Trump Administration Highlights: Judge Orders Halt on Deportations of Venezuelans Under Wartime Law

It Boost

16 Mar, 2025

Published March 15, 2025

Updated March 16, 2025, 1:10 a.m. ET

Where Things Stand

Alien Enemies Act: A federal judge on Saturday said the Trump administration must halt use of an obscure wartime law, called the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to deport Venezuelans. The judge also ordered the return of any planes that had departed the United States with immigrants under the order. Read more ›

Kennedy Center: President Trump is seeking changes that will allow him greater influence in the selection of Kennedy Center honorees, according to two people briefed on the matter who were granted anonymity to describe confidential discussions. Since 1978, the Kennedy Center has selected honorees to be recognized each year at a star-studded televised gala without interference from the White House. Read more ›

F.B.I. reorganization: Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director, is pushing ahead with a plan to decentralize the agency’s command structure and divide the bureau into three regions. Under the move, the top agents in 52 field offices around the country will no longer answer to the deputy director, a significant departure from the way the bureau has done business. Read more..

Adam Boehler, Trump’s pick to run hostage negotiations, was withdrawn from consideration.

Adam Boehler at a ceremony at the State Department in March.Credit...Evan Vucci/Associated Press

The White House withdrew the nomination of Adam Boehler to serve as the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, but officials said he would continue working as a so-called special government employee on the Trump administration’s efforts to free Americans held overseas.

“He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement on Saturday.

Trump seeks more sway in picking Kennedy Center honorees.

President Trump speaks into a microphone at a lectern, in front of a blue background. — President Trump is seeking a greater role in the selection of artists to be recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors. Credit...Eric Lee/The New York Times

When President Trump was criticized by some of the artists who were recognized at the annual Kennedy Center Honors program during his first term, he responded by boycotting the show, breaking with decades of precedent.

Now, as he leads a sweeping takeover of the Kennedy Center in his second term, Mr. Trump is seeking changes that will allow him greater sway in the selection of honorees, according to two people briefed on the matter who were granted anonymity to describe confidential discussions.