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  • DOGE team welcomed at the Pentagon but some remain skeptical

    DOGE team welcomed at the Pentagon but some remain skeptical

    The Department of Defense has received a list of DOGE officials tasked with cutting 8% from next year’s budget. “We welcome DOGE to the Pentagon,” said Secretary Pete Hegseth. “And I hope to welcome Elon to the Pentagon very soon.” 

    The Pentagon employs 3.7 million personnel with a budget exceeding $850 billion, but it has never passed an audit.

    Tara Dougherty, CEO of Govini a defense software company, worked for three former Defense secretaries going back to Robert Gates. She says the biggest savings will be found in overhauling the decades-old weapons acquisition process, which still uses manual spreadsheets and fax machines.

    ACTING HEAD OF SOCIAL SECURITY QUITS AFTER CLASH WITH DOGE OVER DATE

    The Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of Defense – file photo.  (DoD photo by Master Sgt. Ken Hammond, U.S. Air Force.)

    “I would put a big red bull’s eye on the process by which we manage weapons systems and military platforms,” Dougherty said in an interview with Fox News. “The defense acquisition process is massively broken….It’s too slow. I mean, the United States is issuing missile purchases through fax machines. It’s using spreadsheet sheets and data calls in order to get nuclear capable platforms off of production lines.”

    As a result F-35 5th generation stealth fighter jets can’t get out of depot because they’re missing parts and the defense industrial base in the US doesn’t produce what they need. The next generation intercontinental ballistic missile, a key part of the  nuclear triad, is $35 billion over budget. And the cost of the B-21 nuclear bomber is rising and behind schedule. 

    “A lot of the weapons systems and the ships, jets, tanks and other capabilities that the department relies on for the military have such complex supply chains that the Department of Defense doesn’t actually know where all of those parts are coming from. And because they’re using spreadsheets to manage the programs overall means they have no ability to see if there are foreign suppliers or in some cases, Chinese suppliers of critical components like microelectronics in our military systems. This is the kind of thing that Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Trump administration are saying, this is no longer acceptable, and that’s what they’re going to root out,” Dougherty said.

    NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SAYS PUTIN, ZELENSKYY AGREE ‘ONLY PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD GET THEM TO THE TABLE’

    Pentagon briefing room plaque with US flag to left

    The Pentagon employs 3.7 million personnel with a budget exceeding $850 billion. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

    To get ahead of the DOGE team the Navy is considering cutting its fleet of frigates, while the Army is looking for savings by eliminating outdated drones and surplus vehicles. 

    Republican Senator Roger Wicker says it is about time.

    “I, for one, as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, welcome, DOGE coming in to the Pentagon and helping us cut red tape, make the acquisition process more efficient and spend our dollars better,” Wicker said in an interview with Fox’s Maria Bartiromo.

    But not everyone is happy that DOGE is coming to the Pentagon where there are many classified systems and a lot of secret information that US adversaries would like to gain access to.

    “We’ve already seen that this DOGE, I call it the Department of Government inefficiencies, is causing a reign of terror chaos across the federal government,” Cong Eugene VIndman of Virginia told CNN. “Just this week, they released classified information about a US intelligence agency. They have access to the American people’s personal information, bank accounts and things like that that that they’re frankly not entitled to. And so I have a major, major concern about them going into the Department of Defense and sitting around with, you know, the internal systems there and US national security.”

    left inset: Musk, left; Trump right inset; falling cash main image

    The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) found code linking US Treasury payments to a budget line item that was not required before, and accounts for nearly $4.7 trillion in payments and left blank. (Musk: Reuters / Money: iStock / Trump: Getty)

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    Concern the DOGE team will move too fast at the expense of national security materialized after it purged 2000 federal workers from the Department of Energy, including 350, many of whom oversaw the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Many of these federal workers were working at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, reassembling nuclear warheads, one of the most sensitive jobs that requires the highest level of security clearance.

