Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld went to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on March 21, 2024, to pray for the safe return of the hostages. While he was there, Herzfeld was harassed by protesters who were accused of deafening him with megaphone sirens.The rabbi was then falsely accused of stalking and was later vindicated, with the accusers being ordered to pay for his $182,000 legal bills. Despite this, Herzfeld views the D.C. leaderships response to antisemitism as "insufficient," especially in light of the murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim."There's a pattern here of the D.C. government not doing enough to protect the Jewish community. And I said that to Mayor Bowser, and I think that enough is enough," Herzfeld told Fox News Digital.DEADLY DC SHOOTING WAS 'TOO CLOSE FOR EVERY JEW IN AMERICA,' ACTIVIST SAYSHerzfeld said he has known D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser personally "for many years" and that he believes she is "a good person, a genuine person." However, the rabbi still holds Bowser responsible for allowing an "antisemitic environment" to grow in D.C. to the point where Jewish residents feel unsafe something the rabbi said he has heard from many Jews, including his own daughter. He told Fox News Digital that he holds the mayor responsible for "tolerating" antisemitism since Oct. 7.Elias Rodriguez, who was charged with the murders of Lischinsky and Milgrim, was heard shouting "free, free Palestine" as he was arrested. According to court documents, he told D.C. police, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed."ISRAELI AMBASSADOR CONNECTS EMBASSY STAFFERS' SLAYING TO 'VERY IMPORTANT' BIGGER PICTUREAfter the reported statements by Rodriguez, and what he was heard shouting in a viral video, Herzfeld told Fox News Digital that it gives D.C. Jews "even more reason to be scared.""So, nobody's talking about taking away the rights to free speech. Everybody has the right to speak in a way that's part of society, in a way that does not endanger and threaten people. And now we know that those people who were at the at these rallies, which were being done in a frenzy, a threatening, intimidating manner, there's a reason why people are scared, because some people who associate with them are violent, and this person who went and killed, murdered.""On the streets of D.C. to people who supported Israel, this person was associated with that group. He shouted free Palestine. And so now we have even more reason to be scared as these free Palestine protesters are giving carte blanche on the street of D.C."In response to a Fox News Digital request for comment, Bowsers office referred to the mayors remarks at a news conference on May 22 following the shooting."We are here to echo what the U.S. attorney has said, that this crime will not be tolerated in our city," Bowser said. She also lamented that D.C. has had "practice standing together as a community to fight antisemitism both in hate speech and hateful acts."U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who also spoke at the press conference, said she would not tolerate violent crimes such as the deadly shooting in front of the Jewish museum.

ABaylor University football player died early Wednesday morning after police say he was found in a car suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in his Mississippi hometown, which local officials say has seen a recent surge in violent crime.Alex Foster, an 18-year-old defensive lineman, was later identified as the victim of an early morning shooting in Greenville."We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Alex Foster, a beloved teammate, friend and a cherished part of the Baylor Family," Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack B. Rhoades, IV and headfootball coach Dave Aranda said in a joint statement released by the school.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex's family and all those who loved him. In this time of deep sorrow, we draw strength from our faith and the unwavering love of the Baylor community. Our immediate focus is on supporting Alex's family and his teammates through this devastating loss. Alex's memory will forever be a part of Baylor University."Greenville Police spokeswoman Major Misty Mew told The Associated Press that officers responded to reports of a shooting in a residential/commercial area of the city shortly after midnight. Once on the scene, they located a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside a car. Mew did not name Foster as the victim, but the Washington County Coroners Office later confirmed his identity to the outlet.Foster was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.EX-PENN STATE FOOTBALL STAR JULIAN FLEMING INJURED, GIRLFRIEND DEAD IN ATV CRASH, POLICE SAYAranda later released a separate statement on X, saying that the Baylor community has been left "devastated" by Fosters passing."Alex was a beloved member of our Baylor Family, and we are devastated by this loss. In his time at Baylor he made a long-lasting impact on all of us in the program. Our hearts are broken, and our prayers are with his family, friends and all those who loved him so deeply."In response to the shooting death, Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons spoke out about the recent "surge" of crimes impacting the community."Over the past several weeks, our community has been deeply shaken by a surge in violent crimes, including multiple shootings, a surge in violent crimes, acts of gun violence and senseless killings," he said in a brief video address. Simmons added that after a vote on Wednesday, the city will be implementing a curfew effective immediately from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily "until further notice.""Its to protect the lives and well-being of every Greenville resident."Foster joined Baylor in 2024 as one ofMississippis top-20 prospects and the 69th-ranked defensive lineman in the nation. He did not see any action last season after he redshirted his freshman year.