Judge Blocks Trump's Federal Worker Buyout Plan; USAID Evicted From HQ; Steel Tariffs Loom

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to offer buyouts to over 2 million federal workers, following a lawsuit by public sector unions. Judge George O'Toole Jr. paused the deadline for accepting the buyout offer until a preliminary injunction decision. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had offered buyouts on January 28, aiming to reduce remote work and return employees to offices full-time. More than 65,000 federal workers have already accepted buyouts. Union lawyers argue the buyout is unlawful and lacks congressional authorization. Critics note the March 14 deadline to prevent a government shutdown complicates the promised severance. Elon Musk, as a "special government employee" working with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded the initiative. Simultaneously, the Trump administration evicted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from its Washington headquarters. USAID staff were denied entry, and the General Services Administration (GSA) will repurpose the building. This follows an executive order freezing foreign assistance, forcing program shutdowns and staff layoffs. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order placing USAID staffers on administrative leave, but the headquarters remains closed. A USAID email instructed employees to telework. In trade news, President Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are raising concerns in Brazil, a major exporter of these materials to the U.S. While the impact on aluminum exports may be less severe, the steel industry faces potential production cuts, job losses, and economic repercussions. The Brazilian government is awaiting official confirmation of the tariffs before responding. President Lula da Silva suggested using reciprocity, increasing tariffs on U.S. products. Experts caution that these tariffs could harm the U.S. economy as well.