<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI AP Health Writer</a>

A yearlong outbreak of tuberculosis in the Kansas City, Kansas area has taken local experts aback, even if it does not appear to be the largest outbreak of the disease in U.S. history as a state health official claimed last week.

“We would expect to see a handful of cases every year,” said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Kansas Health System. But the high case counts in this outbreak were a “stark warning," he said.

The outbreak has killed two people since it started in January 2024, Kansas state health department spokeswoman Jill Bronaugh said. Health officials in Kansas say there is no threat to the general public.

TB is caused by bacteria that lives in the people’s lungs and spreads through the air when they talk, cough or sing. It is very infectious, but only spreads when a person has symptoms.

Once it infects a person, TB can take two forms. In “active” TB, the person has a long-standing cough and sometimes bloody phlegm, night sweats, fever, weight loss and swollen glands. In “latent” TB, the bacteria hibernates in the person’s lungs or elsewhere in the body. It does not cause symptoms and does not spread to others.

Roughly a quarter of the global population is estimated to have TB, but only about 5% to 10% of those develop symptoms.

How big is the tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas?

As of Jan. 24, 67 people are being treated for active TB, most of them in Wyandotte County, Bronaugh said. Another 79 have latent TB.

The state’s provisional 2024 count shows 79 active TB cases and 213 latent cases in the two counties where the outbreak is happening, Wyandotte and Johnson. Not all of those are linked to the outbreak and Bronaugh did not respond to requests for clarification.

The situation is improving, though: “We are trending in the right direction right now,” Ashley Goss, deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the state Senate’s Committee on Public Health and Welfare Jan. 21.

Is the Kansas tuberculosis outbreak the largest in U.S. history?

Kansas health officials called the outbreak “the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history” since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began counting cases in the 1950s.

But a spokesperson for the CDC on Tuesday refuted that claim, noting at least two larger TB outbreaks in recent history. In one, the disease spread through&nbsp;<a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/25/3/18-1678_article">Georgia homeless shelters</a>. Public health workers identified more than 170 active TB cases and more than 400 latent cases from 2015 to 2017. And in 2021, a nationwide outbreak linked to contaminated tissue used in bone transplants sickened 113 patients.

TB is treated with antibiotics over the course of several months. A vaccine is available, but generally not recommended in the U.S. because the risk of infection is low and getting the vaccine can interfere with the test doctors use to diagnose the disease.

TB is a much bigger problem outside of the U.S.

TB is a leading cause of infectious disease death worldwide, and has been on the rise.

In 2023, the bacteria killed 1.25 million people globally and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tb-who-tuberculosis-covid-c0fd5cc6542e7f9135833366b71546d2">infected 8 million</a>, the highest count since the World Health Organization started keeping track.

While tuberculosis was a much bigger danger in the U.S. in earlier generations, it has been trending back up in recent years. In 2023 there were more than 9,600 cases nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tb-tuberculosis-cdc-us-e278fdbc1a7912bfbbab8934ad0691d9">the highest in a decade</a>, according to the CDC.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707492278650.png" alt=" A digitally colorized scan of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause tuberculosis in human beings. Although tuberculosis cases have been rising, public health departments say they lack the resources to stop the disease from spreading (Courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)." />
 <figcaption> A digitally colorized scan of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause tuberculosis in human beings. Although tuberculosis cases have been rising, public health departments say they lack the resources to stop the disease from spreading (Courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI AP Health Writer</a>A yearlong outbreak of tuberculosis in the Kansas City, Kansas area has taken local experts aback, even if it does not appear to be the largest outbreak of the disease in U.S. history as a state health official claimed last week.“We would expect to see a handful of cases every year,” said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Kansas Health System. But the high case counts in this outbreak were a “stark warning," he said.The outbreak has killed two people since it started in January 2024, Kansas state health department spokeswoman Jill Bronaugh said. Health officials in Kansas say there is no threat to the general public.<h2>What is tuberculosis?</h2>TB is caused by bacteria that lives in the people’s lungs and spreads through the air when they talk, cough or sing. It is very infectious, but only spreads when a person has symptoms.Once it infects a person, TB can take two forms. In “active” TB, the person has a long-standing cough and sometimes bloody phlegm, night sweats, fever, weight loss and swollen glands. In “latent” TB, the bacteria hibernates in the person’s lungs or elsewhere in the body. It does not cause symptoms and does not spread to others.Roughly a quarter of the global population is estimated to have TB, but only about 5% to 10% of those develop symptoms.<h2>How big is the tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas?</h2>As of Jan. 24, 67 people are being treated for active TB, most of them in Wyandotte County, Bronaugh said. Another 79 have latent TB.The state’s provisional 2024 count shows 79 active TB cases and 213 latent cases in the two counties where the outbreak is happening, Wyandotte and Johnson. Not all of those are linked to the outbreak and Bronaugh did not respond to requests for clarification.The situation is improving, though: “We are trending in the right direction right now,” Ashley Goss, deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the state Senate’s Committee on Public Health and Welfare Jan. 21.<h2>Is the Kansas tuberculosis outbreak the largest in U.S. history?</h2>Kansas health officials called the outbreak “the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history” since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began counting cases in the 1950s.But a spokesperson for the CDC on Tuesday refuted that claim, noting at least two larger TB outbreaks in recent history. In one, the disease spread through&nbsp;<a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/25/3/18-1678_article">Georgia homeless shelters</a>. Public health workers identified more than 170 active TB cases and more than 400 latent cases from 2015 to 2017. And in 2021, a nationwide outbreak linked to contaminated tissue used in bone transplants sickened 113 patients.<h2>How is tuberculosis treated?</h2>TB is treated with antibiotics over the course of several months. A vaccine is available, but generally not recommended in the U.S. because the risk of infection is low and getting the vaccine can interfere with the test doctors use to diagnose the disease.<h2>TB is a much bigger problem outside of the U.S.</h2>TB is a leading cause of infectious disease death worldwide, and has been on the rise.In 2023, the bacteria killed 1.25 million people globally and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tb-who-tuberculosis-covid-c0fd5cc6542e7f9135833366b71546d2">infected 8 million</a>, the highest count since the World Health Organization started keeping track.While tuberculosis was a much bigger danger in the U.S. in earlier generations, it has been trending back up in recent years. In 2023 there were more than 9,600 cases nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tb-tuberculosis-cdc-us-e278fdbc1a7912bfbbab8934ad0691d9">the highest in a decade</a>, according to the CDC.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Infectious disease doctor: Tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas a stark warning

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a contentious confirmation hearing to be the nation's top health official,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;struggled to answer questions about how he would reform Medicaid or Medicare, the government health care programs used by millions of disabled, poor and older Americans.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician and key vote Kennedy needs to win, repeatedly pressed the nominee on Wednesday to share ways he plans to reform Medicaid, a multibillion-dollar taxpayer-funded program that covers health care for about 80 million people, including children. Republicans have said they might need to make deep cuts to Medicaid to fund President Donald Trump's proposals.

“I don't have a broad proposal for dismantling the program,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy also inaccurately claimed that Medicaid is fully paid for by the federal government — it's not; states and federal taxpayers fund it. He also said most Americans have purchased a Medicare Advantage plan, when only about 1 in 10 Americans have.

His misstatements about the program were peppered in between suggestions that he would seek to push privatization of the programs, repeatedly saying that most Americans like private insurance and that they dislike the government run versions of the programs.

