The White House's ending of a temporary immigration program that protects migrants in the U.S. could spell deportation for more than 300,000 Venezuelans who were previously allowed in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status. The TPS program allows migrants to seek shelter in America "due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely," according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. But following Trump's decision, these Venezuelans could be deported back to the authoritarian regime from which they fled.

What migrants stand to lose
Ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the removal will be published tomorrow and is set to take place 60 days later. The 300,000 Venezuelans who had TPS removed were protected through April, and an additional 250,000 have "protections through September and for now will not be affected," said The New York Times. But this initial move "suggests that they and others under TPS could be in danger of losing their status in the future."

Once TPS protections lapse, these migrants "lose their ability to work in the U.S. legally and become vulnerable to being detained and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement," said CBS News. The orders "echo a broader crackdown by Mr. Trump on illegal immigration and humanitarian programs that allowed some migrants to come or stay in the U.S. legally." A separate report from CBS News found that the Trump administration is planning on drafting similar orders to revoke temporary legal status from migrants from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua.

'They will be jailed'
Trump's protection removal has "sent tremors through the Venezuelan community," said NBC News. For many immigrants, going back to Venezuela "would be almost suicidal," activist Beatriz Olavarria said to WTVJ-TV South Florida. Some of those with TPS "have spoken about the situation in Venezuela on cameras and everywhere," she said. If they "set foot in Venezuela," they "will be jailed." Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been widely cited as running an authoritarian government, and the U.S. is currently offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

Donald Trump's plans to remake the U.S. government center on one man and one agency: Russ Vought and the Office of Management and Budget. Trump's nominee to lead the agency was a key figure in the creation of Project 2025, the conservative policy manual that called for "sweeping transformations of the federal bureaucracy," and he's "starting to upend Washington," said The Washington Post. He will perhaps be the "key factor in getting the bureaucracy moving in the same direction" as Trump's desires, said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

What is the Office of Management and Budget?
The Office of Management and Budget, with its approximately 500 employees, is a "small but powerful agency" that acts as the "central nervous system of the federal government," said The Conversation. The OMB oversees all budgetary matters but also coordinates and reviews drafts of agency regulations and executive orders. 

If confirmed by the Senate, Vought will be well-placed to "implement many of the key aspects of Trump's agenda," said Axios. There will be no learning curve either because Vought has already led the agency once during Trump's first term. 

Vought has since "raised eyebrows" with harsh rhetoric about federal employees when he was out of office. Trumpist conservatives want those employees to "not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains," Vought said in 2023. He "defended the comments" during his confirmation hearing in January, said Axios.

Will Vought be confirmed?
Senate Democrats note that stopping Vought's nomination is a "top priority," said Government Executive. Vought is an "appalling nominee," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). 

Democrats are particularly concerned about Vought's willingness to not spend money on programs that have funding already approved by Congress, a process known as "impoundment." Vought has said the Watergate-era federal law that prohibits impoundment by a president and the executive branch is unconstitutional. 

If Vought is "not willing to follow our laws," he "cannot be trusted to implement our laws," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Republicans control the Senate, though, and "when you win, you get to pick people," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).