    The administration did an about-face last week and quickly tried to locate and rehire the Department of Energy employees overseeing the nukes. 

    At the Department of Veterans Affairs, the agency announced the dismissal of over 1000 employees, following DOGE guidance. Veterans Affairs employees joined Democratic lawmakers outside the D.C. headquarters to protest DOGE’s actions at the VA last week. 

    Jennifer Griffin currently serves as a national security correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC) and is based out of the Washington D.C. bureau. She joined the network in October 1999 as a Jerusalem-based correspondent.

  • Migrant flight architect to lead Florida’s immigration enforcement

    Migrant flight architect to lead Florida’s immigration enforcement

    The man who helped organize a planeload of illegal immigrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard during the Biden administration has been tapped to lead Florida’s new immigration enforcement board.

    Larry Keefe, a longtime trial attorney who served previously as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s “public safety czar” since 2021, will have $250 million at his discretion to help bolster the state’s immigration enforcement efforts.

    Keefe was at the center of helping private contractor Vertol Systems Company earn a $1.5 million contract to fly dozens of mostly Venezuelan migrants from San Antonio to the ritzy Massachusetts island in 2022. At the time, illegal crossings along the southern border were surging under the leadership of former President Joe Biden, with more than 2 million during FY 2022. 

    TRUMP GREENLIGHTS SOME PRO-IMMIGRANT MOVES AMID BROADER ANTI-MIGRANT CRACKDOWN

    Larry Keefe, inset, was at the center of organizing a flight from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard amid a massive influx of illegal migrants into the U.S. under President Joe Biden. ( U.S. Department of Justice)

    The new board that Keefe will be heading was created during a recent special legislative session, called by DeSantis last month, to advance efforts at implementing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. 

    The group held an emergency meeting Monday, during which Attorney General James Uthmeier nominated Keefe to be the new board’s executive director just hours after being appointed himself by the governor.    

    “For several years, I had the pleasure of working alongside [Keefe] when he was the state’s public safety czar. In that position, Larry worked with law enforcement all across the state to spearhead interdiction efforts. He also helped us with executive actions to collect data and better understand the real harms and taxes that the state faces as a result of an influx of illegal immigrants,” Uthmeier said at Monday’s meeting. “He also helped organize some relocation flights that I think some of you might have heard about, including one to Martha’s Vineyard.”

    Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

    Illegal immigrants arrive at Martha’s Vineyard Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (Video provided to Fox News Digital)

    Desantis said during Monday’s meeting that Keefe’s work on the migrant flights, in particular the one to Martha’s Vineyard, “changed the dynamic of the whole debate” from immigration simply being an issue for border states, to an issue for all states.

    TOP FEDERAL AGENCY EXPOSED FOR SPENDING BILLIONS ON MIGRANTS IN A SINGLE YEAR 

    “They thought it was fine to have tens-of-thousands overrunning these border towns, but the minute you had 50 show up in Martha’s Vineyard, they had massive spasms about this. They called out the National Guard, they were doing a state of emergency,” Desantis said. “And then you started to see New York City and California and Chicago trips, and all of that I think helped bring this issue to a crescendo and resulted in the 2024 election.”

    Migrants standing outside of a church

    Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Sept. 14 on Martha’s Vineyard. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP)

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    Fox News Digital reached out to DeSantis’ office and was directed to his comments during the Monday meeting and on social media. DeSantis said Keefe “is a great public servant” and “will do a fantastic job” leading the state’s immigration enforcement.  

  • Southwest to cut 15% of corporate staff, including senior leadership positions

    Southwest to cut 15% of corporate staff, including senior leadership positions

     Jack Otter and the panel discuss the downfall of Southwest Airlines’ popularity and how they could turn it around on ‘Barron’s Roundtable.’

    Southwest Airlines cut 15% of its corporate workforce as it tries to rapidly reduce overhead costs to become a “leaner” company. 