Kennedy is seeking to lead a $1.7 trillion department of Health and Human Services agency that will oversee vaccine recommendations as well as food inspections, hospital oversight and funding for hundreds of community health clinics.

In sometimes heated exchanges on Wednesday, Kennedy denied that he is anti-vaccine. But Kennedy, who pointed out that his children are vaccinated, acknowledged he has asked “uncomfortable questions” about vaccinations.

“I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care,” Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee.

Republicans did not ask Kennedy about his vaccine views during the first hour of the hearing.

But Democrats homed in, with Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon pointing out that Kennedy has previously claimed there's “no safe” vaccine, initiating a back and forth between him and Kennedy. Wyden also quoted from Kennedy's books, which say that parents have been “misled” on the measles vaccine.

“You have spent years pushing conflicting stories about vaccines,” Wyden said.

Over many years, Kennedy has been clear about his beliefs on vaccines in dozens of interviews, podcasts and social media posts.

He's headed up a nonprofit that has sued the government over its authorizations of vaccines. He's said there is&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1788596009695633439">“no vaccine that is safe and effective”</a>&nbsp;and repeatedly called for further study of routine childhood vaccinations, despite decades of research and real-world use that proves they've safely prevented disease.

Republicans narrowed in on questions about agriculture, food and the abortion pill, which many women access over telehealth.

Kennedy tried to assure senators that he would not seek widespread bans on vaccines or food, saying he wants to provide more information to people.

“I don’t want to take food away from anybody," he said. "If you like a cheeseburger – a McDonald’s cheeseburger and a diet Coke like my boss — you should be able to get them.”

Kennedy hails from one of the nation’s most storied political families and is the son of the late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. He first challenged President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. He then ran as an independent but abandoned his bid over the summer after striking a deal to endorse Trump, a Republican, in exchange for a promise to serve in a health policy role during a second Trump administration.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-hhs-health-kennedy-f40ee2398e3a280c1586eecdd80bdf7c">selected Kennedy</a>&nbsp;in November, shortly after he won the presidential election, saying Kennedy would “end the Chronic Disease epidemic” and “Make America Great and Healthy Again!” As one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-vaccines-2ccde2df146f57b5e8c26e8494f0a16a">the most prominent anti-vaccine activists</a>&nbsp;in the world, Kennedy’s nomination immediately alarmed some public health officials.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s</a>&nbsp;famous name, populist stances and loyal following have earned him President Donald Trump’s support, but will that get him the votes he needs from the Republican-controlled Senate to become the nation’s top health official?

or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/senate-committee/hhs-sec-nominee-rfk-jr-testifies-at-confirmation-hearing/430405">Click here to watch</a> 9a.m. CST

If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

His confirmation hearings are set before the Senate finance committee on Wednesday and the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee on Thursday.

Here’s what to watch during his confirmation hearings:

He’s headed up a nonprofit that has sued the government over its authorizations of vaccines. He’s said there is “&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1788596009695633439" target="_blank">no vaccine that is safe and effective</a>,” and repeatedly called for further study of routine childhood vaccinations, despite decades of research and real-world use that proves they’ve safely prevented disease.

But more recently, Kennedy has tried to downplay his past remarks and work, saying he’s not anti-vaccine and promising not to “take away” the shots.

The health committee chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also has expressed concerns about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine work. A physician, Cassidy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1877039738005098978" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;earlier this month he “had a frank conversation” and “spoke about vaccines at length” with Kennedy. On Tuesday, Cassidy told reporters that he is still unsure if he is backing Trump’s nominee.

“I’m still working through it,” Cassidy said during a press availability with Louisiana reporters on Tuesday. “I look forward to the hearings and I will allow that to guide my decision.”

The intensity of the questioning on vaccines over the next two days could provide clues for how other Republicans — like Sen. Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor who represents Kentucky — might consider Kennedy’s nomination.

Watch for overtures to the anti-abortion movement

Some of the country’s most conservative lawmakers have been worried about how Kennedy will handle abortion as health secretary.

Republican Sen. James Lankford, who sits on the finance committee, is expected to grill Kennedy, a longtime Democrat, on the issue during Wednesday’s hearing. Lankford is seen as a possible “no” vote over Kennedy’s past comments supporting abortion. Last month, the Oklahoma senator said he had a “good conversation” with Kennedy but stopped short of endorsing.

HHS can influence abortion and reproductive health access in a number of ways, including with millions of dollars in grants it sends to Planned Parenthood and regulations around abortion pills. Under the Biden administration, the agency also said hospitals were required to provide emergency abortions for pregnant women in medical distress.

On Monday, acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink signaled the agency is prepared to adopt a tougher stance on abortion under Kennedy. She ordered the agency to investigate all of its programs to make sure no taxpayer money is going toward elective abortions.

There are Democrats he’s trying to woo, too

Kennedy needs to earn support from nearly all Senate Republicans, but he may also try to pick up a vote or two from the Democratic Party. His closest supporters and advisers&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/calleymeans/status/1883611113298051185" target="_blank">have urged</a>&nbsp;followers to call the offices of Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

Another Democratic senator may also be in play: John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who met with Kennedy and has said he’s open to supporting Trump’s nominees.

An area where Kennedy is trying to find common ground with Democratic senators: food regulations and access to healthier foods. Kennedy has said he supports Medicare and Medicaid helping people pay for healthier foods and gym memberships, an idea Democrats have lobbied for as well. He’s also called for a ban on some of the ingredients used in foods, like dyes and additives.

In a letter sent to U.S. senators on Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caroline-robert-kennedy-trump-health-secretary-f01f58305eac53560e31c51aaee5f171">shared shocking personal details</a>&nbsp;about her cousin, saying he is not qualified for the health secretary job.

Caroline Kennedy said RFK Jr.'s views on vaccines are a problem, but she also brought up her experiences growing up with him.

A copy obtained by The Associated Press notes that while she admired him for overcoming a drug addiction, she said he has gone on to “misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life.” In an extreme anecdote, she accused him of hosting drug-fueled gatherings in his basement, dorm and garage where he “enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks.”

Meanwhile, another cousin, former Rhode Island congressman and Democrat Patrick J. Kennedy, threw his support behind the health secretary nominee in an opinion piece for The Washington Post on Tuesday. RFK Jr. helped pull him out of addiction, Patrick J. Kennedy said.

“Bobby was the first family member to call and offer his personal and public support, even at a time when some in my family criticized me for breaking the so-called family code of silence,” he wrote.

