Dem gov responds to DOJ lawsuit over trans athletes in girls’ sports

Maine Gov. Janet Mills has responded to the lawsuit that has been filed against her state by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for letting trans athletes compete in girls’ sports.

Mills’ office released a statement on Wednesday, hours after the lawsuit was announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi at a morning press conference. 

The statement references a ruling by a federal judge last Friday to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from freezing funding to the state over the issue and investigations by President Donald Trump’s Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services over the last seven weeks.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Today is the latest, expected salvo in an unprecedented campaign to pressure the State of Maine to ignore the Constitution and abandon the rule of law. This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law. Federal Judge Woodcock’s ruling of last Friday awarding the state a temporary restraining order reinforces our position that the federal government has been acting unlawfully,” the statement read. 

“For nearly two months, Maine has endured recriminations from the Federal government that have targeted hungry school kids, hardworking fishermen, senior citizens, new parents, and countless Maine people. We have been subject to politically motivated investigations that opened and closed without discussion, leaving little doubt that their outcomes were predetermined. Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last.”

Mills also boasted about her political background in the statement.

“For decades — first as a District Attorney, as Attorney General, and now as Governor — I have fought tirelessly for the rights of women and girls, for the health and well-being of children and families, and defending the Constitution of Maine and the Constitution of the United States. My Administration and Maine’s Attorney General will vigorously defend our state against the action announced today from the Department of Justice,” the statement read. 

MAINE GIRL INVOLVED IN TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE REVEALS HOW STATE’S POLICIES HURT HER CHILDHOOD AND SPORTS CAREER

“As I have said previously, this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot.”

The Justice Department has accused the state of “openly and defiantly flouting federal anti-discrimination law by enforcing policies that require girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions designated exclusively for girls,” according to a complaint obtained by Fox News.

“By prioritizing gender identity over biological reality, Maine’s policies deprive girl athletes of fair competition, deny them equal athletic opportunities, and expose them to heightened risks of physical injury and psychological harm,” the complaint added.

The complaint said the U.S. will seek “judgment granting declaratory injunctive, and damages relief for Defendant’s violations of Title IX and the federal funding contracts it signed promising to comply with Title IX and its implementing regulations.”

The announcement of the lawsuit comes nearly two months after an infamous hostile exchange between Trump and Mills at a White House bi-partisan meeting of governors on Feb. 21. The exchange ended with both Trump and Mills uttering the phrase “see you in court” after Mills insisted her state would refuse to comply with his order.

Now, Trump’s administration has made good on his vow to take the issue to court. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The state has also launched its own lawsuit against the Trump administration over the recent USDA cuts and a federal judge has also ordered that the funding can not be frozen. 

A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed it is “only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women.”

The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women’s and girls’ sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18.

Third top Pentagon official on administrative leave over leaks probe

A third high-level Pentagon staffer has been placed on administrative leave in two days as part of a probe into media leaks.

Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was escorted out of the building on Wednesday, following Dan Caldwell, senior advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, deputy chief of staff to Hegseth. 

“We can confirm that Mr. Carroll has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation. We have nothing additional to provide at this time,” a defense official told Fox News Digital. 

Carroll did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

PENTAGON DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IS SECOND HEGSETH ADVISOR REMOVED AMID DOD LEAK PROBE

Last month Defense Department (DOD) announced it would launch a probe into “recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information” and might employ the use of polygraphs to determine the source of the leaks. 

“The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,” DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper wrote in a memo. “This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.”

GENERAL WHO HELPED TRUMP DECIMATE ISIS TERRORISTS IN FIRST TERM CONFIRMED AS JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN

He wrote that “information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure” would be referred for criminal prosecution. 

Caroll, a Marine Corps reservist, most recently worked at defense contractor Anduril, which develops autonomous weapons systems. Both Selnick and Caldwell worked at Concerned Veterans for America, an advocacy group once led by Hegseth. 

The Pentagon has not provided specifics about what the three officials are accused of leaking. An official told Politico that the leak concerned Panama Canal plans and Elon Musk’s visit to the Pentagon and a second aircraft carrier being deployed to the Red Sea. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The DOD followed the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in announcing it would use polygraphs to root out alleged leakers. But the DOD memo came after President Donald Trump pushed back on a New York Times report that Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk would be briefed on “war plans” with China during a visit to the Pentagon. Trump said he would not show such plans “to anybody.”

Notorious government agency would be stripped of guns and ammo under proposed bill

While American taxpayers are familiar with the annual rigmarole of filing their federal taxes and realizing just how much of their hard-earned money Uncle Sam is taking away, several House Republicans are pushing a proposal to take some things away from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Guns and ammunition.

