The Bulletin

• USAID workers on leave: The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that nearly all U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) workers will be withdrawn from the field, effectively ending a six-decade mission that has funded education, tackled epidemics and fought global starvation. Learn more.

• Shooting in Brussels: Police in Brussels are hunting for armed men after a shooting was reported in one of the Belgian capital's subway stations, according to the BBC.

• 'F Yes' trends after Musk's IRS audit poll: Elon Musk stirred controversy once again with a viral poll on X, asking users if his Department of Government Efficiency should audit the Internal Revenue Service. Here's why it triggered the "F Yes" trend.

• Ohio mass shooting: At least one person died and five hospitalized in a mass shooting at a cosmetics warehouse in New Albany, Ohio, late Tuesday. Get more details.

• Trump's release of California waters: President Donald Trump directed the Army Corps of Engineers to release billions of gallons of water from two reservoirs in California's Central Valley over 100 miles from the wildfire zones, a decision that has stunned residents. See the reactions.

• China's air power boost: Airfields under the control of a Chinese military theater command that would likely oversee any Taiwan invasion campaign can be used by aircraft from different service branches, according to a report.

• Zelensky open to talks with Putin: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said he is ready to sit at the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Here's what he said.

The rundown: President Donald Trump has provoked international condemnation after declaring that the United States would "take over" the Gaza Strip and suggesting Palestinians be permanently relocated elsewhere. Here's a breakdown of the strongest reactions to Trump's remarks.

Why it matters: The statement, made during a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was met with widespread rejection from world leaders who denounced it as a violation of international law. Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its stance on Palestinian statehood, while Australia and Germany opposed the plan, supporting a two-state solution. U.S. officials, including Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen, condemned the idea, with the leading U.S. Muslim civil rights organization calling it a crime against humanity.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump and the Future of Gaza: 'His Leverage Will Need To Be Applied'

TL/DR: Trump framed his proposal as a redevelopment project, saying that Gaza could become "the Riviera of the Middle East," while also describing the territory as a "demolition site."

What happens now? Trump told reporters that he will also make a statement in the coming weeks on Israel potentially annexing parts of the West Bank.

Deeper reading How Have World Leaders Responded to Trump's Gaza Proposal?

The rundown: A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked prison officials from transferring transgender women to men's facilities and terminating their access to hormone therapy under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. Find out more.

Why it matters: U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who was appointed by former Republican president Ronald Reagan, is presiding over a lawsuit filed on behalf of three transgender women who were housed in women's facilities before Trump signed the order on his first day back in the White House on January 20. Lamberth granted a temporary restraining order after a hearing where an attorney argued the order discriminates against transgender people and violates their constitutional rights. He noted that the government did not dispute the plaintiff's argument that transgender people were at a higher risk of physical and sexual violence when housed in a facility corresponding to their biological sex.

Read more in-depth coverage:
CDC Removes Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Pages: What Advocates Said

TL/DR: Lamberth also noted that there are only about 16 transgender women housed in female penitentiaries, including the three plaintiffs who sued.

What happens now? The temporary restraining order blocks the BOP from moving transgender women to men's prisons and ending their gender-affirming care while the lawsuit proceeds.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Transgender Order Blocked by Reagan-Appointed Judge

The rundown: President Donald Trump's policies and Elon Musk's association with his administration are causing trouble for the tech CEO's biggest companies. Here's how.

Why it matters: The announcement that Trump would place a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, which sparked an immediate retaliation tariff on U.S. goods, has already had major ramifications for Musk's Starlink. Although the introduction of the tariffs was suspended for a month, Ontario leader Doug Ford announced that he would be "ripping up" a contract signed with Starlink to provide satellite service to the region. The Starlink contract would have provided 15,000 homes with high-speed internet and was reported to be worth around $68 million, according to The Guardian.

Read more in-depth coverage:
What Exactly Is Elon Musk's Role in the US Government?

TL/DR: Trump and Musk have been close allies for the last year, and the billionaire businessman plays an important role as the president's advisor and head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

What happens now? Musk is continuing his investigation of the Treasury's payment system as part of the Department of Government Efficiency's attempt to reduce federal spending.

Deeper reading Elon Musk's Companies Caught In Political Line of Fire

The rundown: The U.S. Postal Service has suspended all incoming parcels from China and Hong Kong as President Donald Trump ramps up the U.S.-China trade war. Here's what we know.

Why it matters: The U.S. Postal Service wrote on its website, "Effective February 4, the Postal Service will temporarily suspend only international package acceptance of inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice." The suspension does not extend to letters and flats. It may be related to the executive order Trump signed Saturday that ditched the de minimis tax exemption on U.S.-bound shipments valued at less than $800. Excluding Hong Kong, China was estimated to account for one-third of such shipments in 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Tariffs Could Push China Closer to 'Recession': Analyst

TL/DR: The National Foreign Trade Council has warned the move would put greater tax and inflationary pressure on small businesses.

What happens now? The suspension is likely to impact Chinese e-commerce giants such as Temu and Shein, both of whom have seen their market shares soar in the U.S. in recent years. The move could also drive up costs and wait times for American consumers, Kate Muth, executive director of the International Mailers Advisory Group, told the Washington Post.

Deeper reading US Postal Service Suspends Parcels From China—What We Know

The rundown: With the U.S. Department of Education in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, the way millions of young Americans interact with the higher-education system could be about to change. Here's what the implications might be.

Why it matters: The Department of Education currently manages the federal student loan system through its Office of Federal Student Aid, which handles loan disbursement, servicing and borrower assistance. If the department were abolished, these functions might need to be transferred elsewhere, such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Experts warn past attempts at Treasury-led loan management were ineffective. Federal aid programs such as Pell Grants and work-study could be eliminated or reassigned, impacting low-income students. A reduced federal role might push borrowers towards private lenders, increasing costs

Read more in-depth coverage:
DOE Collapse Would Leave Millions of Teachers Without Funding

TL/DR: The Department of Education, which according to its website employs more than 4,000 people, managed $1.5 trillion in federal loans for nearly 43 million borrowers as of January 2024.

What happens now? According to reports, the Trump administration is considering using an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.

Deeper reading How Student Loans Will Be Impacted if Department of Education Closes Down