Senate Republicans have made concessions to those concerned about Medicaid cuts and other provisions in President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill," Fox News reported. This has caused division in the GOP, while worries about a narrow majority could jeopardize its final passage.
Trump is attempting to reduce the budget in his signature legislation, including targeting entitlements. However, some of those cuts include a key provision for Medicaid that is unpopular even among some Republicans.
The bill would cap the Medicaid provider tax rate, which helps states recover costs for their expenditures by taxing providers. In an effort to shore up the votes, Senate Republicans are attempting to placate those worried about cuts that would threaten rural hospitals without state funds to keep them afloat.
The Senate Finance Committee has proposed the creation of a stabilization fund worth $3 billion per year over the next five years. This would offset the cuts and could make the bill more palatable, but Republicans continue to duke it out.
Even with such a concession, it's unclear whether the reconciliation bill will pass muster. Meanwhile, Trump has urged Republicans to work together to get this passed before the Independence Day recess.
"Now that we have made PEACE abroad, we must finish the job here at home by passing 'THE GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,' and getting the Bill to my desk, ASAP. It will be a Historic Present for THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as we begin the Celebration of our Country’s 250th Birthday," Trump wrote Tuesday on his Truth Social.
"We are finally entering our Golden Age, which will bring unprecedented Safety, Security, and Prosperity for ALL of our Citizens. To my friends in the Senate, lock yourself in a room if you must, don’t go home, and GET THE DEAL DONE THIS WEEK," Trump urged.
"Work with the House so they can pick it up, and pass it, IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE GOES ON VACATION UNTIL IT’S DONE. Everyone, most importantly the American People, will be much better off thanks to our work together. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
The bill faced another hurdle on Thursday as Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough continued to hack away at many key provisions, The Hill reported. Because it's a budget reconciliation, the bill has to adhere to the Byrd Rule.
Budget reconciliation requires a simple majority rather than the 60 votes usually needed for other legislation. Proposing it this way also prevents a filibuster and is meant strictly for spending issues, so that other legislation can't sneak through without proper scrutiny.
MacDonough has questioned whether several elements, including Medicaid cuts, would comply with the Byrd Rule. One of those included a prohibition on illegal immigrants, refugees, and others with "temporary protected status" from receiving Medicare eligibility.
Worst of all, MacDonough nixed a provision that would deny payments for so-called "gender-affirming care" for minors. This has made Trump frustrated with her, while some are calling for MacDonough's ouster.
There are many objections and issues that must be settled before the bill passes. Although Trump would like to see it happen before July 4, there are too many obstacles just from Republicans.
Former actor, singer, and teen idol Bobby Sherman is dead at age 81, the New York Post reported. The "Little Woman" singer passed away just after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in March.
Sherman had long been retired when his wife, Brigitte Poublon, announced the diagnosis on Facebook. "As many of you know, Bobby has been retired for some time and is no longer able to participate in cameos, sign autographs, or make appearances," Poublon wrote on March 25.
"It is with a heavy heart that we share Bobby has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. During this challenging time, we kindly ask for your understanding and respect for our privacy. Thank you so much for still remembering him. We really appreciate it," she wrote.
Poublon enlisted the help of John Stamos, whom Sherman considered a "best friend," after her husband's short battle with cancer. The "Full House" actor became friends with the couple through work with their charity, Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation.
Stamos shared Poublon's message about Sherman's death on his Instagram. "It is with the heaviest heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Bobby Sherman," read Poublon's message that was posted by Stamos.
"Bobby left this world holding my hand—just as he held up our life with love, courage, and unwavering grace through all 29 beautiful years of marriage. I was his Cinderella, and he was my prince charming," Poublon's message went on.
The late star's wife described Sherman's final days leading up to his peaceful passing. "As he rested, I read him fan letters from all over the world—words of love and gratitude that lifted his spirits and reminded him of how deeply he was cherished," Poublon recalled.
"He soaked up every word with that familiar sparkle in his eye. And yes, he still found time to crack well-timed jokes—Bobby had a wonderful, wicked sense of humor. It never left him," his wife added.