The “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act” would disarm the federal agency, prohibiting the commissioner of internal revenue from using funds to buy, receive or store firearms and ammo, and requiring the transfer of IRS firearms and ammunition to the Administrator of General Services. 

The guns would then be sold or auctioned to licensed dealers and the ammo would be auctioned to the public. 

Proceeds would go to “the general fund of the Treasury for the sole purpose of deficit reduction,” the measure stipulates.

TRUMP SAYS THERE’S A ‘REAL CHANCE’ TARIFFS COULD REPLACE INCOME TAX

The bill states that “there are transferred to the Department of Justice the authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, which shall be maintained as a distinct entity within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, including the related functions of the Secretary of the Treasury.”

Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., introduced the measure, which is backed by three original cosponsors: GOP Reps. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Mary Miller of Illinois and Clay Higgins of Louisiana. 

The IRS says on its website that its “mission is to provide America’s taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and to enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all.”

WHITE HOUSE QUIETLY FLOATS MILLIONAIRE TAX HIKE PROPOSAL IN CONGRESS AS GOP LEADERS SIGNAL OPPOSITION

But Moore claimed that the federal agency has regularly been “weaponized.”

“The IRS has consistently been weaponized against American citizens, targeted religious organizations, journalists, gun owners, and everyday Americans,” Moore asserted, according to a press release. 

“Arming these agents does not make the American public safer. My legislation, the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act, would disarm these agents, auction off their guns to Federal Firearms License Owners, and sell their ammunition to the public. The only thing IRS agents should be armed with are calculators.”

HAWLEY URGES REPUBLICANS TO CUT TAXES FOR WORKING-CLASS VOTERS WHO ‘PUT TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE’

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In an April 15 post on X, Moore noted, “Tax Day is a great reminder that it’s time for the IRS to stop wasting our taxpayer dollars stockpiling guns and ammo.”

Powerful House Republican set to take on embattled NY Gov Hochul

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is considering a 2026 bid for governor in her home state, multiple sources close to her confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Stefanik was withdrawn from consideration as President Donald Trump’s United Nations Ambassador to shore up numbers of the House Republicans’ narrow majority. She is now the chairwoman of House Republican Leadership.

Sources tell Fox News Digital that she is being encouraged to run by allies of Trump and longtime friends. Stefanik outperformed the president in her congressional district in 2016, 2020 and 2024, which one source says could be an indicator that she could do well with New York’s swing voters.  The Republican won with 62% of the vote in her strongly conservative district in November.

On Wednesday, Stefanik made the case for a GOP win in New York this year when she commented on a new poll by Marist which is the latest to indicate that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s approval ratings are underwater with New York State voters. 

“This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK. Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close,” Stefanik argued in a statement.

HARVARD IS ‘ACTING MORE ENTITLED THAN EVER,’ SAYS GOP CONGRESSWOMAN

Stefanik is a top Trump ally in the House and the president posted on social media Wednesday morning that “Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!” 

The six-term lawmaker has $10 million cash-on-hand through her fundraising entities, and is considered popular among Republican voters in the state. Stefanik was the keynote speaker at a New York GOP event on Tuesday night.

At the time of her nomination’s withdrawal, Hochul said it was a matter of holding the line in Congress.

“I have been proud to be a team player. The president knows that. He and I had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And as always, I’m committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents,” Stefanik said on Fox News’ “Hannity” last month.

REP. ELISE STEFANIK EXPLAINS HER ‘TEAM PLAYER’ DECISION TO STAY IN CONGRESS

Trump said he would work on finding a replacement pick, which has not been announced yet.

“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” the president posted to Truth Social at the time. 

“I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations,.”

SANCTUARY GOVERNORS WALZ, PRITZKER, HOCHUL CALLED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS

Stefanik is far from the only well-known Republican in New York State considering a 2026 run for governor.

Rep. Mike Lawler, who’s in his second term representing the state’s 17th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of New York City’s northern suburbs, is mulling a bid.

WHAT MIKE LAWLER TOLD FOX NEWS ABOUT POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR EMPIRE STATE GOVERNOR

“I’ll make a decision at some point – middle of the year. Obviously, you know if we’re going to do it, you got to get out there, and you got to campaign hard,” Lawler said last week in an interview with Fox News Digital.

He added, “I haven’t made a decision yet. I think, obviously, there’s a number of factors in play, but you know, we’re working through that right now.”

Among the other Republicans weighing a gubernatorial run are Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, who like Stefanik is a major Trump supporter and ally. Longtime Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. is also considering a run.

