NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-19-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: April 19, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. The Trump administration is taking steps to make it easier to fire federal workers by stripping away their civil service protections. NPR's Shannon Bond reports. The Office of Personnel Management proposed a new rule on Friday, reclassifying many federal jobs as, quote, at-will employees. OPM estimates 50,000 positions, or about 2% of the federal workforce, will be reclassified. President Trump said on social media that if government workers, quote,

refuse to advance the policy interests of the president or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job. The Trump administration is pushing to shrink the federal government and exert more control over it. The American Federation of Government Employees says this latest action will, quote, undermine the professional civil service that Americans rely on. Shannon Bond, NPR News. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen says the Kilmar-Abrego Garcia case is not just about one man, it's about protecting constitutional rights. Van Hollen spoke to reporters following his return to the U.S. from El Salvador, where he met with Abrego Garcia after a meeting was initially rejected.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court overnight temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport accused of Venezuelan gang members from a detention facility in North Texas. Measles has been detected in Montana for the first time in 35 years. State health officials have confirmed five cases so far from Montana Public Radio. Aaron Bolton reports. State health officials announced the cases in southwest Montana's Gallatin County Thursday evening. They say all five people were recently traveling but did not say where. The individuals are either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccine status.

County health officials say everyone has been isolated, but say people in the community were exposed. Montana only has estimates for current vaccination rates. That's because a 2021 state law told schools to stop reporting vaccination rates. Legislation to restart that data collection has stalled in the state legislature. For NPR News, I'm Aaron Bolton in Columbia Falls, Montana. Federal health officials say the U.S. has a total of 800 confirmed measles cases across

25 states, nearly 600 of them in Texas since January. Vice President J.D. Vance met today with senior officials at the Vatican. Pope Francis has condemned the Trump administration for its treatment of migrants and cuts to foreign aid. The BBC's Paul Moss has more. The Pope hasn't minced his words when it comes to Donald Trump's administration. He called its crackdown on immigrants a disgrace, which didn't recognize the equal dignity of every human being. J.D. Vance reportedly wanted an audience with the pope. Instead, it seems the vice president is making do with meeting the Vatican's secretary of

state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who says he wants to work with Donald Trump to promote peace. This is NPR. Florida State University says it will open a support center today following Thursday's shooting that left two people dead and six others injured. Thousands of students, staff, and faculty turned out for a vigil last night. Tallahassee police have not released a motive, but they have identified the government as a 20-year-old Florida State student who was the stepson of a sheriff's deputy.

He was shot and wounded by police. Hundreds of rallies, protests and civic events expected across the country today. And what organizers are calling a day of action against President Trump and his policy agenda, Bruce Convizor picks up the story from New York. Bruce Convizor Under the umbrella of the 50-51 movement, which stands for 50 states, 50 protest, one movement, grassroots organizers across the country are developing their own

events. Here in New York, a central theme will be support for immigrants. There's strong opposition here to helping federal ICE agents arresting immigrants with the aim of deporting them. And with Earth Day approaching on Tuesday, rallygoers are expected to ramp up calls to fight climate change. President Trump has signed executive orders in an attempt to revive the country's coal industry. Two weeks ago, during the hands-off rally here,

thousands protested what many called President Trump's assault on democracy. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Convyser in New York. The first shot of the American Revolution was fired 250 years ago, today the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord. There was a battle reenactment in Lexington early this morning following last night's lantern service at Boston's Old North Church and a reenactment of Paul Revere's ride. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.