On Wednesday, TMP-Marian senior Austin Gilbert signed an institutional letter of commitment to play baseball at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. 

Gilbert always dreamed of playing baseball at the collegiate level, but it wasn’t until his sophomore year that it became a reality.

“I always wanted to and always told myself I was going
dedicate myself to getting there, but until about sophomore (or) junior year,
It had never really been real.”

He considered other opportunities but said Thomas
College “just clicked.”

“I will get my master's degree in the four years of
schooling instead of six years,” Gilbert said, “So I won't have to go back for
two extra years after college baseball if I decide to attempt to pursue further
in my athletic career.”

You can hear the entire interview with Gilbert below.

Gilbert and the Monarchs are coming off a fourth-place finish at state a year ago.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738803534304.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsOn Wednesday, TMP-Marian senior Austin Gilbert signed an institutional letter of commitment to play baseball at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. Gilbert always dreamed of playing baseball at the collegiate level, but it wasn’t until his sophomore year that it became a reality.“I always wanted to and always told myself I was going
dedicate myself to getting there, but until about sophomore (or) junior year,
It had never really been real.”He considered other opportunities but said Thomas
College “just clicked.”“I will get my master's degree in the four years of
schooling instead of six years,” Gilbert said, “So I won't have to go back for
two extra years after college baseball if I decide to attempt to pursue further
in my athletic career.”You can hear the entire interview with Gilbert below.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2027001756&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-5-25-tmps-austin-gilbert" title="2-5-25 TMP&#x27;s Austin Gilbert" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">2-5-25 TMP&#x27;s Austin Gilbert</a></div></div>Gilbert and the Monarchs are coming off a fourth-place finish at state a year ago.

⚾🎧 TMP’s Austin Gilbert signs with Thomas College

HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State football coach Chris Brown announced the signing of 30 high school seniors&nbsp; institutional letters of commitment on Wednesday. Brown spoke with the media about the Tigers 2025 signing class which can be heard by clicking on the link below.

The group includes six players from the state of Kansas, five each from Arizona and Florida, three from Texas and Colorado, two from Oklahoma and Missouri and one from Illinois.

The breakdown by position includes one quarterback, two running backs, one fullback, four wide receivers, eight offensive lineman, six defensive lineman, four linebackers, three defensive backs and one kicker.

Noah Beavers, DL, 6-5, 220, Hillsboro, Kan. / Hillsboro HS Hillsboro HS: All-state first team selection in Kansas Class 2A…All-league selection as a defensive end...Recorded 42 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks during senior season.

Antoine Bogus, OL, 6-4, 230, Mustang, Okla. / Mustang HS Mustang HS: All-district second team selection.

Samuel Bryant, LB, 6-1, 215, West Palm Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community HS Atlantic Community HS: Recorded 88 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception during senior year.

Braylon Coleman, DB, 5-9, 170, Plano, Texas / Plano East HS Plano East HS: All-district selection as a defensive back in Texas 6-6A…Academic all-district performer…Recorded 45 tackles, 12 pass breakups, five tackles for loss, and one interception during senior year.

Justus Derickson, DL, 6-5, 245, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Rampart HS Rampart HS: Two-time all-state and two-time all-conference selection…Conference Player of the Year in baseball…Two-time all-conference first team selection in baseball.

Logan Dodson, FB, 6-0, 220, North Platte, Neb. / Saint Patrick HS Saint Patrick HS: Two-time all-state selection…Three-time all-district selection…Shrine Bowl selection…Selected to Sertoma 8-man all-star game.

Walter Flounory, WR, 5-10, 165, St. Petersburg, Fla. / Boca Ciega HS Boca Ciega HS: Player of the Year in Class 3A…All-PCAC and FACA First Team…Named team's MVP…PCAC All-Star Game selection.

AG Floyd, RB, 6-2, 205, Pensacola, Fla. / Pensacola HS Pensacola HS: Class 3A Panhandle Player of the Year…Rushed for 1,300 yards as a senior, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

Trey Foster, WR, 6-1, 175, Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field HS Williams Field HS: All-region first team selection at wide receiver…Averaged 17.3 yards per catch with 40 receptions for 690 yards and 5 touchdowns in his senior season.

Kody Guy, QB, 6-2, 205, Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field HS Williams Field HS: All-region honorable mention selection…Threw for 2,695 yards and 22 touchdowns over his final two seasons…Served as a team captain for two years.

Zyon Harris, OL, 6-0, 280, Belle Glade, Fla. / Treasure Coast HS Treasure Coast HS: Named to TC Palm's Super 11 list of top senior recruits across the Treasure Coast…Spent freshman year at St. Lucie West Centennial High School and then sophomore and junior years at Inlet Grove High School.

Vincent Johnston, OL, 6-3, 285, Palisade, Colo. / Palisade HS Palisade HS: Two-time all-state selection in Colorado…Two-time all-league first team selection…Two-time Lineman MVP in his league…Three-time all-state academic recognition.

Wyatt Kirkpatrick, LB, 6-2, 220, Hays, Kan. / Hays HS Hays HS: Two-time all-state first team selection at linebacker…Two-time all-conference first team selection…Hays High School Defensive Player of the Year in 2023…Defensive Player of the Year in Class 5A as a senior…Had 235 tackles for his prep career, along with 22 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions.

Cooper Koster, DL, 6-3, 265, Conway Springs, Kan. / Conway Springs HS Conway Springs HS: Recorded 55 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles in his senior season…Helped team to back-to-back state titles as a junior and senior. with back 2 back State Titles his Junior and Senior Season.

Clayton Layden, DL, 6-4, 215, Lone Jack, Mo. / Lone Jack HS Lone Jack HS: Three-time all-district and three-time all-conference selection.

Chris Love, WR, 6-3, 180, Jefferson, Texas / Jefferson HS Jefferson HS: Three-time all-district first team selection…All-state second team selection as a senior…Set school record for receiving touchdowns with 15 as a senior…Two-time all-district selection in basketball.

Samuel Meisner, RB, 5-11, 180, Wray, Colo. / Wray HS Wray HS: Three-time all-state first team selection…Wray High School Athlete of the Year honors…Three-time all-conference selection…Earned Player of the Game honors in the 1A state championship…Finished career with 4,191 rushing yards, 361 receiving yards, 82 touchdowns, 380 tackles, and 43 tackles for loss…State champion and all-state performer in wrestling…Earned academic all-state honors.

Will Morgan, OL, 5-11, 250, Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley Southwest HS Blue Valley Southwest HS: All-state first team selection by Sports in Kansas and the KFBCA…Also received all-state honors from Wichita Eagle and KSHSAA…Three-time all-league selection…Selected for the Kansas Shrine Bowl…Served as a team captain…Named team's Most Outstanding Player.

Blake Novotny, OL, 6-4, 280, Owasso, Okla. / Owasso HS Owasso HS: All-district selection and team captain…All-Tulsa World selection.

Will Rodgers, DB, 5-10, 180, Goodyear Ariz. / Desert Edge HS Desert Edge HS: All-region first team selection as a defensive back…All-conference first team selection.

Kole Rogers, K, 5-10, 170, Goodyear, Ariz. / Desert Edge HS Desert Edge HS: Two-time all-region first team selection and earned Specialist of the Year honors.

Nicholas Royal, DL, 6-3, 315, Inlet Grove, Fla. / Inlet Grove HS Inlet Grove HS: Among the Top 63 ranked by ESPN…Led team in sacks…Played in area all-star game…All-district performer in shot put in track and field.

Ethan Shaw, LB, 6-2, 210, Fairfield, Neb. / Sandy Creek HS

Charles Smith, S, 6-1, 200, Chicago, Ill. / Simeon Academy Simeon Academy: All-city second team selection and all-conference selection…Recorded 85 tackles to go along with three sacks, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a senior.

Landon Sobota, OL, 6-3, 295, Greenwood, Neb. / Ashland-Greenwood HS Ashland-Greenwood HS: Four-time all-state selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald…Four-time all-district and all-area selection…Nebraska Shrine Bowl selection.

Andrew Watts, WR, 5-8, 180, Shawnee, Kan. / Mill Valley HS Mill Valley HS: All-state honorable mention selection by Sports in Kansas, Wichita Eagle, and KSHSAA…Team's Offensive Player of the Year in 2024…Helped team to three-straight state titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023…Two-time all-league selection…Had over 500 receiving yards his senior year.

