The Evening: Trump officials escalate mass layoffs

Also, a man in Chile was briefly "swallowed" by a whale.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 14, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. Trump's mass layoffs Vance's jab at Europe Plus, S.N.L. at 50 The Office of Personnel Management in Washington. Valerie Plesch for The New York Times Trump officials pushed ahead with mass layoffs The federal work force is facing a sharp reduction after President Trump's Office of Personnel Management ordered agencies to terminate most of an estimated 200,000 workers still in their probationary period. The cuts primarily target employees who have been in their roles for less than two years and do not enjoy as much job protection. By this afternoon, the scope of the layoffs was becoming clearer. More than 1,000 workers were terminated at the Department of Veterans Affairs and about 1,000 more were let go at the Energy Department. The Consumer Financial Protection and the personnel office itself each laid off dozens more. The I.R.S. is expected to fire thousands of workers. The layoffs are part of an effort by Trump and a team led by Elon Musk to reshape the federal government, which employs about 2.3 million workers. This week, the administration also cut spending on groups that helped Americans enroll in Obamacare and advanced diversity initiatives at the Education Department. During Trump's first term, the education secretary had championed those efforts. The cuts seem likely to continue: The agriculture secretary said today that she would welcome Musk's team to help assess her department's spending, which includes food stamps. "Are we really giving people a hand up, or is it a handout?" the secretary said. In other politics news: Trump said that he planned to move forward with tariffs on foreign cars on April 2. Trump has told associates that he wants to rip up the grass in the Rose Garden and replace it with a hard surface like the patio at Mar-a-Lago. A judge ordered a pause on Trump's effort to block federal funding for hospitals that offer gender-transition treatments for people under 19. Research funding to tackle areas like cancer, diabetes and heart disease is lagging by about $1 billion behind the levels of recent years. One month out from a deadline to avert a government shutdown, Democrats warned that their votes are not a given. A slew of Trump's early actions bear the fingerprints of Project 2025. Matthias Schrader/Associated Press Vance signaled support for Europe's far-right parties Vice President JD Vance met with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine today at the Munich Security Conference. He said the U.S. was intent on securing "a durable, lasting peace" in Ukraine, but declined to discuss specifics. Vance also gave a speech that many European diplomats and officials had hoped would clarify the Trump administration's vision for Ukraine. Instead, he told the Europeans that their biggest security threat was "the enemy within," accusing them of suppressing free speech and sidelining parties considered extremist. He singled out his German hosts, telling them to drop their objections to working with a party that has often reveled in banned Nazi slogans, which elicited some gasps in the hall. Vance did not mention the party, the Alternative for Germany or AfD, by name, but he did meet with its chancellor candidate. Jefferson Siegel for The New York Times Top Democrats called for Eric Adams to resign A growing number of elected officials in New York called today for the resignation of Mayor Eric Adams, one day after Danielle Sassoon, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, resigned rather than obey an order to drop a criminal case against the mayor. She accused Adams's lawyers of suggesting to Trump's aides that he would help with the president's immigration crackdown if his indictment were dropped. Several other officials quit alongside Sassoon in protest of the order, which came from a top Justice Department official. Hagan Scotten, the lead prosecutor on the case, said in a resignation letter: "I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me." The latest: Attorney General Pam Bondi said the case against Adams "is being dismissed today." Follow for updates. Rafter Adrian Simancas in Chilean Patagonia. Dell Simancas, via Associated Press A man in Chile was briefly 'swallowed' by a whale Adrián Simancas was rafting with his father in the waters of Chilean Patagonia when a humpback whale suddenly lunged at him, mouth open, from the waves below. In an interview, Simancas said he quickly realized he was trapped in the whale's mouth: "Something dark blue or white enveloped me, and a slimy texture brushed my face." He emerged unharmed, and his father caught it all on video. More top news Chernobyl: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that Russia used a drone with a high-explosive warhead to damage the nuclear power plant's protective shelter that prevents radiation leaks. Middle East: Hamas named the hostages set for release tomorrow: Alexander Troufanov, 29; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36; and Iair Horn, 46. Weather: A developing springlike storm could bring flash flooding that is rare for this time of year to Kentucky and Tennessee. Congo: The United Nations Children's Fund said that sexual violence against children has soared as ethnic tensions and disputes over resources fuel fighting. Syria: The interim government in Damascus has called for a powerful Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed militia to integrate into the military. Tensions are rising. Louisiana: The state's health department said that it would stop promoting "mass vaccination." Music: Drake released a new album on Valentine's Day, "Some Sexy Songs 4 U." It only alludes to his beef with Kendrick Lamar. TIME TO UNWIND "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels. Daniel Arnold for The New York Times Live from New York, it's been 50 years Since "Saturday Night Live" premiered its 50th season last fall, the show has been hailed over and over for its central role in shaping American comedy and television. The celebrations culminate on Sunday with a live three-hour anniversary special. Behind it all is Lorne Michaels, the man who created "S.N.L." and became America's impresario of funny, as a recent major biography attests. When he sat down with Maureen Dowd to discuss his legacy, Michaels said he had no plans of quitting anytime soon. Another constant across the history of "S.N.L.": change. As the years passed and the stars moved on, the show evolved. Eight of my colleagues discussed their favorite eras. For more: Mary Ellen Matthews has been coaxing smiles out of "S.N.L." hosts for decades. Lynn Redgrave and James Earl Jones in "The Annihilation of Fish." Kino Lorber A great film re-emerges after 25 years "The Annihilation of Fish," a 1999 film from the acclaimed independent director Charles Burnett, is finally being released in theaters this weekend. It's an offbeat love story starring James Earl Jones, and our critic said it's worth the wait. Another gem: Paul Fussell's 1975 book "The Great War and Modern Memory." Our critic Dwight Garner said it changed the way he thinks of nonfiction. Mike Belleme for The New York Times Dinner table topics A "quaint" city: For fans of Nicholas Sparks, New Bern, N.C., is the capital of love. Orange chicken: Panda Inn, the parent restaurant of Panda Express, underwent a major renovation, but deep, comforting pleasures are still on the menu. Not just a myth: Researchers found alligators, bats, raccoons and other creatures prowling a Florida town's storm drains. Beauty standards: A new book by Moshtari Hilal takes on a taboo subject: Who is ugly? WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Bake: Celebrate someone you love with a chocolate lava cake for two. Watch: This Australian family drama crams plenty of depth into six 15-minute episodes. Read: Here are 10 gothic thrillers that will keep you up at night. Travel: Check out these ideas for spring break destinations. Save: It's possible to amass $1 million in health savings accounts, with big caveats. Style: These might be the cutest handbags you'll ever see. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Lyndon French for The New York Times This Valentine's, say it with tulips Every year, Americans import hundreds of millions of flowers in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day. Most of them, of course, are roses — the classic symbol of love. But the tulip is becoming an increasingly popular alternative. They are usually less expensive and more environmentally friendly. And florists we spoke to said they actually preferred the aesthetic of tulips, which, unlike roses, continue to change and grow after they're cut. "It's just a nice spring flower, especially during this time of year, where it's chilly and kind of bleak," one florist said. Have a romantic weekend. Thanks for reading. We'll be off on Monday for George Washington's birthday. I'll be back on Tuesday. — Matthew Kirsten Luce was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. 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