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On Politics

Wed Jul 9 2025

Rebecca Morin | Newsletter Writer

@RebeccaMorin_

Hello! Rebecca Morin here. Yes, I went to go see Beyoncé in concert recently. And yes, there's more to her concerts than just the music; there's a message too.

Supreme Court OKs Trump cuts for now

The cuts are back on. The Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a federal judge's order pausing the Trump administration's large-scale staffing cuts and agency restructuring. While the justices in an unsigned opinion said they are not ruling on the legality of a specific reorganization plan, the court said the district judge was wrong to stop the administration from moving ahead with changes to agencies. The mass federal layoffs are being challenged by a group of unions, non-profits and local governments who argued the administration can't make such sweeping changes without Congress. Why Trump says he doesn't need Congress to approve cuts.

Labor unions backlash: A White House official told USA TODAY the administration will be acting immediately and agencies are now awaiting guidance on the next step in the layoff process. But the American Federation of Government Employees, a labor union that partnered with outside groups and local governments to sue the Trump administration, said it is considering next steps as the case makes its way through court. What agencies could layoff workers.

VA massive layoffs walked back: At least one department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, has massively scaled back a plan to sack more than 76,000 employees. The department said it had "eliminated the need" for the huge workforce cut. The Department on Monday said it's "on pace to reduce total VA staff by nearly 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025." What the agency said about the layoffs.

A hiring freeze : It's not just about cutting current employees in the federal workforce. Trump ordered an extension of his freeze on hiring rank-and-file federal workers through Oct. 15. Trump's order says, "No Federal civilian position that is vacant may be filled, and no new position may be created" except for exemptions or as required by law. See which agencies are exempt from the freeze.

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 8, 2025.

Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS

A politics pit stop

•	Scottish police prep for a possible Trump visit to Scotland this month.
•	Student loan interest will restart for millions of SAVE borrowers.
•	10 charged in Independence Day ambush on ICE detainment facility.
•	Florida woman arrested outside Mar-a-Lago with 'message' for Trump.
•	Rubio impersonator used AI to contact U.S. and foreign officials.

2028 presidential watch: Sen. Ruben Gallego

A swing through Iowa could mean one thing: higher political ambitions. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, will stop by the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 8 – a quintessential presidential campaign stop. The move will likely generate presidential primary chatter for the Arizona Democrat as well as renewed buzz for Iowa, where some Democrats are eager to regain a foothold on the presidential nominating calendar. Gallego, who plans to speak about Trump's legislative package of tax reductions and Medicaid cuts that was signed into law, will also attend a town hall in the Quad Cities on Aug. 9. See which Democrats are weighing a 2028 run.

Docent-in-chief

When you redecorate, you want to show it off. It's not different even when you're the President of the United States. Trump on Tuesday gave an impromptu tour of the paintings and other objects he's sourced from various locations, including the State Department, to redecorate the Cabinet Room at the White House. The tour came at the end of an almost two-hour meeting with his cabinet as they sat around an elliptical mahogany table. The changes Trump said he made to the Cabinet Room.

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.