live from washington. this is bbc news. the senate vote to confirm pete hegseth as defence secretary is at 50—50 — we're waiting for vice—presidentjd vance to break the tie. on his first domestic trip as president, donald trump visits two states hit hard by disasters and says he might abolish the federal disaster relief agency. the us freezes nearly all foreign aid with exceptions only for emergency food, and military funding for israel and egypt. hello i'm ros atkins. we start with breaking news. former fox news host, pete hegseth has been confirmed as us defence secretary. the vote was split 50—50 and vice presidentjd vance had to break the tiethree republican senators voted no — lisa murkowski, susan collins and former senate majority leader mitch mcconnell.

he put out a statement saying: most let's talk to my colleague david willis. it is a considerable moment for the trump administration because it was a controversial pick. trier? was a controversial pick. very controversial _ was a controversial pick. very controversial and _ was a controversial pick. very controversial and these - controversial and these allegations of sexual impropriety and heavy drinking and even financial mismanagement basically undermined author and to

undermined author and to undermine the candidacy of pete hegseth. it is 36 years since a nominee put forward by george bush senior, former usa today john tower, was actually rejected for the post of defence secretary under similar allegations to those pete hegseth confronted. womanising, drinking and so one. pete hegseth has been confirmed by the narrowest of margins, mitch mcconnell among others, the former senate republican leader basically came out against him. along with susan collins. you mentioned the statement from mitch mcconnell, it goes on to say, it is a damning statement and lengthy as well, in his testimony before the community pete hegseth provided no substantial observations on how to defend taiwan or philippines against a chinese attacked or whether he believes the united states should do so. he felt

for that matter to articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with the gravest long—term threat emanating from the prc. the people's republic of china. what i think this does is it underlines the power of donald trump over the republican party that he can get so controversial a nominee as pete hegseth through albeit absolutely tiny margin. we have any detail of what kind of defence secretary pete hegseth would to be? we defence secretary pete hegseth would to be?— defence secretary pete hegseth would to be? ~ ~ ., , , , would to be? we know trump sees him as a disruptor_ would to be? we know trump sees him as a disruptor but _ him as a disruptor but disruption comes in many different forms.— disruption comes in many different forms. this is a man who will be — different forms. this is a man who will be an _ different forms. this is a man who will be an instrument - different forms. this is a man who will be an instrument ofl who will be an instrument of change in a department donald trump long railed against. and long been suspicious of, his former defence secretary had his portrait removed atjust a couple days after donald trump took office. that is the sort of opposition donald trump has

for the establishment in the pentagon. this agent of change pete hegseth purports to be will be regarded with some suspicion by the old guard at the pentagon as he takes up his office. there will be many in his own party also when i now have serious doubts about what he intends to do with that department for supermassive department, 3 million staff, a budget close to $850 billion a year and the closest pete hegseth has come to managing anything like that has been the two non—profit organisations he ran briefly and lost money. thank you. he is the new defence secretary confirmed by the senate and the last few hours. let's return to president trumps movements today. first, he visited north carolina where hurricane helene

killed killed more than 100 people in september — there, he threatened to dismantle the us federal emergency agency, fema — saying it had turned out to be a disaster itself. the president then headed to los angeles where 28 people lost their lives in the recent wildfires — and at least 12,000 homes and businesses were damaged. already this week, the president had suggested he may withhold federal disaster assistance for california — unless the state changes its approach to water management and in the last hour at a briefing in pacific palisades, he again was critical of the agency. fema is a very expensive mostly failed situation for them each state should take care of the problem and get money from the government. it would be so much more efficient. we are looking about, you have problems with fema as well. already had problems. it takes weeks before

they even show up. the mayor of los angeles karen bass was also at the briefing, and was challenged by members of the public and president trump himself. we will be expediting everything so people can begin the process right away. we have the process right away. we have the disaster recovery centre, building and safety, people already contacting local agencies. we are bringing city departments together so people don't get caught in the loop of going from one room to the next. we want them all to be in the same room and so that you can get busy rebuilding asap. you have to clear the lines. yes, and we will clear the lines. in the city and the county. we are working together, both levels of government are working. we we re we were told last night by core

engineers it would be 18 months. is it not 18 months? that is the answer we got and what we are all hanging on. if you are telling us now faster, is it six months? all of our lives, rent, all of this stuff is weighing on this. the number one thing we're going to do immediately, you will see this happen, is to clear out the debris. we are concerned right now over the weekend because of potential rain but we are going to move as fast as we can, we want you to be safe, back in your homes immediately. the people are willing to clean out their own debris. you should let them do it because by the time you hire contractors it will be two years. the people are willing to get a dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out. there is not that much left it is all incinerated. it will take a long time. you can do some of it but a lot of

these people, i know that guy right there talking, i know my people. you will be there tonight throwing the stuff away and it will look perfect within 24 hours and that is what he wants to do, does not want to wait around for several months until the city hire some demolition contract and charge $25,000 to do his lawn. in washington — the three most powerful politicians in america have spoken at what organisers claim is the largest anti abortion rally in the world. thousands of campaigners marched at the event — called the march for life. it came after the president pardoned 23 anti—abortion activists convicted of blockading a reproductive health clinic and intimidating staff and patients. the vice president, jd vance, spoke to the crowd — telling them they were there to celebrate victories yet to come.

