US Dollar Down, Global Stocks Plunge Ahead of Trump's Looming Tariffs
By Hannah Parry
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the Interior Department's federal payroll system which processes the salaries of 276,000 federal employees, the New York Times reports.
DOGE members now have access to sensitive employee data such as salaries and Social Security numbers, according to the paper.
The access was reportedly granted despite objections from senior IT members who warned it could expose sensitive government staffer information and make the system more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
What to know
DOGE had reportedly been trying for weeks to gain access to the Federal Personnel and Payroll System, and the department has now placed two IT staff members who had attempted to block them, under investigation and on administrative leave.
The cost-saving department has faced fierce pushback as it slowly gains access to highly sensitive systems across the government, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Staffers also got access to the Treasury Department's payment system, but this was later restricted by a judge.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
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14:54 PM EDT
'Obama 2028' trends on X as Donald Trump references third term run
A spike in social media attention surrounding Barack Obama running for president in 2028 has erupted after President Donald Trump made statements about completing a third presidential term — though he'd be constitutionally barred.
Trump's remarks have ignited some debates over term limits, with some online users ironically speculating about a future White House bid by Barack Obama.
Trump's suggestion of a third term underscores broader discussions around constitutional limits. The notion would require repealing or amending the 22nd Amendment—a move that would upend years of presidential tradition.
The hashtag #Obama2028 spread on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday morning, amid jokes, memes, and speculative commentary about a hypothetical return of the 44th president.
Read in full from Kate Nalepinski on Newsweek.
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14:30 PM EDT
New Jersey mayor files complaint over new immigration detention center
The mayor of Newark, in New Jersey, has filed a complaint in state court claiming that the Trump administration went ahead with the opening of a new 1,000-bed immigration detention center the proper permits.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, said that the government and the private company GEO Group failed to get construction and other permits, in breach of both city and state law.
ICE announced the opening of the Delaney Hall Facility in Newark in a statement last month.
"This detention center is the first to open under the new administration," said acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello. "The location near an international airport streamlines logistics, and helps facilitate the timely processing of individuals in our custody as we pursue President Trump's mandate to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens from our communities."
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14:09 PM EDT
DOGE ally put in charge of US Institute for Peace,
An official allied with DOGE has been put in charge of the Institute for Peace which the Trump administration has targeted for cuts and eventual closure.
The move follows the mass layoffs of nearly all of the institute's 300 staff members last week.
After Trump took aim at the thinktank in an executive order last month, there was a standoff between staff and DOGE members, who eventually gained access with the help of armed police. The board members were then swiftly fired.
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13:55 PM EDT
'Case closed' on Signal chat, says White House
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the Trump administration considered the Signal group chat leak case closed.
Leavitt insisted that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz still has the president's confidence despite accidentally adding a journalist to a group chat between national security team members discussing sensitive military plans before an airstrike.
"This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned," Leavitt said.
The press secretary said that steps have been made "to ensure that something like that can, obviously, not happen again," although she declined to stay what those steps were.
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13:29 PM EDT
OPINION: How Trump v. big law firms affects you
President Donald Trump has never been shy about picking fights, but his latest battle, against Big Law, is one that is aimed at striking the very foundation of the American legal system.
By issuing executive orders that target major law firms like Paul Weiss, Jenner & Block, Skadden Arps, and WilmerHale, Trump is doing more than just flexing his political muscle—he's actively undermining the independence of the legal profession. It's one thing to criticize lawyers; it's another to use presidential power to punish them for doing their jobs.
The crux of Trump's attack is his accusation that these firms are "weaponizing" the judicial system and pushing diversity initiatives he claims are discriminatory. It's a classic Trump move: take an issue that's been around for decades—whether it's affirmative action, judicial activism, or corporate law firms siding with progressive causes—and turn it into a political spectacle. But beneath the spectacle, there's a real and dangerous precedent being set. If a sitting or former president can successfully coerce law firms into submission by threatening financial ruin, what happens to the idea of legal independence?
Read in full from legal analyst Aron Solomon on Newsweek.
