White House responds to report that Elon Musk is leaving DOGE soon

Elon Musk will exit his role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on schedule later this spring, once “his incredible work at DOGE is complete,” the White House confirmed Wednesday. 

“This ‘scoop’ is garbage,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted to X on Wednesday. “Elon Musk and President Trump have both *publicly* stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete.” 

Leavitt was referring to a Wednesday Politico article reporting that “Trump has told his inner circle & members of his Cabinet that” Musk “will be stepping back in the coming weeks from his current role.” Musk, however, has long been anticipated to step back from DOGE when his 130 days as a “special government employee” run out in May. 

Musk has been the public face of DOGE since President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the office on Jan. 20. 

Musk officially was hired as a “special government employee,” which is a role Congress created in 1962 that allows the executive or legislative branch to hire temporary employees for specific short-term initiatives.

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Special government employees are permitted to work for the federal government for “no more than 130 days in a 365- day period,” according to data from the Office of Government Ethics. Musk’s 130-day timeframe, beginning on Inauguration Day, runs dry May 30. 

“Politico has become a tabloid paper that would rather run fake news for clicks than real reporting,” White House spokesman Harrison Fields told Fox Digital on Wednesday of Politico’s report. “This is exactly why President Trump and DOGE have terminated millions of dollars in wasteful, government contracts to so-called news organizations that have diminished their credibility with the American people.” 

A Politico spokesperson told Fox Digital that the outlet stands by its reporting when approached for comment over the matter. 

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DOGE is a temporary cross-departmental organization that was established to slim down and streamline the federal government. The group itself will be dissolved on July 4, 2026, according to Trump’s executive order.

Musk and Trump have both previously previewed that Musk’s role was temporary and would come to end in the coming weeks. 

“You, technically, are a special government employee and you’re supposed to be 130 days,” Fox News’ Bret Baier asked Musk during an exclusive interview with the DOGE leader and members of his team Thursday. “Are you going to continue past that or do you think that’s what you’re going to do?” 

“I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars within that time frame,” Musk responded. 

Trump hinted at Musk’s departure in comments to the media Monday when asked if he wants Musk to remain in a government role for longer than the predetermined 130 days. 

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“I think he’s amazing. But I also think he’s got a big company to run,” Trump responded. “And so at some point he’s going to be going back.”

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“I’d keep him as long as I can keep him,” Trump said. “He’s a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He’s very smart. And he’s done a good job,” the president added. “DOGE is, we’ve found numbers that nobody can even believe.” 

Republican doubles down after telling fired federal worker he ‘probably deserved’ it

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told an individual who said he had been fired from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that he likely deserved to be dismissed because he seemed “like a clown.”

The GOP senator has not backed away from his comments, which were captured on camera.

Retweeting a post that featured video of the exchange, the lawmaker’s @SenatorBanks X account declared, “Hard truth!” Banks is also using a screenshot of himself from the video as his new profile photo on that account.

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In the video, an individual who is not on camera can be heard saying that he was an HHS worker who had been illegally fired on February 14.

The individual went on to claim that many have not been getting social services, particularly individuals with disabilities, and then asked Banks if he is going to “do anything to stop what’s happening?”

Banks responded by saying, “You probably deserved it.”

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When the questioner asked Banks why he deserved it, the senator replied, “Because you seem like a clown.”

Fox News Digital reached out to a Banks spokesperson who provided a comment from the senator.

“Factory workers, mechanics, police officers, teachers and all hard working people in Indiana don’t deserve to see their tax dollars going to pay for woke and wasteful programs in Washington DC. Thank you President Trump for draining the swamp,” Banks said in the statement.

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The individual who confronted Banks in the video was Mack Schroeder, reports indicate.

“It felt very childish to hear someone in a leadership position whose constituents rely on these programs to say that,” Schroeder said, according to USA Today. “I hope a lot of people in his state see the callousness that he demonstrated.”

Banks, who previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, won election to the Senate last year and joined the upper chamber early this year.