Associated Press writer Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738163034654.png" alt="Kennedy spoke with Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a member of the Senate Finance committee, moments before the hearing started-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kennedy spoke with Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a member of the Senate Finance committee, moments before the hearing started-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a contentious confirmation hearing to be the nation's top health official,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;struggled to answer questions about how he would reform Medicaid or Medicare, the government health care programs used by millions of disabled, poor and older Americans.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. complete opening statement at Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. <a href="https://t.co/FE0svVjixs">pic.twitter.com/FE0svVjixs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884628422279721203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine or did you lie on all those podcasts?&quot; Watch exchange between Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/RonWyden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonWyden</a> and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on vaccines. <a href="https://t.co/4jYWaWUuzL">pic.twitter.com/4jYWaWUuzL</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884628588785254722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. &quot;I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines.&quot; Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/RonWyden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonWyden</a>: &quot;Anybody who believes that ought to look at the measles… <a href="https://t.co/NqMxcr1ep0">pic.twitter.com/NqMxcr1ep0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884631127950037297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorBennet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorBennet</a> to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;Unlike other jobs were confirming around this place, this is a job where it is life and death...it&#39;s too important for the games that you&#39;re playing Mr. Kennedy.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VQZlA26o2V">pic.twitter.com/VQZlA26o2V</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884639007289507891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/OPrRNEq1FP">pic.twitter.com/OPrRNEq1FP</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884643434792652848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorHassan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorHassan</a> asks Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;When was it that you decided to sell out the values you&#39;ve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nNBzzaB9Xv">pic.twitter.com/nNBzzaB9Xv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884643823499788405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenSanders</a>: &quot;Are you supportive of these onesies?&quot; WATCH: Exchange between Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over onesies. <a href="https://t.co/YGj3vfiGqG">pic.twitter.com/YGj3vfiGqG</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884653818291294292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician and key vote Kennedy needs to win, repeatedly pressed the nominee on Wednesday to share ways he plans to reform Medicaid, a multibillion-dollar taxpayer-funded program that covers health care for about 80 million people, including children. Republicans have said they might need to make deep cuts to Medicaid to fund President Donald Trump's proposals.“I don't have a broad proposal for dismantling the program,” Kennedy said.Kennedy also inaccurately claimed that Medicaid is fully paid for by the federal government — it's not; states and federal taxpayers fund it. He also said most Americans have purchased a Medicare Advantage plan, when only about 1 in 10 Americans have.His misstatements about the program were peppered in between suggestions that he would seek to push privatization of the programs, repeatedly saying that most Americans like private insurance and that they dislike the government run versions of the programs.Kennedy is seeking to lead a $1.7 trillion department of Health and Human Services agency that will oversee vaccine recommendations as well as food inspections, hospital oversight and funding for hundreds of community health clinics.In sometimes heated exchanges on Wednesday, Kennedy denied that he is anti-vaccine. But Kennedy, who pointed out that his children are vaccinated, acknowledged he has asked “uncomfortable questions” about vaccinations.“I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care,” Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee.Republicans did not ask Kennedy about his vaccine views during the first hour of the hearing.But Democrats homed in, with Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon pointing out that Kennedy has previously claimed there's “no safe” vaccine, initiating a back and forth between him and Kennedy. Wyden also quoted from Kennedy's books, which say that parents have been “misled” on the measles vaccine.“You have spent years pushing conflicting stories about vaccines,” Wyden said.Over many years, Kennedy has been clear about his beliefs on vaccines in dozens of interviews, podcasts and social media posts.He's headed up a nonprofit that has sued the government over its authorizations of vaccines. He's said there is&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1788596009695633439">“no vaccine that is safe and effective”</a>&nbsp;and repeatedly called for further study of routine childhood vaccinations, despite decades of research and real-world use that proves they've safely prevented disease.Republicans narrowed in on questions about agriculture, food and the abortion pill, which many women access over telehealth.Kennedy tried to assure senators that he would not seek widespread bans on vaccines or food, saying he wants to provide more information to people.“I don’t want to take food away from anybody," he said. "If you like a cheeseburger – a McDonald’s cheeseburger and a diet Coke like my boss — you should be able to get them.”Kennedy hails from one of the nation’s most storied political families and is the son of the late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. He first challenged President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. He then ran as an independent but abandoned his bid over the summer after striking a deal to endorse Trump, a Republican, in exchange for a promise to serve in a health policy role during a second Trump administration.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-hhs-health-kennedy-f40ee2398e3a280c1586eecdd80bdf7c">selected Kennedy</a>&nbsp;in November, shortly after he won the presidential election, saying Kennedy would “end the Chronic Disease epidemic” and “Make America Great and Healthy Again!” As one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-vaccines-2ccde2df146f57b5e8c26e8494f0a16a">the most prominent anti-vaccine activists</a>&nbsp;in the world, Kennedy’s nomination immediately alarmed some public health officials.----------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s</a>&nbsp;famous name, populist stances and loyal following have earned him President Donald Trump’s support, but will that get him the votes he needs from the Republican-controlled Senate to become the nation’s top health official?<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE --&gt; Confirmation hearing: ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, nominee to be Secretary of Health &amp; Human Services, testifies before <a href="https://twitter.com/SenateFinance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenateFinance</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SenFinance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@senfinance</a> – LIVE on C-SPAN <a href="https://t.co/pMoiNNtTof">https://t.co/pMoiNNtTof</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884617329104888242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/senate-committee/hhs-sec-nominee-rfk-jr-testifies-at-confirmation-hearing/430405">Click here to watch</a> 9a.m. CSTIf approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.His confirmation hearings are set before the Senate finance committee on Wednesday and the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee on Thursday.Here’s what to watch during his confirmation hearings:<h2>How will he explain his vaccine views?</h2>Over many years, Kennedy has been clear about his beliefs on vaccines in dozens of interviews, podcasts and social media posts.He’s headed up a nonprofit that has sued the government over its authorizations of vaccines. He’s said there is “&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1788596009695633439" target="_blank">no vaccine that is safe and effective</a>,” and repeatedly called for further study of routine childhood vaccinations, despite decades of research and real-world use that proves they’ve safely prevented disease.But more recently, Kennedy has tried to downplay his past remarks and work, saying he’s not anti-vaccine and promising not to “take away” the shots.The health committee chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also has expressed concerns about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine work. A physician, Cassidy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1877039738005098978" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;earlier this month he “had a frank conversation” and “spoke about vaccines at length” with Kennedy. On Tuesday, Cassidy told reporters that he is still unsure if he is backing Trump’s nominee.“I’m still working through it,” Cassidy said during a press availability with Louisiana reporters on Tuesday. “I look forward to the hearings and I will allow that to guide my decision.”The intensity of the questioning on vaccines over the next two days could provide clues for how other Republicans — like Sen. Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor who represents Kentucky — might consider Kennedy’s nomination.<h2>Watch for overtures to the anti-abortion movement</h2>Some of the country’s most conservative lawmakers have been worried about how Kennedy will handle abortion as health secretary.Republican Sen. James Lankford, who sits on the finance committee, is expected to grill Kennedy, a longtime Democrat, on the issue during Wednesday’s hearing. Lankford is seen as a possible “no” vote over Kennedy’s past comments supporting abortion. Last month, the Oklahoma senator said he had a “good conversation” with Kennedy but stopped short of endorsing.HHS can influence abortion and reproductive health access in a number of ways, including with millions of dollars in grants it sends to Planned Parenthood and regulations around abortion pills. Under the Biden administration, the agency also said hospitals were required to provide emergency abortions for pregnant women in medical distress.On Monday, acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink signaled the agency is prepared to adopt a tougher stance on abortion under Kennedy. She ordered the agency to investigate all of its programs to make sure no taxpayer money is going toward elective abortions.<h2>There are Democrats he’s trying to woo, too</h2>Kennedy needs to earn support from nearly all Senate Republicans, but he may also try to pick up a vote or two from the Democratic Party. His closest supporters and advisers&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/calleymeans/status/1883611113298051185" target="_blank">have urged</a>&nbsp;followers to call the offices of Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.Another Democratic senator may also be in play: John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who met with Kennedy and has said he’s open to supporting Trump’s nominees.An area where Kennedy is trying to find common ground with Democratic senators: food regulations and access to healthier foods. Kennedy has said he supports Medicare and Medicaid helping people pay for healthier foods and gym memberships, an idea Democrats have lobbied for as well. He’s also called for a ban on some of the ingredients used in foods, like dyes and additives.<h2>Will that letter come up?</h2>In a letter sent to U.S. senators on Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caroline-robert-kennedy-trump-health-secretary-f01f58305eac53560e31c51aaee5f171">shared shocking personal details</a>&nbsp;about her cousin, saying he is not qualified for the health secretary job.Caroline Kennedy said RFK Jr.'s views on vaccines are a problem, but she also brought up her experiences growing up with him.A copy obtained by The Associated Press notes that while she admired him for overcoming a drug addiction, she said he has gone on to “misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life.” In an extreme anecdote, she accused him of hosting drug-fueled gatherings in his basement, dorm and garage where he “enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks.”Meanwhile, another cousin, former Rhode Island congressman and Democrat Patrick J. Kennedy, threw his support behind the health secretary nominee in an opinion piece for The Washington Post on Tuesday. RFK Jr. helped pull him out of addiction, Patrick J. Kennedy said.“Bobby was the first family member to call and offer his personal and public support, even at a time when some in my family criticized me for breaking the so-called family code of silence,” he wrote.<h2>___</h2>Associated Press writer Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