Besides his loving wife and loyal best friend, Sherman was adored by fans who fell in love with him through his television and music career. Born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr., Sherman began his rise to fame in the 1960s after being discovered by Jane Fonda and Natalie Wood.
He was singing "Happy Birthday" at a party thrown by Wood's "Rebel Without a Cause" co-star Sal Mineo. Poublon said Fonda and Wood fell "in love with Bobby" instantly and helped him get signed to an agent.
Sherman would go on to get his first break on the ABC program "Shindig!" as a cast member and singer. However, it was his 1968 role as Jeremy Bolt on ABC's Western television series "Here Come the Brides" that truly made him a star.
Other acting roles included appearances on "Murder, She Wrote," "The Love Boat," and "Fantasy Island." Sherman also had four Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits with "Julie, Do Ya Love Me," "La La La (If I Had You)," "Little Woman," and "Easy Come, Easy Go."
With so many years in show business, touching the lives of so many, Sherman's passing is a tragedy. However, it seemed he led a good life and was loved by many, which is all that anyone could hope for.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has begun hacking away at President Donald Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill as Republicans seek to shore up support, The Hill reported. The finalized bill could pass budget reconciliation before the Independence Day holiday.
The parliamentarian took issue with key provisions of the bill, which will need to be tweaked to pass the legislation. MacDonough claimed some parts of the bill violated the Byrd Rule, which would preclude it from passing the Senate with a simple majority vote.
Some of the provisions on the chopping block include allowing states to enforce immigration and border security, cutting funding to or eliminating some agencies. MacDonough's involvement in this process has caused a stir on social media, with one user on X, formerly Twitter, calling her one of the "deep state plants."
🚨 BREAKING:
Unelected Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough is TRYING TO KILL THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.@JDVance Reject This!
Only 9 years in the last 90 have Republicans had the House, Senate and Presidency. We have NO time to waste on deep state plants. pic.twitter.com/hk7jNbfAbm
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) June 23, 2025
The Byrd Rule enables a budget reconciliation to pass with fewer votes while streamlining the process and preventing a filibuster. However, there are some stopgap exceptions to the rule, for which MacDonough and others have flagged Trump's bill.
One of the provisions MacDonough took exception to was a deal for newly hired civil servants to face a higher contribution rate in the Federal Employees Retirement System if they don't sign on to become at-will employees. This is a cost-saving measure, but one that the MacDonough felt would not pass muster.
Predictably, Democratic Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley was an outspoken opponent of this particular provision. "There is no better way to define this Big Beautiful Betrayal of a bill than families lose, and billionaires win," Merkley claimed in a statement.
Democrats are on the side of families and workers and are scrutinizing this bill piece by piece to ensure Republicans can’t use the reconciliation process to force their anti-worker policies on the American people. The Byrd Rule is enshrined in law for a reason, and Democrats are making sure it is enforced," he added.
Meanwhile, a Republican source told Fox News that the cuts are detrimental to the bill's passage. "There still must be some conservative wins coming out of the Senate. Those conservative wins were cut by the parliamentarian," the unnamed source noted.
While many object to McDonough's cuts, they are a necessary part of trying to pass this massive bill in the Senate under the current rules. Republicans have a narrow 53-seat majority compared to Democrats' 47 seats.
If they get too many downvotes, the bill would have to go back to the drawing board, or at least face substantial changes. The Senate will recess for the Independence Day holiday next week, and lawmakers are rushing to get this through before then.
With budget reconciliation, the bill could fly through the Senate, requiring only 51 votes instead of the usual 60, which would work to Republicans' advantage. However, that might not be as simple as it sounds, even with a GOP majority.
"They’re a long way away from the finish line right now," a source close to the matter told Fox News. It's possible the fight goes through the weekend with an early morning vote on Monday, but it's still anyone's guess whether it's passed before the break.
The legislation is already being picked apart, but significant changes could compromise the entire bill's passage. This could be the make-or-break time for Trump's signature legislation.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has been a thorn in the side of just about every other Republican the last few years, stubbornly trying to get them to make real and meaningful budget cuts and avoid adding more to the nation's already enormous debt of $34 trillion.
