NPR News: 03-05-2026 3PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 3PM EST, March 5, 2026

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode Theme:
A concise recap of the day’s top national and international news, including major shakeups in the Trump administration, developments in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, a significant government program transfer, and troubling federal workforce trends.

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Main Stories & Key Discussion Points

1. President Trump Fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

• [00:16–01:50]

• Overview:
  President Donald Trump fired Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, announcing her replacement will be Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin. The announcement follows criticism of Noem’s handling of immigration enforcement, especially after a recent incident in Minnesota where federal agents killed two US citizens.

• Key Facts:

  • Trump made the announcement on Truth Social.
  • Senator Mullin stated he was surprised by Trump’s call and the appointment.
  • Noem became the first cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term.
  • Noem was scrutinized by Congress over her immigration enforcement tactics and spending.
  • Mullin’s appointment is pending Senate confirmation.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "I haven't had time to call Kristi yet or Secretary Noem, and our families are friends. She was tasked to do a very difficult job, and I think she has performed the best she can do underneath the circumstances."
    — President Donald Trump, [00:47]
  • "Noem has been at the forefront of President Trump's efforts to carry out mass deportations... Noem faced bipartisan criticism over her leadership of the immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, where she deployed thousands of federal agents and two U.S. citizens were killed."
    — Jimena Bustia, NPR News Reporter, [01:10–01:30]

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2. Israeli Activities Resume as Iran Tensions Ease

• [01:50–02:45]

• Overview:
  Israel begins to ease restrictions amid deescalating missile threats from Iran. Limited normal activities are allowed, though major religious sites and most businesses remain closed.

• Key Facts:

  • Israeli military lowers restrictions; gatherings up to 50 people allowed.
  • Tel Aviv airport resumes partial flight operations.
  • Israeli and US Air Forces “operating in Iranian skies, almost freely.”
  • Al Aqsa mosque remains closed for Ramadan.
  • Six days have passed since the US and Israel war with Iran began.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "A military spokesman says the Israeli and US Air forces are now operating in Iranian skies, quote, almost freely and expect missile launches to continue decreasing."
    — Carrie Khan, NPR News, [02:25]

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3. Congress Weighs In on US Attacks Against Iran

• [02:45–03:18]

• Overview:
  The US House prepares to vote on a war powers resolution limiting further attacks on Iran without Congressional approval, after Senate rejection of a similar measure.

• Key Facts:

  • Senate votes down resolution mostly on party lines.
  • Financial markets react with the Dow dropping over 1,000 points (more than 2%).

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4. Energy Star Program Moves to Department of Energy

• [03:18–04:01]

• Overview:
  The well-known Energy Star efficiency program will transition from the EPA to the Department of Energy, despite past bipartisan support to keep it at the EPA.

• Key Facts:

  • Energy Star recognized for certifying efficient appliances and buildings.
  • The Trump administration previously tried to end or privatize the program.
  • U.S. Green Building Council expresses concern over the abrupt change.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "The U.S. Green Building Council says EPA has been very successful in creating and managing Energy Star and is concerned about the administration abruptly moving the program after Congress showed bipartisan support for it."
    — Jeff Brady, NPR News, [03:47]

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5. Sharp Losses in Federal Workforce

• [04:01–04:51]

• Overview:
  Since Trump’s return to office in January 2025, there has been a significant net loss in the federal workforce.

• Key Facts:

  • Nearly 390,000 federal workers departed since January 20, 2025.
  • Net loss is about 11.5% of the total federal workforce.
  • Treasury Department saw most departures; VA, Defense, and Homeland Security saw most hires.
  • Data collected via a new Office of Personnel Management tool.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "According to the latest update, since January 20, 2025, there have been close to 387,000 departures of federal employees and 123,000 additions. That represents a net loss of about 11 and a half percent of the federal workforce."
    — Andrea Hsu, NPR News, [04:19]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• President Trump’s candid reaction to Noem’s firing and the assertion that she did her best under difficult circumstances. ([00:47])
• The Israeli military’s assertion of dominance over Iranian airspace: “operating... almost freely.” ([02:25])
• Congressional debate and tension over war powers as conflict with Iran intensifies. ([02:45–03:18])
• EPA/DOE shakeup stirring nonpartisan concern over federal program stability. ([03:47])
• The scale of federal workforce attrition illustrated with new real-time data. ([04:19])

