Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Trump Admin Protects Federal Workers’ Right to Express Their Faith.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration issued new guidance affirming that federal employees may openly express their religious beliefs at work.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Office of Personnel Management, federal employees, and CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The guidance was issued on July 28, 2025, and applies to federal workplaces across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “From the very founding of our nation, faith was not relegated to the private sphere but boldly woven into the fabric of public life.” – CatholicVote president Kelsey Reinhardt

🎯IMPACT: The guidance expands religious freedoms for federal employees and reinforces constitutional protections for faith expression in the workplace.

IN FULL

The Trump administration issued updated guidance on Monday, affirming that federal employees are permitted to express their religious beliefs in the workplace openly. The new directive clarifies that federal workers may engage in religious activities such as praying with colleagues, sharing their faith, and displaying religious symbols in their personal office spaces.

According to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management, federal workers are allowed to attempt to “persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views” and invite coworkers to religious functions, provided such actions do not cross the line into harassment.

This policy marks a broader effort by the administration to defend constitutional rights and ensure that federal employees are protected from retaliation due to their faith. The guidance builds upon pre-existing Department of Labor rules but goes further in creating space for religious activity during the workday. Now, federal staff can keep items like crosses, Bibles, and other religious objects at their desks. Additionally, supervisors may post church-related flyers, for instance, on office bulletin boards, and public-facing officials, such as park rangers or healthcare providers, may pray with members of the public.

The guidance also calls on federal agencies to revise their internal rules to reflect these expanded protections. It references the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Groff v. DeJoy, which reinforced legal safeguards around religious accommodation in the workplace.

Kelsey Reinhardt, President of CatholicVote, commended the guidance, calling it “a reaffirmation of America’s founding principles.”

“From the very founding of our nation, faith was not relegated to the private sphere but boldly woven into the fabric of public life,” Reinhardt added, praising other recent steps by the administration to defend people of faith, including an executive order addressing anti-Christian discrimination and the creation of the Religious Liberty Commission.

“The assurance that… expressions [of faith] will be welcomed and safeguarded in federal workplaces not only honors our history; it reinvigorates the spirit of liberty for every citizen,” she said.

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Trump Blocks Feds from Using Woke AI.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order mandating that artificial intelligence (AI) models procured by the federal government prioritize truthfulness and ideological neutrality.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, federal agencies, and AI developers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Executive Order was signed Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government.” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The Order should ensure AI models used by the federal government adhere to principles of truthfulness and neutrality, avoiding ideological bias.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order late Wednesday mandating that artificial intelligence (AI) models used by the federal government prioritize truthfulness and ideological neutrality. The Order outlines “Unbiased AI Principles,” which include truth-seeking and ideological neutrality as core tenets.

According to the presidential directive, truth-seeking AI models are required to prioritize historical accuracy, scientific inquiry, and objectivity, acknowledging uncertainty when information is incomplete or contradictory. Ideological neutrality mandates that AI models remain nonpartisan, avoiding manipulation of responses to favor ideologies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The Order directs federal agencies to procure only AI models compliant with these principles. It also requires contracts with AI vendors to include accountability measures, such as cost coverage if noncompliance leads to contract termination. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget will issue guidance to enforce these directives.

President Trump emphasized the importance of trustworthy AI, citing examples of biased outputs from existing models. These include AI systems altering historical representations for DEI purposes and prioritizing ideological compliance over factual accuracy. Such practices, the Trump White House argues, erode public trust in AI systems.

The Executive Order is part of a broader effort by President Trump to eliminate DEI-driven policies across the federal government. In recent months, he has signed multiple actions to dismantle DEI programs in federal agencies, defense, and education, ensuring that government initiatives prioritize fairness and merit. “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government,” President Trump pledged earlier this year.

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Trump Set to Initiate Mass Firings at State Dept.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. State Department will begin mass layoffs of many employees in the coming days.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. State Department, Secretary Marco Rubio, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: United States, over the coming days.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It will happen quickly.” – State Dept. spokeswoman Tammy Bruce

🎯IMPACT: Thousands of civil and foreign affairs employees face termination as early as this week.

IN FULL

On Thursday, the State Department informed US-based employees that nearly 2,000 workers will be laid off after a recent Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to proceed with mass job cuts to downsize the federal government. In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a plan to streamline the department by cutting out redundant functions and offices.

