By CHRISTINE FERNANDO, JOHN O'CONNOR and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
President Donald Trump says Chicago will likely be the next target of his efforts to address crime, homelessness and illegal immigration. On Friday, Trump mentioned that Chicago could receive similar treatment to Washington where 2,000 troops have been deployed. He also indicated plans to assist New York. Trump has often described some of the nation's largest cities as dangerous. On Friday, he singled out Chicago, calling it a "mess" and claiming residents are "screaming for us to come." City officials and advocates, meanwhile, slammed Trump's threats and emphasized drops in violent crime in Chicago.
Congressional lawmakers are scrambling to formulate a response to President Donald Trump's slashing of the federal government as one group takes a front and center role: military veterans. Former service members have been acutely affected by the Republican president's actions, including layoffs at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a Pentagon purge of archives that documented military diversity. Trump is determined to continue slashing the federal government, but the burden will only grow on veterans. Veterans make up roughly 30% of the federal workforce and often tap government benefits they earned with their military service. Democrats have zeroed in on protecting veterans, introducing legislation to shield them from mass layoffs.
