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President Trump threw another curveball into the House's budget plans Tuesday night, saying on Fox News that Medicaid is not going to be "touched."

Why it matters: It is essentially impossible for House Republicans to hit the savings targets they've laid out without making major changes to the safety net program.

What they're saying: "Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched," Trump told Sean Hannity during an appearance with Elon Musk.

All National Institute of Standards and Technology probationary employees are bracing to be fired imminently, sources familiar with the matter told Axios.

Why it matters: The Trump administration's cuts across the federal government are gutting agencies tasked with testing leading-edge AI technology and boosting domestic semiconductor development and manufacturing.

• The cuts come at a time when the U.S. is looking to lead in AI development and stave off competition from China.

FERC Chair Mark Christie said the controversial White House executive order on independent agencies won't significantly change how the energy regulator works.

Why it matters: The EO sparked criticism and fears among FERC watchers that President Trump would erode the commission's political independence as it seeks to fast-track power plants and data center projects.

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