In an e-mail, Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas announced that employees impacted by the “reduction in force” will soon receive notifications. He noted that efforts have been made to support departing staff, including those in the Deferred Resignation Programs. “On behalf of Department leadership, we extend our gratitude for your hard work… and ongoing dedication to advancing U.S. national interests,” Rigas said.

The department did not specify how many employees would be dismissed. However, according to a plan sent to Congress in May, approximately 1,800—out of an estimated domestic workforce of 18,000—were proposed for layoffs.

Workers laid off will be from the civil and foreign services. Congress stated that more than 300 of the department’s 734 bureaus and offices would be streamlined, merged, or eliminated.

Tammy Bruce, a spokeswoman for the State Department, informed reporters that the implementation of force reductions had been delayed due to judicial interventions, but mass layoffs will now occur rapidly.

“There has been a delay—not to our interests, but because of the courts,” Bruce noted. “It’s been difficult when you know you need to get something done for the benefit of everyone.”

“When something is too large to operate, too bureaucratic, to actually function, and to deliver projects, or action, it has to change,” she added.

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Trump Admin: California Democrats Are Engaged in ‘Insurrection.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller accused California Democrats of engaging in “insurrection” for pressuring President Donald J. Trump to pull U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from Los Angeles to quell pro-illegal immigrant riots.

👥 Who’s Involved: Stephen Miller, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Comments made on June 10, 2025, in response to events in Los Angeles, California.

💬 Key Quote: “This is the definition of insurrection. LA and CA leadership demand the right to illegally import unlimited foreigners into America, to control America’s entire immigration policy by fiat—and if they are not so permitted they will allow mobs to target ICE with impunity,” Miller said, responding to comments by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

⚠️ Impact: Miller’s comments offer insight into the Trump administration’s evolving stance on the situation in California, with potential for President Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act.

IN FULL:

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller has accused California Democrats of engaging in a de facto “insurrection” against the federal government, by pressuring President Donald J. Trump to withdraw U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from Los Angeles to stop violent riots.

Miller was responding to comments by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who insisted that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids—which have netted dangerous criminals including pedophiles and a murderer who shot up a high school graduation party—”need to stop.”

“[The raids] should not be happening in our city; it is not warranted, and… the only thing it does is contribute to chaos. This was chaos that was started at Washington, D.C.,” she said, insisting: “On Thursday, the city was peaceful, on Friday, it was not, because of the intervention of the federal government.”

Miller characterized Bass’s remarks as an “explicit” threat, saying she was “effectively saying the mob violence is caused by the mere presence of ICE in the city and the violence against ICE will not stop unless federal law enforcement is withdrawn from the city.”

“This is the definition of insurrection,” Miller said, explaining: “LA and CA leadership demand the right to illegally import unlimited foreigners into America, to control America’s entire immigration policy by fiat—and if they are not so permitted they will allow mobs to target ICE with impunity.”

“Los Angeles and California are demanding the nullification of the election results, of federal law, of national sovereignty, and of the bedrock constitutional command of one national government,” he added.

Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed similar sentiments to Bass, insisting California “didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved.”

Miller has also responded to the Governor, saying his state has become “a criminal sanctuary for millions of illegal alien invaders, cartel killers, foreign terrorists, transnational gangs and insurrectionist mobs.”

After Border Czar Tom Homan warned that anyone obstructing ICE in California, including state politicians, would face federal charges, Newsom dared the Trump official to arrest him. Asked about Newsom’s remarks, President Trump suggested he would arrest the Governor in Homan’s position, and that Newsom would enjoy “the publicity.”

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Trump Admin Halts $500M to Brown University Amid Antisemitism Concerns.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: The federal government has stopped over $500 million in funding to Brown University, citing the school’s handling of antisemitism incidents following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

👥 Who’s Involved: Brown University, the Trump administration, and a White House official.

📍 Where & When: The funding cut affects Brown University in the United States.

💬 Key Quote: Brown Provost Frank Doyle claims in an email that while there are rumors about program cuts, there isn’t enough “information to substantiate” these claims.

