The following message is the only message on the landing site of USAID.Gov

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).

For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your service.”

[SOURCE]

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President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a press conference following a bilateral meeting in the White House. The anticipated start time for the presser and remarks is approximately 5:30pm EST. Livestream Links Below:

UPDATE: Video Added

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio was again asked about the USAID review pause and the likely impact to the matrix of NGO’s and financial dependents, including the families of DC politicians, if funding is not quickly restarted. WATCH:

WASHINGTON DC – […] Some of these anticipated layoffs have already begun. According to an email obtained by POLITICO, early last week development group Credence Management Solutions sent formal emails to contractors in its global health bureau laying off around 400 employees.

The CEO of DT Global, one of the world’s leading development contractors, reportedly told employees last week that 2,000 to 3,000 positions would likely be eliminated in the sector the first week of February. Both Credence Management Solutions and DT Global did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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As noted in the visible scale of media panic, Washington DC federal officeholders (many in their pajamas as they work from home) are having fits of apoplexy as the Trump administration bears down on accountability.

As Politico puts it, “Congressional Democrats seem flummoxed by the pace, responding to crises from three news cycles ago while new ones keep arising in real time.”  Apparently, things continue to proceed according to plan, the DC system is overwhelmed by the pace of President Trump’s administrative deconstruction.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe appears on CNN to discuss the “utter disarray” as Trump administration officials enter and engage the protected silos from every vulnerable position.

“I’ve talked to more FBI people in the last 4 days than I did in the prior 4 years.” “It is a place in utter disarray right now. People are worried about how am I going to pay the bills? How am I gonna support my family?” “If you get fired, you’re done. That’s the end of your reputation, your ability to get any job, you lose your pay, you lose your chance at a pension, you lose your health insurance.” “This is a moment of terror for these people.”  WATCH:

Keep in mind, these are the people who weaponized the NSA database to conduct political surveillance.

The Dept of Justice was weaponized to target their political opposition.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was weaponized to act as the police investigative units for those targets.

The Dept of Homeland Security was weaponized to control the evidence and information about their political targeting and surveillance.

The IRS was weaponized against Obama’s political opposition.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was weaponized to allow the targeting radar to sweep internally against American citizens under the guise of national security and domestic terror threats.

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Earlier today, President Trump signed several executive orders recognizing and structuring ongoing efforts including the creation of a USA “Sovereign Wealth Fund.”   Full Video below:

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WASHINGTON DC – […] The new wealth fund, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters could be formed in the next 12 months, could be used to finance major government projects and fund strategic investments in critical areas like supply chains. Sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East and Europe are among the largest institutional investors in the world, providing massive pools of capital for Wall Street firms and the U.S. tech industry.

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Both Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have agreed to terms established by President Trump to combat drug trafficking and secure their perspective borders.

Mexico agrees to put 10,000 troops on the USA border to immediately begin security efforts. Canada agrees to bolster their 10,000-border patrol and security officers, establish a joint task force to combat organized crime, create a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and appoint a Fentanyl Czar.

[Source]

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Knowing the severe ramifications likely and taking a proactive approach toward root-cause analysis, CTH attended the ASEAN summit to gauge how Asia was likely to respond to Trump term-2 and the looming possibility of a severe nationalist approach toward a renewal of USA manufacturing. The untangling of the Beijing Belt & Road initiative was a key topic of interest noted.  [Watch Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Panama this weekend to express the position of President Donald Trump as it pertains to Chinese influence over the maritime transit gateway known as the Panama Canal. Following the meeting with President José Raúl Mulino, the government of Panama has announced they will no longer support China’s Belt & Road initiative.

Photographic message received; or the one-time Rubio needed to be shorter, you decide.

STATE DEPT – Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha today in Panama City to address critical regional and global challenges. Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and Minister Martínez-Acha that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal. Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty.

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President Trump arrives back in Washington DC and holds a presser on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.  WATCH:

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These remarks will be the headlines tomorrow.

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During a Fox News interview, Senator Lindsey Graham says he is a yes on RFK Jr, Kash Patel and now Tulsi Gabbard, specifically because the latter has now assured him, she will support FISA-702 warrantless searches of U.S. citizen communication.  Senator Graham states falsely the 702 authorities only pertain to foreign nationals.  Watch how he says it, PROMPTED:

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Remember what I said about Kash Patel being the firewall selected by the Senate to make the American people drop their pitchforks and torches? Listen to Senator Graham through that protective prism and you can hear exactly that approach.

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Saying DNI nominee is disqualified for her prior position on FISA-702 and her previous position on Edward Snowden, SSCI Vice-Chair hopes the republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee do not allow Tulsi Gabbard to come out of SSCI confirmation vote. WATCH:

Lots of professional pearl-clutching here….

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and joins us from Palm Beach, Florida. Good morning to you, Senator.

SEN. MARK WARNER: Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you have any sense yet what the cost of these tariffs could be for Virginia, which does have a wine industry, for example?

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