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The terrorist group known as Hamas has long plagued the Gaza Strip but is facing a point of crisis as its influence and support, which was already far from sweeping, continues to drop amid internal pressure to end the war and return the hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks."Hamass current posture reveals a critical inflection point in its grip over the Gaza Strip," Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst and editor atthe Foundation for Defense of Democracies "Long War Journal" and an expert on Palestinian terrorist groups, told Fox News Digital."By opposing the new aid distribution mechanism, one that is coordinated by the U.S. and Israel, Hamas is signaling that its primary concern is not the well-being of Palestinians but the preservation of its authority."Despite the monthslong aid blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israel and the images of starvation, Hamas this week threatened any Palestinian civilians who accept food aid for their families and warned they "will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures."HAMAS TERROR GROUP REPORTEDLY BUCKLING UNDER FINANCIAL STRAIN AMID ISRAELI MILITARY GAINS AND GROWING UNRESTDespite the threats, Palestinians have flooded the aid sites erected by the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reportedly resulting in scenes of chaos as desperate civilians overran one distribution location on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its "troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound," adding, "Control over the situation was established and the safety of IDF troops was not compromised."The U.N. Human Rights Office claimed some 47 people were injured during the gunfire, while the Hamas-run health ministry said one person was killed and 48 others were wounded, reported the BBC, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify the casualty count.On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid."As we have repeatedly cautioned, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza," the GHF said in a statement. "Reports to the contrary originated from Hamas and are inaccurate."Truzman explained that it is in Hamas interest to portray the aid delivery as negatively as possible, and to use the chaos to promote its return to power."Hamas had significant influence over aid flows, which it used not only for governance but also as leverage to reinforce loyalty, reward patronage networks, and maintain internal control," the expert explained. "The erosion of this influence poses both a symbolic and operational threat to the group."With Hamas becoming sidelined from the aid process, the group is facing a legitimacy crisis," Truzman added.Despite the chaotic scenes that arose as aid finally returned to Gaza, the GHF said Tuesday that it had distributed about 8,000 food boxes totaling 462,000 meals so far.On Wednesday, eight trucks worth of aid were delivered, which equates to some 378,262 meals."Operations will continue to scale up tomorrow," the GHF confirmed.One Gazan told the Center for Peace Communications that the failure of Hamas, which serves as the local government, to secure affordable and accessible food has driven civilians to the American distribution site."In fact, they were good to us," he said. "They were handing out rations cards and started to tell us to take them. Unlike those ruling Gaza who don't do anything for us."We, as a people, are telling you that we need anyone, anyone who can provide us with these necessities," he added. "Otherwise, no one would be going to the American distribution point. If Hamas is listening to us, get off the people's backs."The people are dying," the man added.ISRAELI AMBASSADOR SLAMS UN'S 'MAFIA-LIKE' TACTICS AGAINST US-BACKED GAZA FOUNDATIONIn recent months, civilian populations have not only been turning to external actors for relief where possible, they have increasingly called on Hamas to return the hostages, stop the war and even leave the Gaza Strip."This shift undermines Hamass image as the authority in Gaza and exposes its weakened state," Truzman said."However, any assumption that Hamas might yield under these conditions must be tempered by the nature of its surviving leadership," he warned. "Those who remain at the helm are among the most ideologically entrenched and militarily committed members of the organization."Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 after it defeated its rival party, Fatah, which is part of thePalestine Liberation Organization.Despite the plurality vote nearly two decades ago, Hamas has struggled to maintain control and stability for years and its support even in the lead up to the 2023 attacks that prompted the largest-ever war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was reportedly lacking and its leadership growing increasingly unpopular.ISRAEL BLOCKS HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA AFTER HAMAS REJECTS CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSALIsrael and Egypt have limited the flow of goods into the Gaza Strip for the last two decades, and border crossing restrictions have been heavily enforced since the 1980s. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2025.However, according to a report by the Wilson Center, only a fraction of the population prior to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks blamed food shortages on external factors like sanctions, while a third blamed the Hamas-run government for mismanagement, while another quarter of the population blamed inflation.The report also found that nearly half of Palestinian civilians said they had no trust in Hamas' leadership, while roughly a third of the population threw their support behind the group.Support is believed to have dropped in the nearly 600 days that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, and the subsequent devastation brought to the Gaza Strip."If the new aid mechanism succeeds in improving living conditions for Palestinians, surpassing what Hamas has been able to provide during wartime, it is unlikely to reverse the growing public dissatisfaction with the group," Truzman told Fox News Digital. "Even an imperfect but externally managed aid system may further expose Hamass governance failures, particularly its prioritization of power retention over the welfare of the population."While tangible improvements will take time to materialize, the mere perception that life can improve without Hamas may be enough to shift public attitudes further against the group," he added.