⚠️ Impact: The funding cut could significantly impact programs at Brown University and highlights a broader trend affecting several Ivy League institutions.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has decided to halt over $500 million in federal funding to Brown University, citing dissatisfaction with the university’s response to instances of antisemitism on campus. This decision may put millions allocated for Brown programs at risk, with funds previously awarded through grants and contracts now in jeopardy.

As Brown University grapples with these developments, Provost Frank Doyle addressed the campus community on April 3. He acknowledged that rumors are circulating about potential implications for the university’s research funding. However, he emphasized that there is currently insufficient “information to substantiate” these claims, urging patience as the situation unfolds.

This funding freeze at Brown coincides with a broader trend among Ivy League institutions, which have faced similar measures in response to their handling of antisemitism-related incidents following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Columbia University, another Ivy League institution, recently experienced a significant funding cut, with over $400 million revoked due to concerns it was not adequately ensuring the safety of Jewish students. This broader pattern indicates a heightened level of federal scrutiny regarding how such universities address antisemitism on their campuses.

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DOGE Data: Almost 50% of National Jobs Cuts are DC Govt Workers.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Layoffs announced by employers in the U.S. increased significantly in March—but almost half are Washington, D.C. bureaucrats, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

👥 Who’s Involved: Federal workers and contractors, DOGE, and DOGE frontman Elon Musk.

📍 Where & When: These developments occurred in Washington D.C. during March.

💬 Key Quote: Andrew Challenger of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas noted, “Job cut announcements were dominated last month by Department of Government Efficiency plans to eliminate positions in the federal government.”

⚠️ Impact: With 497,052 layoffs in the first three months of the year, this represents the highest first-quarter total since 2009, with significant implications for federal agencies and leftist non-profits.

IN FULL:

U.S. employers announced layoffs in March at levels unprecedented since the pandemic-induced recession—but this was driven largely by sizable cuts among federal workers and contractors. Data released by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas on Thursday indicated a 60 percent surge in planned job reductions, amounting to 275,240 positions last month. This figure marks the highest since May 2020, positioning it as the third-largest monthly total recorded.

These reductions were significantly concentrated in Washington, D.C., attributed mainly to the federal government sector. Over the past two months, approximately 280,253 planned federal worker and contractor layoffs have impacted 27 agencies as the Trump administration seeks to eliminate waste and inefficiency and bring federal spending under control. The ripple effect of terminating federal aid or contracts further contributed to 4,429 job cuts, notably affecting non-profits—often engaged in leftist activism—and health-oriented organizations, possibly due to the administration’s efforts to defund abortions and transgenderism.

Andrew Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas commented, “Job cut announcements were dominated last month by Department of Government Efficiency plans to eliminate positions in the federal government.”

Judicial orders have facilitated the reinstatement of around 24,000 workers. Reports indicate a significant reshuffle within federal ranks is ongoing, documenting 3,972 rehired policymakers as part of March’s hiring plans.

An anticipated governmental employment report suggests an addition of 135,000 nonfarm payroll jobs for March, maintaining an unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Fired Bureaucrat Concedes Job Battle After Trump Appeal Win.

Hampton Dellinger, leader of the Office of Special Counsel, has decided to step down amidst a legal battle to prevent his dismissal. Recently, his office obtained a temporary order reinstating thousands of Department of Agriculture workers affected by mass layoffs.

However, an appeals court supported President Donald J. Trump’s rationale for dismissing Dellinger, placing him on hold during the legal process. Previously, a lower court had backed Dellinger’s claim that the President exceeded his authority. Throughout his brief reinstatement, he concentrated on scrutinizing the terminations of federal employees with probationary status who were relatively new to their roles.

On Thursday, the Joe Biden appointee claimed that his battle to retain his position was driven by a desire to maintain the Office of Special Counsel’s supposed independence. He stated that the appellate court’s ruling had “effectively erased” that.

Following his departure, the future of ongoing investigations led by Dellinger remains uncertain. However, the quasi-judicial Merit Systems Protection Board has also been resisting Trump administration layoffs, reversing the dismissal of over 5,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) workers in recent days.

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Hampton Dellinger, leader of the Office of Special Counsel, has decided to step down amidst a legal battle to prevent his dismissal. Recently, his office obtained a temporary order reinstating thousands of Department of Agriculture workers affected by mass layoffs. show more

Trump Effect: The D.C. Mayor Is Giving Up on ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza.’

Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., is set to be renamed after a Republican lawmaker tabled legislation to cut off federal funding to the city if it is not changed. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced plans to rename the plaza, which is located only a few blocks from the White House.

The decision follows pressure from Republican Congressman Andrew Clyde of Georgia. According to Bowser’s office, the plaza will be renamed and adorned with a new mural created by local schoolchildren. However, the exact timeline for the change has not been determined.

The plaza, previously known as 16th Street Northwest and, for a time, the Avenue of the Presidents, was rebranded in June 2020 in honor of the radical left Black Lives Matter movement. This was in response to the riots following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mayor Bowser described the change as permanent.

Nearby businesses, including restaurants and hotels, have also previously expressed concerns about the economic impact of the plaza’s 2020 name change. The roadway was closed to motorists, which reportedly contributed to financial challenges for these establishments.

Congressman Clyde’s legislation echoes tactics used by President Donald J. Trump and his administration to cut federal funding from other woke initiatives.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., is set to be renamed after a Republican lawmaker tabled legislation to cut off federal funding to the city if it is not changed. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced plans to rename the plaza, which is located only a few blocks from the White House. show more

President Trump to Issue Executive Order Declaring English the Official Language of the U.S.

President Donald J. Trump is set to issue an executive order on Friday declaring English the official language of the United States. The order will rescind a directive by former President Bill Clinton mandating federal agencies and entities receiving federal funding provide alternatives for non-English speakers.

Since its founding, the United States has never had an official language at the federal level. However, surveys consistently show elevating English to official status is politically popular and that most Americans believe those residing in the country should speak the predominantly native language. According to Pew Research, just over eight in ten American adults say speaking English is very or somewhat important to “truly be American.

While President Trump’s executive order rescinds the Clinton-era directive, it does not bar federal agencies from continuing to provide language assistance for non-English speakers. The Trump White House contends the President’s order will help to establish greater civic cohesion, promote national unity, and streamline government services.

Individuals seeking to become naturalized U.S. citizens already have to demonstrate an ability to speak, read, and write in English—which nearly 80 percent of Americans speak at home. Around 30 states have also passed laws making English the official language at the state level.

Notably, during his time in the U.S. Senate, Vice President J.D. Vance introduced legislation along with Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) that directed the federal government to conduct all official business in English.

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President Donald J. Trump is set to issue an executive order on Friday declaring English the official language of the United States. The order will rescind a directive by former President Bill Clinton mandating federal agencies and entities receiving federal funding provide alternatives for non-English speakers. show more
China Spying

Congress Is Moving to Ban China’s DeepSeek App from U.S. Govt. Devices.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill plans to introduce legislation on Thursday prohibiting the use of the Chinese-owned DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot app on U.S. government devices. The legislation, prompted by national security concerns that Chinese intelligence agents could use the app to attain sensitive data, follows earlier action by Congress to bar TikTok on government devices as well.

Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) are cosponsoring the legislation, which is being driven in part by a report from Feroot Security, a cybersecurity firm. Citing the report’s findings, Rep. LaHood contends, “Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP [Chinese Communist Party] company to obtain sensitive government or personal data.”

Notably, the report identified hidden code in the DeepSeek app potentially capable of relaying user information to China Mobile, a telecommunications entity controlled by the Chinese state. China Mobile is currently barred from operating in the United States.

“Our personal information is being sent to China, there is no denial, and the DeepSeek tool is collecting everything that American users connect to it,” Feroot Security CEO Ivan Tsarynny said in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, some federal agencies have already moved to bar employees from accessing DeepSeek on their work devices. The U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have both banned the app, citing security concerns and the potential for Chinese espionage.

Late last year, Congress passed legislation mandating that the social media app TikTok be divested from its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance or face a public ban in the U.S.

President Donald J. Trump extended TikTok’s deadline for 75 additional days in late January.

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A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill plans to introduce legislation on Thursday prohibiting the use of the Chinese-owned DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot app on U.S. government devices. The legislation, prompted by national security concerns that Chinese intelligence agents could use the app to attain sensitive data, follows earlier action by Congress to bar TikTok on government devices as well. show more