Brody Weir, DL, 6-4, 250, Wellington, Kan. / Wellington HS Wellington HS: Two-time all-league selection as a defensive end and tight end…All-state first team selection by the KFBCA, Sports in Kansas, Wichita Eagle, and KSHSAA in Class 4A…Defensive Player of the Year Finalist in Class 4A…Sports in Kansas Top 100 Seniors…As a senior, recorded 65 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks.

Hayden Williams, OL, 6-4, 305, Surprise, Ariz. / Youngker HS Youngker HS: Offensive Player of the Year in the Skyline region…Roughrider Offensive Lineman Award.

Ben Winters, OL, 6-2, 285, Kingsville, Mo. / Summit Christian Academy Summit Christian Academy: Three-time all-conference first team selection as an offensive lineman and defensive lineman…Three-time all-district selection, twice as an offensive lineman and once as a defensive lineman…Voted team's offensive and defensive MVP…State qualifier and all-district performer in wrestling.

Layne Yudizky, LB, 6-0, 210, Heath, Texas / Rockwall Heath HS Rockwall-Heath HS: Two-time all-district selection, including first-team honors as a senior and second-team honors as a junior…Served as a team captain during senior year…Recorded 110 tackles, five sacks, and one interception in his prep career.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738788502672.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostHAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State football coach Chris Brown announced the signing of 30 high school seniors&nbsp; institutional letters of commitment on Wednesday. Brown spoke with the media about the Tigers 2025 signing class which can be heard by clicking on the link below.The group includes six players from the state of Kansas, five each from Arizona and Florida, three from Texas and Colorado, two from Oklahoma and Missouri and one from Illinois.The breakdown by position includes one quarterback, two running backs, one fullback, four wide receivers, eight offensive lineman, six defensive lineman, four linebackers, three defensive backs and one kicker.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2026932948&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/chris-brown-signing-day-press-conference-1" title="Chris Brown - Signing Day Press Conference" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Chris Brown - Signing Day Press Conference</a></div></div>Noah Beavers, DL, 6-5, 220, Hillsboro, Kan. / Hillsboro HS Hillsboro HS: All-state first team selection in Kansas Class 2A…All-league selection as a defensive end...Recorded 42 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks during senior season.Antoine Bogus, OL, 6-4, 230, Mustang, Okla. / Mustang HS Mustang HS: All-district second team selection.Samuel Bryant, LB, 6-1, 215, West Palm Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community HS Atlantic Community HS: Recorded 88 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception during senior year.Braylon Coleman, DB, 5-9, 170, Plano, Texas / Plano East HS Plano East HS: All-district selection as a defensive back in Texas 6-6A…Academic all-district performer…Recorded 45 tackles, 12 pass breakups, five tackles for loss, and one interception during senior year.Justus Derickson, DL, 6-5, 245, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Rampart HS Rampart HS: Two-time all-state and two-time all-conference selection…Conference Player of the Year in baseball…Two-time all-conference first team selection in baseball.Logan Dodson, FB, 6-0, 220, North Platte, Neb. / Saint Patrick HS Saint Patrick HS: Two-time all-state selection…Three-time all-district selection…Shrine Bowl selection…Selected to Sertoma 8-man all-star game.Walter Flounory, WR, 5-10, 165, St. Petersburg, Fla. / Boca Ciega HS Boca Ciega HS: Player of the Year in Class 3A…All-PCAC and FACA First Team…Named team's MVP…PCAC All-Star Game selection.AG Floyd, RB, 6-2, 205, Pensacola, Fla. / Pensacola HS Pensacola HS: Class 3A Panhandle Player of the Year…Rushed for 1,300 yards as a senior, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.Trey Foster, WR, 6-1, 175, Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field HS Williams Field HS: All-region first team selection at wide receiver…Averaged 17.3 yards per catch with 40 receptions for 690 yards and 5 touchdowns in his senior season.Kody Guy, QB, 6-2, 205, Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field HS Williams Field HS: All-region honorable mention selection…Threw for 2,695 yards and 22 touchdowns over his final two seasons…Served as a team captain for two years.Zyon Harris, OL, 6-0, 280, Belle Glade, Fla. / Treasure Coast HS Treasure Coast HS: Named to TC Palm's Super 11 list of top senior recruits across the Treasure Coast…Spent freshman year at St. Lucie West Centennial High School and then sophomore and junior years at Inlet Grove High School.Vincent Johnston, OL, 6-3, 285, Palisade, Colo. / Palisade HS Palisade HS: Two-time all-state selection in Colorado…Two-time all-league first team selection…Two-time Lineman MVP in his league…Three-time all-state academic recognition.Wyatt Kirkpatrick, LB, 6-2, 220, Hays, Kan. / Hays HS Hays HS: Two-time all-state first team selection at linebacker…Two-time all-conference first team selection…Hays High School Defensive Player of the Year in 2023…Defensive Player of the Year in Class 5A as a senior…Had 235 tackles for his prep career, along with 22 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions.Cooper Koster, DL, 6-3, 265, Conway Springs, Kan. / Conway Springs HS Conway Springs HS: Recorded 55 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles in his senior season…Helped team to back-to-back state titles as a junior and senior. with back 2 back State Titles his Junior and Senior Season.Clayton Layden, DL, 6-4, 215, Lone Jack, Mo. / Lone Jack HS Lone Jack HS: Three-time all-district and three-time all-conference selection.Chris Love, WR, 6-3, 180, Jefferson, Texas / Jefferson HS Jefferson HS: Three-time all-district first team selection…All-state second team selection as a senior…Set school record for receiving touchdowns with 15 as a senior…Two-time all-district selection in basketball.Samuel Meisner, RB, 5-11, 180, Wray, Colo. / Wray HS Wray HS: Three-time all-state first team selection…Wray High School Athlete of the Year honors…Three-time all-conference selection…Earned Player of the Game honors in the 1A state championship…Finished career with 4,191 rushing yards, 361 receiving yards, 82 touchdowns, 380 tackles, and 43 tackles for loss…State champion and all-state performer in wrestling…Earned academic all-state honors.Will Morgan, OL, 5-11, 250, Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley Southwest HS Blue Valley Southwest HS: All-state first team selection by Sports in Kansas and the KFBCA…Also received all-state honors from Wichita Eagle and KSHSAA…Three-time all-league selection…Selected for the Kansas Shrine Bowl…Served as a team captain…Named team's Most Outstanding Player.Blake Novotny, OL, 6-4, 280, Owasso, Okla. / Owasso HS Owasso HS: All-district selection and team captain…All-Tulsa World selection.Will Rodgers, DB, 5-10, 180, Goodyear Ariz. / Desert Edge HS Desert Edge HS: All-region first team selection as a defensive back…All-conference first team selection.Kole Rogers, K, 5-10, 170, Goodyear, Ariz. / Desert Edge HS Desert Edge HS: Two-time all-region first team selection and earned Specialist of the Year honors.Nicholas Royal, DL, 6-3, 315, Inlet Grove, Fla. / Inlet Grove HS Inlet Grove HS: Among the Top 63 ranked by ESPN…Led team in sacks…Played in area all-star game…All-district performer in shot put in track and field.Ethan Shaw, LB, 6-2, 210, Fairfield, Neb. / Sandy Creek HSCharles Smith, S, 6-1, 200, Chicago, Ill. / Simeon Academy Simeon Academy: All-city second team selection and all-conference selection…Recorded 85 tackles to go along with three sacks, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a senior.Landon Sobota, OL, 6-3, 295, Greenwood, Neb. / Ashland-Greenwood HS Ashland-Greenwood HS: Four-time all-state selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald…Four-time all-district and all-area selection…Nebraska Shrine Bowl selection.Andrew Watts, WR, 5-8, 180, Shawnee, Kan. / Mill Valley HS Mill Valley HS: All-state honorable mention selection by Sports in Kansas, Wichita Eagle, and KSHSAA…Team's Offensive Player of the Year in 2024…Helped team to three-straight state titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023…Two-time all-league selection…Had over 500 receiving yards his senior year.Brody Weir, DL, 6-4, 250, Wellington, Kan. / Wellington HS Wellington HS: Two-time all-league selection as a defensive end and tight end…All-state first team selection by the KFBCA, Sports in Kansas, Wichita Eagle, and KSHSAA in Class 4A…Defensive Player of the Year Finalist in Class 4A…Sports in Kansas Top 100 Seniors…As a senior, recorded 65 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks.Hayden Williams, OL, 6-4, 305, Surprise, Ariz. / Youngker HS Youngker HS: Offensive Player of the Year in the Skyline region…Roughrider Offensive Lineman Award.Ben Winters, OL, 6-2, 285, Kingsville, Mo. / Summit Christian Academy Summit Christian Academy: Three-time all-conference first team selection as an offensive lineman and defensive lineman…Three-time all-district selection, twice as an offensive lineman and once as a defensive lineman…Voted team's offensive and defensive MVP…State qualifier and all-district performer in wrestling.Layne Yudizky, LB, 6-0, 210, Heath, Texas / Rockwall Heath HS Rockwall-Heath HS: Two-time all-district selection, including first-team honors as a senior and second-team honors as a junior…Served as a team captain during senior year…Recorded 110 tackles, five sacks, and one interception in his prep career.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏈🎧 Brown meets with media on signing day