that's a reference to the reversal of a nationwide right to an abortion. hello to everyone at the march for life. it's a pleasure to speak to you from the beautiful oval office, that's where we are right now. the magnificent oval office and in 04 are right now. the magnificent oval office and in q4 turning out once again to show your extraordinary love and compassion for the unborn. 0ne compassion for the unborn. one of the first anniversary of the disaster wrist ruling known as roe v wade. that unconstitutional decision to powers away from the state and builders, kicking off 50 years of division and anger. and in the last hour president trump has taken actions to limit us government funding for abortions and other reproductive healthcare. he signed a memorandum to reinstate a policy which bans global health aid for foreign organizations that provide or promote abortions. he also signed an executive order aimed at enforcing the hyde amendment, which has blocked the use of us

government funds on abortions since 1977. audrey fahlberg is political reporter with the national review, shejoined me earlier to discuss this. what is your analysis in response to these different decisions relating to abortion the president has taken? first i think it is important to acknowledge there was quite a bit of tension between president donald trump and pro—life advocates on the campaign trail. as you recall, on the campaign trail he came out against a national abortion than which was seen as controversial among pro—life advocates and they are watching to see closely, he did point these supreme courtjustice that helped overturn roe v wade but would he help continue to give the pro—life movement wins while in office. the two executive orders he signed aboard air force one earlier today are going to be seen as a wins for the pro—life movement in terms of strengthening the hyde

amendment which banned federal funding for abortion and a second ticket order that bans federal funding for ngos that help fund abortions. pro—life activists are having a good day today and next week and into the weekend and into next week expect to see a lot of resistance from democrats on all these moves. to put this in context, do these decisions take us back to where we were during donald trump �*s first term? do they reverse decisions taken byjoe biden? is he actually going further than he did when first president? a lot of these executive orders reverse quite a few items executive orders on energy and immigration. recall that when president biden took office he reversed a decision trump had made to leave the paris claimant accords, leave the world health organisation. with a lot of these administrations, there

is turnover and ping—pong back—and—forth but on immigration in particular donald trump is taking it a little further. he signed an executive order earlier this week. his first day in office trying to overhaul birthright citizenship which was immediately met with a lawsuit. with a lot of these executive orders, expect to see quite a bit of litigation over the next few years. i must also ask about his comments about the femur from the president. strong words suggesting there may be a case for scrapping the agency. what is that level of hostility based on? -- fema this is going to cause a lot of stir in congress, not a lot of republican lawmakers will be behind this. it will require congressional approval for him to overhaul this agency. conversations about federal disaster aid he said earlier

today he would be supportive of conditioning federal disaster aid to california unless they signed voter id laws. this comes against the backdrop of a very controversial debate in washington that has already existed before he resumed presidency about whether to condition federal aid. they've wanted to do this for several days now. expect this to bleed into next week when congress returns. the first executive order president trump signed on monday night pardoned more than 1500 defendants involved in the january 6 riot at the us capitol four years ago. he also commuted the prison term of enrique tarrio, the former leader of the far—right, proud boys who was sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy as well as the founder of 0ath keepers, stewart rhodes, who was imprisoned for 18 years.

a policeman who was on duty during the riot has described the pardons as a �*slap in the face'. i got more insight on how the pardons are being viewed from stephanie rawlings—blake, a democratic strategist, and kevin madden, a republican strategist. kevin first shared his reaction to the pardons. it is obviously a difficult issue, one that inflames a lot of passions on both sides of the topic. for those of us that worked in the capital and those of us that worked in the institution of congress, january six was a very dark day. since january six there have been a lot of deeply held partners and opinions that have shaped a lot of the political battles around this. but there is a major gap

between the view of partisans some of the negative politics that he will face best on his decision. i think that is kind of where we are right now as essentially a negated politics of this. ,, , . . essentially a negated politics of this. ,, , ., ., ., of this. stephanie, what about ou? i of this. stephanie, what about you? i don't — of this. stephanie, what about you? i don't think _ of this. stephanie, what about you? i don't think it's - of this. stephanie, what about you? i don't think it's a - you? i don't think it's a difficult _ you? i don't think it's a difficult issue - you? i don't think it's a difficult issue at - you? i don't think it's a difficult issue at all. it| you? i don't think it's a . difficult issue at all. it was

