May 29, 2025
Elon Musk Plans to Leave DOGE Role
“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President [Trump] for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.”
Elon Musk on Wednesday announcing plans to step away from his role as a “special government employee” with the Trump administration after heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) since January. Musk’s designation as a “special government employee” allowed him to work for the executive branch for up to 130 days. Musk also criticized the budget bill passed last week by House Republicans, saying it undermines goals to decrease the deficit.
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Secretary of State: U.S. Will “Aggressively” Revoke Visas of Chinese Students:
“The U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing a new visa policy. Sec. Rubio also says the review process for all future visa applications will be assessed and strengthened. According to the AP, a quarter of all international students come from China. In response to the announcement, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said, “China firmly opposes U.S. decision to revoke Chinese student visas,” saying it “seriously hurts the lawful rights and interests of international students from China.”
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- Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US will begin revoking the visas of Chinese students (AP)
- U.S. Will ‘Aggressively’ Revoke Visas of Chinese Students, Rubio Says (New York Times Gift Link)
E.l.f Beauty Acquires Hailey Bieber Skincare Line for $1 Billion
“I’ve been blown away by seeing this brand over time. In less than three years, they’ve gone from zero to $212 million in net sales, direct-to-consumer only, with only 10 products.”
E.l.f Beauty CEO Tarang Amin in an interview with CNBC after the company announced plans to acquire Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand, Rhode. The deal, worth up to $1 billion, is the largest acquisition ever for E.l.f Beauty, which is seeking to expand business among higher-income consumers. Bieber, who will still serve as Rhode’s chief creative officer and head of innovation, is excited to bring her brand to “more faces, places, and spaces.”
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by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