🎥Highlights of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country.

The Monday evening order from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldn't be subject to a pause in funding.

The White House confirmed that OMB pulled the order Wednesday in a two sentence notice sent to agencies and departments, but said that Trump's underlying executive orders targeting federal spending in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change, remained in place.

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants was necessary to conduct a review to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">blitz of executive orders</a>. Agencies had been directed to answer a series of yes or no questions on each federal program by Feb. 7. The questions included “does this program promote gender ideology?” and “does this program promote or support in any way abortion?”

Still, the vaguely worded memo, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

The freeze was scheduled to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but was stayed by a federal judge until at least Monday after an emergency hearing requested by nonprofit groups that receive federal grants. An additional lawsuit by Democratic state attorneys general was also pending.

“The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, blaming the confusion on the courts and news outlets, not the administration. “This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the President’s orders on controlling federal spending."

Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans, including Medicare, Social Security, student loans and food stamps, would not be affected. But they sometimes struggled to provide a clear picture.

Leavitt initially would not say whether Medicaid was exempted from the freeze, but the administration later clarified that it was.

Although Trump had promised to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term, the effects of his effort to pause funding were being felt far from the nation’s capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, and Head Start which provides early childcare in lower income communities, were worried about getting cut off.

Democratic critics of the order moved swiftly to celebrate the action.

“This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this country—real people made a difference by speaking out," said Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/patty-murray">Patty Murray</a>, D-Wash. "Still, the Trump administration—through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law—caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours which is still ongoing."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that “Americans fought back and Donald Trump backed off.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737908838710.png" alt="President Trump speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Saturday-photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>President Trump speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Saturday-photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738177826569.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Monday evening order from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldn't be subject to a pause in funding.The White House confirmed that OMB pulled the order Wednesday in a two sentence notice sent to agencies and departments, but said that Trump's underlying executive orders targeting federal spending in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change, remained in place.Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants was necessary to conduct a review to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">blitz of executive orders</a>. Agencies had been directed to answer a series of yes or no questions on each federal program by Feb. 7. The questions included “does this program promote gender ideology?” and “does this program promote or support in any way abortion?”Still, the vaguely worded memo, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.The freeze was scheduled to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but was stayed by a federal judge until at least Monday after an emergency hearing requested by nonprofit groups that receive federal grants. An additional lawsuit by Democratic state attorneys general was also pending.“The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, blaming the confusion on the courts and news outlets, not the administration. “This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the President’s orders on controlling federal spending."Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans, including Medicare, Social Security, student loans and food stamps, would not be affected. But they sometimes struggled to provide a clear picture.Leavitt initially would not say whether Medicaid was exempted from the freeze, but the administration later clarified that it was.Although Trump had promised to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term, the effects of his effort to pause funding were being felt far from the nation’s capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, and Head Start which provides early childcare in lower income communities, were worried about getting cut off.Democratic critics of the order moved swiftly to celebrate the action.“This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this country—real people made a difference by speaking out," said Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/patty-murray">Patty Murray</a>, D-Wash. "Still, the Trump administration—through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law—caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours which is still ongoing."Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that “Americans fought back and Donald Trump backed off.

Read the notice: White House rescinds order freezing federal grants

WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) updated details on the investigation into the death of Roger Golubski, 71, of Edwardsville.

Upon arriving at the scene, KBI agents recovered a&nbsp;Smith and Wesson M&amp;P Shield handgun on the back deck of the residence near the body, and five suicide letters from Golubski. KBI agents traced the handgun to a woman who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She indicated the gun had been stolen from her vehicle in 2022. The investigation did not establish a relationship or connection between Golubski and the gun owner. Agents were not able to determine how Golubski gained possession of the firearm.

Through the investigation, KBI agents established that Golubski left his house for his federal trial around 8:30 a.m., but never arrived at the Courthouse. He made several phone calls to family and to his attorney, and returned home. His roommate reported that she heard the gunshot around 9 a.m. and then called 911.

The final autopsy report concluded Golubski’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and manner of his death was suicide. The toxicology report found no significant positive findings.

The KBI has concluded this investigation. Foul play is not suspected in Golubski’s death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663616484786.png" alt="Golubski photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Golubski photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) updated details on the investigation into the death of Roger Golubski, 71, of Edwardsville.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738116368745.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arriving at the scene, KBI agents recovered a&nbsp;Smith and Wesson M&amp;P Shield handgun on the back deck of the residence near the body, and five suicide letters from Golubski. KBI agents traced the handgun to a woman who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She indicated the gun had been stolen from her vehicle in 2022. The investigation did not establish a relationship or connection between Golubski and the gun owner. Agents were not able to determine how Golubski gained possession of the firearm.Through the investigation, KBI agents established that Golubski left his house for his federal trial around 8:30 a.m., but never arrived at the Courthouse. He made several phone calls to family and to his attorney, and returned home. His roommate reported that she heard the gunshot around 9 a.m. and then called 911.The final autopsy report concluded Golubski’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and manner of his death was suicide. The toxicology report found no significant positive findings.The KBI has concluded this investigation. Foul play is not suspected in Golubski’s death.

KBI: Stolen handgun used in death of disgraced Kansas detective 

Sen. Jerry Moran says VA programs exempt from president’s federal funding freeze

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat, said President Donald Trump’s sudden pause of federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs was causing unnecessary disruption and anxiety for Kansans.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the spending freeze until Monday when a hearing on the issue was scheduled.

The Trump administration’s standstill in allocation of federal tax dollars was devised to create a window for an administrative review intended to root out initiatives opposed by the president.

“Families shouldn’t have to worry about feeding their kids, keeping a roof over their heads or affording health care,” Davids said. “This reckless and deliberately vague order cuts vital investments in our economy that hardworking Kansans rely on to stay safe and healthy.”

Davids said the Trump administration should be working to address “real needs of our communities” that included lowering the cost of living for families rather than prioritizing interests of “big corporations and special interests.”

The president’s order put public safety as risk by jeopardizing funding to law enforcement, homeland security and disaster response programs, Davids said. Questions were raised about implications for federally funded road, bridge and transit infrastructure projects, she said.

Davids said the president’s directive could interfere with operation of Head Start, mental health services, the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline as well as funding for tribal communities, small business loans and energy programs.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said Trump’s directive wouldn’t disrupt services and benefits offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Moran, chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said he was assured no VA programs, including those provided through grant recipients, would be undercut by directives issued by Trump through the Office of Management and Budget.