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — Two large unions and an alliance that together represent millions of government and retired workers are suing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing a “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into Americans’ personal data, beginning last week when the newly confirmed secretary handed over the department’s payment system to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and Alliance for Retired Americans filed suit Monday arguing that members of Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency broke federal privacy laws by infiltrating the system that handles trillions in payments — including income taxes, Social Security benefits and veterans pay.

“Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Complaint-7.pdf" target="_blank">complaint</a>&nbsp;filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

The plaintiffs are represented by two legal aid groups, the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.

“Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords,” the complaint continued.

A rally was also scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon at the Treasury Department to protest Musk’s moves.

DOGE, an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, is not a government department. Agencies within the executive branch can only be created&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10158#:~:text=These%20orders%20and%20proposals%20have,various%20statutory%20functions%20and%20duties." target="_blank">by Congress</a>.

Trump convened DOGE, following a campaign promise to major campaign donor Musk, via an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;signed on his first day in office. The order renamed the U.S. Digital Service — the information technology arm of the federal government — to the U.S. DOGE Service.

The order also established an 18-month “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” for the purposes of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”

Trump and Musk — and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who is no longer part of the temporary endeavor — touted on the campaign trail the creation of an entity that would cut $2 trillion in government spending.

Trump has since named Musk a temporary “special government employee,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters/655306" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters Monday, adding that she was “not sure” which security clearances Musk has.

The Washington Post first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that a top Treasury official was placed on administrative leave by the Trump White House for refusing to allow personnel from so-called DOGE to access the federal payment system.

WIRED reported that Musk’s DOGE team is largely made up of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/" target="_blank">engineers ages 19 to 24</a>&nbsp;who have ties to Musk’s other companies.

WIRED further&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that one 25-year-old engineer, Marko Elez, now reportedly has the ability to read and write code for two of Treasury’s most sensitive systems — the Payment Automation Manager and the Secure Payment System, both managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

States Newsroom reached out to the White House, the Department of the Treasury, and to representatives of DOGE for comment but did not receive responses.

Representatives from the U.S. DOGE Service continued accessing sensitive government files over the weekend when personnel demanded entry into computer systems at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.

At least two USAID security officials were put on administrative leave after initially refusing to grant access, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.

Democratic lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-refused-entry-usaid-agency-shuttered-trump-administration" target="_blank">protested</a>&nbsp;outside the agency’s main office on Monday and vowed a legal fight. States Newsroom witnessed the lawmakers being denied entry into the USAID offices.

USAID employees who work in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center were told in emails and text blasts not to report to the office Monday.

The agency’s website,&nbsp;<a href="http://usaid.gov/" target="_blank">USAID.gov</a>, and its X social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/USAID" target="_blank">account</a>&nbsp;went dark Saturday. Musk owns X.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738775286116.png" alt="Elon Musk at an inauguration event - File photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk at an inauguration event - File photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Two large unions and an alliance that together represent millions of government and retired workers are suing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing a “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into Americans’ personal data, beginning last week when the newly confirmed secretary handed over the department’s payment system to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738777717486.png" alt="U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy during a rally against Musk on Tuessday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy during a rally against Musk on Tuessday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and Alliance for Retired Americans filed suit Monday arguing that members of Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency broke federal privacy laws by infiltrating the system that handles trillions in payments — including income taxes, Social Security benefits and veterans pay.“Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Complaint-7.pdf" target="_blank">complaint</a>&nbsp;filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.The plaintiffs are represented by two legal aid groups, the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.“Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords,” the complaint continued.A rally was also scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon at the Treasury Department to protest Musk’s moves.<h2>What is DOGE?</h2>DOGE, an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, is not a government department. Agencies within the executive branch can only be created&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10158#:~:text=These%20orders%20and%20proposals%20have,various%20statutory%20functions%20and%20duties." target="_blank">by Congress</a>.Trump convened DOGE, following a campaign promise to major campaign donor Musk, via an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;signed on his first day in office. The order renamed the U.S. Digital Service — the information technology arm of the federal government — to the U.S. DOGE Service.The order also established an 18-month “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” for the purposes of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”Trump and Musk — and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who is no longer part of the temporary endeavor — touted on the campaign trail the creation of an entity that would cut $2 trillion in government spending.Trump has since named Musk a temporary “special government employee,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters/655306" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters Monday, adding that she was “not sure” which security clearances Musk has.<h2>Youthful engineers</h2>The Washington Post first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that a top Treasury official was placed on administrative leave by the Trump White House for refusing to allow personnel from so-called DOGE to access the federal payment system.WIRED reported that Musk’s DOGE team is largely made up of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/" target="_blank">engineers ages 19 to 24</a>&nbsp;who have ties to Musk’s other companies.WIRED further&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that one 25-year-old engineer, Marko Elez, now reportedly has the ability to read and write code for two of Treasury’s most sensitive systems — the Payment Automation Manager and the Secure Payment System, both managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.States Newsroom reached out to the White House, the Department of the Treasury, and to representatives of DOGE for comment but did not receive responses.<h2>DOGE in USAID</h2>Representatives from the U.S. DOGE Service continued accessing sensitive government files over the weekend when personnel demanded entry into computer systems at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.At least two USAID security officials were put on administrative leave after initially refusing to grant access, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.Democratic lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-refused-entry-usaid-agency-shuttered-trump-administration" target="_blank">protested</a>&nbsp;outside the agency’s main office on Monday and vowed a legal fight. States Newsroom witnessed the lawmakers being denied entry into the USAID offices.USAID employees who work in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center were told in emails and text blasts not to report to the office Monday.The agency’s website,&nbsp;<a href="http://usaid.gov/" target="_blank">USAID.gov</a>, and its X social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/USAID" target="_blank">account</a>&nbsp;went dark Saturday. Musk owns X.

Lawsuit Filed Over Attempts by Elon Musk’s DOGE to take Over U.S. Benefit Payment System

A Hays City Commission retreat will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Fort Hays State University Memorial Union in the Stouffer Lounge, 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 For more information, please call the city manager's office at 785-628-7320.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738776755744.png" alt="Hays City Commission. File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays City Commission. File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysA Hays City Commission retreat will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Fort Hays State University Memorial Union in the Stouffer Lounge, 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call the city manager's office at 785-628-7320.&nbsp;

Hays City Commission sets retreat for March 1 at FHSU

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489's five-year capital outlay plan includes a number of items that will help complete the ongoing bond projects in the district.

The Hays USD 489 board heard updates to the five-year plan at Monday night's meeting.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said district officials knew they would incur expenses as students and staff move into the new buildings. They have been planning and budgeting for those expenses.

Wilson said the district has enough funds to cover the expenses outlined in the capital outlay plan, with contingency funds built in.

He said the district has been renting facilities, and now that it will have its own facilities, it needs to purchase items to equip those facilities.

The estimated expenditures from this year's capital outlay fund are almost $6.4 million.

The new Hays High School is set to be completed in August. The district anticipates moving the middle school into the current high school building in January 2026.