Dozens arrested in major border state bust targeting bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang

Over 40 people with suspected ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were arrested by law enforcement in Hays County, Texas, on Tuesday morning, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced.

“In recent days, [FBI San Antonio] developed intelligence regarding a possible gathering of suspected members or associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) in Hays Co. Early Tuesday morning, a search warrant was executed by [Texas Department of Public Safety’s] Special Response Team at a residence in the area — resulting in more than 40 arrests,” Texas DPS posted to X.

“For more than a year, law enforcement — including DPS, FBI, federal, state and local partners — have been investigating suspected TdA members, and Tuesday’s operation is a result of this collaborative effort to make Texas communities safer,” the agency continued. 

Charges from Texas and the U.S. government have not been announced yet, as they are still “currently under investigation.” They noted that minors were also taken into custody and there were drug seizures as a result of the search warrant executed.

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The arrests were met with praise from some Texas officials.

“Well done warriors! Federal anti-gang task forces work. Several weeks ago I led a roundtable where we discussed exactly this!” Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, posted on X.

“Right in your backyard. [Texas DPS] is proud to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to keep Texans safe and combat TdA,” Texas DPS press secretary Sheridan Nolen tweeted.

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The gang was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, and since then there have been major efforts underway to place suspected members into custody. Many suspected members have been transported to a prison in El Salvador, including 17 who were being held at Guantanamo Bay early this week.

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“In order to keep the American people safe, @POTUS designated the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” Rubio posted to X last week. “These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens.”

EXCLUSIVE: EMERGING GOP LEADER BACKING TRUMP’S USE OF ALIEN ENEMIES ACT AT SUPREME COURT

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There is an ongoing federal court battle between the Trump administration and U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg over using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for some removals. In the case of the 17, it was conducted under Title 8, the White House told Fox News last week.

‘Shady trial lawyer pipeline’ reportedly funneling millions to Democrats

EXCLUSIVE — One of the country’s leading consumer protection firms released a report today exposing a “shady lawyer pipeline” of politicians handing out lucrative public contracts to trial lawyers, who in turn contribute millions of dollars to liberal political campaigns, including $1.4 million to the Harris-Walz campaign in 2024.

The report – released by Alliance for Consumers (AFC) – highlights the deep Democratic ties of eight major consumer protection law firms – Morgan & Morgan, Lieff Cabraser, Motley Rice, Baron & Budd, Grant & Eisenhofer, Berger Montague, Cohen Milstein and Simmons Hanly – which it dubs the “shady eight.”

According to AFC, these firms hold profitable public contracts across the country and contributed around $25 million in political donations from 2017 through 2024.

In 2024 alone, the firms collectively donated $4 million to political campaigns, 99% of which were for Democrat candidates or Democrat-allied committees.

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During the 2024 presidential election, the firms contributed $1.4 million to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign.  

The shady eight also prioritized midterm Senate races, the report found, with Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and former Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Bob Casey, D – Penn., and Jon Tester, D – Mont. receiving the largest contributions next to Harris.

Five of the firms — Lieff Cabraser, Motley Rice, Grant & Eisenhofer, Simmons Hanly, and Baron & Budd – showed a 100% commitment to Democrats and their allies, generating more than $2.5 million in federal donations in 2024.

“The consumer should never be on the losing side of a left-wing political money game like what is on display in the Shady Trial Lawyer Pipeline,” AFC says in its report. “This partisan political giving is supported by money from public contracts signed by politicians and public officials; money that belongs to the taxpayers and consumers.”

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AFC said “the ‘Shady Eight’ are stark examples—although far from the only ones—of how the Shady Trial Lawyer Pipeline works, with politicians feeding sweetheart contracts to trial lawyers who give 99% of their political donations to liberals and will happily turn around and pump millions of dollars into left-leaning candidates, committees, and allied organizations.”

O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers, told Fox News Digital the report “shows how left-wing trial lawyers have turned consumer protection efforts into a political game.”

He urged states to move to end their contracts with these “shady” law firms.