“Veterans and their families, as well as the organizations that serve them, will continue to have access to the benefits, services and resources provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Moran said. “I appreciate the VA quickly providing answers to my questions and continuing the important programs that serve our veterans and their families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738170282573.png" alt="File photo Rep. Davids a the Panasonic manufacturing plant in De Soto&nbsp; earlier this month" />
 <figcaption>File photo Rep. Davids a the Panasonic manufacturing plant in De Soto&nbsp; earlier this month</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Sen. Jerry Moran says VA programs exempt from president’s federal funding freeze</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat, said President Donald Trump’s sudden pause of federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs was causing unnecessary disruption and anxiety for Kansans.A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the spending freeze until Monday when a hearing on the issue was scheduled.The Trump administration’s standstill in allocation of federal tax dollars was devised to create a window for an administrative review intended to root out initiatives opposed by the president.“Families shouldn’t have to worry about feeding their kids, keeping a roof over their heads or affording health care,” Davids said. “This reckless and deliberately vague order cuts vital investments in our economy that hardworking Kansans rely on to stay safe and healthy.”Davids said the Trump administration should be working to address “real needs of our communities” that included lowering the cost of living for families rather than prioritizing interests of “big corporations and special interests.”The president’s order put public safety as risk by jeopardizing funding to law enforcement, homeland security and disaster response programs, Davids said. Questions were raised about implications for federally funded road, bridge and transit infrastructure projects, she said.Davids said the president’s directive could interfere with operation of Head Start, mental health services, the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline as well as funding for tribal communities, small business loans and energy programs.U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said Trump’s directive wouldn’t disrupt services and benefits offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Moran, chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said he was assured no VA programs, including those provided through grant recipients, would be undercut by directives issued by Trump through the Office of Management and Budget.“Veterans and their families, as well as the organizations that serve them, will continue to have access to the benefits, services and resources provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Moran said. “I appreciate the VA quickly providing answers to my questions and continuing the important programs that serve our veterans and their families.”

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids blasts Trump’s ‘reckless and deliberately vague’ halt to spending

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a deadly shooting will learn his fate on Wednesday afternoon.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=259220">Tyree Jackson, 41, Wichita,</a>&nbsp;was found guilty of first degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In March, police were alerted to a shooting incident in the 2200 Block of N. Grove in Wichita, according to Police spokesperson Andrew Ford.

First responders discovered 20-year-old Jaden Wilson outside of a gold Buick, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced deceased at 5:46 p.m. by Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services.

A witness in the vehicle at the time of the incident was able to provide officers with details that quickly led to the identification of the suspect.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were acquainted and involved in an ongoing dispute.

A short time after the shooting occurred, a 17-year-old suspect voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement at the Sedgwick County Jail and was later charged in Juvenile court, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711631518712.png" alt="Jackson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Jackson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a deadly shooting will learn his fate on Wednesday afternoon.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=259220">Tyree Jackson, 41, Wichita,</a>&nbsp;was found guilty of first degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;In March, police were alerted to a shooting incident in the 2200 Block of N. Grove in Wichita, according to Police spokesperson Andrew Ford.First responders discovered 20-year-old Jaden Wilson outside of a gold Buick, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced deceased at 5:46 p.m. by Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services.A witness in the vehicle at the time of the incident was able to provide officers with details that quickly led to the identification of the suspect.A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were acquainted and involved in an ongoing dispute.A short time after the shooting occurred, a 17-year-old suspect voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement at the Sedgwick County Jail and was later charged in Juvenile court, according to the district attorney's office.

Sentencing day for Kan. man who joined teen for murder

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Kansas City. Just before 9:30a.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 6000 block of E. 98th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews reported heavy smoke from a split-level home.&nbsp; Searches of the structure came back all clear. No injuries were reported at this incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. Red Cross was ordered for two adults and two children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738083214223.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Kansas City. Just before 9:30a.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 6000 block of E. 98th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.Crews reported heavy smoke from a split-level home.&nbsp; Searches of the structure came back all clear. No injuries were reported at this incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. Red Cross was ordered for two adults and two children.

2 adults, 2 children displaced after KC house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and ominously warned of future downsizing, while offering buyouts to those who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed.

A memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s human resources agency, was emailed to employees and says that those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary. But they have to chose to do so by Feb 6.

<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq">Click here to read </a>the frequently asked questions on the buyout

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has built a political career around promising to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f">disrupt Washington</a>, and vowed that his second administration would go far further in shaking up traditional political norms than his first did. Still, the repercussions of so many government workers being invited to leave their jobs were difficult to calculate.

The federal government employs more than 3 million people, which makes it roughly the nation’s 15th largest workforce. The average tenure for a federal employee is nearly 12 years, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center of data from OPM.

Even a fraction of the workforce accepting buyouts could send shockwaves through the economy and trigger widespread disruptions throughout society as a whole, triggering wide-ranging — and as yet unknowable — implications for the delivery, timeliness and effectiveness of federal services across the nation.

Untold numbers of front-line health workers in the Veterans Affairs Department, officials who process loans for homebuyers or small businesses, and contractors who help procure the next generation of military weaponry could all head for the exits at once. It could also mean losing experienced food inspectors and scientists who test the water supply — while disrupting everything from air travel and consumer product protections.

In response, American Federation of Government Employees union President Everett Kelley said it should not be viewed as voluntary buyouts, but pressuring workers not considered loyal to the new administration to vacate their jobs.

“Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,” Kelley said in a statement. “Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.”

In its emailed memo detailing its plan, OPM lists four directives that it says Trump is mandating for the federal workforce going forward — including that most workers return to their offices full-time.

“The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week,” it reads. That echoes Trump, who said of federal employees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-tiktok-canada-workers-06489fe4a05a352ce553e7da94a923a7">over the weekend</a>: “You have to go to your office and work. Otherwise you’re not going to have a job.”

The memo also says Trump “will insist on excellence at every level,” and while some parts of the government’s workforce may increase under his administration, “The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized.”

Finally, it says, the ”federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work.”

“Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward,” the memo reads. “Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.”

The emailed message includes a “deferred resignation letter” for federal employees wishing to participate in the buyout program.

“If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30,” it says.

The email even includes instructions on how to accept, stating: “If you wish to resign: Select ‘Reply’ to this email. You must reply from your government account.” It adds: “Type the word ‘Resign’ into the body of this email and hit ‘send.’”

Meanwhile, OPM has released guidance for an executive order Trump signed on the first day of his second term known as “Schedule Career/Policy.” It replaces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-government-regulations-democrats-6badc3b424b9eff3ba51e0ec35a8d824">Schedule F</a>, an order Trump signed late in his first term that sought to reclassify thousands of federal employees and make them political appointees without the same job security protections.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;rescinded Trump’s Schedule F order almost immediately upon taking office in 2021, and under his administration, OPM&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-employee-job-protections-rule-trump-biden-4c1954c0ac089d0370a405ec4029fc9d">issued a new rule</a>&nbsp;last year designed to make it more difficult to fire many federal employees.

That move was seen as a safeguard against using a new Schedule F order to help carry out the key goals of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">Project 2025</a>, a sweeping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981">plan</a>&nbsp;by a conservative Washington think tank to dismiss large swaths of the federal workforce in favor of more conservative alternatives while also cutting back on the overall size of government.

