Mitch McConnell announces retirement from Senate; IRS reportedly set to fire 7,000 workers – US politics live

<p>Republican senator announces he won’t seek re-election in 2026, capping a decadeslong career in Congress</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/20/irs-layoffs-trump">IRS to lay off roughly 7,000 employees in Trump downsizing spree</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/20/trump-voters-georgia">‘He’s taking a sledgehammer to it’: Trump voters’ view on first month</a></li></ul><p><strong>Donald Trump signed another round of executive orders </strong><strong>onboard Air Force One last night, among them one aimed at ending federal benefits for people in the country illegally.</strong></p><p>The order seeks to end “all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens”, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/ending-taxpayer-subsidization-of-open-borders/">according to the White House, </a>although it was not clear which benefits will be targeted.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/feb/20/trump-cpac-vance-ukraine-federal-cuts-latest-updates">Continue reading...</a>