Items for the new Hays High School • 13th Street improvements/access-$ 763,450 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6a4b8354-00f4-4d1b-852c-ad7cdb2d3476">(This is the district's share of the project, which is split with the city of Hays.)</a> • Residential appliances-$ 30,000 (This includes things such as refrigerators for labs that need to be replaced.) • Athletic Training Room equipment-$50,000 • Kiln-$18,000 (The existing outdoor kiln will remain for use by Hays Middle School.) • HHS tennis courts-$665,200 (<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/94fad178-47ef-40e4-885c-32a7fc3fce5d">This project has already been approved by the board. It will include the addition of four new courts and the reconditioning of the existing four courts at HHS.</a>) • Competition score/video boards-$750,000 (This will include boards for both gyms in the new high school, a football video scoreboard and a softball field scoreboard.) • Score table for basketball-$60,000 • Wrestling mats-$46,000 • Digital marquee-$100,000 (to be located on 13th Street)

Items for the new Hays Middle School •&nbsp;Student lockers paint and refresh-$75,000 •&nbsp;Bathroom and concessions at HMS field-$753,700 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/12b8c2de-da22-422a-b8db-6de20dcf9ee3">(This project has already been approved by the board</a>.) •&nbsp;Glazing-$30,000 •&nbsp;Seed practice field-$15,000 •&nbsp;Middle school remodel phase one-$150,000 (This will include adding restrooms near the&nbsp; E-building and remodeling some office space in the locker rooms for PE teachers. Wilson said most of this work will be done by district staff.) •&nbsp;Woodshop dust collection system-$20,000 (Most of this work will be done by staff.)

Board member Derek Yarmer said he knew the capital outlay five-year plan is a fluid document, but he expressed concerns about the difference in the budget for Hays High and Hays Middle schools between last year and this year.

"What you had for 24-25 last year was $665,000, and now it's $2.4 million for the current Hays High. There was not any money allotted for anything for Hays Middle, and now it's $1 million," Yarmer said.&nbsp;

He added, "It seems like we have no budget."

Wilson said the district has a budget and enough revenue to fund all the projects listed in the capital outlay plan.

He said district officials now have a better idea of the needs as students and staff get closer to moving into new and renovated buildings.

"Chris (Hipp) and I have put a lot of hours into this and talked to a lot of people," Wilson said. "We really feel this gives all of our students and staff everything they need to have success in the classroom and on the athletic fields."

Yarmer was also critical of the $100,000 budgeted for the digital marquee.&nbsp;

"I still think there are things in capital outlay that are wants and not needs. Until all of the buildings are where they need to be, I don't think I would support some of the indulgences like the marquee, for one," Yarmer said.

The district has budgeted $30,000 to replace the roof over the music room at the current Hays Middle School.

$33,000 has been budgeted for asbestos removal at O'Loughlin Elementary School. $30,000 has been budgeted for tuckpointing, glazing and caulk at Roosevelt Elementary School, and $15,000 has been budgeted for grass seeding.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9c9d8521-815b-4f1d-8bf6-ddea11091306">Work is set to start soon on an addition and renovation of O'Loughlin Elementary School.</a> The current middle school will become Felten Elementary School with an anticipated move-in date of summer 2026.

Next year, the district has budgeted $250,000 for a softball field grandstand and press box and $140,000 for final grass seeding at Hays High School.

Projects at the new middle school •&nbsp;Grandstands and fencing at game field-$160,000 •&nbsp;Moving expenses-$10,000 •&nbsp;Signage update-$50,000 •&nbsp;Classroom/bathroom renovation-$200,000 •&nbsp;Furniture-$150,000 •&nbsp;Roof (cafeteria to library) phase one-$270,000 Felten Elementary School projects •&nbsp;Playground re-location upgrades-$150,000 •&nbsp;Signage update-$50,000 •&nbsp;Room renovation-$300,000 •&nbsp;Equipment and furniture-$175,000 •&nbsp;Asbestos removal-$175,000

O'Loughlin Elementary School •&nbsp;Equipment and furniture -$100,000 •&nbsp;Electrical service upgrade-$70,000 • Playground upgrades-$100,000

Once Felten Elementary School is opened, Wilson Elementary School is set to close as a school. The district plans to close Rockwell Administration Center and relocate administrative offices to the former Wilson school.

The district has budgeted $900,000 for Wilson renovations in the 2026-27 school year.

In addition to bond-related projects, the district budgets each year for debt service, operational expenses and districtwide expenses.

The debt payments include those for Early Childhood Complex, HVAC, lighting and turf projects. Starting in 2025-26 the district will have payments to Enterprise for the maintenance of its vehicle fleet.

The last payment on the Early Childhood Complex project, which is almost $216,000 per year, will be in 2027-28.

Operations expenses include costs for the bus replacement plan, technology replacement, food service equipment replacement, buildings and grounds, and instructional equipment.

The district has budgeted funds for ongoing sidewalk repairs and the final conversion to electric locks across the district during the next two years.

In 2025-26, the district will begin a yearly contract with Glassman Corporation to maintain its HVAC systems, costing about $100,000 annually.

This was only a review of the capital outlay plan, and no action was taken.

The board heard a report on a new state law allowing schools to keep medication, such as EpiPens, on hand. Jessica Roe, lead district nurse, said she thought stocking EpiPens would result in waste.&nbsp;

The district's policy is to give Benadryl first in the case of an allergic reaction and call 911. Local ambulances carry EpiPens. Families also provide EpiPens for most children with known severe allergies.

The board chose not to stock EpiPens or any additional medications at this time.

The board approved the renewal of contracts for building-level administrators. Hays High School Assistant Principal&nbsp;Lance Krannawitter has announced his retirement as of the end of the school year.

The board approved a contract to extend electrical service to O'Loughlin Elementary School to serve its addition.