Democrats are salivating over a potential GOP gubernatorial primary in the Empire State.

CAN REPUBLICANS BRING AN END TO THEIR 23-YEAR LOSING STREAK IN THIS BLUE STATE?

“New York’s Republican primary is set to be a nasty and vicious race to see who can be the Trumpiest – and most out of touch with New Yorkers,” Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe aruged in a statement. “All three potential candidates in this race are running to bring Donald Trump’s extreme agenda of raising costs and taking away fundamental freedoms to Albany – and could not be more out of step with New York.”

It’s been 23 years since a Republican won a gubernatorial election in heavily blue New York State. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. George Pataki’s second re-election victory in 2002.

But with Hochul’s approval ratings and favorable ratings remaining in negative territory, Republicans are optimistic their losing streak will come to an end next year. The governor also faces potential, longshot Democratic primary challenges from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres.

Hochul, who at the time was the state’s lieutenant governor, in August 2021 was sworn in as New York’s first female governor, after three-term Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace amid multiple scandals.

But she narrowly won a full four-year term in the 2022 gubernatorial election, defeating then-Rep. Lee Zeldin, who now steers the Environmental Protection Agency in the Trump administration.

Zeldin – who lost to Hochul by less than six and a half points – had the best performance by a GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York since Pataki’s 2002 victory.

Trump lost the state to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in last November’s presidential election, but that was a 10-point improvement from his loss margin to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

“What is really telling is that you have three, at least, very qualified Republican candidates looking at it,” a veteran Republican strategist who works on New York State races told Fox News. “I think it shows her [Hochul’s] vulnerability.”

Stefanik’s departure could still have an impact on House Republicans’ razor-thin three-seat majority, but GOP leaders hope to be done with their plans for a massive conservative policy overhaul via the budget reconciliation process by the end of this year.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

If elected governor, Stefanik would not have to leave the House until the end of December 2025.

Her vote was critical to advancing President Trump’s budget framework legislation earlier this month. The bill appeared at risk of failing during a tense procedural vote last week, but Stefanik – who was among the last to cast her vote – carried it over the top, 216 to 215.

NY AG Letitia James responds after Trump admin accuses her of mortgage fraud

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been hit with shocking allegations by the Trump administration, accusing her of mortgage fraud.

In documents obtained by Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle,” the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice on Tuesday, accusing James of mortgage fraud.

FHFA Director William Pulte said in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that James appears to have falsified records to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms.

Pulte cited a property in Virginia that James allegedly claimed as her principal residence and a property in New York she claimed as a four-unit structure instead of five, which he said could mean she was able to get a different and more favorable loan.

In response, a spokesperson for James’ office said Wednesday morning that she has been “focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution. She will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are.” 

COURT NAMES NEW JUDGE IN TRUMP CIVIL FRAUD CASE BEFORE REASSIGNING PREVIOUS JUDGE HOURS LATER

Fox News contributor and George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News host Laura Ingraham the irony of James getting accused of falsifying records is “perfectly crushing.”

“This is a person who prosecuted Trump for everything short of ripping a label off a mattress, and among the charges that were brought in New York, in not just the civil but the criminal case, was making false or misleading statements to financial institutions,” Turley said. “As for James, if we apply the Letitia James standard that she created, there’d be little question here. This seems pretty straightforward.”

He explained the Trump administration is saying this was not her principal residence because, as a New York elected official, she has to say her principal residence is in New York.

‘PLAYING WITH THE COURTS’: TRUMP ADMIN HIT WITH DOZENS OF SUITS AFTER YEARS OF PRESIDENT CONDEMNING ‘LAWFARE’

James is also accused of saying her father was her husband to file as a married couple, Turley added.

“The Supreme Court just stated earlier in March, in a case called Thompson, that they want to see knowing false statements under sections, like 10-14, not just misleading statements,” Turley said. “These are misleading statements. Either it’s your principal residence or it’s not. Either you’re married to your father or he’s your father.”

The DOJ did not respond to Fox News on the matter.

The issue has been prosecuted in the past, but as Turley said on “The Ingraham Angle,” the “documents themselves are quite damning.”

‘ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY’: LEGAL EXPERTS SHRED NY V. TRUMP AS ‘ONE OF THE WORST’ CASES IN HISTORY

Retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro told Fox News Digital he first reported the allegations against James on his Substack almost 10 weeks ago.

“The documents presented by Sam Antar, and the research he has done, appear entirely authentic,” Mauro said. “In which case, AG James appears to have engaged in the very sort of fraud which she alleged in her ludicrous case against Donald Trump. Let’s see now, if indeed, as AG James has stated herself, nobody is above the law.”