Ed Gale, the actor best known for portraying horror icon "Chucky," has died. He was 61.The actor's niece, Kayse Gale, confirmed the death of her famous uncle with Fox News Digital."It is with a heavy heart and a surprisingly light coffin (see what I did there?) that we announce the sudden passing of our uncle, Official: Ed Gale, Actor - retired, Ed Gale has taken his final bow and is now headlining in the afterlife," she wrote in a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.TONY TODD, CANDYMAN AND FINAL DESTINATION STAR, DEAD AT 69Gale rose to fame in 1988 as he played the terrifying doll in the movie "Child's Play." He reprized his role in the 1990 sequel.His niece shared more of her uncle's backstory, including how he started his acting career with humble beginnings."Ed hitched a ride to California when he was twenty years old, with $41 and a dream, and he never looked back," she wrote."He lit up the silver screens in cult classic films like Howard the Duck and Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town, earning himself some serious street cred at every con he attended. Which he never stopped bragging about. Ever."She pointed out that the actor left behind a "legacy full of questionable lighting and amazing one-liners," as Gale appeared in more than 130 movies, television shows and commercials.Although he booked numerous gigs in Hollywood, Kayse shared that his favorite role was uncle.PETER JASON, 'KARATE KID' AND 'DEADWOOD' ACTOR, DEAD AT 80: HE WAS 'TRULY LOVED'"Eds favorite role was that of the fun uncle. His love language was sharing his love of the entertainment industry and the magic of Hollywood with his nieces."Kayse additionally shared that the actor's favorite food was hot dogs, and he "enjoyed reminiscing about his glory days DJing at the Plainwell roller rink.""He delighted in the slow build up of telling a good story He had one hell of a laugh, and he will be missed."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERShe concluded her heartfelt tribute with "Rest in love" and noted that funeral arrangements are pending.Born in 1963, Gale was raised in Plainwell, Michigan. At 20 years old, he left his hometown to pursue his acting dreams in Hollywood.While Gale's best known for his role in "Child's Play," he also played the iconic doll in "Child's Play 2" and "Bride of Chucky." His other film credits include the 1986 cult classic, "Howard the Duck," the baby dinosaur Tasha in 1991's "Land of the Lost" and he voiced the character The Mole in the 2000 movie "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle."Gale's other screen credits include "Spaceballs," "Baywatch," "3rd Rock From the Sun," "My Name is Earl" and "Friday the 13th: The Series."

