Stephen Fowler

Thank you. And a Maryland district judge gave a similar directive to more than a dozen departments and offices. The next phase of restructuring asks agencies to conduct large-scale reductions in force in the coming months. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta.

Phase one of the agency RIF and reorganization plan asks agencies to list jobs and obligations that are essential and encourages them to cut just about everything else. Some, like the Department of Education, have already announced their intention to fire large numbers of employees. through reductions in force that will take effect in a few months.

Phase one of the agency RIF and reorganization plan asks agencies to list jobs and obligations that are essential and encourages them to cut just about everything else. Some, like the Department of Education, have already announced their intention to fire large numbers of employees. through reductions in force that will take effect in a few months.

Phase 2 plans due mid-April asks agencies to ID more ways to cut costs, like moving offices out of Washington, D.C., and axing regulations. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta.

Phase 2 plans due mid-April asks agencies to ID more ways to cut costs, like moving offices out of Washington, D.C., and axing regulations. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta.

Trump asked the Supreme Court to block a court order issued February 12th that reinstated the head of the Office of Special Counsel for two weeks while the judge considered the larger case. The short shelf life of that ruling means it usually can't be appealed, but Trump's lawyers tried anyways. After the D.C.

Trump asked the Supreme Court to block a court order issued February 12th that reinstated the head of the Office of Special Counsel for two weeks while the judge considered the larger case. The short shelf life of that ruling means it usually can't be appealed, but Trump's lawyers tried anyways. After the D.C.

Court of Appeals declined to make an exception, Trump went to the Supreme Court, who also did not step in. This was a procedural question that does not address the administration's larger legal argument that the president has complete power to determine who runs executive agencies, even independent ones. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

Court of Appeals declined to make an exception, Trump went to the Supreme Court, who also did not step in. This was a procedural question that does not address the administration's larger legal argument that the president has complete power to determine who runs executive agencies, even independent ones. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

NPR's Stephen Fowler has more. Musk is not an elected official, but his proximity to President-elect Trump and high profile posting helped sink a bipartisan funding bill announced earlier this week. He called it, quote, criminal and attacked language that went beyond spending to keep the government open. Musk also threatened to support primary challengers to anyone that voted against his wishes.

NPR's Stephen Fowler has more. Musk is not an elected official, but his proximity to President-elect Trump and high profile posting helped sink a bipartisan funding bill announced earlier this week. He called it, quote, criminal and attacked language that went beyond spending to keep the government open. Musk also threatened to support primary challengers to anyone that voted against his wishes.

The social media frenzy caused by the world's richest man has added more conflict to an already narrow Republican House majority that has had issues governing. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

The social media frenzy caused by the world's richest man has added more conflict to an already narrow Republican House majority that has had issues governing. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

There's a new number one song in the country, but you'll be forgiven if it sounds familiar. Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You is back on top of the Billboard Hot 100. The 30-year-old holiday perennial has now topped the chart in six different years. That's an all-time record, and it is not even close. Old music is also having a big week on the albums chart.

There's a new number one song in the country, but you'll be forgiven if it sounds familiar. Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You is back on top of the Billboard Hot 100. The 30-year-old holiday perennial has now topped the chart in six different years. That's an all-time record, and it is not even close. Old music is also having a big week on the albums chart.

Bing Crosby returns to the top 10 for the first time in 64 years thanks to a new compilation of his holiday hits. And Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets department returns to number one thanks to the release of its supersized deluxe edition on vinyl and CD. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.

Bing Crosby returns to the top 10 for the first time in 64 years thanks to a new compilation of his holiday hits. And Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets department returns to number one thanks to the release of its supersized deluxe edition on vinyl and CD. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.