Transcript
Windsor Johnston (0:00)
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi. In a social media post, Trump called Bondi a great patriot and a loyal friend. He also said she did an incredible job at the Justice Department, overseeing what he described as a sweeping crackdown on crime across the country in recent months. Though Trump had criticized the department's handling of the Epstein files, Congress remains deadlocked over funding for dhs. The Senate passed a compromise bill last week to fund most of the agency, but it leaves out key immigration enforcement programs. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer we're not
Chuck Schumer (0:41)
going to fund a lawless ICE and a lawless cpb, and the American people are overwhelmingly on our side on that.
Windsor Johnston (0:48)
House Republicans are refusing to take up the Senate measure that was passed last night, instead pushing for a short term plan to fund the entire department. President Trump is expected to sign an executive order today to pay workers, but it's unclear how the federal government's top emergency agency lost hundreds of workers in February. NPR's Rebecca Hersher reports. New data show a continuing trend of job cuts at the agency.
Rebecca Hersher (1:14)
The Federal Emergency management agency, or FEMA, lost 356 workers in February, according to the federal government's Office of Personnel Management. In all, FEMA has lost more than 2,500 employees since last September. Trump administration officials have reported repeatedly called for FEMA to be drastically cut and moved to eliminate FEMA jobs, including in offices that directly help survivors of hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters. FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security. At his Senate confirmation hearing, new DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen argued that cuts can make FEMA more efficient. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News.
Windsor Johnston (1:55)
The United Arab Emirates is banning most Iranians from entering the country, including for transit. The UAE did not formally announce the change, but Dubai's Emirates airline and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways quietly updated their travel advisories. As NPR's Aya Batrawi reports, these airlines
Aya Batrawi (2:13)
listed some exemptions to the ban, like Iranians with 10 year golden visas, those married to Emiratis and professions like athletes, doctors and engineers. The UAE is home to nearly half a million Iranians with work permits and short term residencies, and it's unclear how the ban applies to them. NPR asked the UAE Foreign Ministry whether the homes and assets of Iranians could be confiscated or frozen, frozen if refused entry. The ministry did not respond, but in a statement said the UAE ensures the rights of all residents and is home to a respected Iranian community. In past weeks, the UAE shut down an Iranian hospital and five Iranian schools. This comes as Iran's targeted the UAE with more than 2,000 drones and missiles in the war. Arya Boltrawi, NPR News, Dubai.