At least two victims of an Ohio man who pleaded guilty to carrying out a series of brutal attacks in Cleveland voiced their outrage after a judge recently released him again.Serus Walters, 20, pleaded guilty on May 19 to assaulting three men, according to Cuyahoga County court records. Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams reduced Walters felony charge to a misdemeanor and released him on time served after his plea.One of the victims, Los Angeles-based attorney David Dudley, 64, who was visiting Cleveland on business when Walters attacked him on May 29, 2024, told WOIO that he is baffled by the judge's decision to release Walters on Monday."I was fairly certain he was trying to kill me," Dudley told the outlet.OHIO MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING DEPUTY DENIED BOND AS CHAOS DISRUPTS PACKED COURTROOMWalters targeted Dudley at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Cleveland when he kicked the victim in the ribs, shoulder and repeatedly in the back of the head, WOIO reported.Dudley said he has "been in front of over one thousand judges," and Collier-Williams' decision Monday left him shocked.SIX OHIO SUSPECTS ACCUSED OF TORTURING MAN IN WEEKLONG HOTEL KIDNAPPING: 'EXTREMELY DISTURBING'"Judge Williams didn't even put him on any kind of supervision. [The] prosecutor was shocked at that," Dudley told WOIO. "He neither apologized to me nor any of the other victims he acknowledged to attacking."Another victim, who identified himself only as "Tony" to WOIO, said Walters attacked him in Tower City on March 11, 2024. Officials arrested Walters and released him the next day.WATCH: MOST OUTRAGEOUS COURTROOM MOMENTS AND POLICE ENCOUNTERS THAT WENT VIRAL IN 2024Walters was also previously arrested and released in connection with an assault near Whiskey Island that left a man in need of stitches, WOIO reported.Court records show that a grand jury indicted Walters in the three separate assaults in May 2024. His defense attorney, Frank Triozzi, filed a motion seeking reduced bond in May 2024, citing the fact that Walters was 19 years old with a two-year-old child and one on the way at the time.NYC COUNCILMAN DEMANDS JUDGES RESIGNATION FOR FREEING CAREER CRIMINAL WHO LATER SHOT COP: LACK OF JUDGMENT"Despite the severity of the offense, counsel submits that GPS monitoring would be sufficient to ensure the safety of the public and of the alleged victims," the defense attorney wrote.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWalters was most recently arrested again on Wednesday, just two days after his release, for a minor offense in Garfield Heights.Fox News Digital has reached out to Triozzi, Collier-Williams' office and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office for comment.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) has signed into law a "Green Fee" bill that will raise tourist taxes to help fund "climate-change" mitigation.Senate Bill 1396 raises the tourist taxon Hawaii hotelsto11% starting Jan. 1 which would then increase to 12% the following year, according to the text of the bill.Portions of the revenue raised would go into the "Climate Mitigationand Resiliency Special Fund" and the "Economic Development and Revitalization Special Fund," according to the bill.CRUISE DO'S AND DON'TS: TOP 5 THINGS THAT WILL GET YOU BANNED FOR LIFEThe bill addresses invasive species, wildlife conservation and beach management and restoration.It will also help fund a "green jobs youth corps" and areas of environmental concern."Hawaii is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaii," said Gov. Green in a press release.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleThe Aloha State governor added, "The fee will restore and remediate our beaches and shorelines and harden infrastructure critical to the health and safety of all who call Hawaii home, whether for a few days or a lifetime."In 2023,9.6 millionvisitors traveled to Hawaii, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERHawaii already has a 10.25% tax on short-term rentals.The state's countieseach add their own 3% surcharge on top of the states tax, according to FOX 13."Hawaii already imposes what some believe are high taxes on the hospitality sector and short-term stays," said Travel Tomorrow.The Green Fee is projected to generate $100 million annually, according to the release.

Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.IN TODAYS NEWSLETTER:-Five reasons why Trump is targeting Harvard, from the school's own investigation- Streaming star suspended from Twitch after broadcasting DC shooting suspect's manifesto- WaPo deletes offensive post following Israeli embassy staff murdersTOP STORY: The Trump administration escalated its war with Harvard University on Tuesday, announcing it will claw back the university's remaining $100 million in federal funding effectively ending all financial ties with the Ivy League institution. Click here for five reasons for the crackdown, taken straight from a report ordered by Harvard President Alan Gerber.VIDEO:Head of DOJ antisemitism task force Leo Terrrell joined 'The Faulkner Focus' to discuss his plan to help President Donald Trump crack down on antisemitism amid the surge seen across the country. WATCH HERE:STREAMER SILENCED: One of Twitch's most popular streamers was suspended from the platform for reading the manifesto of the suspect in the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers last week. Hasan Piker, a streamer with nearly 3 million Twitch followers and 1.6 million YouTube subscribers, is known for broadcasting far-left content under the handle HasanAbi.WAPO WHOOPS: The Washington Post deleted a controversial X post on Saturday on a story following the killings of two Israeli embassy staffers. On Friday, the Posts official X account published a story on the state of Jewish people after Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. Read what the post said here.SCHOOLING THE CRITICS: First Lady Melania Trump dismissed claims that her husband's feud with Harvard is about something other than the school's tolerance of antisemitism. Click here to read what Trump's critics insist is behind the White House's punitive measures.GUEST EDITORIAL: Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the world body, writes a scathing condemnation of UN officials for spreading what he says were false claims preceding the murder of two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C.QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Last week was a stark reminder of where demonization and fanning the flames of hate can lead: to violence inflicted on innocent people by deranged lunatics, who are emboldened by the blood libels chanted on our college campuses and in august institutions like the U.N.s Security Council." - Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the UN, on the Washington DC murders of two diplomats.- Looking for more on this topic?Find moreantisemitism coveragefrom Fox Newshere.-Did someone forward you this email?Subscribe toadditional newslettersfrom Fox Newshere.