    The airline said that the layoffs primarily target corporate overhead and leadership positions, including senior leadership and director roles. In total, 1,750 jobs will be affected, including 11 senior leadership positions, as the carrier strives to build a “leaner and more agile organization” under its transformational plan.

    “We are at a pivotal moment as we transform Southwest Airlines into a leaner, faster, and more agile organization,” CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement.

    SOUTHWEST TO PAUSE SOME HIRING, SUMMER INTERNSHIPS IN COST-CUTTING MEASURE

    Southwest said most of the separations will be completed by the end of the second fiscal quarter, and will result in approximately $210 million in savings for fiscal year 2025 and $300 million for the full 2026 fiscal year.

    The company expects to incur $60 million to $80 million in costs related to severance payments and post-employment benefits in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. 

    Travelers use a Southwest Airlines Co. self check-in kiosk at Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., on Friday, July 19, 2019. ( Scott Eisen/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Southwest has made substantial changes to rein in costs, particularly after activist investor Elliott Investment Management took a $2 billion stake in the carrier and subsequently called on the airline to take actions such as making leadership changes to improve its financial performance. 

    Last month, the company announced it was halting certain corporate events and pausing some hiring and most summer internships, though it plans to honor offers that were already made, in order to limit discretionary spending. 

    Southwest Airline jet

    Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told employees in a January memo that “every single dollar matters as we continue to fight to return to excellent financial performance,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

    Last fall, the carrier said it would be “minimizing hiring, optimizing scheduling efficiency, capitalizing on supply chain opportunities, and improving corporate efficiency” while implementing a “multi-year” plan to improve its finances. Southwest is aiming to achieve a $500 million run rate in savings in 2027, the company said at its investor day in September. 

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    Ticker Security Last Change Change %
    LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 30.28 +0.35 +1.17%

    During the investor day, Southwest also detailed big changes it has in the pipeline, such as offering assigned seats, evolving its boarding process and introducing premium seating. It will also start operating red-eye flights in February to “maximize aircraft utilization” and shorten the turnaround time for planes between flights.

    FOX Business’ Aislinn Murphy contributed to this report. 

  • Musk is not DOGE employee, has no more authority than other WH staff, new filing says

    Musk is not DOGE employee, has no more authority than other WH staff, new filing says

    The Trump administration clarified in a late-night Monday court filing that Elon Musk is not a DOGE employee, and instead serves as a White House advisor, in a similar vein as former Biden advisor Anita Dunn. 

    The filing comes after D.C. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan heard remarks in the case filed by 14 state attorneys general against Musk and the Trump administration. The states argue that Musk and the administration have engaged in illegal executive overreach. 

    Chutkan expressed that she wasn’t convinced by the arguments on Monday after asking what harm the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) imposed, as well as whether any federal employee terminations took place at the end of last week.

    DOGE SAYS IT FOUND NEARLY UNTRACEABLE BUDGET LINE ITEM RESPONSIBLE FOR $4.7T IN PAYMENTS

    Following the remarks, Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration, submitted a signed declaration clarifying that Musk “is an employee of the White House Office,” where he holds the position of “a non-career Special Government Employee.”

    The Trump administration clarified in a late-night Monday court filing that Elon Musk is not a DOGE employee, and instead serves as a White House advisor, in a similar vein as former Biden advisor Anita Dunn. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

    “In that job, Mr. Musk is a Senior Adviser to the President,” Fisher wrote. “It is not uncommon for the President to have Senior Advisors who are SGEs.”

    Fisher compared Musk’s White House role to that of former top Biden advisor Anita Dunn. Dunn, who has longtime ties to former President Barack Obama, left the Biden White House in 2024 to join a top Democratic super PAC to support its efforts to elect Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 2024 election.

    DOGE’S ACCESS TO CRITICAL IRS SYSTEM CONTAINING TAXPAYER INFORMATION IS IMMINENT

    Dunn served as a political strategist and advisor to Biden on his 2020 campaign and in the White House.

