The Evening: Musk to target Pentagon spending

Also, a judge paused job cuts at U.S.A.I.D.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 7, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. Trump's defense of Musk A legal challenge to U.S.A.I.D. cuts Plus, the biggest day in football Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times Trump defended Musk's cost-cutting effort President Trump offered praise today for Elon Musk and his team at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, who have led the administration's effort to purge federal workers. He said he had directed them to search across the government for costs to eliminate. He mentioned in particular that Musk would scrutinize spending at the Pentagon, from which Musk has received at least $3.6 billion in contracts over the past decade. The president also singled out the Education Department, which the White House has discussed possibly shutting down. Trump's critics argue that the efforts violate the Constitution, which grants Congress the authority to dictate federal spending. But in just the past week, Musk and his team have descended on Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs Departments, among other agencies. The Treasury Department installed an ally of Musk to oversee the nation's payment system, replacing a career civil servant. Musk's effort is largely being carried out by a group of male engineers, including some recent college graduates and at least one as young as 19. Some are former interns at his companies; others are executives who have worked for Musk for as long as two decades. They all appear to have channeled his shoot-first, aim-later approach. Here's what we know about Musk's team of young aides. This morning, Vice President JD Vance called for one of Musk's workers — who had resigned after being linked to racist social media posts — to be reinstated. Musk said that he would be rehired. In related news, constituents outraged about Trump's unilateral moves and how he has allowed Musk to upend the government have jammed Congressional phone lines to the point of failure. U.S.-funded food aid delivered to Bentiu, South Sudan, in 2023. Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times A judge paused job cuts at U.S.A.I.D. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. said this afternoon that he would order the Trump administration to halt some elements of its attempt to shut down the federal government's main provider of global humanitarian and development aid. Nearly all of the more than 10,000 workers at the agency, known as U.S.A.I.D., were set to be put on leave at the end of the day. The judge, Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, said the imminent administrative leave of 2,200 employees would be briefly delayed while he heard a legal challenge filed by unions representing the workers. The unions have called Trump's efforts to dismantle the agency "unconstitutional and illegal," and said that they had "generated a global humanitarian crisis." Earlier today, the president issued a blunt, all-caps directive to dissolve U.S.A.I.D. "CLOSE IT DOWN!" Trump posted on his social media network. He also accused the agency of unspecified rampant corruption and fraud. In other politics news: At the Justice Department, Trump's former criminal defender has emerged as his administration's enforcer. A judge ordered the government to keep confidential a list of F.B.I. agents who investigated Jan. 6 rioters. Trump promised to keep the government using plastic straws, reversing a Biden administration order. Senate Republicans unveiled a budget plan that would increase spending for the military and border security. Behind closed doors, Canada's prime minister said that Trump's threat to take over the country was real. Trump's border czar said that deportation flights to Venezuela would begin "within the next 30 days." The Trump administration is considering privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which underpin the mortgage market. Democrats, under a new leader, filed a brief in a lawsuit over Georgia's still-disputed election rules. Have you seen changes to federal buildings? Send us photos. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Karl Russell Job growth slowed last month U.S. employers added 143,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department reported today, signaling more subdued employment growth at the start of the year. The overall job market still appears to be solid: The unemployment rate edged down to 4 percent, and hourly earnings rose. The results will most likely reaffirm the Fed's plan to wait for more information before lowering interest rates again. Sudanese army soldiers near Khartoum, last month.  El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters Hundreds died as Sudan's war flared Sudan's civil war, a ruinous conflict that is approaching its third year, has grown deadlier as the Army has pushed to retake significant parts of the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Hundreds of people, including dozens of children, have been killed across the country in recent days, according to witnesses, medical workers and the U.N. "The citizens are currently living in a state of panic," one activist there said. "People are scared." More top news Israel: Three Israeli hostages held in Gaza — Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben-Ami — are expected to be released this weekend as part of the cease-fire deal. Alaska: A plane with 10 people aboard disappeared minutes before it was scheduled to land in Nome. Tennessee: Tornadoes outside Knoxville last night killed two people and caused widespread damage to rural communities. Weather: A storm in the U.S. could bring heavy snow across a band stretching from the Dakotas to Boston. Bird Flu: State officials ordered the temporary closure of live bird markets to curb the spread of bird flu. Tech: OpenAI is set to complete a $40 billion fund-raising deal, led by SoftBank, that would value it at $300 billion. New York City: A former aide to Eric Adams agreed to plead guilty in a straw-donations case against the mayor. Sweden: The government said that it would tighten its already strict gun laws after a gunman killed at least 10 people. Auction: A 311-year-old Stradivarius violin sold for $11.25 million at Sotheby's. TIME TO UNWIND Erik S Lesser/EPA, via Shutterstock Get ready for Super Bowl Sunday We're just two days away from America's biggest annual sporting event, the Super Bowl. Kansas City and Philadelphia will meet at New Orleans's famous Superdome, where Kansas City is narrowly favored to win its third consecutive title. Here's what to know about the game. Kendrick Lamar will headline the halftime show, President Trump is expected to show up and Taylor Swift will almost certainly be there. Most of us will watch from home — a ticket costs more than most mortgage payments — where treats like chicken wings and artichoke dip will be the real stars. One downer: It's shaping up to be a bad year for Super Bowl ads. Our TV critic ranked them from best to worst. For football newbies: Here's how to fake it through your Super Bowl party. Our guide to classic romance novels More than almost any other genre, romance is a nonstop fire hose of material. It can be intimidating for anyone simply looking for a great love story. So we selected more than a dozen books you really can't go wrong with. Check out this starter pack, which includes guidance based on your preferences. Alice Coltrane around 1982. via The John & Alice Coltrane Home Dinner table topics Alice Coltrane: A new exhibition shows why this jazz virtuoso is a beacon for today's artists. Got weird? America has long had an unsettled relationship with milk. Another upheaval is underway. Low-key nuptials: Courthouse weddings are growing in popularity and becoming an aesthetic. Yours for $13.5 million: The Kardashian family's longtime home is up for sale. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: Make this Frito pie the star of your Super Bowl menu. Watch: "Slow" is one of the best international movies to stream right now. Read: We recommend "Good Dirt" and four other new books. Listen: Check out Lisa Streich's deliberate and complex music before her American showcase. Book: There are several affordable options for Caribbean vacations. 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 Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times Meet a star beverage critic. He's 11. Leo Kelly is known as the "Shirley Temple King," and for good reason. For nearly half of his life, this 11-year-old from Connecticut has been posting reviews of Shirley Temples online. He rates each restaurant he visits on a 10-point scale, considering factors like color, carbonation and the quality of the grenadine. After he gave LongHorn Steakhouse a low rating for having zero cherries in its Shirley Temples, executives took note. They now include five cherries. Have a sparkling weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Eli Cohen 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. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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