But that hasn’t stopped the Trump administration from swiftly moving to gut the federal workforce and leave employees with little recourse to protest firings or reassignments.

Trump’s OPM on Monday set deadlines for agencies to begin to recommend workers for reclassification. Agency heads are being instructed to establish a contact person no later than Wednesday and begin to submit interim personnel recommendations within 90 days.

“Agencies are encouraged to submit recommendations on a rolling basis before this date,” Charles Ezell, the acting director of OPM, said in a memo.

Perhaps more stunning, the Trump personnel office simply did away with the Biden administration’s 2024 regulation to better protect federal workers. Monday’s memo said Trump’s new executive order used the president’s authority “to directly nullify these regulations.”

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and ominously warned of future downsizing, while offering buyouts to those who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed.A memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s human resources agency, was emailed to employees and says that those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary. But they have to chose to do so by Feb 6.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738115904337.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738115941751.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq">Click here to read </a>the frequently asked questions on the buyout<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> Karoline Leavitt on buyouts: &quot;This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. If they don&#39;t then they have the option to resign and this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/B6AmEe79vB">pic.twitter.com/B6AmEe79vB</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884594591271129598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has built a political career around promising to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f">disrupt Washington</a>, and vowed that his second administration would go far further in shaking up traditional political norms than his first did. Still, the repercussions of so many government workers being invited to leave their jobs were difficult to calculate.The federal government employs more than 3 million people, which makes it roughly the nation’s 15th largest workforce. The average tenure for a federal employee is nearly 12 years, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center of data from OPM.Even a fraction of the workforce accepting buyouts could send shockwaves through the economy and trigger widespread disruptions throughout society as a whole, triggering wide-ranging — and as yet unknowable — implications for the delivery, timeliness and effectiveness of federal services across the nation.Untold numbers of front-line health workers in the Veterans Affairs Department, officials who process loans for homebuyers or small businesses, and contractors who help procure the next generation of military weaponry could all head for the exits at once. It could also mean losing experienced food inspectors and scientists who test the water supply — while disrupting everything from air travel and consumer product protections.In response, American Federation of Government Employees union President Everett Kelley said it should not be viewed as voluntary buyouts, but pressuring workers not considered loyal to the new administration to vacate their jobs.“Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,” Kelley said in a statement. “Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.”In its emailed memo detailing its plan, OPM lists four directives that it says Trump is mandating for the federal workforce going forward — including that most workers return to their offices full-time.“The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week,” it reads. That echoes Trump, who said of federal employees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-tiktok-canada-workers-06489fe4a05a352ce553e7da94a923a7">over the weekend</a>: “You have to go to your office and work. Otherwise you’re not going to have a job.”The memo also says Trump “will insist on excellence at every level,” and while some parts of the government’s workforce may increase under his administration, “The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized.”Finally, it says, the ”federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work.”“Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward,” the memo reads. “Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.”The emailed message includes a “deferred resignation letter” for federal employees wishing to participate in the buyout program.“If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30,” it says.The email even includes instructions on how to accept, stating: “If you wish to resign: Select ‘Reply’ to this email. You must reply from your government account.” It adds: “Type the word ‘Resign’ into the body of this email and hit ‘send.’”Meanwhile, OPM has released guidance for an executive order Trump signed on the first day of his second term known as “Schedule Career/Policy.” It replaces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-government-regulations-democrats-6badc3b424b9eff3ba51e0ec35a8d824">Schedule F</a>, an order Trump signed late in his first term that sought to reclassify thousands of federal employees and make them political appointees without the same job security protections.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;rescinded Trump’s Schedule F order almost immediately upon taking office in 2021, and under his administration, OPM&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-employee-job-protections-rule-trump-biden-4c1954c0ac089d0370a405ec4029fc9d">issued a new rule</a>&nbsp;last year designed to make it more difficult to fire many federal employees.That move was seen as a safeguard against using a new Schedule F order to help carry out the key goals of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">Project 2025</a>, a sweeping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981">plan</a>&nbsp;by a conservative Washington think tank to dismiss large swaths of the federal workforce in favor of more conservative alternatives while also cutting back on the overall size of government.But that hasn’t stopped the Trump administration from swiftly moving to gut the federal workforce and leave employees with little recourse to protest firings or reassignments.Trump’s OPM on Monday set deadlines for agencies to begin to recommend workers for reclassification. Agency heads are being instructed to establish a contact person no later than Wednesday and begin to submit interim personnel recommendations within 90 days.“Agencies are encouraged to submit recommendations on a rolling basis before this date,” Charles Ezell, the acting director of OPM, said in a memo.Perhaps more stunning, the Trump personnel office simply did away with the Biden administration’s 2024 regulation to better protect federal workers. Monday’s memo said Trump’s new executive order used the president’s authority “to directly nullify these regulations.”<h2>___</h2>Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.

Read the Trump admin. buyout offer to government employees 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/new-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-arrives-at-pentagon-and-vows-support-for-trump-border-policies-0a65048f94cf4828b10a19569a24bdba">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;is pulling the security protections and clearance of retired Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and has ordered the Pentagon's inspector general to review Milley's actions while serving as the nation's top uniformed officer to determine if a demotion is warranted, two defense officials confirmed late Tuesday.

The inspector general review will include “an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination,” said Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot.

“The Secretary informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," he said.

Milley served as chairman during President Donald Trump's first term in office. While the relationship initially went well, it soured deeply and fast, as Milley tried to advise and contain the president on a host of issues.

He pushed back on the president's interest in using force domestically to quell protestors after the death of George Floyd, and was at the center of a controversy in 2021 when he made independent calls to his Chinese counterpart. Trump called the calls an act of treason, but at the time Milley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-china-joint-chiefs-of-staff-1b23ba339e50a7c17c43c1281a0b4e04">said the calls were routine</a>&nbsp;and part of the scope of his job.

Milley in his final days as chairman after Trump had left office was equally outspoken about his former boss. He said at his official retirement ceremony “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milley-trump-biden-democracy-military-d2abb76858291c87ae856f91e9556d8e">we don’t take an oath to a king or a queen</a>&nbsp;or to a tyrant or a dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.”

“We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it," he said at the time.

Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper said that the decision to strip Milley of his clearance and detail was taken because "undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership.”