After Massie sided with Democrats against President Donald Trump's strike last week on Iranian nuclear sites, Trump blasted Massie and pledged on Sunday to go to Kentucky to campaign against him.
“Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Actually, MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him. He is a negative force who almost always Votes ‘NO,’ no matter how good something may be.”
Massie not only opposed Trump's strikes, he called on Congress to pass a joint war powers act resolution to prevent any further action by Trump.
“We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the ‘bomb’ right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this ‘lightweight’ Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran,” Trump said. “Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes ‘NO’ on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.), no matter how good something may be.”
He predicted that Massie would vote against the Senate version of the "big beautiful bill" and told his supporters to “drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!”
He then promised to support an effort to primary Massie and campaign against him.
“The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I’ll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard,” Trump pledged. “MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one. Thank you to our incredible military for the AMAZING job they did last night. It was really SPECIAL!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
Massie is admirable in his dedication to conservative ideals, but it seems like he has no idea of the political realities that make it very difficult to get a perfectly conservative bill through Congress.
It's all too easy to criticize current leadership and insist on legislation that will never make it through Congress; it's much harder to compromise and make a deal that will actually get enough support to pass both houses of Congress.
Trump prides himself on making deals, which requires give and take as well as flexibility.
The Senate removed many provisions of the bill that were popular with conservatives, including the ability of judges to impose nationwide restraining orders and injunctions and the repeal of the EPA's emission limits for cars.
The provisions were removed because the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, said that they violated the Senate's rules.
Some of the provisions could be restored to the bill if they are modified to better fit within the Senate's parameters.
As tensions continued to rise in the Middle East, Americans present in the region were forced to contemplate the possibility of further escalation and make plans to get themselves to safety.
Further evidence of the sense of urgency that has been taking hold amid the Israel-Iran conflict came Saturday when it was revealed that the State Department began evacuations of American citizens and permanent residents from Israel and the West Bank, as USA Today reports.
The push to evacuate Americans from the increasingly fraught region was announced by U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.
Taking to X to explain the situation, Huckabee wrote, “The Department of State has begun assisted departure flights from Israel.”
The ambassador declared that those interested in departing the area should complete a form provided by the State Department in order to receive assistance, as well as timely updates on the process.
On Saturday, Huckabee added that the embassy team was “working around the clock to assist American citizens wishing to depart.”
The timely nature of the situation appeared to be underscored when the ambassador added, “I strongly encourage you to...take the first option available to you.”
Despite the obvious difficulties of coordinating evacuations amid rising tensions and potential escalation of attacks, Huckabee's steadfast support for President Donald Trump's handling of the situation was clear.
Last week, the ambassador sent a message directly to the president outlining his belief in the administration's approach to the threat posed by Iran and its commitment to Israel, a communication later highlighted by the White House itself on X.
Huckabee stated his belief that “God spared” Trump last July during the Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt so that he could go on to become “the most consequential President in a century -- maybe ever.”
Affirming the trust he has in Trump's instincts, Huckabee added, “I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else's.”
While helping facilitate the evacuation of Americans from the danger zone, the ambassador told Trump, “You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears and voice and to make sure our flag flies above our embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. I will not abandon this post. Our flag will NOT come down! You did not seek this moment. This moment sought YOU!”
As the evacuation effort in Israel appeared to foreshadow, the Trump administration on Saturday announced that the U.S. military had carried out attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, activating a “large B-2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continental United States.”
Speaking to the nation after the mission, Trump declared the rogue nation's key uranium enrichment sites to have been “completely and totally obliterated,” as Axios noted, in an apparent vindication of Huckabee's expression of utmost confidence, but where things go from here, only time will tell.
President Donald Trump notched another victory after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that he may maintain control of California National Guard troops, Newsmax reported. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and others had sued to keep him from using the military to control anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles.
Trump celebrated Thursday's victory on his Truth Social after the ruling. "BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President's core power to call in the National Guard!" Trump posted.
"The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done," Trump said. He called it a "Great Decision for our Country."
Trump was forced to deploy the military to Los Angeles because of the riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Local officials seemed unable or unwilling to quell the riots, so Trump sent another 2,000 California National Guard troops prior to Thursday's ruling.
