What Happened Today – Feb 13

by

Today’s headlines read like history repeating itself. From gag orders to tip lines, here’s what you need to know.

Almost all federal agencies must fire probationary employees, 200K affected
Trump has authorized reciprocal tariffs on every country with tariffs on USS imports
EconomyForeign Relations
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-what-products-countries-how-much-rcna192075
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., named HHS Secretary despite vaccine denialism and conspiracy theories
Federal PersonnelHealth
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/13/nx-s1-5294591/rfk-jr-trump-health-human-services-hhs-vaccines
Fourth federal judge blocked Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship
Immigration
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-order-curtailing-us-birthright-citizenship-blocked-by-4th-judge-2025-02-13/
The CDC after a 3 week Trump-ordered pause reports vet caring for cattle were unknowingly infected with H5N1
Health
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/cdc-finds-evidence-that-bird-flu-spread-silently-to-veterinarians-suggesting-undercount-of-cases
Ed Secretary nominee Linda McMahon refused to say if a Black history class would be illegal, calling it hypothetical
Education
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/mcmahon-declines-to-say-if-black-history-classes-are-allowed-under-trump-order/2025/02
DOGE is cutting 75% of US Digital Corps staff, leaving 15 employees
Federal Personnel
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-tts-fired/
Trump administration launched a tip line urging banks to report CFPB regulators still enforcing consumer protections
EconomyOversight
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-admin-creates-snitch-line-for-companies-to-report-cfpb-staff-protecting-consumers/ar-AA1z03rD?ocid=EMMX