    Fisher continued on to say that Musk “has no greater authority than other senior White House advisors” and, as such, has no “actual or formal authority” to make government decisions. 

    Anti-Musk protesters gather on National Mall

    A protester holds up a “NO MUSK” sign at the “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

    “Mr. Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President’s directives,” Fisher wrote. 

    Fisher clarified that DOGE is a separate entity from the White House, continuing on to state that Musk is “not an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service or U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization.”

    OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE WHO BECAME TRUMP RIVAL DURING ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE OVERSEEING PIVOTAL DOGE HEARING

    At issue in the case are DOGE’s actions within seven federal agencies, the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation and Commerce.

    Donald Trump, Tanya Chutkan and Elon Musk

    The state AGs announced they were filing the suit last week, in which they are “challenging the unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk,” according to a statement released at the time. (Getty Images)

    The state AGs announced they were filing the suit last week, in which they are “challenging the unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk,” according to a statement released at the time. 

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    “Empowering an unelected billionaire to access Americans’ private data, slash funding for federal student aid, stop payments to American farmers and dismantle protections for working families is not a sign of President Trump’s strength, but his weakness,” New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in the statement. 

    Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, Anders Hagstrom, Bill Mears, and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. 

    Haley Chi-Sing is a Writer for Fox News Digital. You can reach her at @haleychising on X.

  • Anti-Elon Musk ‘tool kit’ released by progressive group encouraging protests

    Anti-Elon Musk ‘tool kit’ released by progressive group encouraging protests

    A progressive activist group is urging liberals to take advantage of the House of Representatives’ current weeklong recess to stage demonstrations against Elon Musk across the country.

    Indivisible, an organization founded by former Democratic congressional staffers, published a “tool kit” with recommendations for protesting at town halls and lawmakers’ district offices.

    A section on how to “take the fight to Elon” includes steps for planning and executing a demonstration at Tesla dealerships, showrooms and factories.

    “Members of the House of Representatives will be back on your home turf from Friday, February 14th, through Sunday, February 23rd, and it’s our opportunity to remind them who they work for,” the group’s website states. “Fighting back against the Trump-Musk coup is going to take all of us.”

    BLACK CAUCUS CHAIR ACCUSES TRUMP OF ‘PURGE’ OF ‘MINORITY’ FEDERAL WORKERS

    A progressive group is urging activists to protest Elon Musk’s government efficiency efforts at House lawmakers’ offices across the country. (AP/Deirdre Heavey at Fox News Digital)

    The House is currently out of session to mark Presidents Day this past Monday. These periods normally see lawmakers holding events with constituents or otherwise participating in their communities.

    Indivisible is urging progressives to take advantage of that time to protest across the U.S.

    “Recess is when Members of Congress go back home to host town halls, meet with constituents, and try to paint themselves as responsive to the people who elected them. It is also when MoCs think they can avoid public scrutiny—especially Republicans who want to dodge tough questions about their complicity in Trump and Musk’s coup,” the site said.

    “House Republicans use this time to meet with lobbyists and donors while hoping their constituents stay silent. House Democrats, meanwhile, need to hear from us to remind them that they have power—and that we expect them to use it to fight back.”

    SCOOP: KEY CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DRAWS RED LINE ON HOUSE BUDGET PLAN

    Donald Trump talks to reporters after watching the Daytona 500

    Indivisible was founded in response to President Donald Trump’s ascendancy. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

    It comes amid widespread left-wing outrage over Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), at the direction of President Donald Trump, spearheading efforts to significantly crack down on the size and scope of various federal agencies.

    Democrats have also pushed back on Musk’s DOGE workers getting access to sensitive government-owned data despite a lack of clarity on how they were vetted.

    However, Republicans have met Musk’s work with enthusiasm, arguing that tough measures are needed to mitigate the effects of the U.S. national debt blowing past $36 trillion.