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12:13 PM EDT
Donald Trump faces pivotal week: What to expect
President Donald Trump stands for a prayer
President Donald Trump stands for a prayer during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
President Donald Trump faces a pivotal week as he plans to roll out his most significant round of tariffs, while elections in Wisconsin and Florida could serve as an indication of how voters feel about the opening months of his second term.
Last week, Trump announced he was pulling New York Representative Elise Stefanik's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, saying it is "essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress."
The withdrawal reflected concerns that the GOP's slim majority could be further eroded ahead of two special elections in Florida, which could derail efforts to enact Trump's agenda in the coming months.
This week's elections come as Trump has promised that Wednesday will be "Liberation Day" as he plans to unveil tariffs that he says will free the United States from foreign goods. He is forging ahead even as his growing list of tariffs and their stop-start implementation has sparked stock market volatility and raised concerns about a looming recession.
Read in full from Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek.
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12:11 PM EDT
Musk's DOGE gains access to payroll system for 276,000 federal employees
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the Interior Department's federal payroll system which processes the salaries of 276,000 federal employees, the New York Times reports.
DOGE members now have access to sensitive employee data such as salaries and Social Security numbers, according to the paper.
The access was reportedly granted despite objections from senior IT members who warned it could expose sensitive government staffer information and make the system more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
DOGE had reportedly been trying for weeks to gain access to the Federal Personnel and Payroll System, and the department has now placed two IT staff members who had attempted to block them, under investigation and on administrative leave.
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11:48 AM EDT
Musk set to visit CIA at invitation of director Ratcliff: Report
Elon Musk is expected to visit the CIA Monday at the invitation of Director John Ratcliffe, CNN reports.
Musk's visit was reportedly announced by Ratcliffe at a CIA town hall where Ratcliffe said he wanted to discuss "advancing the mission" of the CIA with new tech.
Musk was also recently at the Pentagon at the invitation of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
The New York Times reported that Musk would receive a "top secret" briefing on American tactics and planning for war with China, among other issues to be discussed.
Musk has since threatened Pentagon staff who leaked what he called "false information" to the Times.
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11:30 AM EDT
Trump Tariffs pushing US Asia allies into China's orbit
CHina Japan South Korea meeting
(From L) Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto, South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk Geun and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pose for a photo ahead of their trilateral talks... More Kyodo via AP Images
America's Asian allies are deepening economic ties with China as President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten to upend their trading relationships with the U.S.
On Saturday, top trade officials from Japan, South Korea and China held their first trilateral economic dialogue in over five years, before stating their intention to enhance economic and trade cooperation with a view to signing a "free, fair, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial" free trade agreement in the near future.
The agreement between three of Asia's largest economies comes as countries brace for the impact of Trump's tariffs, set to impact numerous sectors and nations across the continent and worldwide. The timing suggests that the president's overhaul of America's trading practices, while intended to rehome manufacturing in the U.S. and amend historic trade imbalances, could have the secondary effect of fostering closer cooperation between America's allies and those conventionally considered its economic rivals.
China, Japan and South Korea are all among America's most significant trading partners, with total goods trade totaling an estimated $582 billion, $228 billion and $197 billion in 2024, respectively, according to U.S. government data. Japan and South Korea are also critical exporters of vehicles and car parts to the U.S., according to S&P Global, and among the top suppliers of steel to the U.S. All three countries have also historically run high trade surpluses with the U.S.
Read in full from Hugh Cameron on Newsweek.
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11:19 AM EDT
Elon Musk awards $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters after Supreme Court rejects challenge
Elon Musk has handed out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters, after Supreme Court rejects legal challenge to block him.
Musk recently offered $100 to each Wisconsin registered voter signing his PAC's petition against "activist judges" and $1 million each to two voters among these.
Two lower courts rejected a legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that paying voters violates a state law. The Supreme Court ruling came within minutes of the rally on Sunday where Musk handed over the checks.
Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, but the retirement of one of its judges this year could shake up the current balance at a crucial time for the state, which is expected to vote on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power, and voting rules this year.
Trump and Musk are backing Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel in the race, while Democrats have thrown their support behind Dane County Judge Susan Crawford in the judicial race that has already reached record spending levels.
Two political groups backed by Musk have already spent more than $20 million to support Schimel, while Democratic donors including George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have given millions to support Crawford's campaign.
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11:09 AM EDT
Pam Bondi orders dismissal of Georgia election law challenge
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday directed the Justice Department to drop a lawsuit challenging a major election reform law passed by Georgia's Republican lawmakers following President Donald Trump's 2020 loss in the state.
The lawsuit, originally filed in June 2021 under former President Joe Biden, claimed the law was designed to suppress Black voter turnout. Bondi rejected the allegations, accusing the Biden administration of promoting "false claims of suppression."
"Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us," she said.
The legislation, known as SB 202, was one of several GOP-backed laws enacted after Trump's defeat. It imposed stricter voting rules, including a new voter ID requirement for mail-in ballots, a shorter window to request absentee ballots, and fewer ballot drop boxes in the densely populated Atlanta metro area.
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11:04 AM EDT
France reacts to Donald Trump's DEI ultimatum
Aurore Berge,
Aurore Berge speaking in France. Sipa via AP Images
French minister has spoken out after Donald Trump's administration ordered some French companies with U.S. government contracts to comply with orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
French Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé indicated in an interview that companies will refuse to follow Trump's request.
Since taking office again, Trump has been making major changes including an executive order to remove officials overseeing DEI initiatives. This includes international companies that work with and for America.
Tensions are escalating between the U.S. and other countries thanks in part to rounds of tariffs that are expected to go into effect on April 2, aimed at countries that charge the United States import duties.
Read in full from Kate Plummer on Newsweek.
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10:56 AM EDT
Congressman says Trump 'was never joking' abouts seeking third term
Rep. Dan Goldman has said that Donald Trump "was never joking" about seeking a third term, after the president refused to rule out running for a third term.
"As I said in November, Donald Trump was never joking about trying to serve an unconstitutional third term," he said in a post on X.
"This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy," Goldman added. "If congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution they will go on the record opposing Trump's ambitions for a third term."
Trump was asked if planned to run for a third term in an interview with NBC News Sunday.
He said that "a lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration."
"I'm not joking," he added. "But I'm not − it is far too early to think about it."
My statement on Trump’s latest indication he will attempt to seek a third term: pic.twitter.com/LMhIEvWzcl
— Rep. Dan Goldman (@RepDanGoldman) March 31, 2025
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10:44 AM EDT
Trump considering a trip to Saudi Arabia
Donald Trump is considering making Saudi Arabia his first foreign trip, the White House told Axios.
"An opportunity for international travel for the president is something that is being looked at," a spokesperson told the outlet.
"We don't yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," they added.
Axios reports that the trip is being considered for some time in mid May.
Trump visited Saudi Arabia during his first term as part of a five-country tour that also included Israel, the Vatican, Brussels, and Sicily.
08:51 AM EDT
How have other countries reacted to Trump's tariffs?
Word leaders have criticized Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on "friends and foe" alike.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., saying Trump's plans had ended the close partnership between the United States and Canada.
China has warned that there will be "no winners in trade wars or tariff wars," which would harm global trading yet would do nothing to help the U.S.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those comments, warning the tariffs would cause inflation in the short term and destroy jobs. It's not good for the American economy, nor for the European, Canadian or Mexican economies," he said, adding the France was ready to defend itself with its own tariffs.
08:44 AM EDT
Donald Trump third term would throw country 'into chaos'—lawyer
A lawyer has told Newsweek that Trump attempting to take a third term as president will throw the U.S. into a constitutional crisis.
In a phone interview with NBC News on March 30, Trump said there were methods that would allow him to serve a third term and added that he was "not joking."
Such a move could cause major instability in the U.S. as the 22nd amendment prohibits any president from serving more than two terms.
During the NBC interview, Trump said of a potential third term: "A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know; it's very early in the administration.
"I'm focused on the current," he said.
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