Elon Musks criticism of House Republicans "big, beautiful bill" has left some GOP lawmakers frustrated at the tech billionaire."This is why Mr. Musk has no placein Congress," one House GOP lawmaker, granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital. "He wants to codify discretionary cuts. He didn't find enough waste, fraud, and abuse to fund [the Small Business Administration], let alone reduce our debt.""This was a gimmick. He got used. He's now upset. He played the game, he got what he wanted, then he ended up like everyone else who gets too close."House Republicans passed a broad-ranging bill last week advancing President Donald Trump's agenda on tax, immigration, defense, and energy. Congressional Republicans are hoping to pass it via the budget reconciliation process, a mechanism for passing fiscal legislation while waiving the Senates 60-vote threshold and sidelining the minority party.MIKE JOHNSON, DONALD TRUMP GET BIG, 'BEAUTIFUL WIN AS BUDGET PASSES HOUSEMusk told "CBS Sunday Morning" the legislation "undermines the work" done by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).He called it a "massive spending bill" that "increases the budget deficit."However, Republican supporters of the bill have contended that the kind of spending cuts Musk is looking for, and the kind DOGE outlined, cannot be done via the reconciliation process. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., himself pledged in a public statement after Musk's comments that House Republicans would tackle DOGE cuts albeit in a different vehicle than the "big, beautiful bill."Reconciliation primarily deals with mandatory government funding that Congress must change by amending the law itself, like federal safety net programs.The White House is also planning to send a package of proposed spending cuts to Congress next week, including cuts outlined by DOGE, that target discretionary government spending. Discretionary spending refers to the cash flows that Congress controls annually via the budget appropriations process.Other supporters of the bill, like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said its focus was on people outside of Musks wealth class."The bill strikes the proper balance between rooting out fraud to achieve savings and not impacting citizens who rely on government programs. The biggest winners for a change are not billionaires like Musk but middle-class families who will see the bulk of savings returned to them in the form of real tax relief," Malliotakis told Fox News Digital."Thats who President Trump and House Republicans set out to help."A second House Republican who requested anonymity to speak freely told Fox News Digital that Musk did "put a lot of work in" with DOGE but argued he was wrong on the facts."I mean, it wouldn't be the first time that he didn't really have a handle on the process," the House Republican said. "So, you know, we really have to bake the DOGE cuts into the budget rather than through reconciliation."Fox News Digital reached out to Musk for comment via Tesla but did not immediately hear back.The White House pointed Fox News Digital to Trump advisor Stephen Miller's public statement about fiscal hawks' concerns about the bill.Miller said, "DOGE cuts are to discretionary spending. (Eg the federal bureaucracy). Under Senate budget rules, you cannot cut discretionary spending (only mandatory) in a reconciliation bill. So DOGE cuts would have to be done through what is known as a rescissions package or an appropriations bill. The Big Beautiful Bill is NOT an annual budget bill and does not fund the departments of government. It does not finance our agencies or federal programs. Instead, it includes the single largest welfare reform in American history."On the other side of the House GOP Conference, fiscal hawks who also had issues with the legislation rallied around Musks comments."I share Mr. Musk's concerns about the short-term adverse effect on the federal deficit of the limited spending reductions in the BBB. Debt markets remain concerned about US total debt and annual deficits," said House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md.The Maryland Republican voted "present" on the reconciliation bill last week.SCOOP: HOUSE GOP MEMO HIGHLIGHTS REPUBLICAN WINS IN TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'"Hopefully the Senate will take those concerns into consideration as the legislative process moves forward," Harris said.Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, the lone House Republican to vote against the bill, posted on X, "Hopefully, the Senate will succeed where the House missed the moment. Don't hope someone else will cut spending someday, know it has been done this Congress.""Despite pleas to step back and look at the sum of the parts passed by 11 different committees, this bill was rushed to the floor when it should have been fixed," Davidson said.Musk announced late on Wednesday that he was stepping away from his federal government role because his "scheduled time as a Special Government Employee" was coming "to an end."