The board approved a notice to the Kansas Legislature on the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3bd7510a-797a-40e5-bc36-b81a6e848d8d">sale of Lincoln Elementary School.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738699554682.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489's five-year capital outlay plan includes a number of items that will help complete the ongoing bond projects in the district.The Hays USD 489 board heard updates to the five-year plan at Monday night's meeting.Superintendent Ron Wilson said district officials knew they would incur expenses as students and staff move into the new buildings. They have been planning and budgeting for those expenses.Wilson said the district has enough funds to cover the expenses outlined in the capital outlay plan, with contingency funds built in.He said the district has been renting facilities, and now that it will have its own facilities, it needs to purchase items to equip those facilities.The estimated expenditures from this year's capital outlay fund are almost $6.4 million.The new Hays High School is set to be completed in August. The district anticipates moving the middle school into the current high school building in January 2026.Items for the new Hays High School • 13th Street improvements/access-$ 763,450 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6a4b8354-00f4-4d1b-852c-ad7cdb2d3476">(This is the district's share of the project, which is split with the city of Hays.)</a> • Residential appliances-$ 30,000 (This includes things such as refrigerators for labs that need to be replaced.) • Athletic Training Room equipment-$50,000 • Kiln-$18,000 (The existing outdoor kiln will remain for use by Hays Middle School.) • HHS tennis courts-$665,200 (<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/94fad178-47ef-40e4-885c-32a7fc3fce5d">This project has already been approved by the board. It will include the addition of four new courts and the reconditioning of the existing four courts at HHS.</a>) • Competition score/video boards-$750,000 (This will include boards for both gyms in the new high school, a football video scoreboard and a softball field scoreboard.) • Score table for basketball-$60,000 • Wrestling mats-$46,000 • Digital marquee-$100,000 (to be located on 13th Street)Items for the new Hays Middle School •&nbsp;Student lockers paint and refresh-$75,000 •&nbsp;Bathroom and concessions at HMS field-$753,700 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/12b8c2de-da22-422a-b8db-6de20dcf9ee3">(This project has already been approved by the board</a>.) •&nbsp;Glazing-$30,000 •&nbsp;Seed practice field-$15,000 •&nbsp;Middle school remodel phase one-$150,000 (This will include adding restrooms near the&nbsp; E-building and remodeling some office space in the locker rooms for PE teachers. Wilson said most of this work will be done by district staff.) •&nbsp;Woodshop dust collection system-$20,000 (Most of this work will be done by staff.)Board member Derek Yarmer said he knew the capital outlay five-year plan is a fluid document, but he expressed concerns about the difference in the budget for Hays High and Hays Middle schools between last year and this year."What you had for 24-25 last year was $665,000, and now it's $2.4 million for the current Hays High. There was not any money allotted for anything for Hays Middle, and now it's $1 million," Yarmer said.&nbsp;He added, "It seems like we have no budget."Wilson said the district has a budget and enough revenue to fund all the projects listed in the capital outlay plan.He said district officials now have a better idea of the needs as students and staff get closer to moving into new and renovated buildings."Chris (Hipp) and I have put a lot of hours into this and talked to a lot of people," Wilson said. "We really feel this gives all of our students and staff everything they need to have success in the classroom and on the athletic fields."Yarmer was also critical of the $100,000 budgeted for the digital marquee.&nbsp;"I still think there are things in capital outlay that are wants and not needs. Until all of the buildings are where they need to be, I don't think I would support some of the indulgences like the marquee, for one," Yarmer said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738700488701.png" alt="See the full budget at the bottom of this post." />
 <figcaption>See the full budget at the bottom of this post.</figcaption>
 </figure> The district has budgeted $30,000 to replace the roof over the music room at the current Hays Middle School.$33,000 has been budgeted for asbestos removal at O'Loughlin Elementary School. $30,000 has been budgeted for tuckpointing, glazing and caulk at Roosevelt Elementary School, and $15,000 has been budgeted for grass seeding.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9c9d8521-815b-4f1d-8bf6-ddea11091306">Work is set to start soon on an addition and renovation of O'Loughlin Elementary School.</a> The current middle school will become Felten Elementary School with an anticipated move-in date of summer 2026.<h2>2025-26</h2>Next year, the district has budgeted $250,000 for a softball field grandstand and press box and $140,000 for final grass seeding at Hays High School.Projects at the new middle school •&nbsp;Grandstands and fencing at game field-$160,000 •&nbsp;Moving expenses-$10,000 •&nbsp;Signage update-$50,000 •&nbsp;Classroom/bathroom renovation-$200,000 •&nbsp;Furniture-$150,000 •&nbsp;Roof (cafeteria to library) phase one-$270,000 Felten Elementary School projects •&nbsp;Playground re-location upgrades-$150,000 •&nbsp;Signage update-$50,000 •&nbsp;Room renovation-$300,000 •&nbsp;Equipment and furniture-$175,000 •&nbsp;Asbestos removal-$175,000 O'Loughlin Elementary School •&nbsp;Equipment and furniture -$100,000 •&nbsp;Electrical service upgrade-$70,000 • Playground upgrades-$100,000 Once Felten Elementary School is opened, Wilson Elementary School is set to close as a school. The district plans to close Rockwell Administration Center and relocate administrative offices to the former Wilson school.The district has budgeted $900,000 for Wilson renovations in the 2026-27 school year.In addition to bond-related projects, the district budgets each year for debt service, operational expenses and districtwide expenses.The debt payments include those for Early Childhood Complex, HVAC, lighting and turf projects. Starting in 2025-26 the district will have payments to Enterprise for the maintenance of its vehicle fleet.The last payment on the Early Childhood Complex project, which is almost $216,000 per year, will be in 2027-28.Operations expenses include costs for the bus replacement plan, technology replacement, food service equipment replacement, buildings and grounds, and instructional equipment.The district has budgeted funds for ongoing sidewalk repairs and the final conversion to electric locks across the district during the next two years.In 2025-26, the district will begin a yearly contract with Glassman Corporation to maintain its HVAC systems, costing about $100,000 annually.This was only a review of the capital outlay plan, and no action was taken.<h2>In other business</h2>The board heard a report on a new state law allowing schools to keep medication, such as EpiPens, on hand. Jessica Roe, lead district nurse, said she thought stocking EpiPens would result in waste.&nbsp;The district's policy is to give Benadryl first in the case of an allergic reaction and call 911. Local ambulances carry EpiPens. Families also provide EpiPens for most children with known severe allergies.The board chose not to stock EpiPens or any additional medications at this time.The board approved the renewal of contracts for building-level administrators. Hays High School Assistant Principal&nbsp;Lance Krannawitter has announced his retirement as of the end of the school year.The board approved a contract to extend electrical service to O'Loughlin Elementary School to serve its addition.The board approved a notice to the Kansas Legislature on the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3bd7510a-797a-40e5-bc36-b81a6e848d8d">sale of Lincoln Elementary School.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738700636953.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays USD 489 to use capital outlay funds to augment bond projects

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump's proposal that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">the United States “take over” the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;and permanently resettle its Palestinian residents was swiftly rejected and denounced on Wednesday by American allies and adversaries alike.

Trump's suggestion came at a White House news conference with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-02-02-2025-90db60e88f955a8bb57cb05e99d574d6">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>, who smiled several times as the president detailed a plan to build new settlements for Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip, and for the U.S. to take “ownership” in redeveloping the war-torn territory into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said. “We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs.”

The comments came amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-ceasefire-aid-war-e1657d315ccc5ba66d15f48100f7981b">fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas</a>, during which the militant group has been turning over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-hostages-images-chaos-6371eb106d6cebe7919f70ba208007ca">hostages in exchange for the release of prisoners</a>&nbsp;held by Israel.

Egypt, Jordan and other American allies in the Middle East have already rejected the idea of relocating more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza elsewhere in the region. Following Trump's remarks, Egypt's Foreign Ministry issued a statement stressing the need for rebuilding “without moving the Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.”

Saudi Arabia, an important American ally, weighed in quickly on Trump's expanded idea to take over the Gaza Strip in a sharply worded statement, noting that its long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.”

“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement said.

The prime ministers of Australia and Ireland, foreign ministries from China, New Zealand and Germany, and a Kremlin spokesman all reiterated support for a two-state solution.

“Australia's position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, as it was 10 years ago,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Trump has already made waves — and upset longtime allies — suggesting the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">purchase of Greenland, the annexation of Canada</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-offshore-drilling-gulf-of-america-fa66f8d072eb39c00a8128a8941ede75">possible takeover of the Panama Canal</a>. It was not immediately clear whether the idea of taking over the Gaza Strip was a well thought out plan, or an opening gambit in negotiations.

“The comments last night were, of course, very concerning," said Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. “I always adopt the approach when it comes to the U.S. administration of: judge them based on what they do and not what they say."

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told state-run Anadolu Agency that Trump's proposal on "deportations from Gaza is not something that either the region or we would accept.”

“Even thinking about it, in my opinion, is wrong and absurd,” Fidan said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the United Nations to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights,” saying that what Trump wanted to do would be “a serious violation of international law.”

Hamas, which sparked the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, said Trump's proposal was a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region."

“Instead of holding the Zionist occupation accountable for the crime of genocide and displacement, it is being rewarded, not punished,” the militant group said in a statement.

In its attack on Israel, Hamas killed some 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and took about 250 hostages.

Israel's ensuing air and ground war has has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities who do not say how many of the dead were fighters. The war has left large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-aftermath-destruction-4c148d498f3d67a5d6de2107b6a1c966">parts of several cities in ruins</a>&nbsp;and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people.

In the U.S., opposition politicians quickly rejected Trump's idea, with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons calling his comments "offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish.”

The idea “risks the rest of the world thinking that we are an unbalanced and unreliable partner because our president makes insane proposals,” Coons said, noting the irony of the proposal coming shortly after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-layoffs-7e0a159d8a419c4c9388ab02e8259f23">had moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development</a>.

“Why on earth would we abandon decades of well-established humanitarian programs around the world, and now launch into one of the world’s greatest humanitarian challenges?” Coons said.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American member of Congress from Michigan, accused Trump in a social media post of “openly calling for ethnic cleansing” with the idea of resettling Gaza's entire population.

Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan; Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Charlotte McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday suggested that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be permanently resettled outside the war-torn territory and proposed the U.S. take “ownership” in redeveloping the area into “the Riviera of the Middle East”

Trump’s brazen proposal appears certain to roil the next stage of talks meant to extend the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

The provocative comments came as talks are ramping up this week with the promise of surging humanitarian aid and reconstruction supplies to help the people of Gaza recover after more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">15 months of devastating conflict</a>. Now Trump wants to push roughly 1.8 million people to leave the land they have called home and claim it for the U.S., perhaps with American troops.