There are currently 4,100 National Guard troops plus another 700 U.S. Marines. The number of protesters has been dwindling, perhaps because of the military presence, but Newsom continues to argue that sending the National Guard provoked the rioters and overstepped Trump's authority.
A lower court initially sided with Newsom's lawsuit against military involvement. Democrat-appointed U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the riots fell "far short" of the threshold of "rebellion" that Trump used to deploy soldiers.
While Newsom was fighting Trump's ability to send in troops, the California governor remained unfazed by the fact that Los Angeles was burning. According to the New York Post, Newsom was spotted at a ritzy Napa Valley wine-tasting and fundraiser as riots got underway.
"I couldn’t believe it. He was just walking around like this was an everyday occurrence," one witness, who captured a photograph of Newsom at the event, said.
Although the three-judge panel agreed to allow Trump to keep control of the troops through the appeal, the fight is nowhere near over. According to the Associated Press, Breyer has asked both sides to prepare arguments by noon Monday to make their cases about whether Trump is violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
The law makes it illegal for military troops on American soil to do the job of civilian law enforcement. Newsom said in his legal filing that a "violation of the Posse Comitatus Act is imminent, if not already underway," though the judge tabled that issue until now.
Trump believes he has the power to use the federal troops based on Title 10. It allows for deployment when an area "is invaded," if "there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government," or when the president isn't able "to execute the laws of the United States" because of an uprising.
Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance has been making the case for Trump. "The president has a very simple proposal to everybody in every city, every community, every town whether big or small, if you enforce your own laws and if you protect federal law enforcement, we’re not going to send in the National Guard because it’s unnecessary," Vance told the press in Los Angeles.
The courts will have the final say, but it appears that Trump's intervention has been effective in the meantime. Newsom is a terrible leader who is comfortable with one of his major cities descending into chaos, which only highlights the contrast between the two leaders.
President Donald Trump has contradicted claims that he has preauthorized a strike against Iran, Just the News reported. The Wall Street Journal published an article on Wednesday, insisting that Trump told aides about a planned attack while in negotiations against nuclear proliferation.
The Journal claimed that while Trump was actively in talks with Tehran while simultaneously giving the green light to launch an attack if things didn't go well for the U.S. The news outlet cited "people familiar with the deliberations" as the source.
Trump took to his Truth Social on Thursday to deny he had any foreknowledge or planning for an attack. "The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!" the president said in his post.
The Wall Street Journal report said that Trump had approved a U.S. attack on Iran as of Tuesday but that he was waiting to see how negotiations would go before striking. Israel began launching its own offensive last week during the talks, but so far, the U.S. hasn't joined.
Trump has made it clear that the option is there, but has not made the final order. When speaking about the matter to reporters on Wednesday, Trump denied that he's made any concrete decisions or movements in that direction.
"I have ideas on what to do but I haven’t made a final—I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due," Trump said. Even as if there were plans are in place, Trump is still attempting to solve the problem with diplomacy.
He has repeatedly called for Iran's unconditional surrender while keeping the door open to a strike if they fail to comply. "I may do it, I may not do it. The next week is going to be very big, maybe less than a week," Trump added.
Meanwhile, Iran claims it won't negotiate under such a threat. "Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress, and certainly NOT with a has-been warmonger clinging to relevance," a statement from Iran’s United Nations Mission said of Trump.
Trump understands that going to war with another nation is not something that should be taken lightly. Even beyond his instincts, the reality of what's happening as Israel and Iran trade attacks that are increasingly horrific and deadly should be enough to deter him.
According to the New York Post, an Israeli daycare was bombed by Iranian forces Friday. "The building sustained significant damage," the Colel Chabad Daycare Center shared after the strike.
"Miraculously, no children or staff were present — the attack occurred just after closing time on Friday," the business added. Meanwhile, Israeli ballistic missiles took out Iranian military targets, inflicting destruction and bloodshed in this conflict, which makes the prospect of American involvement that much more serious.
It would make sense that Trump has plans on how to proceed with a war that could arguably be necessary if nuclear talks break down. What's not prudent is discussing it with the press beforehand, which could be why Trump is denying it, even if the reports are accurate.