FIRST ON FOX: New State Department reorganization plans will cut or consolidate more than 300 of the agencys offices and bureaus as part of a massive overhaul seeking to streamline the department, according to agency officials.Secretary of State Marco Rubio first announced plans in April to restructure the agency because the department was "bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission."The State Department submitted a notice to Congress Thursday disclosing plans for the overhaul the largest restructuring for the agency since the Cold War, senior State Department officials told Fox News Digital.The agencys overhaul aims to cut red tape so the department can respond to threats more quickly, place greater emphasis on the agencys "primary mission" representing the U.S. abroad and eliminate "bureaucratic overgrowth" in Washington, the congressional notice said."We have too many godd--- offices," a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital. "Were trying to shrink offices rather than create them."RUBIO OVERHAULING 'BLOATED' STATE DEPARTMENT IN SWEEPING REFORMThe State Departments plans will slash or merge 311 existing domestic offices, ultimately eliminating up to roughly 3,400 State Department personnel, who make up between 15% and 20% of the agencys domestic headcount, according to State Department officials.The agency currently boasts roughly 700 offices, meaning the reorganization will cut or join more than 40% of the offices."We are really addressing a significant portion of the department's domestic offices and sort of merging them, combining them, trying to make them more efficient," the senior State Department official said.Staff have not received notifications regarding the reduction in force yet, but they are expected to receive an update on reductions in force by July 1.Whereas three offices overseeing sanctions issues previously existed, the overhaul will merge all of those branches together to make it more clear who to report to, according to the official.However, a few additions are in the works. The plans also include adding approximately nine new offices, the State Department officials said.New positions include a deputy assistant secretary for democracy and Western values, as well as new immigration security offices under the agencys bureau of population, refugees and migration to tackle President Donald Trump's immigration priorities.Likewise, the restructuring adds a new bureau of emerging threats that will address issues pertaining to artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons and space."So we're not just cutting these things," the senior State Department official said. "We're re-imagining them to advance the administration's agenda."The reorganization structure only affects domestic offices and also seeks to cut down on the layers of bureaucracy in Washington to give more power to the embassies abroad, according to State Department officials.The State Department has domestic offices all across the U.S., ranging from the East Coast in Boston, all the way to San Francisco and Honolulu. The State Department has more than 270 diplomatic posts outside the U.S.WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL AXES UN, NATO FUNDS AND HALVES STATE DEPARTMENT BUDGETThe status quo hampered the departments ability to push out policy because there were so many channels of approval that needed to be cleared first as part of a "horizontal reporting structure," they said.Under the new structure, regional bureau offices that handle global U.S. bilateral relationships will take on greater responsibility and oversee policy management of nearly all non-security foreign assistance, according to the congressional notice."We're really shifting the focus towards our embassies out in the field, our ambassadors out in the field, giving them the tools so that they can effectively implement the America First diplomacy out there in the field," another senior State Department official told Fox News Digital.The officials said that Rubio has instructed that the new structure be implemented by July 1 and that the agency is so far on track to meet that goal.Rubio told lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing foreign affairs on May 20 that the restructuring "is not designed to either cripple the department or in any way its not even a cost-savings endeavor."Rather, Rubio said the change aims to "empower" regional bureaus and embassies. Specifically, Rubio said that he receives up to 15 cables each morning from embassies around the world and thats where the "best innovations" originate.TRUMP ADMIN TO DIRECT AGENCY HEADS TO PREP FOR 'LARGE-SCALE REDUCTIONS IN FORCE,' REORGANIZATION BY MARCH 13"They are identifying problems and opportunities well in advance of some memo that works its way to me," Rubio told lawmakers. "We want to get back to a situation or we want to get to a situation where we are empowering ideas and action at the embassy level and through our regional bureaus. Those are literally the front lines of American diplomacy. And so we have structured a State Department that can deliver on that."Meanwhile, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., voiced caution about the reforms in April after Rubios initial announcement and said any changes "must be carefully weighed with the real costs to American security and leadership.""A strong and mission-ready State Department advances American national security interests, opens up new markets for American workers and companies and promotes global peace and stability," Shaheen said in her April statement. "It remains to be seen how the administrations latest proposals will achieve that goal."