“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said at an evening news conference with Netanyahu by his side. The president who made his name as New York real estate developer added: “We’ll make sure that it’s done world class. It’ll be wonderful for the people — Palestinians, Palestinians mostly, we’re talking about.”

Trump outlined his thinking as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-palestinians-israel-trump-war-a5fd8e3eb4e50ed609c9f0aa100c51e6">held talks</a>&nbsp;with Israeli Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at the White House, where the two leaders also discussed the fragile ceasefire and hostage deal in the Israeli-Hamas conflict and shared concerns about Iran.

Trump said the U.S. would redevelop the territory after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and turn the territory into a place where the “world's people”— including Palestinians — would live. He offered no detail about what authority the U.S. would use to take the land and develop it.

Egypt, Jordan and other U.S. allies in the Mideast have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-egypt-jordan-palestinians-trump-51dc4d5225e6bc0a135b7bbafedb3d86">cautioned Trump</a>&nbsp;that relocating Palestinians from Gaza would threaten Mideast stability, risk expanding the conflict and undermine a decades-long push by the U.S. and allies for a two-state solution.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry issued a sharply worded reaction to Trump, noting their long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.” Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the U.S. over a deal to diplomatically recognize Israel in exchange for a security pact and other terms.

“The duty of the international community today is to work to alleviate the severe human suffering endured by the Palestinian people, who will remain committed to their land and will not budge from it," the Saudi statement said.

Still, Trump insists the Palestinians “have no alternative” but to leave the "big pile of rubble” that is Gaza. He spoke out as his top aides stressed that a three-to-five-year timeline for reconstruction of the war-torn territory, as laid out in a temporary truce agreement, is not viable.

Last week, both Egyptian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/egypts-president-rejects-trumps-proposal-to-relocate-gaza-residents-to-egypt-and-jordan-9d4db035f56b4b25b490a20db33e81f9">Abdel Fattah el-Sissi</a>&nbsp;and Jordanian King Abdullah II dismissed Trump's calls to resettle Gazans.

But Trump said he believes Egypt and Jordan — as well as other countries, which he did not name — will ultimately agree to take in Palestinians.

“You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza,” Trump said. "This has been happening for years. It’s all death. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”

Trump also said he isn’t ruling out deploying U.S. troops to support reconstruction of Gaza. He envisions “long-term” U.S. ownership of a redevelopment of the territory.

The president's proposal was greeted with alarm by Democrats and a measure of skepticism by his Republican allies.

“He’s completely lost it,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. “He wants a U.S. invasion of Gaza, which would cost thousands of American lives and set the Middle East on fire for 20 years? It’s sick.”

“We’ll see what our Arab friends say about that," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a Trump ally. "And I think most South Carolinians are probably not excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza. I think that might be problematic, but I’ll keep an open mind.”

The White House's focus on the future of Gaza comes as the nascent truce between Israel and Hamas hangs in the balance.

Netanyahu is facing competing pressure from his right-wing coalition to end a temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza and from war-weary Israelis who want the remaining hostages home and for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">15-month conflict</a>&nbsp;to end.

Trump may be betting he can persuade Egypt and Jordan to come around to accept displaced Palestinians because of the significant aid that the U.S. provides Cairo and Amman. Hard-line right-wing members of Netanyahu’s government have embraced the call to move displaced Palestinians out of Gaza.

“To me, it is unfair to explain to Palestinians that they might be back in five years,” Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, said. “That’s just preposterous.”

Trump also signaled that he may be reconsidering an independent Palestinian state as part of a broader two-state solution to the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict.

“Well, a lot of plans change with time,” he told reporters when asked if he was still committed to a plan like the one he laid out in 2020 that called for a Palestinian state. “A lot of death has occurred since I left and now came back."

Netanyahu's arrival in Washington for the first foreign leader visit of Trump's second term coincides with the prime minister's popular support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-trump-ceasefire-gaza-f27c1dbbfba4bf268f5368aaceb47e29">sagging</a>.

The prime minister is in the middle of weekslong testimony in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-corruption-trial-gaza-478c957c7749986d5b8b2d039f670d54">ongoing corruption trial</a>&nbsp;that centers on allegations he exchanged favors with media moguls and wealthy associates. He has decried the accusations and said he is the victim of a “witch hunt.”

Being seen with Trump, who is popular in Israel, could help distract the public from the trial and boost Netanyahu’s standing.

“We have the right leader of Israel who’s done a great job," Trump said of Netanyahu.

Netanyahu praised Trump's leadership in getting the hostage and ceasefire deal. The prime minister also spoke glowingly of Trump thinking outside the box.

“You say things others refuse to say. And after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads and they say, 'You know he’s right.'"

Hamas in a statement decried Trump’s comments.

“We reject Trump’s statements in which he said that the residents of the Gaza Strip have no choice but to leave, and we consider them a recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region," the group said.

Netanyahu met with White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-middle-east-envoy-steve-witkoff-netanyahu-4dae21b4b6d029a5c7a8ab62d112c2d5">Witkoff</a>&nbsp;on Monday to begin the daunting work of brokering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-war-ceasefire-explainer-bf5dd840354d69432737314bb67e183f">the next phase of a ceasefire agreement</a>.

The Israeli leader said he would send a delegation to Qatar to continue indirect talks with Hamas that are being mediated by the Gulf Arab country, the first confirmation that those negotiations would continue. Netanyahu also said he would convene his security Cabinet to discuss Israel’s demands for the next phase of the ceasefire when he returns to Israel at the end of the week.

Witkoff, meanwhile, said he plans to meet with Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Florida on Thursday to discuss the next phase in the ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt have served as key intermediaries with Hamas throughout the conflict.

Netanyahu is under intense pressure from hard-right members of his governing coalition to abandon the ceasefire and resume fighting in Gaza to eliminate Hamas. Bezalel Smotrich, one of Netanyahu’s key partners, vows to topple the government if the war isn’t relaunched, a step that could lead to early elections.

Hamas, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-militants-rule-93da074c251d0fcaa395503749e2849e">has reasserted control over Gaza</a>&nbsp;since the ceasefire began last month, has said it will not release hostages in the second phase without an end to the war and Israeli forces’ full withdrawal. Netanyahu, meanwhile, maintains that Israel is committed to victory over Hamas and the return of all hostages captured in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war.

Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, and Michelle L. Price, Stephen Groves and Lisa Mascaro contributed reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738708211203.png" alt="Photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump's proposal that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">the United States “take over” the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;and permanently resettle its Palestinian residents was swiftly rejected and denounced on Wednesday by American allies and adversaries alike.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/KellyO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KellyO</a> on U.S. taking over Gaza strip: &quot;Are you talking about a permanent occupation there? Redevelopment?&quot; President Trump: &quot;I do see a long-term ownership position...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/AOvHSZZPFR">pic.twitter.com/AOvHSZZPFR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1886937349080105014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump's suggestion came at a White House news conference with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-02-02-2025-90db60e88f955a8bb57cb05e99d574d6">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>, who smiled several times as the president detailed a plan to build new settlements for Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip, and for the U.S. to take “ownership” in redeveloping the war-torn territory into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said. “We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas. As <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again. Our pursuit is one of lasting peace in the region for all people.&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1886984908717085101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The comments came amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-ceasefire-aid-war-e1657d315ccc5ba66d15f48100f7981b">fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas</a>, during which the militant group has been turning over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-hostages-images-chaos-6371eb106d6cebe7919f70ba208007ca">hostages in exchange for the release of prisoners</a>&nbsp;held by Israel.Egypt, Jordan and other American allies in the Middle East have already rejected the idea of relocating more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza elsewhere in the region. Following Trump's remarks, Egypt's Foreign Ministry issued a statement stressing the need for rebuilding “without moving the Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.”Saudi Arabia, an important American ally, weighed in quickly on Trump's expanded idea to take over the Gaza Strip in a sharply worded statement, noting that its long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.”“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement said.The prime ministers of Australia and Ireland, foreign ministries from China, New Zealand and Germany, and a Kremlin spokesman all reiterated support for a two-state solution.“Australia's position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, as it was 10 years ago,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.Trump has already made waves — and upset longtime allies — suggesting the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">purchase of Greenland, the annexation of Canada</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-offshore-drilling-gulf-of-america-fa66f8d072eb39c00a8128a8941ede75">possible takeover of the Panama Canal</a>. It was not immediately clear whether the idea of taking over the Gaza Strip was a well thought out plan, or an opening gambit in negotiations.“The comments last night were, of course, very concerning," said Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. “I always adopt the approach when it comes to the U.S. administration of: judge them based on what they do and not what they say."Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told state-run Anadolu Agency that Trump's proposal on "deportations from Gaza is not something that either the region or we would accept.”“Even thinking about it, in my opinion, is wrong and absurd,” Fidan said.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the United Nations to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights,” saying that what Trump wanted to do would be “a serious violation of international law.”Hamas, which sparked the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, said Trump's proposal was a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region."“Instead of holding the Zionist occupation accountable for the crime of genocide and displacement, it is being rewarded, not punished,” the militant group said in a statement.In its attack on Israel, Hamas killed some 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and took about 250 hostages.Israel's ensuing air and ground war has has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities who do not say how many of the dead were fighters. The war has left large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-aftermath-destruction-4c148d498f3d67a5d6de2107b6a1c966">parts of several cities in ruins</a>&nbsp;and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people.In the U.S., opposition politicians quickly rejected Trump's idea, with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons calling his comments "offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish.”The idea “risks the rest of the world thinking that we are an unbalanced and unreliable partner because our president makes insane proposals,” Coons said, noting the irony of the proposal coming shortly after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-layoffs-7e0a159d8a419c4c9388ab02e8259f23">had moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development</a>.“Why on earth would we abandon decades of well-established humanitarian programs around the world, and now launch into one of the world’s greatest humanitarian challenges?” Coons said.Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American member of Congress from Michigan, accused Trump in a social media post of “openly calling for ethnic cleansing” with the idea of resettling Gaza's entire population.___Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan; Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Charlotte McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.-----------------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday suggested that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be permanently resettled outside the war-torn territory and proposed the U.S. take “ownership” in redeveloping the area into “the Riviera of the Middle East”Trump’s brazen proposal appears certain to roil the next stage of talks meant to extend the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.The provocative comments came as talks are ramping up this week with the promise of surging humanitarian aid and reconstruction supplies to help the people of Gaza recover after more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">15 months of devastating conflict</a>. Now Trump wants to push roughly 1.8 million people to leave the land they have called home and claim it for the U.S., perhaps with American troops.“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said at an evening news conference with Netanyahu by his side. The president who made his name as New York real estate developer added: “We’ll make sure that it’s done world class. It’ll be wonderful for the people — Palestinians, Palestinians mostly, we’re talking about.”Trump outlined his thinking as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-palestinians-israel-trump-war-a5fd8e3eb4e50ed609c9f0aa100c51e6">held talks</a>&nbsp;with Israeli Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at the White House, where the two leaders also discussed the fragile ceasefire and hostage deal in the Israeli-Hamas conflict and shared concerns about Iran.Trump said the U.S. would redevelop the territory after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and turn the territory into a place where the “world's people”— including Palestinians — would live. He offered no detail about what authority the U.S. would use to take the land and develop it.Egypt, Jordan and other U.S. allies in the Mideast have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-egypt-jordan-palestinians-trump-51dc4d5225e6bc0a135b7bbafedb3d86">cautioned Trump</a>&nbsp;that relocating Palestinians from Gaza would threaten Mideast stability, risk expanding the conflict and undermine a decades-long push by the U.S. and allies for a two-state solution.Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry issued a sharply worded reaction to Trump, noting their long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.” Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the U.S. over a deal to diplomatically recognize Israel in exchange for a security pact and other terms.“The duty of the international community today is to work to alleviate the severe human suffering endured by the Palestinian people, who will remain committed to their land and will not budge from it," the Saudi statement said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Netanyahu</a> to the White House. <a href="https://t.co/LbQ1J0Edgs">pic.twitter.com/LbQ1J0Edgs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1886890555994407215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Still, Trump insists the Palestinians “have no alternative” but to leave the "big pile of rubble” that is Gaza. He spoke out as his top aides stressed that a three-to-five-year timeline for reconstruction of the war-torn territory, as laid out in a temporary truce agreement, is not viable.Last week, both Egyptian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/egypts-president-rejects-trumps-proposal-to-relocate-gaza-residents-to-egypt-and-jordan-9d4db035f56b4b25b490a20db33e81f9">Abdel Fattah el-Sissi</a>&nbsp;and Jordanian King Abdullah II dismissed Trump's calls to resettle Gazans.But Trump said he believes Egypt and Jordan — as well as other countries, which he did not name — will ultimately agree to take in Palestinians.“You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza,” Trump said. "This has been happening for years. It’s all death. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”Trump also said he isn’t ruling out deploying U.S. troops to support reconstruction of Gaza. He envisions “long-term” U.S. ownership of a redevelopment of the territory.The president's proposal was greeted with alarm by Democrats and a measure of skepticism by his Republican allies.“He’s completely lost it,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. “He wants a U.S. invasion of Gaza, which would cost thousands of American lives and set the Middle East on fire for 20 years? It’s sick.”“We’ll see what our Arab friends say about that," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a Trump ally. "And I think most South Carolinians are probably not excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza. I think that might be problematic, but I’ll keep an open mind.”The White House's focus on the future of Gaza comes as the nascent truce between Israel and Hamas hangs in the balance.Netanyahu is facing competing pressure from his right-wing coalition to end a temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza and from war-weary Israelis who want the remaining hostages home and for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">15-month conflict</a>&nbsp;to end.Trump may be betting he can persuade Egypt and Jordan to come around to accept displaced Palestinians because of the significant aid that the U.S. provides Cairo and Amman. Hard-line right-wing members of Netanyahu’s government have embraced the call to move displaced Palestinians out of Gaza.“To me, it is unfair to explain to Palestinians that they might be back in five years,” Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, said. “That’s just preposterous.”Trump also signaled that he may be reconsidering an independent Palestinian state as part of a broader two-state solution to the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict.“Well, a lot of plans change with time,” he told reporters when asked if he was still committed to a plan like the one he laid out in 2020 that called for a Palestinian state. “A lot of death has occurred since I left and now came back."Netanyahu's arrival in Washington for the first foreign leader visit of Trump's second term coincides with the prime minister's popular support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-trump-ceasefire-gaza-f27c1dbbfba4bf268f5368aaceb47e29">sagging</a>.The prime minister is in the middle of weekslong testimony in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-corruption-trial-gaza-478c957c7749986d5b8b2d039f670d54">ongoing corruption trial</a>&nbsp;that centers on allegations he exchanged favors with media moguls and wealthy associates. He has decried the accusations and said he is the victim of a “witch hunt.”Being seen with Trump, who is popular in Israel, could help distract the public from the trial and boost Netanyahu’s standing.“We have the right leader of Israel who’s done a great job," Trump said of Netanyahu.Netanyahu praised Trump's leadership in getting the hostage and ceasefire deal. The prime minister also spoke glowingly of Trump thinking outside the box.“You say things others refuse to say. And after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads and they say, 'You know he’s right.'"Hamas in a statement decried Trump’s comments.“We reject Trump’s statements in which he said that the residents of the Gaza Strip have no choice but to leave, and we consider them a recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region," the group said.Netanyahu met with White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-middle-east-envoy-steve-witkoff-netanyahu-4dae21b4b6d029a5c7a8ab62d112c2d5">Witkoff</a>&nbsp;on Monday to begin the daunting work of brokering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-war-ceasefire-explainer-bf5dd840354d69432737314bb67e183f">the next phase of a ceasefire agreement</a>.The Israeli leader said he would send a delegation to Qatar to continue indirect talks with Hamas that are being mediated by the Gulf Arab country, the first confirmation that those negotiations would continue. Netanyahu also said he would convene his security Cabinet to discuss Israel’s demands for the next phase of the ceasefire when he returns to Israel at the end of the week.Witkoff, meanwhile, said he plans to meet with Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Florida on Thursday to discuss the next phase in the ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt have served as key intermediaries with Hamas throughout the conflict.Netanyahu is under intense pressure from hard-right members of his governing coalition to abandon the ceasefire and resume fighting in Gaza to eliminate Hamas. Bezalel Smotrich, one of Netanyahu’s key partners, vows to topple the government if the war isn’t relaunched, a step that could lead to early elections.Hamas, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-militants-rule-93da074c251d0fcaa395503749e2849e">has reasserted control over Gaza</a>&nbsp;since the ceasefire began last month, has said it will not release hostages in the second phase without an end to the war and Israeli forces’ full withdrawal. Netanyahu, meanwhile, maintains that Israel is committed to victory over Hamas and the return of all hostages captured in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war.___Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, and Michelle L. Price, Stephen Groves and Lisa Mascaro contributed reporting.___

🎥 Trump's suggestion the US 'take over' Gaza  rejected by allies and adversaries alike

HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is reversing course a day after placing a ban on all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.