The New York Post reported that the documents show that the property James purchased with her father had both parties listed as “husband and wife” in 1983 and 2000.

“While this was a long time ago, it raises serious concerns about the validity of Ms. James’ representations on mortgage applications,” Pulte reportedly wrote.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

James brought forth a civil fraud suit against President Donald Trump, the Trump Organization and its senior leadership in 2022, frequently sitting in the courtroom throughout the proceedings and celebrating the prosecution of Trump in the Manhattan criminal trial over the 34 counts of falsifying business records. 

Trump was ordered to pay a $454 million civil fraud judgment in James’ lawsuit against him, which is currently on appeal. 

So far in 2025, James has spearheaded at least five legal actions against the Trump administration, including leading a coalition of state attorneys general to sue the federal government to halt DOGE’s access to the Treasury Department’s internal systems, and another lawsuit related to the Trump administration slashing grant funding to research institutions and universities. 

Gayle King ‘very disappointed’ by response to Blue Origin flight

CBS host Gayle King responded to the backlash over the Blue Origin space flight on Tuesday and suggested the all-female crew was being held to a different standard than men who’ve been to space.

The journalist and talk show host was part of a historic flight on Monday that also carried Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, pop star Katy Perry, film producer Kerianne Flynn, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen.

The rocket landed safely after roughly a 10-minute flight. The high-profile trip drew some criticism from those who questioned if the brief flight was a worthwhile use of resources.

King responded to the backlash in comments to Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday, where she compared the Blue Origin flight to the historic space flight taken by American astronaut Alan Shepard in 1961.

KATY PERRY’S BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT FOLLOWS WILLIAM SHATNER ON STAR-STUDDED TREKS TO SPACE

“Have you been?” King scolded critics.

“Please don’t call it a ‘ride,’” she added, claiming people don’t use this term when talking about men going into space. 

“We duplicated the same trajectory that Alan Shepard did back in the day, pretty much. No one called that a ‘ride,'” King said. “It was called a flight, it was called a journey.”

“There was nothing frivolous about what we did,” she added.

KATY PERRY AND BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT CREW BLASTED BY CELEBRITIES ‘DISGUSTED’ OVER MISSION

“I’m very disappointed and very saddened by it,” the CBS host continued. “And I also say this, what it’s doing to inspire other women and young girls, please don’t ignore that.”

She also addressed liberal critics who complained about the environmental impact, saying that Bezos’ mission with Blue Origin was to discover if the rocket would be able to take waste from Earth into space to “make our planet cleaner.”

“Space is not an either/or. It’s a both/and. And because you do something in space doesn’t mean you’re taking anything away from Earth,” King argued. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWS

Model Emily Ratajkowski was one of several celebrities who bashed the flight on social media, calling it, “beyond parody.”

“You say that you care about Mother Earth, and it’s about Mother Earth, and you go up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that is single-handedly destroying the planet,” Ratajkowski posted to TikTok. “Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space. For what? I’m disgusted.”

King previously told critics at a press conference on Monday that anyone bashing the flight “doesn’t really understand” the historical significance of the space flight.

“We can all speak to the response we’re getting from young women, from young girls about what this represents,” she added.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Despite her sharp words to critics, King said she feels that for the most part the reaction has been positive.

“This is exciting for so many people,” she told Entertainment Tonight. 

Scottie Scheffler explains awkward Masters green jacket exchange with Rory McIlroy

Scottie Scheffler was unable to defend his Masters’ title at Augusta this year, but the PGA Tour star still managed to make headlines. 

Scheffler’s awkward interaction with Rory McIlroy, inside Butler Cabin after McIlroy completed the career slam with a playoff win over Justin Rose on Sunday, left many golf fans scratching their heads. 

As the most recent winner, it was Scheffler’s job to help put McIlroy into the coveted green jacket. But fans couldn’t help notice Scheffler’s quick exit as soon as McIlroy had placed his arms into the jacket. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Ahead of the RBC Heritage this week, Scheffler offered some insight into the moment and explained that he was essentially trying to let McIlroy have his moment. 

“In that moment – it was such an emotional day for him, I kind of just tried to stay out of the way and basically just get the jacket on without embarrassing him or myself,” Scheffler, who is also defending his title at the RBC Heritage, told reporters with a laugh.

“I got to watch the whole celebration, I watched the finish and it was really cool for me to be able to see because I don’t have the understanding of what it’s like to be asked about the career Grand Slam, but I have a small understanding of what it’s like ‘Hey, you’ve accomplished this but you haven’t accomplished that’ and it can be very taxing on people sometimes.”

