The US Will Cancel FDA Negotiation Session, Union Reports
The Trump administration has canceled its first scheduled negotiation session with the largest union representing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after a federal court temporarily restored the union’s ability to represent its staff, according to union officials.
In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that excluded certain agencies from collective bargaining, stating it applied to those primarily involved in intelligence, counterintelligence, investigation, or national security functions.
This order extended to the FDA and also affected agencies within the Justice, State, Defense, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs departments, as reported by various agencies.
On April 25, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman issued an injunction blocking the enforcement of the executive order while a lawsuit by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)—which represents about 160,000 federal employees, including up to 9,000 FDA workers—is pending.
Opening Summary
Good morning! Today, President Trump is set to welcome Canada’s newly elected leader, Mark Carney, to the White House.
The meeting, scheduled for 11:30 AM ET, will include talks and a lunch. However, given the backdrop of Trump’s tariffs on Canada—and past comments suggesting Canada might become the “51st state”—tensions abound, which have likely fueled Carney’s rise to power.
In his recent victory speech, Carney claimed Trump aims to “break us, so America can own us,” vowing, “That will never, ever happen.”
Interestingly, they had what Trump characterized as a “very productive” call the following day, expressing a desire for a strong relationship with Canada. Yet, with Trump, predictability is often elusive, so it’ll be intriguing to see how today unfolds.
While tariff discussions loom large over their agenda, it appears another significant issue—namely Trump’s decision to suspend grant funding for Harvard—won’t be on the table today. Carney, who is a graduate and former overseer of Harvard, faces this issue with a personal stake.
In other news:
-
Trump has initiated plans to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous former prison off San Francisco that has been closed for over 60 years. California Democrats have termed this proposal “absurd,” criticizing it as a political distraction. They highlight that the facility was shut down in 1963 due to high operational costs and numerous escape attempts.
-
The president announced a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films aiming to encourage domestic film production. This follows a conversation he had with actor Jon Voight regarding similar issues.
- Former Vice President Mike Pence has warned that Trump’s tariff policies could lead to “price shocks” and potential shortages. He referred to an inconsistency in Trump’s support for Ukraine, indirectly contradicting the president’s assertions about Vladimir Putin’s intentions.
- Trump stated that both Moscow and Kyiv are interested in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that the recent decline in oil prices creates an opportunity for peace talks.
- Protests are scheduled for June 14, coinciding with Trump’s planned military parade birthday party.
- Recent intelligence assessments indicate that the Venezuelan government likely does not control the actions of the Tren de Aragua gang members operating within the U.S., undermining Trump’s claims regarding his authority to deport them.
- The U.S. Department of Education has informed Harvard that it is terminating billions in research grants unless the university complies with various demands from the Trump administration, potentially transferring significant control to the government.
