they fund. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. President Trump's nominee to head the FBI appeared at his Senate confirmation hearing today. Cash Patel is a critic of federal law enforcement and says he wants to focus on fighting terrorism and drug trafficking. As NPR's Gary Johnson reports, Senate Democrats were concerned about Patel's support for some of the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

Patel helped promote a song by what's been called the J-6 choir. That's a group of rioters who had been detained in the same D.C. jail. Patel is actually listed as a promoter of the choir and at least five of the members pleaded guilty to attacking police. One of them sprayed Officer Brian Sicknick with chemicals. That officer died the next day after suffering a stroke. And here is Gary Johnson reporting. Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee today grilled Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee, to become director of national intelligence.

Gabbard was questioned about her support for then Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and former national security analyst Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information on global surveillance program. Snowden now lives in Russia. On Wall Street Stocks Close Higher, the Dow Jones Industrial gained 168 points. This is NPR News. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore did some maintenance work today outside the International Space Station.

They've been stranded aboard the outpost because of technical issues found during their arrival aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft nearly eight months ago. NASA says the pair are now expected to return to Earth in late March or early April. President Trump has ordered FCC Chief Brendan Carr to investigate NPR and PBS over the underwriting spots aired on stations across the nation. As NPR's David Folkenflick reports, Carr says the spots are too much like commercials. David Folkenflick, NPR Chief of Staff, NPR The Federal Communications Commission actually doesn't regulate the networks. It regulates public broadcasting stations because the agency licenses them

to use the public airwaves. In separate statements, the chief executives of PBS and NPR say they're careful to observe the law and agency regulations and have followed the FCC's own guidance for decades. Carr wrote in his letter to the networks

that he was sharing his decision to launch the inquiry with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in hopes it helps convince them to cut off funds for the public broadcasters. President Trump's repeated proposals to do just that proved unsuccessful in his first term. David Folkenflick, NPR News. Danielle Pletka British pop icon Mary Ann Faithful has died in London. Faithful's hits include the 1964 song, As Tears Go By, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

She recorded dozens of songs over a career that lasted nearly six decades, including the ballad of Lucy Jordan, which was featured as a soundtrack in the Hollywood movie Thelma and Louise. Faithful was 78. This is NPR. NPR This message comes from Wwise, the app for doing things in other currencies. Sending or spending money abroad, hidden fees may be taking a cut. With WISE, you can convert between up to 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate. Visit WISE.com. TNCs apply.