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Key Timestamps

• 00:16 – Trump fires Noem as DHS Secretary
• 00:47 – President Trump statement
• 01:08 – Noem under scrutiny, Mullin appointed
• 01:53 – Updates on Israel, Iran, and US operations
• 02:25 – Israel and US “almost freely” in Iranian skies
• 03:18 – Energy Star’s transfer to Department of Energy
• 04:12 – Data on federal workforce departures

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This NPR News Now episode delivers a succinct yet detailed update, marked by significant federal government changes, geopolitical shifts, and policies that touch both domestic and international affairs.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's firing the secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, Trump announced on Truth Social today. He he plans to install Oklahoma Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen at the end of the month. Moments ago on Capitol Hill, Mullen told reporters he was not expecting Trump's call today, which came just before the statement was made public. He was asked about heavy public criticism over Noem's oversight of the DHS's immigration enforcement, especially in Minnesota, where federal agents

[NPR News Reporter]

killed two U.S. citizens.

[President Donald Trump]

I haven't had time to call Christy yet or Secretary Noem, and our families are friends. She was tasked to do a very difficult job, and I think she she has performed the best she can do underneath the circumstances.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Jimena Bustia reports. Noem is the first cabinet secretary to

[NPR News Reporter]

leave the Trump administration in the second term.

[Jimena Bustia]

The announcement comes after Noem spent two days being grilled by lawmakers in Congress over her leadership. Trump has tapped GOP Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma to take her place. Noem has been at the forefront of President Trump's efforts to carry out mass deportations. At the start of her second year on the job, Noem faced bipartisan criticism over her leadership of the immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, where she deployed thousands of federal agents and two US Citizens were killed. This week, Noem testified twice before Congress, where she faced questions over her spending and enforcement tactics. Mark Wayne Mullen will need to be confirmed by the Senate in order to take on the role permanently. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Israeli officials are allowing more activities to

[NPR News Reporter]

resume in the country, saying it is gaining control of Iran's airspace. NPR's Carrie Khan reports. While incoming missile incursions have dropped significantly in recent days, officials warn the threats are not over.

[Carrie Khan]

Israeli military officials have lowered restrictions on public activities, now allowing gatherings of up to 50 people. Schools and most businesses, however, remain closed. The main airport in Tel Aviv is allowing some traffic to resume. The first incoming flight in nearly one week landed early Thursday. A military spokesman says the Israeli and US Air forces are now operating in Iranian skies, quote, almost freely and expect missile launches to continue decreasing. Major religious sites in Jerusalem remain closed, including the Al Aqsa mosque compound for the third Friday of Ramadan. Carrie Khan, NPR News, tel Aviv.

[NPR News Reporter]

The U.S. and Israeli war with Iran is now in its sixth day. The U.S. house is preparing to vote on a war powers resolution that would stop US Attacks on Iran without congressional approval. Yesterday, the Senate voted down a similar measure, mostly along party lines. At last check on Wall street, the Dow Jones industrial average was down more than 1,000 points, or more than 2%. From Washington, this is NPR News. The administration plans to move the Energy

[Lakshmi Singh]

Star efficiency program to the Department of energy.

[NPR News Reporter]

Here's NPR's Jeff Brady.

[Jeff Brady]

Energy Star awards its blue and white logo to the most efficient appliances and buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency has operated the program for more than three decade. The Trump administration effort to end or privatize the program failed. Congress specifically instructed that the EPA spend just over $33 million this year on Energy Star. But now the EPA has signed an agreement to transfer responsibility to the energy department. The U.S. green Building Council says EPA has been very successful in creating and managing Energy Star and is concerned about the administration abruptly moving the program after Congress showed bipartisan support for it. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Almost 390,000 federal workers have left the

[NPR News Reporter]

government since President Trump returned to office in January 2025. NPR's Andrea Hsu has more on the latest data from the Office of Personnel Management.

[Andrea Hsu]

Early this year, the Office of Personnel Management launched a new data tool on its website. There you can see how many federal workers have come and gone from federal agencies. According to the latest update, since January 20, 2025, there have been close to 387,000 departures of federal employees and 123,000 additions. That represents a net loss of about 11 and a half percent of the federal workforce. The Treasury Department has seen the most separations of any one agency. The va, along with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, saw the most hires. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

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