Hegseth strips Milley of his security detail, orders investigation into his conduct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an investigation into retired general Mark Milley — who often clashed with President Trump — and determine whether he should be reduced in rank. Read more on NPR

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who toppled Assad, is named Syria’s interim president Sharaa was already de facto head of Syria’s government ever since a coalition of rebel fighters swept through most of Syria and ousted Assad’s regime. Read more on NPR

New York becomes the first state to close schools for Lunar New Year It’s the first time New York students will have the day off for the Lunar New Year since a new state law was signed in 2023. In 2024, the holiday fell on a Saturday. Read more on NPR

Trump signs first bill of his second presidency, the Laken Riley Act, into law The bill is named for a Georgia nursing student who was killed last year by a Venezuelan man without legal status who had a criminal record. Read more on NPR

Effective immediately: CDC can’t talk to WHO. What will that mean for world health? Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been told to halt all communication with the World Health Organization. Read more on NPR

‘Not a buyout’: Attorneys and unions urge federal workers not to resign Unions and attorneys who represent federal employees are telling workers not to take the offer from the Trump administration to resign from their jobs by Feb. 6 and still be paid through September. Read more on NPR

The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady as inflation remains stubborn The Fed held interest rates steady as it continues to combat inflation. President Trump wants to see lower rates, but some of his policies could fuel more price hikes. Read more on NPR

Trump rescinds freeze on federal funding The development follows a federal judge’s order Tuesday that temporarily blocked the effort to pause federal payments for grants and other programs. Read more on NPR

DOJ asks to dismiss case of 2 men indicted for allegedly helping Trump hide documents The DOJ asked a federal court to dismiss its case against two men indicted for allegedly helping Trump conceal classified documents. Prosecutors dropped Trump from the case after his election win. Read more on NPR

Fearing encounters with ICE, tribal leaders offer guidance to their members Tribal leaders are advising members on what to do if they’re approached by federal law enforcement. The guidance follows what tribal leaders call concerning encounters with immigration officials. Read more on NPR