Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

President Trump has convened his first cabinet meeting since he took office last month.

He defended his administration sweeping job and funding cuts aimed at shrinking federal government spending.

Trump was asked about the impact to Medicaid, which provides health care coverage to more than 70 million Americans.

We're not going to touch it. Now, we are going to look for fraud. I'm sure you're okay with that,

like people that shouldn't be on, people that are illegal aliens and others, criminals in many cases.

Congressional Republicans are working to advance Trump's legislative agenda, which includes finding money to help pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and new spending on top GOP priorities, including border enforcement and defense.

One of the many government agencies grappling with mass layoffs is the National Park Service.

NPR's Rachel Treisman reports some sites

are feeling the effects before the busy season begins in about two months. Some 1,000 NPS employees

were laid off earlier this month, and the federal hiring freeze delayed the posting of more than

7,000 temporary seasonal positions. Those include people who clean restrooms, collect fees, educate visitors, and help dehydrated hikers.

Advocates worry these positions may not be filled in time for the busy season, which starts in May for many parks.

Already, officials at a Colorado monument say it is closing two days a week due to staffing shortages, while Yosemite has delayed some summer campground reservation bookings.

Experts say visitors shouldn't cancel just yet, but should be patient and cautious while in the national parks.

Rachel Treasman, NPR News.

Union dock workers have formalized a labor contract. The deal

makes them among the highest paid blue-collar workers in the United States and removes the threat

of a strike for the next six years. NPR's Giles Snyder has details. The workers represented by

the International Longshoremen's Association

overwhelmingly approved the deal. The union says nearly 99% of the rank and file voted in favor of it.

In a statement, ILA President Harold Dagget called the agreement with the U.S. Maritime

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