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Social Security employees warn of damage from DOGE

NYT) — The Social Security Administration, which sends retirement, survivor and disability payments to 73 million people each month, has long been called the “third rail” of politics — largely untouchable given its widespread popularity and role as one of the country’s remaining safety nets. But in recent weeks, the Trump administration, led by Elon Musk’s crew of cost cutters at the Department of Government Efficiency, has taken its chain saw to the agency’s operations. The actions have caused Social Security employees and former commissioners and executives of both parties to sound alarm bells, saying it would be difficult to repair the damage, which could threaten access to benefits.

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Trump revokes secret service protection for Biden’s children

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday revoked secret service protection for former president Joe Biden’s children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden.

“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

“Please be advised that, effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden who has 13 agents will be taken off the list,” Trump added.

Trump’s announcement came hours after a reporter asked Trump about Hunter Biden’s Secret Service detail. The president said he had not been aware of it but would look into it.

Cuts reach key nuclear scientists, bomb engineers and safety experts

(NYT) — The National Nuclear Security Administration, just one relatively small outpost in a federal workforce that President Donald Trump and his top adviser Elon Musk aim to pare down, has lost a huge cadre of scientists, engineers, safety experts, project officers, accountants and lawyers — all in the midst of its most ambitious endeavors in a generation. The nuclear agency not only manages the nation’s 3,748 nuclear bombs and warheads, but it is also modernizing that arsenal — a $20 billion-a-year effort that will arm a new fleet of nuclear submarines, bomber jets and land-based missiles. With the Trump administration’s buyouts and firings, the agency’s trajectory has gone from one of painstaking growth to retraction.

Trump names former adviser Flynn to West Point board of visitors

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday named Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser who challenged the 2020 election results and pushed baseless conspiracy claims, to be on the board of visitors for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The retired three-star Army general, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI before recanting and being pardoned by Trump, has remained a loyal Trump supporter and high-profile speaker on right-wing podcasts and conservative events.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, also announced that Maureen Bannon, daughter of his former adviser Steve Bannon, would be on the board.