The post office announced Tuesday that it would no longer accept parcels from the China and Hong Kong after the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tariffs-trump-shein-temu-023aaee8f043605e62a614eaa5134f62">ended a customs exception</a>&nbsp;that allowed small value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax.

The Postal Service gave no reason for the reversal, but said it would work with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection process for the new China tariffs to avoid delivery disruptions.

The Postal Service did not immediately return a request for comment by the Requests for The Associated Press.

The ban had the potential to create massive disruptions for online shopping platforms like Shein and Temu, popular with younger shoppers in the U.S. for cheap clothing and other products, usually shipped directly from China.

Cheap, direct postal service helps these companies keep costs low, as did the “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed shipments to go tax-free if their value is under $800.

The suspension by USPS would have likely have created delays in shipments and potentially higher prices for the companies that rely on rock-bottom pricing for huge sales.

One day after the U.S. Postal Service said in a notice that it would stop accepting inbound parcels from the China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice, it said Wednesday that would “continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.”

Letters and flats — mail that measures up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) long or 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters) thick — were not included in the brief ban.

The USPS did not give a reason for the ban Tuesday, but the suspension came after Trump closed the “de minimis” customs exemption this week that allowed shoppers and importers to avoid duties on packages worth below $800.

The exemption was removed as part of an executive order to levy a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection previously stated that it processes an average of over four million “de minimis” imports each week.

HONG KONG (AP) — Americans are likely to pay more for products from popular Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu as the U.S. Postal Service said it would stop accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong.

The move was announced Tuesday, coming after the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tariffs-trump-shein-temu-023aaee8f043605e62a614eaa5134f62">ended a customs exception</a>&nbsp;that allowed small value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax. Canada and Mexico managed to negotiate a month-long reprieve from 25% tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.

It will likely impact online shopping destinations like Shein and Temu, popular with younger shoppers in the U.S. for cheap clothing and other products, usually shipped directly from China.

The temporary suspension by USPS is likely to delay shipments and could mean higher prices in the long term.

The U.S. Postal Service said in a notice that it would temporarily stop accepting inbound parcels from the China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice.

Letters and flats — mail that measures up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) long or 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters) thick — are not affected.

The USPS did not state a reason in a brief announcement, but the suspension came after Trump closed the “de minimis” customs exemption this week that allowed shoppers and importers to avoid duties on packages worth below $800.

What is the impact and who is most affected?

Consumers and companies alike will no longer be able to send parcels to the U.S. from Hong Kong or China.

This move is likely to impact Chinese e-commerce firms like Shein and Temu, although Shein is likely to be more affected, according to Jacob Cooke, CEO of e-commerce marketing agency WPIC Marketing + Technologies.

Both companies have significant market share in the U.S.

“Compared to Temu, Shein relies more heavily on USPS for direct-to-consumer shipping from China, and without this channel, it will have to rely more on private carriers,” said Cooke.

“That will increase logistics costs, which along with the recent scrapping of the de minimis exemption for most products from China, could erode its price advantage.”

Cooke said Temu operates on a semi-consignment model and often ships bulk orders to the U.S. before fulfilling orders domestically.

“Temu’s model of sourcing low-cost goods should also enable the platform to absorb higher logistics costs and remain price competitive,” he said.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596998721849.png" alt="FIle photo -Google image" />
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 </figure>HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is reversing course a day after placing a ban on all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.The post office announced Tuesday that it would no longer accept parcels from the China and Hong Kong after the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tariffs-trump-shein-temu-023aaee8f043605e62a614eaa5134f62">ended a customs exception</a>&nbsp;that allowed small value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax.The Postal Service gave no reason for the reversal, but said it would work with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection process for the new China tariffs to avoid delivery disruptions.The Postal Service did not immediately return a request for comment by the Requests for The Associated Press.The ban had the potential to create massive disruptions for online shopping platforms like Shein and Temu, popular with younger shoppers in the U.S. for cheap clothing and other products, usually shipped directly from China.Cheap, direct postal service helps these companies keep costs low, as did the “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed shipments to go tax-free if their value is under $800.The suspension by USPS would have likely have created delays in shipments and potentially higher prices for the companies that rely on rock-bottom pricing for huge sales.<h2>What exactly did the USPS announce?</h2>One day after the U.S. Postal Service said in a notice that it would stop accepting inbound parcels from the China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice, it said Wednesday that would “continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.”Letters and flats — mail that measures up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) long or 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters) thick — were not included in the brief ban.<h2>Why did it happen?</h2>The USPS did not give a reason for the ban Tuesday, but the suspension came after Trump closed the “de minimis” customs exemption this week that allowed shoppers and importers to avoid duties on packages worth below $800.The exemption was removed as part of an executive order to levy a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.U.S. Customs and Border Protection previously stated that it processes an average of over four million “de minimis” imports each week.----------HONG KONG (AP) — Americans are likely to pay more for products from popular Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu as the U.S. Postal Service said it would stop accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong.The move was announced Tuesday, coming after the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tariffs-trump-shein-temu-023aaee8f043605e62a614eaa5134f62">ended a customs exception</a>&nbsp;that allowed small value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax. Canada and Mexico managed to negotiate a month-long reprieve from 25% tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.<figure>
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 </figure>It will likely impact online shopping destinations like Shein and Temu, popular with younger shoppers in the U.S. for cheap clothing and other products, usually shipped directly from China.Cheap, direct postal service helps these companies keep costs low, as did the “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed shipments to go tax-free if their value is under $800.The temporary suspension by USPS is likely to delay shipments and could mean higher prices in the long term.<h2>What exactly did the USPS announce?</h2>The U.S. Postal Service said in a notice that it would temporarily stop accepting inbound parcels from the China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice.Letters and flats — mail that measures up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) long or 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters) thick — are not affected.<h2>Why did it happen?</h2>The USPS did not state a reason in a brief announcement, but the suspension came after Trump closed the “de minimis” customs exemption this week that allowed shoppers and importers to avoid duties on packages worth below $800.The exemption was removed as part of an executive order to levy a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.U.S. Customs and Border Protection previously stated that it processes an average of over four million “de minimis” imports each week.<h2>What is the impact and who is most affected?</h2>Consumers and companies alike will no longer be able to send parcels to the U.S. from Hong Kong or China.This move is likely to impact Chinese e-commerce firms like Shein and Temu, although Shein is likely to be more affected, according to Jacob Cooke, CEO of e-commerce marketing agency WPIC Marketing + Technologies.Both companies have significant market share in the U.S.“Compared to Temu, Shein relies more heavily on USPS for direct-to-consumer shipping from China, and without this channel, it will have to rely more on private carriers,” said Cooke.“That will increase logistics costs, which along with the recent scrapping of the de minimis exemption for most products from China, could erode its price advantage.”Cooke said Temu operates on a semi-consignment model and often ships bulk orders to the U.S. before fulfilling orders domestically.“Temu’s model of sourcing low-cost goods should also enable the platform to absorb higher logistics costs and remain price competitive,” he said.Shein and Temu did not immediately comment.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China would take “necessary measures” to protect its companies, and urged the U.S. to “stop politicizing economic and trade issues and using them as a tool, and to stop unreasonably suppressing Chinese companies.”<h2>What are possible ways for companies to work around the issue?</h2>It is unclear how long the USPS suspension will last, but the effort to crack down on the de minimis excemption seems like a longer-term shift in policy, Cooke said.“Shein and Temu will simply need to rely more on private carriers as a workaround to the USPS suspension,” he said.In the long term, Shein could accelerate its warehouse expansion in the U.S., while Temu can double down on its semi-consignment model. By shipping in bulk to the U.S. and fulfilling orders domestically, logistics cost can be reduced, Cooke said.