January 30, 2025

Good morning. We’re covering Trump’s reversal on a spending freeze and the death toll from a stampede at a Hindu festival in India.

Plus, celebrating the Lunar New Year.

President Trump speaking at the White House, yesterday.  Doug Mills/The New York Times

Trump reversed an order to freeze federal funds

The White House yesterday walked back President Trump’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order on Tuesday after it caused mass confusion across the country.

The Trump administration had struggled to explain the funding freeze, a decision that interrupted the Medicaid system, which provides health care to millions of low-income Americans.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote on social media that “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze.” She said the president’s executive orders on federal funding “remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.”

The decision by the Trump administration to pull the directive was a significant reversal. Democratic leaders celebrated the announcement.

Grilling: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for health secretary, faced tough questions and struggled to convince senators that he was not against vaccines during confirmation hearings in Washington. Kennedy — who has been vocally skeptical of vaccines, supports unorthodox diets and has spouted conspiracy theories — is one of Trump’s most polarizing choices.

More on Trump Trump signed his first bill into law, directing the authorities to detain and deport immigrants who are accused of specific crimes if they are in the country illegally. Steven Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, met with Israel’s prime minister yesterday and was also expected to visit Gaza. Prosecutors moved to drop the classified documents case against two of Trump’s co-defendants. The Trump administration offered roughly two million federal workers the option to resign. Howard Lutnick, whom Trump picked to lead the Commerce Department, said he would take a tough stance on tech sales to China. The president has moved with lightning speed to purge officials he deems disloyal and rid agencies of policies he considers liberal.

People tried to cross a nearby bridge after the stampede at the festival in Prayagraj, India, yesterday.  Atul Loke for The New York Times

A stampede at a Hindu festival left dozens dead

At least 30 people were killed and dozens of others injured yesterday in a crush that occurred when pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival rushed to bathe in river waters.

Safety barricades broke and fences were toppled during the gathering, held where the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers meet. Thousands of people who were lying or sitting on the banks were trampled. People in the water tried to escape, adding to the chaos.

The Maha Kumbh Mela festival draws millions of Hindu pilgrims to the city of Prayagraj once every 12 years. The chief minister of the state government said that there would be an inquiry to find out how, despite heavy precautions, an accident like this could occur.

In photos: Atul Loke, a Times photographer, documented the panic and confusion from the deadly crowd crush.

A demonstration in Tel Aviv calling for the release of hostages on Saturday. Amit Elkayam for The New York Times

Hamas is expected to release more hostages

Hamas will release eight hostages today — three Israelis and five Thai nationals — after more than a year of captivity in Gaza, Israeli officials said. The release would be the third so far in the six-week truce.

In exchange, Israel is expected to release more than 100 Palestinian prisoners, including around 30 serving life sentences for involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis.

From joy to sorrow: In the final hours before the cease-fire took effect, many lost their lives in the confusion over when the fighting would actually stop.