The moves, which were first reported by Fox News, may also include taking down Milley's Army chief of staff portrait. Milley's chairman portrait was stripped from the wall just hours after Trump was sworn in. The portraits were both paid for by a donation from the Association of the United States Army, not taxpayer dollars, and were a gift to Milley honoring his service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737408736359.png" alt="On Jan. 20, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley’s portrait and nameplate were taken down in the Pentagon. The portrait was just unveiled Jan. 12 at a ceremony." />
 <figcaption>On Jan. 20, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley’s portrait and nameplate were taken down in the Pentagon. The portrait was just unveiled Jan. 12 at a ceremony.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/new-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-arrives-at-pentagon-and-vows-support-for-trump-border-policies-0a65048f94cf4828b10a19569a24bdba">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;is pulling the security protections and clearance of retired Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and has ordered the Pentagon's inspector general to review Milley's actions while serving as the nation's top uniformed officer to determine if a demotion is warranted, two defense officials confirmed late Tuesday.The inspector general review will include “an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination,” said Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot.“The Secretary informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," he said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We unveiled the portrait of U.S. Army (Ret.) General Mark Milley, the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mark, it was good to see you back at the Pentagon. Thanks again for all you have given in service to our nation. I wish you Godspeed in the chapters to come. <a href="https://t.co/oKjYQk7HZx">pic.twitter.com/oKjYQk7HZx</a>&mdash; Archive: Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDefAustin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDefAustin/status/1878551376592036038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Milley served as chairman during President Donald Trump's first term in office. While the relationship initially went well, it soured deeply and fast, as Milley tried to advise and contain the president on a host of issues.He pushed back on the president's interest in using force domestically to quell protestors after the death of George Floyd, and was at the center of a controversy in 2021 when he made independent calls to his Chinese counterpart. Trump called the calls an act of treason, but at the time Milley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-china-joint-chiefs-of-staff-1b23ba339e50a7c17c43c1281a0b4e04">said the calls were routine</a>&nbsp;and part of the scope of his job.Milley in his final days as chairman after Trump had left office was equally outspoken about his former boss. He said at his official retirement ceremony “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milley-trump-biden-democracy-military-d2abb76858291c87ae856f91e9556d8e">we don’t take an oath to a king or a queen</a>&nbsp;or to a tyrant or a dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.”“We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it," he said at the time.Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper said that the decision to strip Milley of his clearance and detail was taken because "undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership.”The moves, which were first reported by Fox News, may also include taking down Milley's Army chief of staff portrait. Milley's chairman portrait was stripped from the wall just hours after Trump was sworn in. The portraits were both paid for by a donation from the Association of the United States Army, not taxpayer dollars, and were a gift to Milley honoring his service.

Pentagon pulls security clearance, protective detail of former top general

ENID, OK —A former Kansas police officer has been found guilty of child sex crimes.

On October 7, 2022, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by a former Kansas and Oklahoma police officer, according to a statement from the OSBI.

During the investigation, OSBI special agents identified the suspect as 34-year-old Brock England, who was an officer for both the Wichita, Kansas and Enid Police Departments from 2014 to 2022.

During their comprehensive investigation, special agents determined that England committed multiple child sex crimes in Kansas and Oklahoma, some of which were during his time as an officer.

 In March of 2023, England was arrested and booked into the Garfield County Jail on child sex abuse charges. Last week, England was found guilty by the Garfield County District Court of Child Sex Abuse with a Child Under the age of 12 and two counts of Lewd Molestation.

The Wichita Police Department&nbsp;assisted with this investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738088542862.png" alt="England photo OSBI" />
 <figcaption>England photo OSBI</figcaption>
 </figure>ENID, OK —A former Kansas police officer has been found guilty of child sex crimes.On October 7, 2022, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by a former Kansas and Oklahoma police officer, according to a statement from the OSBI.During the investigation, OSBI special agents identified the suspect as 34-year-old Brock England, who was an officer for both the Wichita, Kansas and Enid Police Departments from 2014 to 2022.During their comprehensive investigation, special agents determined that England committed multiple child sex crimes in Kansas and Oklahoma, some of which were during his time as an officer. In March of 2023, England was arrested and booked into the Garfield County Jail on child sex abuse charges. Last week, England was found guilty by the Garfield County District Court of Child Sex Abuse with a Child Under the age of 12 and two counts of Lewd Molestation.The Wichita Police Department&nbsp;assisted with this investigation.&nbsp;

Former Kan. police officer found guilty of child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a push from President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to pause federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives.

The order capped the most chaotic day for the U.S. government since Trump returned to office, with uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline causing panic and confusion among states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington.

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the funding freeze only minutes before it was scheduled to take effect. The administrative stay, prompted by a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups that receive federal money, lasts until Monday afternoon. Another court hearing is scheduled that morning to consider the issue.

On the White House web site, the administration published answers to questions on the temporary pause

In implementing President Trump’s Executive Orders, OMB issued guidance requesting that agencies temporarily pause, to the extent permitted by law, grant, loan or federal financial assistance programs that are implicated by the President’s Executive Orders.

Any program not implicated by the President’s Executive Orders is not subject to the&nbsp;pause.

The Executive Orders listed in the guidance are:

Protecting the American People Against Invasion

Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid

Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements

Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing

Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to&nbsp;the Federal Government

Any program that provides direct benefits to individuals is not subject to the pause.

The guidance establishes a process for agencies to work with OMB to determine quickly whether any program is inconsistent with the President’s Executive Orders. A pause could be as short as day. In fact, OMB has worked with agencies and has already approved many programs to continue even before the pause has gone into effect.

Any payment required by law to be paid will be paid without interruption or delay.

Q: Is this a freeze on all Federal financial assistance?

A: No, the pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the President’s Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.

Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans?

A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President’s Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments.

Q: Is the pause of federal financial assistance an impoundment?

A:&nbsp;No, it is not an impoundment under the Impoundment Control Act. It is a temporary pause to give agencies time to ensure that financial assistance conforms to the policies set out in the President’s Executive Orders, to the extent permitted by law. Temporary pauses are a necessary part of program implementation that have been ordered by past presidents to ensure that programs are being executed and funds spent in accordance with a new President’s policies and do not constitute impoundments.

A:&nbsp;To act as faithful stewards of taxpayer money, new administrations must review federal programs to ensure that they are being executed in accordance with the law and the new President’s policies.

The White House did not immediately comment on the order, which leaves unresolved a potential constitutional clash over control of taxpayer money. Democrats who have struggled to gain a foothold during Trump's second term unleashed on the Republican president, describing his actions as capricious and illegal.

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">blitz of executive orders.</a>&nbsp;The Republican president wants to increase&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-climate-change-environmental-policy-e4fb2b2495c0bcf880fab46605936b09">fossil fuel production</a>, remove protections for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sex-gender-transgender-dei-order-245350b97e0c4dcc221fefc49ef44699">transgender people</a>&nbsp;and end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dei-executive-order-diversity-inclusion-f67ea86032986084dd71c5aa0c6b8d1d">diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.</a>

But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

“This sort of came out of the blue,” said David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, one of countless districts that receive federal funding. Now they're trying to figure out what it means “based on zero information."

Democrats argued that the president had no right to unilaterally stop spending money appropriated by Congress. Just minutes after AliKhan made her ruling, Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia filed their own lawsuit seeking to block and permanently prevent the administration from cutting off federal funding.

“There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said.

AliKhan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, questioned how much the details of the funding freeze had been nailed down as she issued her order.

“It seems like the federal government currently doesn’t actually know the full extent of the programs that are going to be subject to the pause," she said.

Jessica Morton, an attorney for the National Council of Nonprofits, which brought the suit, said the group has tens of thousands of members around the country who could be affected.

“Our client members have reported being extremely concerned about having to shutter if there’s even a brief pause,” Morton said.

Justice Department attorney Daniel Schwei argued that the freeze shouldn’t be put on hold because the plaintiffs hadn’t specified anyone who would immediately lose funding if it does go into effect.

Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would not be affected, such as Medicare, Social Security, student loans and food stamps. But they sometimes struggled to provide a clear picture.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially would not say whether Medicaid was exempted from the freeze, but the administration later clarified that it was.

Although Trump had promised to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term, the effects of his effort to pause funding were being felt far from the nation’s capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, were worried about getting cut off.

“The lack of clarity and uncertainty right now is creating chaos,” spokeswoman Jenny Young said. She added that “seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from.”

The National Science Foundation postponed this week’s panels for reviewing grant applications. Officials in Prichard, Alabama, feared they wouldn’t receive infrastructure funding to fix their leaking drinking water system. Republican leaders in Louisiana said they were “seeking clarity” to ensure nothing was “jeopardizing financial stability of the state.”