who are servin- individuals who are serving sentences did so because they went_ sentences did so because they went through the legal process on the — went through the legal process on the many had jurors of their peers — on the many had jurors of their peers and _ on the many had jurors of their peers and were found guilty. to suggest — peers and were found guilty. to suggest that this is akin to any— suggest that this is akin to any pardon that former president wide and it is really silly— president wide and it is really silly and _ president wide and it is really silly and it's not an accurate depiction— silly and it's not an accurate depiction of what we saw with our own— depiction of what we saw with our own eyes. we have to think about— our own eyes. we have to think about what— our own eyes. we have to think about what we value as americans and you can't say that— americans and you can't say that you _ americans and you can't say that you value the rule of law. number— that you value the rule of law. number one and have a felon as the president of the united states and number two to have someone — states and number two to have someone use it on day one, his pardon — someone use it on day one, his pardon power to pardon individuals who ravage the capitol. _ individuals who ravage the capitol, don't try to upend our democracy, that injured and ended — democracy, that injured and ended up with the death of police _ ended up with the death of police officers. i think this is unfortunately not going to end the _ is unfortunately not going to end the debate because a lot of

police _ end the debate because a lot of police officers particularly those _ police officers particularly those in the flp around the country— those in the flp around the country that thought they had a friend _ country that thought they had a friend in— country that thought they had a friend in donald trump, now have — friend in donald trump, now have to _ friend in donald trump, now have to face a harsh reality that — have to face a harsh reality that he _ have to face a harsh reality that he doesn't have that back and he — that he doesn't have that back and he really with the supreme court _ and he really with the supreme court really expanding, the immunity of the president, coupled _ immunity of the president, coupled with these pardons, i think— coupled with these pardons, i think the _ coupled with these pardons, i think the president is really 'ust think the president is really just creating his own militia that— just creating his own militia that he _ just creating his own militia that he is— just creating his own militia that he is empowered to do his bidding — that he is empowered to do his bidding around the country. that— bidding around the country. that no, _ bidding around the country. that no, that if they do what they— that no, that if they do what they do— that no, that if they do what they do in— that no, that if they do what they do in the name of donald trunru — they do in the name of donald trump they don't have to worry about _ trump they don't have to worry about it — trump they don't have to worry about it. , ., about it. the president would -ush about it. the president would push back— about it. the president would push back at _ about it. the president would push back at any _ about it. the president would push back at any idea - about it. the president would push back at any idea that. about it. the president would | push back at any idea that this was a creation of his own militia. it will be interesting to see clearly this week it is not loose down any discussions about january 6, we will have to wait and see how the pardons are considered and talked about in the coming weeks, months and years of their ministration. stay with us, another issue that the administration has turned to in its first two days

is deporting migrants from the us. a state department officials confirmed to military plans for about 80 people each back to what our. hours after taking office, donald trump declared an emergency at the us mexico border and signed a set of executive orders and are cracking down on immigration. he announced 1500 active—duty troops would be sent to the border and all refugee processing and travel has been halted including travel for refugees ready cleared to come to the us. and he signed in order to and automatic birthright citizenship in the us although a judge has temporarily locked that calling the order blatantly unconstitutional. donald trump says he will appeal that ruling. stephanie fike and come back to you first, do you agree that taking action on the immigration is in line with what the american majority wants? i what the american ma'ority wants? ~' ., ., , wants? i think the ma'ority wants? i think the ma'ority want there i wants? i think the ma'ority want there to i wants? i think the ma'ority want there to be h wants? i think the majority want there to be humane l wants? i think the majority i want there to be humane and secure — want there to be humane and

secure order. if donald trump would — secure order. if donald trump would have supported the bipartisan immigration law under— bipartisan immigration law under the previous administration think we would be lot— administration think we would be lot further along. what is their— be lot further along. what is their ministration is known for its show. _ their ministration is known for its show, not necessarily getting _ its show, not necessarily getting the job done and sending 80 migrants back to quarter—mile, the expense that is done — quarter—mile, the expense that is done i— quarter—mile, the expense that is done i don't think is a good use — is done i don't think is a good use i— is done i don't think is a good use. i would love to hear what you want — use. i would love to hear what you want musk and his committee think— you want musk and his committee think about that as an effective use of federal funds. when — effective use of federal funds. when in — effective use of federal funds. when in reality if donald trump would _ when in reality if donald trump would have just taken the time to talk— would have just taken the time to talk to — would have just taken the time to talk to his gop controlled congress and pass that bipartisan bill i think would have — bipartisan bill i think would have been a much better step towards — have been a much better step towards actually effectively securing our borders.- towards actually effectively securing our borders. what you make of this — securing our borders. what you make of this decision _

securing our borders. what you make of this decision around i make of this decision around refugees, or refugee processing and travel halted including travel for refugees already cleared to come to the us, do you agree with that? i cleared to come to the us, do you agree with that?- you agree with that? i agree that we should _ you agree with that? i agree that we should have - you agree with that? i agree that we should have a - you agree with that? i agree that we should have a much| you agree with that? i agree - that we should have a much more modernised immigration system and we need to do a betterjob of bringing people into the country in a way that is humane and consistent with our aspirations and goals we have for the country. i'm a son of immigrants i think this is particularly important to me. what is important is to figure out and analyse the political wind that he believes he has at 15