NPR News: 03-05-2026 3PM EST

0:00Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's firing, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Nome, Trump announced on Truth Social today. He plans to install Oklahoma Republican Senator Mark Wayne mulling at the end of the month. Moments to go on Capitol Hill, mullentled reporters, he was not expecting Trump's call today, which came just before the statement was made public. He was asked about heavy public criticism over Nome's oversight of the DHS's immigration enforcement, especially Minnesota, where federal agents killed two U.S. citizens. I haven't had time to call Kristi yet, and our Secretary Nome and we, our families, our friends. She was, she was tasked to do a very difficult job. And I think she has, she has performed the best she can do in her ether circumstances. NPR's he met up with Cia reports Nome is the first cabinet secretary to leave the Trump administration in the second term. The announcement comes after Nome spent two days being grilled by lawmakers in Congress over her leadership.

1:00Trump has tapped GOP Senator Mark Wayne mullent of Oklahoma to take her place. Nome has been at the forefront of President Trump's efforts to carry out mass deportations. At the start of her second year on the job, Nome faced bipartisan criticism over her leadership of the immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, where she deployed thousands of federal agents and two U.S. citizens were killed. This week, Nome testified twice before Congress, where she faced questions over her spending and enforcement tactics. Mark Wayne mullent will need to be confirmed by the Senate in order to take on the role permanently. He met Abustillo and Pierre News, Washington. Israeli officials hour long more activities to resume in the country, saying it is gaining control of Iran's air space. NPR's Kerry con reports while incoming missile incursions have dropped significantly and recent days officials warn the threats are not over. Israeli military officials have lowered restrictions on public activities, now allowing gatherings of up to 50 people, schools and most businesses, however, remain closed.

2:01The main airport in Tel Aviv is allowing some traffic to resume the first incoming flight nearly one week landed early Thursday. A military spokesman says they Israeli and U.S. air forces are now operating in Iranian skies, quote, almost freely, and expect missile launches to continue decreasing. Major religious sites in Jerusalem remain closed, including the Al-Aqsa mosque compound for the third Friday of Ramadan. Kerry con and Pierre News, Tel Aviv. The U.S. and Israeli war with Iran is now in its sixth day. The U.S. House is preparing to vote on a war power's resolution that would stop U.S. attacks on Iran without congressional approval. Yesterday, the Senate voted down a similar measure, mostly along party lines. At last, check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was down more than 1,000 points for more than 2%. From Washington, this is NPR News. The administration plans to move the energy

3:03star efficiency program to the Department of Energy. Here's NPR as Jeff Brady. Energy star awards as Blue and White logo to the most efficient appliances and buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency has operated the program for more than three decades. The Trump administration effort to end or privatize the program failed. Congress specifically instructed that the EPA has been just over $33 million this year on energy star. But now the EPA has signed an agreement to transfer responsibility to the energy department. The U.S. Green Building Council says EPA has been very successful in creating and managing energy star and is concerned about the administration abruptly moving the program after Congress showed bipartisan support for it. Jeff Brady and Pierre News. Almost 390,000 federal workers have left the government since President Trump returned to office in January of 2025. And Pierre's Andrew Issue has more in the latest data from the Office of Personnel Management. Early this year, the Office of Personnel Management launched a new data tool on its website. There you can see how many federal workers

4:04have come and gone from federal agencies. According to the latest update since January 20th, 2025, there have been close to 387,000 departures of federal employees and 123,000 additions that represent a net loss of about 11.5% of the federal workforce. The Treasury Department has seen the most separations of any one agency, the VA, along with the departments of defense and homeland security, solve the most hires, Andrew Issue and Pierre News. You're listening to NPR. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus. At plus.npr.org, that's plus.npr.org.