Fired *Again*: HHS Employees Told Their Work Isn’t in the ‘Public Interest’

On Mother’s Day weekend, many probationary employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who had been reinstated under court order, received an unwelcome surprise—a new notice of termination, effective immediately, because their employment “does not advance the public interest.”

I received these letters; it is hard to describe what was more galling—to be told that my role as the Ombuds for Unaccompanied Children was not advancing the public interest or to be fired yet again with no justification, review or opportunity to challenge the decision.

Tariff Tantrum: Why Trump’s Trade War Hits Women Hardest

President Donald Trump’s trade wars continue to create global turmoil and churn for financial markets. Monday, May 12th’s move—a temporary suspension of his “Liberation Day” bombast and 90-day pause until massive tariffs are fully imposed on China—seemed in part prompted by warnings of a dire toy shortage and the sour reaction to Trump blathering about … dolls.

Incoherent as it sounds, it so happens that toys geared to girls indeed are among the consumer products most likely to be subject to an upcharge—tariff mania notwithstanding.

Now in the face of Trump’s tariff frenzy, reports indicate we can expect to see yet another version of the pink tax—aka “pink tariffs”—given that women make the vast majority (80 percent) of all consumer purchases.

How the Take It Down Act Tackles Nonconsensual Deepfake Porn—And How it Falls Short

In a rare bipartisan move, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Take It Down Act by a vote of 409-2 on April 28, 2025. The bill is an effort to confront one of the internet’s most appalling abuses: the viral spread of nonconsensual sexual imagery, including AI-generated deepfake pornography and real photos shared as revenge porn. 

Now awaiting President Trump’s expected signature, the bill offers victims a mechanism to force platforms to remove intimate content shared without their permission—and to hold those responsible for distributing it to account.

As a scholar focused on AI and digital harms, I see this bill as a critical milestone. Yet it leaves troubling gaps. Without stronger protections and a more robust legal framework, the law may end up offering a promise it cannot keep. Enforcement issues and privacy blind spots could leave victims just as vulnerable.

Profiles in Courage: Who Holds Power to Account? Inspectors General Challenge Trump’s Unlawful Dismissals

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Ms.‘ Profiles in Courage honors the extraordinary women and men who have transformed American institutions through principled public service. At a time when trust in government is fragile, these stories offer a powerful reminder of what ethical leadership looks like—from those who litigate for civil rights and resign on principle, to those who break military barriers and defend democracy on the front lines.

On Jan. 24, 2025, President Donald Trump dismissed inspectors general (IGs) from 17 key federal agencies in an unprecedented move that has raised serious questions about government accountability. These IGs serve as independent watchdogs tasked with overseeing federal operations, ensuring transparency, and protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste and mismanagement. Critics argue that the IGs’ removal weakens a critical safeguard against waste, fraud and abuse.

Eight of the dismissed IGs have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., arguing that their terminations were unlawful.

Fight Authoritarianism With This Weekly Ritual of Resistance and Hope

Each Thursday, join a growing movement of neighbors taking to the streets with signs, solidarity, and a shared commitment to protecting democracy—one corner at a time.

Inspired by the anti-racism organization Tag Meir in Israel, the work of newly formed resistance group The Beacon builds on the insights of people who have studied how authoritarianism rises and how everyday people can stop it.

FDA Review of Abortion Pill Signals First Step Toward Nationwide Ban

In a stunning move that could mark the first step toward a nationwide ban on abortion pills, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered the FDA to reevaluate its decades-old approval of mifepristone—a medication used safely by over 7.5 million Americans over the last quarter-century for abortion and treatment of miscarriages.

The directive, based on a single junk-science report from an antiabortion group, signals a dangerous shift: the politicization of FDA policy and a coordinated push to strip access to medication abortion across the country.

My German Family History Makes U.S. Current Events Excruciating to Watch

My great-grandfather Prof. Dr. Max Flesch, a German doctor, author and academic of Jewish descent who lived in and near Frankfurt, was stripped of the right to practice medicine, teach and publish. These assaults were enabled by academic and medical institutions which voluntarily, and sometimes enthusiastically, complied with Nazi mandates. 

I see terrifying echoes of my family’s past in the Trump administration’s assault on civil institutions, academic freedom and human rights.

Profiles in Courage: A Political Hit Job on the Navy’s Top Officer? The Firing of Admiral Lisa Franchetti

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Profiles in Courage is a Ms. series honoring the extraordinary women and men who have transformed American institutions through principled public service. At a time when trust in government is fragile, these stories offer a powerful reminder of what ethical leadership looks like.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti has exemplified unparalleled leadership, strategic expertise, and an unyielding commitment to national security for decades. A seasoned surface warfare officer, she commanded at all levels of the U.S. Navy, leading the U.S. 6th Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and multiple carrier strike groups. Her distinguished career culminated in November 2023, when she became the chief of naval operations (CNO)—the highest-ranking officer in the United States Navy and the first woman in history to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Ms. Global: England Bars Trans Women from Women’s Soccer, Iran Sees Surge in Femicides, and More

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The U.S. ranks as the 19th most dangerous country for women, 11th in maternal mortality, 30th in closing the gender pay gap, 75th in women’s political representation, and painfully lacks paid family leave and equal access to health care. But Ms. has always understood: Feminist movements around the world hold answers to some of the U.S.’s most intractable problems. Ms. Global is taking note of feminists worldwide.

This week: News from England, the Dominican Republic, UAE, Togo, and more.