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“The contracts that states have with these firms make some sense if the goal is funding left-wing political campaigns, but, for many reasons, they are exactly the wrong way to protect consumers,” he said. “Ending the Shady Trial Lawyer Pipeline is one of the strongest steps public officials can take to protect consumers and the rule of law.”

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This comes as Republicans in Congress move to rein in “out of control” rulings by activist judges that have inhibited some of the most highly-prioritized aspects of the Trump administration’s agenda, such as immigration enforcement and the deportation of criminal migrant gang members.

Professor placed on leave after allegedly wrecking College Republicans’ table

The chair of the English Department at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly flipping the College Republicans’ table on campus Tuesday morning.

UW-Eau Claire Interim Provost Michael Carney confirmed the incident with Fox News.

“I am deeply concerned that our students’ peaceful effort to share information on campus on election day was disrupted,” Carney said in a statement. “UW-Eau Claire strongly supports every person’s right to free speech and free expression, and the university remains committed to ensuring that campus is a place where a wide variety of opinions and beliefs can be shared and celebrated.”

He added that “civil dialogue is a critical part of the university experience, and peaceful engagement is fundamental to learning itself.”

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“We are working with the Universities of Wisconsin and the Office of General Counsel, which is conducting a comprehensive investigation of this matter. The faculty member involved has been placed on administrative leave pending that investigation,” Carney said.

The UW-Eau Claire College Republicans identified the faculty member on Instagram as English Department Chair José Felipe Alvergue. Alvergue did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.

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Tatiana Bobrowicz, UW-Eau Claire College Republicans chair, said in a video posted to the chapter’s Instagram page that she had just finished setting up a table on Election Day.

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The student group was promoting conservative-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel and superintendent candidate Brittany Kinser, both of whom lost their elections Tuesday.

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“A professor came up and flipped our table in a violent attack towards us. This is unacceptable,” Bobrowicz said in a statement posted to the UW-Eau Claire College Republicans Instagram account on Tuesday. “The university has since confirmed that this attacker was the chair of the university’s English Department. Once again, this type of violent attack will not be tolerated.”

UW director of media relations Mark Pitsch told Fox News in a statement that university staff “appreciate that UW-Eau Claire has taken swift action, and we will be working with them to conduct the investigation.”

Man allegedly takes pharmacy employee’s life over ‘grudge’ against healthcare industry

The suspected gunman who opened fire inside a California Walgreens on Tuesday night had a grudge against pharmacies, according to police. 

Video surveillance from inside the Madera, California, store allegedly shows 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez waving a gun before he opened fire. The shooting left 34-year-old Erick Velazquez, an employee of the store, dead. 

Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte said that while the motive for the shooting has not yet been declared, Fernandez made comments about large pharmacies. 

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“We’re having difficulties because some of the statements show that he had anger towards pharmacies in general, not specifically Walgreens,” he said, adding that Fernandez told some victims “this isn’t about you.”

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Fernandez was arrested shortly after the incident and taken to the Madera County Jail on homicide charges.

“We are deeply saddened by last night’s tragic event, which resulted in the death of one of our team members. Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones during this difficult time,” Walgreens said in a statement. “The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we are working with local authorities in their investigation. We are focused on supporting our team members and will be offering on-site counseling services over the next couple days.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Madera County District Attorney’s Office.

Vacation abroad turns tragic for American nurse after accident leaves her ‘all metal’

Warning, graphic content

An American ICU nurse had a harrowing brush with death after her rental moped crashed during a vacation to Thailand, leaving her with a brain bleed, a broken collarbone and shattered teeth.

Sierra Fairhurst, 23, arrived at Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts on March 27 after two weeks in Thailand. According to a GoFundMe, Fairhurst was in a moped crash during a vacation in Thailand.

“Despite the long road ahead for her, this could have been completely different, and I’m so grateful to have her here, alive and her brain in working order,” Zoe Rose, Fairhurst’s mother, said in the most recent GoFundMe update. 

“Her face can be fixed, her wounds will heal, bones can be repaired,” Rose said. “She has the strength to overcome all of this.”

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Fairhurst rented a moped during her travels in the Southeast Asian country. She told Boston 25 that at one moment they were on the road, and the next they weren’t.

