Trump's ‘beautiful' bill leaves scars worldwide: podcast
The budget law passed by the US president's Republican Party may add $3 trln to the debt while cutting healthcare, green energy and more. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the consequences for firms across the globe that were banking on an American boom.
Follow Aimee Donnellan on LinkedIn.
Follow Jonathan Guilford on X and LinkedIn.
(The hosts are Reuters Breakingviews columnists. The opinions expressed are their own)
FURTHER READING
Trump's big bill shrinks America's energy future
US green energy slap is amber light for Europe
'Big Beautiful Bill' portends vast ugly costs
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Reuters
10 minutes ago
- Reuters
US State Department draws criticism for shutting office that brings home deceased diplomats
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - Among the scores of offices the U.S. State Department eliminated last week in its dramatic revamp, the shuttering of one little-known office has raised particular alarm among U.S. diplomats. The small team at the Department's Office of Casualty Assistance, which supports U.S. diplomats and their families abroad in the event of death or serious injury, received termination notices last Friday along with more than 1,350 Department employees. The firings came as a surprise, sources familiar with their situation said. When the notices arrived by email on Friday, the team was working on repatriating the remains of a senior U.S. official who died in a car crash in Mexico last week. The U.S. Consulate in Monterrey said in a Facebook statement that Brian Matthew Faughnan, a member of its mission, died in a car accident in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila on July 9. Kirk Leash, the team leader at OCA, informed other U.S. officials at the U.S. mission in Mexico and his counterparts in different government agencies who were working on Faughnan's case that Leash was just removed from his job, and that he was no longer able to help, according to two sources familiar with the exchange. The elimination of the office was part of a major overhaul of the State Department by President Donald Trump, who aims to reshape the U.S. diplomatic corps to ensure it faithfully implements his "America First" policies. It is also part of an unprecedented push by the Republican president to shrink the federal government, which he says was misspending American taxpayers' money. The State Department said the agency continues to be "fully equipped" with casualty evacuations if there are employee deaths overseas. "There has been no interruption in our capabilities to carry out this mission," said a senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The State Department revamp drew intense criticism from Democratic senators, former diplomats and secretaries of state for what they said was the arbitrary way it was carried out. Critics said it involved the firing of experienced, specialized employees in far-flung parts of the world, and that such skilled staffers are difficult to replace quickly. A State Department memo to employees last week, seen by Reuters, said the moves were made in a "carefully tailored" way. But the shuttering of the bureau made some question that statement. "I don't think any sitting president or any secretary of state would not want their people, their personnel - the most valuable asset of their agency - to be taken care of," said Edith Bartley, who is a spokesperson for the families of the Americans killed in the 1998 al-Qaeda attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. "You want to know that your country does all that it can to take care of you, your remains and your family in the aftermath. That's critical. That is America First," Bartley said. Bartley lost her father, who was a career diplomat, and brother in the 1998 attacks, which killed 224 people, including 12 Americans. OCA was established a year later, thanks in large part to her advocacy. The office is typically supported by volunteers from the Department's Human Resources bureau who can be mobilized on short notice following a mass casualty event. The teams were called upon after the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, which resulted in the death of four Americans including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. "OCA is in touch with the deceased employee's family within hours after the death, and provides support services as long as they are needed - for weeks, months, and in some cases, years," an undated article in the Department's magazine said, referring to the work of the office. A senior State Department official said on Wednesday that the agency transferred the functions of the OCA to the Office of Employee Relations. But that office has a much wider remit, supporting the agency's workforce, and lacks the specific knowledge and expertise in navigating the complicated procedures of repatriating a deceased diplomat, sources familiar with the matter said. "That function is being folded into another office," Michael Rigas, deputy secretary of state for Management and Resources, said on Wednesday, in response to a question about the closure of the office by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen at a hearing. Shaheen also asked Rigas to get back to her on how the department was handling the repatriation of the body of Faughnan, the U.S. official who died in Mexico. "I don't think the family thinks that that's a good firing," Shaheen said. Reuters was unable to reach Faughnan's family.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Archbishop of Westminster condemns ‘appalling strike' on Gaza church
