The Latest: Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas to release remaining hostages

President Donald Trump has issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza. He also met with eight released hostages and recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group.

Meanwhile Trump administration officials said positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean Trump’s suspension of intelligence-sharing may be short.

On tariffs, Canada signaled that Trump’s delay of consumer taxes on the auto industry aren’t enough — they say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t lift retaliatory Canadian tariffs on the United States if Trump leaves any U.S. tariffs in place.

On Trump's efforts to dismantle much of the federal government, the nation’s top public health agency says about 180 CDC employees who were laid off two weeks ago can come back to work.

Here's the latest:

Trump administration pauses flow of intelligence to Ukraine that helps on battlefield

The U.S. has paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Trump administration officials said Wednesday that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension.

Information about Russia’s intentions and military movements has been critical to Ukraine’s defense and a strong indication of support from the U.S. and other Western allies. The suspension comes after Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and is another sign of how he has transformed America’s relationship with close allies.

“We have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship,” national security adviser Mike Waltz said Wednesday.

Comments from top Trump administration officials suggest the decision is part of the broader negotiations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, and that intelligence could begin flowing to Ukraine again soon.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a “pause” and said it came after the disastrous meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week. Ratcliffe said Trump wanted to know that Zelenskyy was serious about peace.

▶ Read more about the suspension of U.S. aid to Ukraine

Veterans fired from federal jobs say they feel betrayed, including some who voted for Trump

The mass firing of federal employees since Trump took office in January is pushing out veterans who make up 30% of the nation’s federal workforce. The exact number of veterans who have lost their job is unknown, although House Democrats last month estimated that it was potentially in the thousands.

More could be on the way. The Department of Veterans Affairs — a major employer of veterans — is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. Veterans represent more than 25% of the VA’s workforce.

In interviews, several veterans who supported candidates of both parties described their recent job losses as a betrayal of their military service. They are particularly angered by how it happened: in an email that cited inadequate job performance — despite, they say, receiving positive reviews in their roles.

▶ Read more about the veterans losing their federal jobs

Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza

Israelis take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, and the release of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Jerusalem,Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group.

In a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, Trump added that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”

The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. policy of not directly engaging with the militant group.

Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha came as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. It’s the first known direct engagement between the United States and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.

▶Read more about the negotiation talks