- Voice of America: US District Court Judge J. Paul Oetken sided with silenced journalists at VOA on Friday, saying he would issue a temporary restraining order meant to block any further efforts to terminate the outlet. It’s the latest setback for Trump’s push to shut down US government-funded international broadcasters.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Judge Amy Berman Jackson temporarily blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the CFPB in one of the most significant rulings yet against its efforts to dramatically shrink the federal government. The new preliminary injunction “maintains the agency’s existence until this case has been resolved on the merits,” Jackson wrote, saying the administration had taken action in “complete disregard” of Congress’ decision to create the financial watchdog agency in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis.
- Deporting migrants: US District Court Judge Brian Murphy temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting migrants to countries other than their home country without providing prior notice and an opportunity to seek protection from persecution or torture, according to a Friday filing. In an effort to ramp up deportations, the Trump administration has leaned on regional partners to accept third-country migrants.
Meanwhile, a win for the administration:
- US Agency for International Development: Separately, a federal appeals court has greenlit, for now, the dismantling of the foreign aid agency, which fights poverty and hunger around the world and has been accused of wasteful spending by Trump officials. The fate of the agency likely won’t be determined until there are several more court proceedings and potentially the Supreme Court’s intervention.
President Donald Trump expressed some openness to cutting tariff deals with other countries as he plans to unveil new taxes on imports in the coming days, but he suggested any deals would be made after the tariffs go into place on April 2.
“It’s possible if we can get something for the deal — but, you know, we’ve been taken advantage of for 40 years, maybe more. It’s just not going to happen anymore. But yeah, I’m certainly open to it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to Florida, when asked if he was open to making deals with countries like the United Kingdom that have discussed reducing tariffs on the US.
Pressed on whether that would happen before the tariffs are announced, he said, “No. Probably later.”
Trump also reiterated plans to announce pharmaceutical tariffs.
The president declined to provide a specific rate for those tariffs, but said it would be “enough to get the drugs and the pharmaceutical companies bringing their product into our country — we never want to have to rely on other countries, like we did during Covid.”
He downplayed a shift in tone regarding Canada following his Friday morning call with Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying, “I’ve always loved Canada and we had a very good conversation
