Live updates: Funding freeze latest; RFK Jr. hearings; Trump's executive orders | FOX 7 Austin

Live updates: Funding freeze latest; RFK Jr. hearings; Trump's executive orders

During his second week in office, Trump has brought about more sweeping changes, including an attempt to pause some federal funding and buy out some federal workers. 

Here’s the latest:

Executive order aims to cut federal funding for "woke" schools

6:09 p.m. ET -  Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aiming to cut federal funding for some schools as part of his goal to rid America’s schools of perceived "wokeness" and "left-wing indoctrination."

He says he wants to end classroom lessons on gender identity and structural racism, to abolish diversity and inclusion offices, and wants to keep transgender athletes out of girls’ sports.

READ MORE: Trump signs executive order aiming to cut federal funding for ‘woke’ schools

Guantanamo Bay detention center

2:55 p.m. ET - Trump said he's directing opening a detention center at Guantanamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 migrants in the U.S. illegally.

Trump signs Laken Riley Act

2:50 p.m. ET - President Trump signs the Laken Riley Act into law as his administration's first piece of legislation. 

It mandates the detention and potential deportation of people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes before they have actually been convicted. The Laken Riley Act was named for a Georgia nursing student who was killed in 2024 while out for a run by a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally.

READ MORE: Trump signs Laken Riley Act into law

Fed holds interest rate

2 p.m. ET - The Fed declined Wednesday to lower the interest rate in a move that ends a three-cut run and goes against the direction of President Trump.

READ MORE: Fed declines to lower interest rate, ending 3-cut run

Funding freeze memo clarification

1:40 p.m. ET - White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X to say the federal funding freeze had not been rescinded, but rather, just the memo had been rescinded. 

"The President's EO's on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented," she said. 

White House cancels order on funding freeze

1:15 p.m. ET - The White House budget office has rescinded the order on the federal grant freeze that sparked widespread confusion.

A two-sentence memo from the Office of Management Budget canceled a previous memo issued two days before that had directed federal agencies to "temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance."

READ MORE: Federal grant freeze rescinded by White House

Wednesday executive order 

12:00 p.m. ET - Trump is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday that could expand private school vouchers and other school choice initiatives.

The Education Department is being told to use discretionary money to prioritize school choice programs and give states new guidance on how they can use federal money to support K-12 voucher programs.

Protesters interrupt RFK Jr. hearing

10:40 a.m. ET - At least two protesters have interrupted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearings Wednesday. 

A single protester jumped to her feet and yelled "he lies" when he claimed he’s not "anti-vaccine."

Another held a sign that said, "Vaccines save lives."

In his opening statement, Kennedy rejected the ‘anti-vaccine’ label, telling senators he’s not anti-vaccine but has asked "uncomfortable questions."

While Kennedy has called vaccines unsafe, in his opening remarks he said all of his children are vaccinated.

"I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care," Kennedy told the committee.

RFK Jr. confirmation hearing begins

10 a.m. ET - Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s first confirmation hearing begins before the Senate Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee on Thursday.

Read more here

Trump to sign Laken Riley Act

US President Donald Trump arrives at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on January 27, 2025. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)

President Trump plans to sign the Laken Riley Act into law Wednesday as his administration's first piece of legislation. 

It mandates the detention and potential deportation of people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes before they have actually been convicted. The Laken Riley Act was named for a Georgia nursing student who was killed in 2024 while out for a run by a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally.

The Source: Information in this article was taken from The White House and Senate panel schedules for Jan. 29, 2025. Background information was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit. 

PoliticsHealthDonald J. Trump