Quill Lawrence

The Trump campaign even touted the program during election season to back up the claim that Trump did more for women than any president in history. Secretary Hegseth has been under fire since sharing sensitive military plans in insecure group chats. President Trump has said he thinks Hegseth will, quote, get it together. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

The White House is seeking senior staff at the Pentagon to, quote, write the ship, according to a former Trump official who requested anonymity to describe internal deliberations. Five of Hegseth's key advisers left in the past two weeks amid infighting and accusation of leaks to the press. Meanwhile, four new senior advisers have been quickly named.

The White House is seeking senior staff at the Pentagon to, quote, write the ship, according to a former Trump official who requested anonymity to describe internal deliberations. Five of Hegseth's key advisers left in the past two weeks amid infighting and accusation of leaks to the press. Meanwhile, four new senior advisers have been quickly named.

They include Colonel Ricky Berea, a former junior military assistant, and Justin Fulcher, a 32-year-old member of the Doge team embedded at the Pentagon. Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell has been promoted to Assistant Secretary of Defense and Senior Advisor. A Pentagon spokesman says regular workforce adjustments are a feature of any highly efficient organization.

They include Colonel Ricky Berea, a former junior military assistant, and Justin Fulcher, a 32-year-old member of the Doge team embedded at the Pentagon. Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell has been promoted to Assistant Secretary of Defense and Senior Advisor. A Pentagon spokesman says regular workforce adjustments are a feature of any highly efficient organization.

Democrats and at least one Republican in Congress say Hegseth should be replaced. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Democrats and at least one Republican in Congress say Hegseth should be replaced. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

The Trump administration has argued that trans people are dishonest, which contradicts military values. An executive order in January banned them from service. Several transgender troops sued, claiming the ban is insulting and discriminatory and would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations.

The Trump administration has argued that trans people are dishonest, which contradicts military values. An executive order in January banned them from service. Several transgender troops sued, claiming the ban is insulting and discriminatory and would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations.

In March, a district court judge in Washington state agreed and blocked the order, noting that the Trump administration showed no evidence that transgender troops serving has harmed the military. Now, the White House says that the ban must be allowed to take effect while the Supreme Court deliberates because delay would be, quote, contrary to military readiness and the nation's interests.

In March, a district court judge in Washington state agreed and blocked the order, noting that the Trump administration showed no evidence that transgender troops serving has harmed the military. Now, the White House says that the ban must be allowed to take effect while the Supreme Court deliberates because delay would be, quote, contrary to military readiness and the nation's interests.

Less than 1% of the military identifies as trans. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Less than 1% of the military identifies as trans. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Secretary Doug Collins sent a memo to the VA's hundreds of thousands of staff nationwide encouraging them to report instances of bias against Christians. He asked that staff inform the new task force with names, dates, and locations of any instance where Christians are adversely affected for displaying religious symbols or expressing Christian views.

Secretary Doug Collins sent a memo to the VA's hundreds of thousands of staff nationwide encouraging them to report instances of bias against Christians. He asked that staff inform the new task force with names, dates, and locations of any instance where Christians are adversely affected for displaying religious symbols or expressing Christian views.

The memo says hormone therapy, abortion, and vaccine mandates are examples of things Christian staff may abstain from. The lead Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Richard Blumenthal, said the VA memo lacks any factual basis or rationale, and the task force, quote, raises the specter of dividing the veteran community and favoring some religions over others. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

The memo says hormone therapy, abortion, and vaccine mandates are examples of things Christian staff may abstain from. The lead Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Richard Blumenthal, said the VA memo lacks any factual basis or rationale, and the task force, quote, raises the specter of dividing the veteran community and favoring some religions over others. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

official told us that the search has begun after this second round of headlines about Hegseth. I should add that the White House has said our anonymous source doesn't know what they're talking about. But at a Rose Garden event yesterday, the president stood firmly by Hegseth, at least publicly.

official told us that the search has begun after this second round of headlines about Hegseth. I should add that the White House has said our anonymous source doesn't know what they're talking about. But at a Rose Garden event yesterday, the president stood firmly by Hegseth, at least publicly.

official told us that the search has begun after this second round of headlines about Hegseth. I should add that the White House has said our anonymous source doesn't know what they're talking about. But at a Rose Garden event yesterday, the president stood firmly by Hegseth, at least publicly.