    “This recess, we’re making sure every single Republican feels the heat for their complicity and pays a political price for selling out their constituents,” the Indivisible website said. 

    “At the same time, House Democrats have power—if they use it. But they need to be reminded. We need to show up for the ones fighting, celebrate their courage, and remind them to hold the line. We’ll push them to commit to voting NO on any budget that gives Musk and Trump control over our government’s spending or includes extremist cuts.”

    Protesters

    A protester holds up a “NO MUSK” sign at the “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

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    Under a section titled, “planning your Tesla town hall,” the group said, “To fight back, we have to meet Musk where he operates—across the country at Tesla showrooms, factories, and dealerships. A Tesla protest is a powerful way to expose his deep ties to the Trump coup and demand accountability.”

    At the same time, it urges activists to remain on public property and refrain from “business targeting.”

    “Indivisible is not advising and does not condone any actions that directly interfere with the daily operations or activities of any business or entity,” it said.

    Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

    Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]

  • North Korea vows to expand nuclear forces, blasts US for ‘outdated’ denuclearization plan

    North Korea vows to expand nuclear forces, blasts US for ‘outdated’ denuclearization plan

    North Korea on Tuesday vowed to expand its nuclear forces under Kim Jong Un and criticized the U.S. and its neighbors in Asia for pushing a denuclearization plan against the authoritarian regime.

    North Korea’s foreign ministry denounced the joint pledge between the U.S., South Korea and Japan as an “outdated, absurd plan” and warned of “overwhelming and decisive counteraction” against its rivals who threaten its security.

    “As long as the U.S. and its vassal forces’ hostile threat exists, the DPRK’s nukes are means for defending peace and sovereignty and a means for legitimate self-defense entrusted by the constitution of the state,” an unnamed ministry spokesperson said in a statement picked up by the North’s Korean Central News Agency, Reuters reported.

    The criticism comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi met during a security conference in Germany and reaffirmed their commitment to the Hermit Kingdom’s “complete denuclearization” and maintaining sanctions on the country’s weapons program.

    TRUMP MUST NOT REPEAT HIS KIM JONG UN MISTAKE WITH IRAN, SECURITY EXPERT WARNS

    North Korea’s foreign ministry vowed to expand its nuclear forces under Kim Jong Un, pictured, and criticized the U.S. and its neighbors in Asia for pushing a denuclearization plan against the authoritarian regime. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

    The countries also agreed to bolster defense and deterrence, including by expanding three-way military exercises and strengthening Japan and South Korea’s military capabilities, according to a joint statement released after the meeting.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Trump

    President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 7, 2025.  (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

    President Donald Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House earlier this month and said the U.S. will have relations with the North Korean regime of dictator Kim Jong Un.

    NORTH KOREA SLAMS RUBIO’S ‘ROGUE STATE’ LABEL AS ‘NONSENSE,’ VOWS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

    “We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong Un. I get along with them very well,” Trump told reporters alongside Ishiba.

    Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump

    President Donald Trump first met with Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June 2018, during his first term as president. (AP/Evan Vucci)

    Trump, who first met Kim in 2018 in Singapore and became the first sitting president to meet with the leader of North Korea, is looking to build off his personal diplomacy he established with Kim during his first term. 

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    Trump met Kim again in 2019 and became the first president to step foot inside North Korean territory from the demilitarized zone.

    Fox News Digital’s Chris Massaro and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • Egg farmer hit hard by bird flu, results in 3 lost flocks

    Egg farmer hit hard by bird flu, results in 3 lost flocks

    Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch CEO Greg Herbruck shares how his business has been affected by bird flu.

    Egg prices are continuing to rise, reaching levels not seen since inflation hit a high of 9% in 2022, hitting the wallets of consumers as well as America’s farmers.

    Outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, are primarily to blame. Entire commercial flocks, consisting of more than 1,000 chickens, have been wiped out as a result of the virus. 

    Greg Herbruck, a third-generation farmer and the CEO of Michigan egg production company Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, told FOX Business that the virus wreaked havoc on all three of the company’s farms, located about five miles from each other, forcing him to cull his entire supply. 

    The industry has been fighting bird flu since the outbreaks began in 2022. For Herbruck, it was the day before Easter 2024 when the company’s chickens contracted bird flu – a time he vividly recalls. 

    EGG PRICES AREN’T COMING DOWN ANYTIME SOON, EXPERTS SAY

    “It’s just like somebody takes a ball back to your gut,” said Herbruck, who wants officials to approve and fast track a vaccine that farmers can use to protect their flocks. “I’m just an egg farmer out here trying to say, ‘Hey, please, we need some help to fight this battle.’” 

    Herbruck said he went weeks without sleep, and by the time the third farm was infected, one of the company’s executives was crying in his office.

    “It was just awful… just the nightmare of that many dead chickens,” he said.

    Greg Herbruck, a third-generation farmer and the CEO of Michigan egg production company Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, told FOX Business that the virus wreaked havoc on all three of the company’s farms. (Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch)

    This marks the fourth year that the virus has crippled farmers, with outbreaks continuing to emerge into early 2025. After the virus is detected, farms are instructed to kill their entire flocks to eradicate the disease, which significantly disrupts supply and raises the cost of eggs in the U.S. food system.

    US EGG PRODUCTION DROPS AS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE ALONG WITH BIRD FLU CASES

    The process to rebuild the operation is not easy, as it takes several months to get to a point where a farm can start producing large eggs again.

    After getting clearance from the Agriculture Department, Herbruck said it takes about five months for a chick to reach maturity and to start laying a good number of large eggs.

    Eggs at Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch. Michigan’s largest egg producer, specializing in organic and cage-free eggs. (Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch)

    To expedite the process, farms purchase mature hens to begin laying eggs while simultaneously raising younger chicks. It can take up to two years for a farm to return to full production. In June 2024, Herbruck said the company began reintroducing birds to its farms, but are still operating at only 70% of their pre-outbreak capacity.

    Meanwhile, his workers have been taking extra precautions. For instance, they are transported to a remote area where they can change clothes. Some workers are even required to change twice to minimize the risk of contamination.

    BIRD FLU VACCINE: WHAT TO KNOW

    Herbruck expressed growing concerns as the virus has now been shown to infect mammals. In March 2024, the virus was first detected in cows and has since infected 968 dairy herds across 16 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

    The agency last month reported 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S. since 2024, including one fatality. 

    Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Michigan’s largest egg producer, specializes in organic and cage-free eggs. (Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch)

    Humans can contract bird flu through contact with an infected animal’s body fluids, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Infection can also occur by inhaling small dust particles from animal habitats or by touching body fluids and then getting them into the eyes, nose or mouth.

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    However, Herbruck is more concerned if the disease is airborne, which has not yet been determined. 

    “It’s not even possible to filter out that virus or to disinfect the air. These barns that may have 150,000 birds, we typically change the air every 30 to 40 seconds… so the idea that we might be able to somehow disinfect that air is not even reasonable,” he said.

    In addition to the protocols farms are already taking, Herbruck said the tool that is still missing is a vaccine. While it is not perfect, “it’s something that can help us,” he said. 

    February 18, 2025
  • Musk’s DOGE effort faces key hurdle as judge slated to issue ruling

    Musk’s DOGE effort faces key hurdle as judge slated to issue ruling

    The Trump administration’s quest to tame the sprawling federal bureaucratic leviathan is slated to face a key hurdle on Monday, as Judge Tanya Chutkan is expected to rule after more than a dozen states sought a temporary restraining order, accusing Elon Musk of “unconstitutional” actions. 

    Musk, who is spearheading the effort to identify government components that can be eliminated or slimmed down, has been widely hailed by the political right.

    But he has been scrutinized and criticized by many on the political left as they raise alarms about DOGE probes.

    While Musk is leading the charge, he is doing so with President Donald Trump’s blessing, and the commander in chief is standing firmly behind the push to root out government waste.

    “DOGE: BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE BEING FOUND. CAMPAIGN PROMISE. IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA!!!” he declared in a Truth Social post last week.

    ELON MUSK SAYS MILLIONS IN SOCIAL SECURITY DATABASE ARE BETWEEN AGES OF 100 AND 159

    President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, 2024, in New York City. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    In a post late Sunday night, Musk indicated that a Social Security database lists scads of people as 100 or older “with the death field set to FALSE!”

    “Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security,” he quipped. 

    Musk shared a chart that indicated there were millions of individuals listed between the ages of 100 and 159, as well as some listed with ages even higher than that.

    A Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General Report issued in 2023 noted, “Our audit revealed that the Numident includes approximately 18.8 million more ‘living’ numberholders age 100 or older than the U.S. Census Bureau estimates are alive and residing in the United States.”

    “Agency officials noted that, as of March 2023, SSA had issued approximately 531 million unique SSNs, and the 18.9 million records represent approximately 3.6 percent of all Numident records. Officials also noted that almost none of the 18.9 million numberholders currently receive SSA payments,” the report stated. “At the time of our review, approximately 44,000 of the 18.9 million numberholders were receiving SSA payments,” a footnote added.

    The audit was conducted from September 2021 to May 2023, an appendix on the report indicated.

    TREASURY ‘MISTAKENLY’ GAVE MUSK DOGE WORKER ABILITY TO CHANGE PAYMENTS SYSTEM: COURT DOCS

    Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., declared in a post on X that while he wants to increase government efficiency and save billions of taxpayer dollars, “Rummaging through your personal s— is *not* that.”

    “A party of chaos loses – always,” he added in the Monday tweet.

    But Musk, a billionaire business magnate, fired back.

    “Bruh, if I wanted to rummage through random personal s—, I could have done that at PAYPAL. Hello???” Musk declared. “Having tens of millions of people marked in Social Security as ‘ALIVE’ when they are definitely dead is a HUGE problem. Obviously. Some of these people would have been alive before America existed as a country. Think about that for a second …”

    Their exchange continued, as Fetterman responded.

    “Elon, the DOGE mission resonated in PA; I came at it with common sense and an open-mind,” Fetterman replied. “For many, it’s causing chaos and confusion – which IMO, doesn’t help DOGE. PA voters want their personal info secured and taxes spent wisely. Safe to assume both are priorities?”

    “I love the people,” Musk responded. “We just want to fix the waste and fraud that is bankrupting the country. The scrutiny on me is extreme, so it’s not like I could ‘get away’ with something, nor do I have any incentive to do so.”

    ACTING HEAD OF SOCIAL SECURITY QUITS AFTER CLASH WITH DOGE OVER DATA: REPORT

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    An interview featuring Trump and Musk is slated to air Tuesday night on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity.”

    Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

  • Anti-Trump protests erupt across the country for ‘Not My Presidents Day’

    Anti-Trump protests erupt across the country for ‘Not My Presidents Day’

    Progressive groups across the country once again protested President Donald Trump on Monday. The “Not My Presidents Day” or “No Kings Day” protests were organized by the 50501 Movement, a coalition of activists united against Trump’s “executive overreach.”

    From Austin, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, and Boston to Phoenix, demonstrators gathered in cities across the United States holding handmade signs, singing songs of resistance and chanting in protest. More than a thousand gathered at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., this Presidents Day. 

    “On Monday, we call on organizations and activists across the nation to once again stand united,” Sarah, a 50501 Movement and Voices of Florida organizer, said in a statement ahead of Presidents Day. “We will not cede ground to fascism quietly. We will fight back against Project 2025, and we will fight for the future of all of our beautiful communities.”

