This is a Fox News alert. Another executive order blocked. I'm Lee Cilicera. A federal judge in Maryland has paused President Trump from implementing bans on DEI at federal agencies and by businesses that contract with the federal government. The judge said the directives by President Trump and an order urging the Department of Justice to investigate companies with DEI policies likely violate the First Amendment.
The president has fired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, posting on social media that Brown is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family. Brown is only the second black general to serve as chairman. Trump says he's nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Raisin-Kane to be the next chairman.
Meanwhile, the president commending the work of Doge, his government efficiency operation led by billionaire Elon Musk. President Trump says his poll numbers prove Americans like the job he's doing and the job Elon Musk is doing at the Department of Government Efficiency. The waste, fraud and abuse is at a level like nobody's ever seen. It's been going on for years.
And all you have to do is look at the Social Security rolls, look at some of the things, look at where the money is going. The administration says it has canceled billions of dollars in federal contracts and tens of thousands of federal workers have resigned or been fired in the president's first month in office. Still, public polling shows Americans are concerned about how deep some program cuts will be. Fox's Jared Halpern at the White House. Cash Patel has been sworn in as the new director of the FBI. Speaking at the ceremony, he made a
promised anyone that wishes to do harm to our way of life and our citizens here or abroad will face the full wrath of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And telling the men and women of the FBI that he has their back and the back of the American people. Also today, Howard Lutnick was sworn in as Commerce Secretary. America is listening to Fox News.
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Some heart-stopping moments for pilots flying over the body of water that separates Australia and New Zealand. Chinese live fire exercise over the Tasman Sea was legal. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed. He said it took place in international waters outside his nation's exclusive economic zone. His defense minister said Friday they were not told by China, only learning about it from the airlines.
He described it as very disconcerting for the planes that were flying, saying China's broadcast of its intention of a live fire exercise was picked up by airlines or literally commercial planes that were flying across the Tasman. The prime minister said his defense team isn't certain if any weapons fire occurred, adding the risk has passed.
CJ Papa, Fox News. Oh, Francis' respiratory infection is not life-threatening, but he's not out of danger. Francis has pneumonia in both lungs and has been hospitalized since last week. His doctors say Francis, who is 88, is in good spirits and is in good humor. Sean Diddy Combs has lost a member of his legal team. Anthony Rico filed a motion Thursday to withdraw from Combs' criminal sex trafficking case, saying he can no longer effectively serve as counsel.
He didn't explain why, but noted his decision came after speaking with Combs' lead attorney, Mark Agnifilo. The move leaves the embattled music mogul down one lawyer as he faces serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. Combs is pleaded not guilty to accusations he forced women into drugged-up sex shows. A judge still needs to approve Rico's request. Huh.
Fox's Michelle Polino. Valetta Wallace, the mother of late rapper The Notorious B.I.G., has died at the age of 78. The Monroe County coroner says Wallace died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, of natural causes. She was a dedicated keeper of the legacy of her son, one of rap's greatest performers. He was shot to death in Los Angeles in 1997. That case remains unsolved. I'm Lisa Lucera. This is Fox News.