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Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump falsely claims Ukraine started war with Russia

White House team meets with delegation from Russia to end the war it started.

ByDavid Brennan, Alexandra Hutzler, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: February 18, 2025, 7:08 PM EST

President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government -- and is being met with dozens of legal challenges.

The Department of Government Efficiency is taking aim at agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration, as the administration argues in court that Elon Musk is not the administrator of the newly-formed entity despite public comments from Trump to the contrary.

Trump, meanwhile, attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while speaking at his Mar-a-Lago home as U.S. officials hold talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine that started when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded its neighbor. Zelenskyy was not invited to the talks with Russia.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 18, 2025, 6:37 PM EST

Kash Patel nomination clears procedural vote in the Senate

The Senate voted 48-45 on Tuesday evening to advance Kash Patel's nomination to serve as FBI director.

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of the FBI, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 30, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also filed cloture on Patel's nomination, which tees up the Trump pick's final confirmation vote. That vote is expected to occur later this week.

Seven senators were not present for the procedural vote, but Patel advanced because he earned support from a majority of those who were in attendance.
-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Feb 18, 2025, 6:39 PM EST

Most nuclear agency employees rehired, sources tell ABC News

All but 28 of the roughly 300 fired National Nuclear Security Administration employees have been rehired, multiple sources told ABC News.

Many of those terminated employees received the news on Tuesday. Last week, the employees were frantically told their firings were put "on pause" as agency leadership decided who should stay and who should go. Most of those who were fired had administrative roles, sources told ABC News.

The Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment.

-ABC News' Jay O'Brien

Feb 18, 2025, 6:36 PM EST

Trump calls for 'cleaning house' at DOJ

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday, President Donald Trump again called for "cleaning house" at the Department of Justice.

The logo for the Justice Department is seen before a news conference at the Department of Justice, Aug. 23, 2024, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

"Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining 'Biden Era' U.S. Attorneys. We must 'clean house' IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System - THAT BEGINS TODAY!" Trump posted.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Feb 18, 2025, 5:27 PM EST

Layoffs expected to hit IRS as soon as tomorrow: sources

The Trump administration is expected to begin layoffs at the Internal Revenue Service as soon as tomorrow, multiple sources told ABC News.

Management was informed on Tuesday to expect probationary employees to be affected and to prepare to collect ID cards and government-issued equipment, sources said.

A flag waves outside the International Revenue Service Building after it was reported the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing to fire thousands of workers in the coming days, in Washington, Feb. 18, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

It is not immediately clear how many probationary employees will be affected. ABC News previously reported that 15,000 IRS employees had been identified as probationary.

-- ABC News' Will Steakin, Olivia Rubin, and Anne Flaherty

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