    Protesters at the nation’s capitol on Monday carried signs calling to “impeach” Elon Musk, resist the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and save our republic. Fox News Digital spoke with several protesters in Washington, D.C., about why they felt compelled to protest. Protesters said they gathered to reject Elon Musk and DOGE.

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    A protester holds a flag with a sign saying “We The People Serve No King,” during the “No Kings Day” protest on Presidents Day against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 near the Capitol in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

    “I’m here to protest the president, protest Elon Musk, and protest all the executive orders. He is not our president. Everything he’s done is a destruction of this country. He only cares about himself and his pockets and the pockets of his cronies. He’s not here to help any of the working Americans. Everything he’s doing is mass destruction. He is a weapon of mass destruction,” Jennifer, a protester in Washington, D.C., said. 

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    Jennifer said Trump might be president, but he is not a president for the people. Mary Hart, an educator at the protest, said her immigrant and trans students have been targeted by the administration, and she wanted to be a part of the resistance. 

    “I’m an educator, and I’m scared for my immigrant students,” Hart said. “I’m scared for my trans students. I’m scared for my country. I just had to show up and be part of the resistance. They’re being targeted and dehumanized by multiple people in this government. They’re coming to school scared, interrupting their learning. They’re being targeted and bullied by people who are emboldened by this administration, and it’s not right.”

    Jerome Bobowski, a girl dad from Detroit, led a “Where is Congress?” chant at the Washington, D.C., rally. He said he protested to protect his daughters’ rights. 

    Thousands gathered at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., for the "No Kings on Presidents Day" protest on Feb. 17, 2025.

    Thousands gathered at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., for the “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest on Feb. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

    “My kids are power women, and they have to have as many rights as my wife, who is a power woman too. We want justice. We don’t want a country without laws. That’s why they all come here. Because we have rules. We are not kings,” Bobowski said. 

    Protesters said they were afraid of losing personal liberties, but the White House told Fox News Digital that Trump is a “leader for all Americans.” Responding to the “Not My Presidents Day” protests, the Trump administration emphasized his “resounding mandate” from the American people on Election Day and his commitment to delivering on his campaign promises. 

    “This Presidents Day, we honor the leadership of President Trump. He received a resounding mandate from the American people and swiftly took action to deliver on his promises of restoring common sense policies, strengthening the economy and re-establishing America’s dominance on the world stage. President Trump is a leader for all Americans, and he will continue to prioritize America’s interests in every decision,” principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said. 

    A protester holds up a "NO MUSK" sign at the "No Kings on Presidents Day" protest in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17, 2025.

    A protester holds up a “NO MUSK” sign at the “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

    The 50501 Movement, which means 50 protests in 50 states on one day, began with a Reddit post, Sarah, who is a national core member of 50501, explained. From there, #buildtheresistance and #50501 gained traction on social media. On Feb. 5, they mobilized over 20,000 people across the country to protest Trump’s policies and Project 2025. 

    “All of this happened very organically and very fast,” Sarah told Fox News Digital. “I think that people didn’t know where to put their feelings. They didn’t know how to move. I think that they were just shell shocked, and when that Reddit post happened, it gave people the power to go make their voices heard.”

    The 50501 Movement is taking a decentralized approach, allowing individual groups and cities across the country to articulate their own mission. Sarah is also the executive director of Voices of Florida, which emphasizes reproductive rights, immigrant rights and queer rights. 

    "Not My President's Day" protest

    Demonstrators join more than a thousand people protesting the policies of the Trump administration marched from the Boston Common past City Hall to the North End on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 in Boston. (AP/Michael Casey)

    “It goes down to what the states and the smaller groups want. We don’t tell people what their demands should be. To sum it up in a broad way, it’s to push back against Project 2025 and give the power back to the people,” Sarah added. 

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    The 50501 is not affiliated with a political party, and there is no clear leader of the organization. At the protest in Washington, D.C., the organizers preached peace and emphasized civil disobedience was not welcome.

    Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.