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU SAYS RORY MCILROY ‘DIDN’T TALK TO ME ONCE’ DURING FINAL MASTERS ROUND

Scheffler said the moment McIlroy won looked like a moment of “relief.”  

“It was cool to see Rory be able to get the job done and definitely from the outside, it looked a bit more like relief than anything.” 

Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world and the pre-tournament favorite, shot a 3-under 69 on Sunday to finish at 8-under 280 for fourth place. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Scheffler is back at Hilton Head hoping to pick up his first win on the PGA Tour this year. McIlroy will not compete – a decision that came long before his win at Augusta National. 

McDonald’s teases return of once-popular menu item — and fans can’t wait

McDonald’s on Tuesday teased customers about when to expect snack wraps back on its menu.

The fast-food giant wrote on X, “snack wraps 0x.14.2025.”

McDonald’s hint has attracted about 1.4 million views and over 12,000 likes since it was posted late Tuesday morning. 

MCDONALD’S CEO GIVES THREE PREDICTIONS FOR RESTAURANT BIZ IN 2025

It appears to suggest the highly anticipated comeback of the company’s snack wrap could occur before October, the tenth month of the year. 

McDonald’s customers have been looking forward to the wraps reappearing on the menu since McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger said late last year that the fast-food chain planned to relaunch them in 2025.

The company hasn’t sold the snack wrap in the U.S. in nine years. 

“The Snack Wrap will be back in 2025. This has a cult following. I get so many emails into my inbox about this product. It will be back in 2025,” Erlinger told “Good Morning America” in December.

At that time, he had been tight-lipped about the exact timetable for the snack wrap’s return, citing “competitive reasons.” 

McDonald’s executives also more recently fielded questions about the timing of the snack wrap’s return during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call in February.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Asked about McDonald’s plans to reintroduce the snack wrap and add a chicken strip menu item, CEO Chris Kempczinski said during the call his team “would kill me if I gave any more details about the when and the exact specifics of how we’re going to plan on doing that, but certainly expect that to come online later in the year.” 

Kempczincki said “there is incredible energy for the return of snack wraps in the U.S. along with a few other markets.” 

McDonald’s is debuting a “new chicken strip offering” in the U.S. this year, according to the CEO. 

He also said the company will “continue to pulse in the Chicken Big Mac as a limited-time-only offering over time.” 

The McCrispy sandwich will come to more markets in 2025.

MCDONALD’S PLANS MORE CHICKEN OFFERINGS 

“We continue to roll out McCrispy, which is now in over 70 markets and will be available in nearly all markets by the end of 2025,” Kempczinski said. 

These moves come as the company continues to lean into its chicken offerings. 

The CEO told analysts and investors McDonald’s was “excited about the significant opportunity we see within our chicken portfolio and see the potential to add another point of chicken market share by the end of 2026.” 

McDonald’s operated over 13,500 locations across the U.S. at the end of 2024, according to the company’s annual report. The chain operates nearly 43,500 restaurants worldwide.

Urgent recall for food sold nationwide at Target due to high levels of lead

A company that makes baby food sold under a Target store brand is recalling more than 25,000 packages of a product because the food may contain elevated levels of lead.

Miami-based Fruselva issued the recall in March for Target’s Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Purée, sold in 4-ounce tubs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The packages include lot number 4167, with a best-by date of Dec. 7, and lot number 4169, with a best-by date of Dec. 9.

FOOD HEALTH ALERT ISSUED FOR SOUPS, BOWL PRODUCTS AFTER WOOD FOUND IN RECALLED INGREDIENT

Consumers should not feed these products to babies, the notice indicates.

A Target spokesperson told Fox News Digital the recall “involved a limited amount of product, which we took immediate action to remove from our shelves.”

Because the recall was initiated in March, no impacted products are in circulation, the spokesperson said.

The recall is listed as Class II, which means the products are unlikely to cause serious harm but still have the potential to result in temporary or reversible problems.

There is no safe level of exposure to lead for children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Exposure to the heavy metal can cause developmental and cognitive problems.

“As the lead levels rise, children may complain of non-specific symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, loss of appetite or constipation,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

“Children with signs of clumsiness, agitation or decreased activity and drowsiness may be showing signs of central nervous system (CNS) involvement that may rapidly proceed to vomiting, stupor and convulsions. Symptomatic lead toxicity must be treated as an emergency.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Most baby food in the U.S. can contain no more than 10 parts per billion of lead — while root vegetable baby food and dry cereals are allowed 20 parts per billion, according to FDA standards listed on its website.

Anyone who has the recalled baby food is asked to call corporate guest relations or go to a Target store for a full refund. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP