meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
PBS News Hour - Segments

‘Chaos and confusion’ as Trump’s mass firings impact the basic functions of government

PBS News Hour - Segments

PBS NewsHour

News, Daily News

4.11K Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The federal government is closed on Monday to celebrate Presidents Day, but the Trump administration's effort to permanently scale back the size and scope of the federal workforce continues in full force. As Laura Barrón-López reports, President Trump's actions in his first few weeks also fueled demonstrations on this holiday weekend. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The federal government is closed today in observance of President's Day, but the Trump administration's

0:05.9

effort to permanently scale back the size and scope of the federal workforce continues in full force.

0:12.4

As Laura Barone Lopez reports, President Trump's actions in his first few weeks also fueled demonstrations on this holiday weekend.

0:20.5

Where is Congress?

0:21.6

This President's Day.

0:23.6

This is what democracy looks like.

0:25.6

Protests across the country, pushing back against President Trump's first month in office,

0:31.6

and what organizers say are his anti-democratic and illegal actions.

0:35.6

No-hinko pirates! They call it the No Kings Day protest, even as the president suggested in social media

0:43.9

post this weekend, that he is above the law, stating he who saves his country does not

0:50.3

violate any law.

0:52.6

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin responded on CBS.

0:56.0

The dominant objective of this administration is corruption and lawlessness.

1:02.0

Trump's declaration comes as his administration faces multiple restraining orders from judges,

1:07.0

who've in some cases said his actions are likely unconstitutional.

1:11.6

One of those cases could be the first test for the U.S. Supreme Court.

1:15.6

After the president fired, the head of a federal agency that protects whistleblowers,

1:19.6

a lower court, blocked him.

1:21.6

But the Trump administration has asked the High Court to uphold the removal of Hampton-Dellinger

1:26.6

as head of the Office of Special Counsel.

1:30.1

As the White House battles in the courts, billionaire Elon Musk's government takeover grows.

1:35.8

Musk's team, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, is seeking unlimited access to highly sensitive internal revenue service systems that hold taxpayer

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from PBS NewsHour, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of PBS NewsHour and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.