Unlike his predecessors from both sides of the aisle, Trump isn't exactly champing at the bit to get the U.S. into another war. He will do what's necessary to keep Americans safe, but Trump doesn't seem too eager to lob missiles at Iran just yet regardless of what the press says about it.
U.S. Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday against the Trump administration's requirement for passports to reflect the correct biological sex of the individual, Fox News reported. The regulation originated from President Donald Trump's executive order, which declared that only male and female genders exist.
The decision Tuesday put up a roadblock in President Donald Trump's effort to restore sanity to the gender argument. It was one of his campaign promises, and Trump fulfilled it with an Inauguration Day executive order.
The order applied to the entire federal government and instructed agencies to "recognize two sexes, male and female." The order rightly stated that "these sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality."
However, the mainstream media and partisans like Kobick object to such reality. Kobick, who was appointed by then-President Joe Biden, framed her objection in the predictable terms of discrimination and hatred despite biology dictating the fact.
The ruling from Kobick blindsided Trump and other rational conservatives, including the Libs of TikTok account on X, formerly Twitter. "Unreal," the user posted on Tuesday, which applies both literally and colloquially to such a ruling.
BREAKING: Julia Kobick, a Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge, has issued an order BLOCKING the Trump administration's policy requiring that individuals use their biological sex (male or female) on their passport.
UNREAL pic.twitter.com/RNjoZ8Di5A
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 17, 2025
In her ruling against the State Department's regulation, Kobrick objected to reality in favor of leftist nonsense. Kobick said she's confident in her decision because the rule is "arbitrary and capricious" and "rooted in irrational prejudice toward transgender Americans."
The judge claimed "transgender and non-binary people who possess passports bearing sex markers that conflict with their gender identity and expression are… significantly more likely to experience psychological distress, suicidality, harassment, discrimination, and violence." Kobrick asserted that "obtaining gender concordant identity documents is part of the standard of care for treating gender dysphoria."
Her reasoning is that people would "experience anxiety and psychological distress or fear for their safety if they were required to travel with passports bearing a sex designation corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, largely because they would effectively ‘out’ themselves every time they presented their passports." This focus on feelings leaves out the impact these policies have on real women.
It's all well and good to worry about how people feel because they are gender confused. However, these policies have far-reaching implications that have a detrimental impact on real women.
Trump's executive order was titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." He rightly asserted that "efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being."
The president further acknowledged that "the erasure of sex in language and policy has a corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system." Trump's order said that such policies open women-only spaces to men, including domestic abuse shelters, bathrooms, changing rooms, etc., and thus threaten their safety.
"This is wrong … Basing Federal policy on truth is critical to scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, and trust in government itself," Trump's order said.
The judge founded her ruling on feelings instead of facts, and in doing so, neglected women's safety and ignored biology. Kobrick's reversal is a shocking decision, but there is no doubt that Trump and his administration will continue to fight this madness.
A federal judge found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in civil contempt of court Tuesday after he ignored a temporary restraining order on a state immigration law, Fox News reported. Uthmeier defied the order in support of President Donald Trump's border security agenda.
On April 29, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams had demanded Uthmeier demonstrate "why he should not be held in contempt or sanctioned" for violating the restraining order. She was unmoved by Uthmeier's reasoning and handed down this week's ruling.
Meanwhile, Uthmeier held it up as a badge of honor. "If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump's agenda on illegal immigration, so be it," he posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump's agenda on illegal immigration, so be it. https://t.co/PPrFEapaKv
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 17, 2025
In February, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state law to make it a criminal offence for illegal immigrants to enter the Sunshine State. Predictably, the Florida Immigrant Coalition and other pro-illegal immigrant groups sued the state.
The judge ordered a 14-day temporary restraining order on April 4 and extended it for an additional 11 days after the Florida Highway Patrol made several arrests under the law, including one American citizen. In all, about a dozen arrests were made under the new law.
Beginning April 18, Florida law enforcement officials were bound under the temporary restraining order to halt additional arrests. It was up to Uthmeier to notify law enforcement throughout the state, which he did at first.