She awoke in a foreign hospital with devastating injuries.

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“I remember going to see the elephants, and we went zip-lining and all the excursions that we did, but that’s it,” she said. “My eye socket is broken, I almost lost my eye, my cheek bones and nose were broken, so that’s all metal now.”

After the accident, the 23-year-old nurse was taken to Krabi, on southern Thailand’s west coast, for treatment. She was eventually transferred to a facility in Bangkok before returning home, according to GoFundMe.

Rose and Fairhurst’s brother, J, arrived in Thailand after the accident to help her. Her identification was lost in the aftermath of the accident, which complicated the process. 

“In the confusion of the accident and her friends packing luggage to transfer with her to the next hospital, all of Sierra’s identification is missing,” Rose said. “She has no ID, social security card, or passport. It is imperative that once she is stable she gets to come home to Boston and receive the best care and recover at home with her family.”

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With the help of the U.S. State Department, Fairhurst was given proper documentation to travel back to the U.S.

“I know she’s very self-conscious in regard to the scarring on her face and missing teeth, but she still came out of this alive, and her brain is healing and doing well, and she’s still beautiful,” she told Boston 25.

When she returned from her trip, Fairhurst went directly to a Boston hospital to be evaluated, and it was determined she did not need inpatient care.

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Fairhurst visited the wound clinic and oral maxillofacial surgeon and has appointments scheduled with her primary care provider, neurologist, ocular plastic surgeon, orthopedic surgeon and cosmetic dentist, according to the GoFundMe.

Country star Morgan Wallen cashes in on his controversial ‘SNL’ exit

Morgan Wallen is making lemonade out of lemons.

The “Last Night” singer shared on his Instagram story on Tuesday that he is selling new merchandise, including T-shirts and baseball caps with the words “Get me to God’s Country” written on them.

The announcement comes a few days after the country star was featured as the musical guest on the March 29 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” when he performed two songs from his upcoming album, including “Just in Case” and “I’m the Problem.”

His appearance on the show caused a stir, as the singer walked off the stage after the host, Mikey Madison, thanked him for his performance, choosing not to join the rest of the cast members as they hugged and celebrated the end of the show together.

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Shortly after the show was over, Wallen shared that he was excited to be going home, later writing “Get me to God’s country” on Instagram stories underneath a photo of an airplane.

He has now taken the phrase and turned it into a money-making opportunity, making the most of his controversial “SNL” appearance.

While many found the singer’s exit to be abrupt, sources told Fox News Digital there is no bad blood between Wallen and the popular late-night show, calling his walk-off an “oops” moment.

“That was the way he entered and exited the studio all week during rehearsal and camera blocking, so he just walked that way after hugging Mikey,” an insider shared. 

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This was Wallen’s first appearance on the show in five years. He also caused some controversy the first time he was scheduled to perform in 2020, when fans took issue with the fact that he was out at an Alabama football game and later a crowded bar, without a mask on.

He was immediately removed from the scheduled “SNL” appearance. Wallen apologized in a video shared online.

“I’m in New York City in a hotel room, I was getting ready for ‘SNL’ this Saturday, and I got a call from the show letting me know that I will no longer be able to play,” he said. “That’s because of COVID protocols, which I understand.”

Adrienne Uthe, founder of Kronus Communications, told Fox News Digital his recent misstep on “SNL” just goes to show Wallen is a “good ol’ (imperfect) American boy who’s most interested in living a life on his terms” and no one elses.

“Morgan Wallen does what Morgan Wallen does – like the rest of us, he’s unfiltered, unrehearsed, and couldn’t care less about surface-level showbiz etiquette,” Uthe said. “Country stars have always been the last frontier of real in a polished industry — they write music for everyday Americans, not for headlines.” 

His upcoming album, “I’m The Problem,” is set to be released in May, and among the new songs will be a tune titled “Superman.” In its lyrics, which he dedicated to his son, Wallen addresses his April 2024 arrest in Nashville, Tennessee, after he threw a chair off a rooftop bar.

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