Israel's foreign ministry expressed its 'deep sorrow' over damage to the Holy Family Church 'and over any civilian casualty', adding that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are examining the circumstances. Pope Leo said he was 'deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack' on the church. Three people died while nine others were wounded, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to which the church belonged said. Parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli – a friend of the late Pope Francis – was among those injured. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said the church had been a 'place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war'. He said: 'I condemn this appalling strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, pray for the dead and injured, and stand in solidarity with Fr Gabriel Romanelli and the people sheltering in the compound – Christians and Muslims alike. 'For 20 months, the Church of the Holy Family has managed to be a place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war, feeding and protecting hundreds of people. 'I add my voice to Pope Leo's call for a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region. I encourage you, in your homes and parishes, to pray for peace and an end to this war.' I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza. I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness. I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for… — Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 17, 2025 Israel's foreign ministry, in a post on social media platform X, said Israel 'never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians'. Re-stating his call for an immediate ceasefire, Pope Leo said: 'Only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace.' Earlier this week the Archbishop of Jerusalem, in an address to the Church of England's General Synod in York, likened the 'horrifying' food distribution system for Palestinians in Gaza to 'hunger games', in an apparent reference to the dystopian film series of the same name. Archbishop Hosam Naoum urged Church leaders to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine and call for a permanent ceasefire. At least 20 Palestinians were killed at a food distribution centre run by an Israeli-backed American organisation in the Gaza Strip, mostly from being trampled, it was reported on Wednesday. A day earlier, the United Nations human rights office said 875 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food since May, including 674 killed while on their way to Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) food sites and the rest while waiting for aid trucks entering Gaza. The Anglican bishop, who is chief pastor of 28 parishes across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, described a situation where 'medical supplies are in short supply; food distribution system is horrifying, with three sites open one hour a day for two million people – it looks for me like hunger games'.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Archbishop of Westminster condemns ‘appalling strike' on Gaza church
Israel's foreign ministry expressed its 'deep sorrow' over damage to the Holy Family Church 'and over any civilian casualty', adding that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are examining the circumstances. Pope Leo said he was 'deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack' on the church. Three people died while nine others were wounded, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to which the church belonged said. Parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli – a friend of the late Pope Francis – was among those injured. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said the church had been a 'place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war'. He said: 'I condemn this appalling strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, pray for the dead and injured, and stand in solidarity with Fr Gabriel Romanelli and the people sheltering in the compound – Christians and Muslims alike. 'For 20 months, the Church of the Holy Family has managed to be a place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war, feeding and protecting hundreds of people. 'I add my voice to Pope Leo's call for a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region. I encourage you, in your homes and parishes, to pray for peace and an end to this war.' I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza. I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness. I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for… — Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 17, 2025 Israel's foreign ministry, in a post on social media platform X, said Israel 'never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians'. Re-stating his call for an immediate ceasefire, Pope Leo said: 'Only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace.' Earlier this week the Archbishop of Jerusalem, in an address to the Church of England's General Synod in York, likened the 'horrifying' food distribution system for Palestinians in Gaza to 'hunger games', in an apparent reference to the dystopian film series of the same name. Cardinal Vincent Nichols condemned the strike on a Catholic Church in Gaza (James Manning/PA) Archbishop Hosam Naoum urged Church leaders to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine and call for a permanent ceasefire. At least 20 Palestinians were killed at a food distribution centre run by an Israeli-backed American organisation in the Gaza Strip, mostly from being trampled, it was reported on Wednesday. A day earlier, the United Nations human rights office said 875 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food since May, including 674 killed while on their way to Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) food sites and the rest while waiting for aid trucks entering Gaza. The Anglican bishop, who is chief pastor of 28 parishes across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, described a situation where 'medical supplies are in short supply; food distribution system is horrifying, with three sites open one hour a day for two million people – it looks for me like hunger games'.