However, the attorney general apparently had a change of heart and sent a follow-up on April 23 advising officers "no judicial order…properly restrains you from" making arrests under the state's immigration law. Utmeier insisted that "no lawful, legitimate order currently impedes your agencies from continuing to enforce" the state statute.
This move led the court to demand that Uthmeier defend his violation and prevent a contempt charge, which he clearly was unable to do. Uthmeier has never wavered from his assertion that the temporary restraining order is unjust and that he doesn't need to follow it.
When faced with Williams' order, Uthmeier doubled down on his reject ion f Williams' order, NBC News reported. "This judge is considering whether or not to hold me in contempt," Uthmeier said in a May 6 interview, Williams recounted to implicate him.
"But I am not going to rubber-stamp her order. I’m not going to direct law enforcement to stand down on enforcing the Trump agenda and carrying out Florida’s law," Williams quoted Uthmeier as saying.
"I'm not going to bow down," he added. Uthmeier said in a separate interview that Williams is "issuing this order and saying you gotta tell them all to stand down. I’m not gonna do that."
This sealed the deal for Uthmeier's contempt charge. Williams noted that he was "free to broadcast his continued appeal of the Court’s injunction and his view that the Court’s rulings are erroneous," but that when it came to law enforcement officials under his authority, he wasn't allowed to "tell them otherwise."
The states are suffering from the federal government's failure to enforce immigration laws, and have responded accordingly with legislation. The judge's temporary restraining order put Florida at a disadvantage, and Utmeier's defiance is an attempt to stand up for Floridians and for Trump's immigration crackdown.
A federal judge in Boston ruled Monday that President Donald Trump's administration could not make cuts to the National Institutes of Health research grants, NBC News reported. U.S. District Judge William Young said that eliminating research grants for diversity, equity, and inclusion is "void and illegal."
The judge believes that the administration had no authority to cancel the $1 billion in federal research grants. The remedy was to reinstate the grants, which will be returned to the plaintiffs, including organizations and Democrat-led states that initiated the lawsuit.
"This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. Any discrimination by our government is so wrong that it requires the court to enjoin it and at an appropriate time, I’m going to do it," Young explained.
Young, whose decision blindsided Trump because he's an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, said that he had "never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable" in his 40 years on the bench. "You are bearing down on people of color because of their color. The Constitution will not permit that," the judge added.
Trump and his administration have fought against DEI initiatives precisely because they favor some groups over others in a reverse discrimination. However, Young asserts that objecting to grants that particularly focus on DEI subjects is the source of injustice.
According to Fox News, White House Spokesman Kush Desai believes Young was ruling from his own political viewpoint. "It is appalling that a federal judge would use court proceedings to express his political views and preferences," Desai said in a statement to Fox News.
"How is a judge going to deliver an impartial decision when he explicitly stated his biased opinion that the Administration’s retraction of illegal DEI funding is racist and anti-LGBTQ? Justice ceases to be administered when a judge clearly rules on the basis of his political ideologies," Desai charged.
Of course, the administration will not take this lying down. HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said in a statement that the agency "is exploring all legal options, including filing an appeal and moving to stay the order" in the future.
"HHS stands by its decision to end funding for research that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor and meaningful outcomes for the American people," Nixon said. He added that the agency is "committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars support programs rooted in evidence-based practices and gold standard science, not driven by divisive DEI mandates or gender ideology."
Trump took on the broader issue of DEI in just about every corner of the government as part of his promised second-term agenda. The president set to work on his first day in office to dismantle DEI, as evidenced by a White House action on January 20.
As the release noted, "nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted 'Equity Action Plans' to detail the ways that they have furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government" under then-President Joe Biden. The Trump administration called this "immense public waste and shameful discrimination," the declaration said.
"That ends today. Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great," the White House added.
Trump is committed to ensuring that there is no preferential treatment in the distribution of money or resources in the United States. He has been accused of being the one perpetuating discrimination when really, he's the one reversing it by dispensing with these policies.
There's no reason any group should receive anything over another simply by virtue of some arbitrarily chosen characteristics of that group. Young was wrong to blame Trump, but this speaks to a sickness in government brought on by wokeism.