Trump's Trials - President Trump is trying to dramatically reshape the federal government

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

President Trump is trying to dramatically reshape the federal government, including remaking the federal workforce itself. While his directives are sweeping, they are facing legal challenges. Support NPR and hear every episode sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

I'm Scott Detro and you're listening to Trump's terms from NPR. We're going to be doing all sorts of things nobody ever thought was even possible. It's going to be a very aggressive first hundred days of the new Congress. An unpredictable, transformative next four years. The United States is going to take off like a rocket ship. Each episode we bring you the latest news about the 47th president and the policy changes he is pursuing on his own terms. We know from experience that means challenging precedent, busting norms, and pushing against set ideas about what the federal government can and can't do.

It all raises questions about how much Washington and the country will change over the course of this term. NPR is covering it all in stories like the one you are about to hear, right after this. You're listening to Trump's terms from NPR is covering it all in stories like the one you are about to hear, right after this. You're listening to Trump's terms from NPR. The indicator from Planet Money is diving into the world of batteries. Not the kind you buy at the grocery store. We're talking really big batteries, the kind that can power thousands of homes. This technology came seemingly out of nowhere.

We're digging deep into the battery industry in three back-to-back episodes. Listen to the Indicator from Planet Money podcast on NPR. It's a new year, and according to Pew, 79% of resolutions are about one thing, health. But there are so many fads around how to keep ourselves healthy. On It's Been a Minute, I'm helping you understand why some of today's biggest wellness

trends are, well, trending. Like why is there protein in everything? Join me as we uncover what's healthy and what's not on the It's Been a Minute podcast from NPR. I'm Michelle Martin. And I'm Steve Inskeep. Two actions this week show the scope of President Trump's bid to reshape the federal government. The president issued a sweeping order to pause trillions of dollars in payments.

Just as that was supposed to go into effect, a federal judge temporarily blocked it. And the administration added another proposal offering millions of federal employees a chance to quit. NPR White House correspondent Esma Khalid is here to talk about it all. Esma, good morning. Good morning, Steve. Okay, so the memo was going out to workers last night, I heard. What exactly is the federal government offering its employees? You

know, in terms of what it's offering, Steve, this is essentially an offer for federal workers to have a buyout. You know, yesterday federal employees received an email giving them the option to resign but still be paid through September. It is a big move with the goal to shrink the government. Under this new Trump administration, people in the federal workforce feel like they are being seen as the enemy in a way that they have never been viewed by prior administrations, either Republican or Democrat. And Steve, you know, being a government worker was once seen as a steady, secure job.

But right now, federal workers feel like their jobs are very precarious and that is indeed the intention. Trump wants government workers in line with his vision. He campaigned on remaking federal government. He campaigned on reshaping government as a whole. He telegraphed a lot of his decisions and now he is following through just perhaps more swiftly than expected. Now this email to federal workers will, I guess it'll be played out. Maybe it'll go to court. We'll find out what happens in the hours and days to come.

But then there's this other memo pausing payments, trillions of dollars worth of payments it said yesterday. What exactly was the federal government trying to do with that? It was a memo, Steve, that sparked utter chaos and confusion when it was issued by the Office of Management and Budget. It called for a temporary freeze in federal funds, grants, loans, other forms of assistance. It was a sweeping directive with little clarity. And Trump's press secretary, Caroline Levitt, spent a bulk of the White House press briefing

yesterday defending the freeze. And the reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken. Which is referring to there are programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as climate and just general overspending. But the memo was so broad that it was not clear what programs would be affected. The White House clarified that direct services like Medicaid, Social Security, and food stamps would not be impacted, but also did not articulate if financial assistance that comes through

nonprofits, you know, think for example, food banks, whether those might be affected. What was the response to all of this? Well Democrats raised alarm bells and accused Trump of violating the Constitution. Nonprofits expressed concern about cuts to services they provide. Diane Yentl is the CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, which represents a network of some 33,000 nonprofits. She says this freeze could lead to catastrophic consequences. We're talking about potentially shutting down shelters for survivors of domestic violence

or shelters for people experiencing homelessness. And so she was amongst a group that filed a legal challenge over Trump's move. And just as this directive was about to go into effect at 5 p.m. yesterday, a federal judge intervened. The charge being here that Congress, not the president, set spending. So what's the ruling mean? You know, it just allows sort of a bit of breathing room, at least until Monday. That is when a follow-up hearing is planned with more fulsome arguments on the merits of the case.

Steve, I will say the courts seem to be really the arena where the fights around Trump's changes will play out. You know, for example, you're also seeing legal challenges to the birthright citizenship executive order as well. NPR, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, thanks so much. Good to speak with you. For example, you're also seeing legal challenges to the birthright citizenship executive order as well. NPR White House correspondent, Esma Khaled, thanks so much. Good to speak with you. Before we wrap up a reminder, you can find more coverage of the incoming Trump administration

on the NPR Politics Podcast, where you can hear NPR's political reporters break down the day's biggest political news, with new episodes every weekday afternoon. And thanks as always to our NPR Plus supporters who hear every episode of the show without sponsored messages. You can learn more at plus.npr.org. I'm Scott Detrow. Thanks for listening to Trump's terms from NPR. Here's some news that really stinks.

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