“Trump’s actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities everywhere,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We are talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738031108770.png" alt="President Donald answers questions from the press on the flight home from Doral, FL to Washington Monday night-photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>President Donald answers questions from the press on the flight home from Doral, FL to Washington Monday night-photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a push from President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to pause federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives.The order capped the most chaotic day for the U.S. government since Trump returned to office, with uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline causing panic and confusion among states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington.U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the funding freeze only minutes before it was scheduled to take effect. The administrative stay, prompted by a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups that receive federal money, lasts until Monday afternoon. Another court hearing is scheduled that morning to consider the issue.On the White House web site, the administration published answers to questions on the temporary pauseIn implementing President Trump’s Executive Orders, OMB issued guidance requesting that agencies temporarily pause, to the extent permitted by law, grant, loan or federal financial assistance programs that are implicated by the President’s Executive Orders.Any program not implicated by the President’s Executive Orders is not subject to the&nbsp;pause.The Executive Orders listed in the guidance are:Protecting the American People Against InvasionReevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign AidPutting America First in International Environmental AgreementsUnleashing American EnergyEnding Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and PreferencingDefending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to&nbsp;the Federal GovernmentEnforcing the Hyde AmendmentAny program that provides direct benefits to individuals is not subject to the pause.The guidance establishes a process for agencies to work with OMB to determine quickly whether any program is inconsistent with the President’s Executive Orders. A pause could be as short as day. In fact, OMB has worked with agencies and has already approved many programs to continue even before the pause has gone into effect.Any payment required by law to be paid will be paid without interruption or delay.Q: Is this a freeze on all Federal financial assistance?A: No, the pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the President’s Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans?A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President’s Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments.Q: Is the pause of federal financial assistance an impoundment?A:&nbsp;No, it is not an impoundment under the Impoundment Control Act. It is a temporary pause to give agencies time to ensure that financial assistance conforms to the policies set out in the President’s Executive Orders, to the extent permitted by law. Temporary pauses are a necessary part of program implementation that have been ordered by past presidents to ensure that programs are being executed and funds spent in accordance with a new President’s policies and do not constitute impoundments.Q: Why was this pause necessary?A:&nbsp;To act as faithful stewards of taxpayer money, new administrations must review federal programs to ensure that they are being executed in accordance with the law and the new President’s policies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738073386129.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the funding freeze only minutes before it was scheduled to take effect. The administrative stay, prompted by a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups that receive federal money, lasts until Monday afternoon. Another court hearing is scheduled that morning to consider the issue.The White House did not immediately comment on the order, which leaves unresolved a potential constitutional clash over control of taxpayer money. Democrats who have struggled to gain a foothold during Trump's second term unleashed on the Republican president, describing his actions as capricious and illegal.Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">blitz of executive orders.</a>&nbsp;The Republican president wants to increase&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-climate-change-environmental-policy-e4fb2b2495c0bcf880fab46605936b09">fossil fuel production</a>, remove protections for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sex-gender-transgender-dei-order-245350b97e0c4dcc221fefc49ef44699">transgender people</a>&nbsp;and end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dei-executive-order-diversity-inclusion-f67ea86032986084dd71c5aa0c6b8d1d">diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.</a>But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.“This sort of came out of the blue,” said David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, one of countless districts that receive federal funding. Now they're trying to figure out what it means “based on zero information."Democrats argued that the president had no right to unilaterally stop spending money appropriated by Congress. Just minutes after AliKhan made her ruling, Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia filed their own lawsuit seeking to block and permanently prevent the administration from cutting off federal funding.“There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said.AliKhan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, questioned how much the details of the funding freeze had been nailed down as she issued her order.“It seems like the federal government currently doesn’t actually know the full extent of the programs that are going to be subject to the pause," she said.Jessica Morton, an attorney for the National Council of Nonprofits, which brought the suit, said the group has tens of thousands of members around the country who could be affected.“Our client members have reported being extremely concerned about having to shutter if there’s even a brief pause,” Morton said.Justice Department attorney Daniel Schwei argued that the freeze shouldn’t be put on hold because the plaintiffs hadn’t specified anyone who would immediately lose funding if it does go into effect.Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would not be affected, such as Medicare, Social Security, student loans and food stamps. But they sometimes struggled to provide a clear picture.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially would not say whether Medicaid was exempted from the freeze, but the administration later clarified that it was.Although Trump had promised to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term, the effects of his effort to pause funding were being felt far from the nation’s capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, were worried about getting cut off.“The lack of clarity and uncertainty right now is creating chaos,” spokeswoman Jenny Young said. She added that “seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from.”The National Science Foundation postponed this week’s panels for reviewing grant applications. Officials in Prichard, Alabama, feared they wouldn’t receive infrastructure funding to fix their leaking drinking water system. Republican leaders in Louisiana said they were “seeking clarity” to ensure nothing was “jeopardizing financial stability of the state.”“Trump’s actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities everywhere,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We are talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts.”The full scope of the administration’s review was spelled out in a 51-page spreadsheet sent to federal agencies and viewed by The Associated Press. Each line was a different government initiative, from pool safety to tribal workforce development to special education.Officials were directed to answer a series of yes or no questions for every item on the list, including “does this program promote gender ideology?” or “does this program promote or support in any way abortion?” Responses are due by Feb. 7.Trillions of dollars are potentially under review. Grants that have been awarded but not spent are also supposed to be halted if they might violate one of Trump’s executive orders.“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” wrote Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a memo distributed Monday.Vaeth wrote that “each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders.” He also wrote that the pause should be implemented “to the extent permissible under applicable law.”The pause on grants and loans was scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. EST, just one day after agencies were informed of the decision.Leavitt, who held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-leavitt-white-house-first-press-briefing-5ba5ff116e18c29b04c934a24a8983d1">her first White House briefing</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, said the administration was trying to be “good stewards” of public money by making sure that there was “no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness.”She denied that Trump was deliberately challenging Congress to establish his dominance over the federal budget.“He’s just trying to ensure that the tax money going out the door in this very bankrupt city actually aligns with the will and the priorities of the American people,” she said.The attempt to implement a funding pause is the latest example of how Trump is harnessing his power over the federal system to advance his conservative goals. Unlike during his first term, when Trump and many members of his inner circle were unfamiliar with Washington, this time he’s reaching deep into the bureaucracy.For example, federal employees are being asked to report their colleagues if they try to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-dei-7ef0bf4ce1d465f6b61f3fcfde544593">diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.</a>“They are pushing the president’s agenda from the bottom up,” said Paul Light, an expert on the federal government and professor emeritus of public service at New York University.He also said there are risks in Trump’s approach, especially with so many voters reliant on Washington.“You can’t just hassle, hassle, hassle,” Light said. “You’ve got to deliver.”Fears about interruption in government services were exacerbated as states reported problems with the Medicaid funding portal, where officials request reimbursement for providing healthcare to poor residents.Democrats condemned the Trump administration, connecting the issue to the funding pause.But Leavitt said the portal would be back online soon.“We have confirmed no payments have been affected — they are still being processed and sent," she posted on social media. The White House did not provide an explanation for the problem.____Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia, Moriah Balingit, Collin Binkley, Matthew Daly, Lisa Mascaro, Adithi Ramakrishnan, Amanda Seitz, Michael Sisak and Tammy Weber contributed to this report.