Hours after Todd Chrisley was released from federal prison, his daughter Savannah Chrisley shared a sneak peek of her dad's physique as the reunited pair traveled back home to Tennessee.On Wednesday, Savannah - accompanied by her best friend and hair stylist Tyler Bishop - took to Instagram to document the road trip.In one clip, the 27-year-old seemed to be experiencing car sickness, but her dad kept the mood light by dropping a joke.TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY RELEASED FROM PRISON FOLLOWING TRUMP'S PARDON"I didn't have to deal with this in prison," he said, as Savannah laughed.In another clip, Savannah asked her dad, "What are you trying to get me to do?""Feel that muscle," Todd replied, while holding out his arm."Todd is jacked," Bishop could be heard saying in the background."Just wait," Savannah replied.While Savannah opted out of showing her dad's face, it was the first time fans had heard Todd's voice since before his prison stint.On Wednesday evening, Todd first walked out of a federal prison in Pensacola, Florida, after serving two and a half years in prison on bank fraud and tax evasion charges, according to lawyer Alex Littles office. The release came shortly after President Donald Trump signed pardons for both Todd and his wife Julie, who was also convicted of the same charges in 2022."Todd has been released from prison and is on his way home to Nashville," Little's office told Fox News Digital.Little's office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Julie was released from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday night, shortly after Todd was released. "Julie has also been released from prison and is now on her way home to Nashville as well," Little's office told Fox News Digital.CHRISLEY CHILDREN CELEBRATE TRUMP'S PLAN TO PARDON REALITY TV PARENTS IN FRAUD, TAX EVASION CASE Savannah got emotional outside the federal prison in Pensacola awaiting her father's release earlier in the day.When speaking to reporters, Savannah said, "Honestly, this process has been absolutely insane, and I am so grateful that I'm going to leave here with my dad."Savannah claimed that prosecutors had her father's head "on a dart board" before his prison sentence. She read Trump's pardon to the reporters, which stated an immediate release, and she said she hopes "the prison is going to do that shortly."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSSavannah said Trump's pardon for her parents "literally came out of nowhere.""I was in such shock and awe that the president himself took the time to tell me my family is coming back together," she said. During her interview, Savannah got emotional while explaining her constant fight to get her parents released from prison wasn't just for them."I'm literally fighting for every man that has been left behind here," she said, referring to the prisoners in the federal prison in Pensacola.On Tuesday, after Trump announced his plan to pardon the couple, Todd and Julie's children were quick to share their excitement.WATCH: TRUMP PARDON CZAR EXPLAINS WHY THE PRESIDENT RELEASED TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY FROM PRISON"I am grateful to God and extremely grateful to President Trump and his entire administration," the couple's son Chase said in a statement to the New York Post. "Im beyond thankful to finally have my parents back home and my family together again!"CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"I'm ecstatic," Kyle, whose biological mom is Todd's ex-wife, Teresa Terry, told E! News. "Truly. I just found out a little bit ago, and I still just can't believe it. I know Savannah had been working at this for so long, and she never gave up. So I'm just grateful to her and to President Trump for making this happen for my dad and Julie.""I know they can't wait to get home and just be with family, and I'm going to remain hopeful that another reconciliation is possible," Kyle, who has been estranged from his father for years, added.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday, the couple's attorney explained how the "incredibly powerful" pardon will wipe the couple's case "entirely," as if it never happened."A pardon like this generally ends the case entirely, and so we'll see the fine print of the pardon explicitly, but generally when you are pardoned, it is wiped away, and so it's wiped clean," Little, a partner at Litson PLLC, said. "It's as if the case hasn't happened, and fortunately Todd and Julie will be able to pick up their lives to the best that they're able and go on forward and focus on the future.""I think that the pardon process is something that hadn't been used by many presidents for many, many terms. This president clearly looks at it differently, looks at, is part of his role to oversee the criminal justice system. And look, however much you may want to criticize that, it's an incredibly powerful tool the president has, and I think it's really important the president began to use it. This was a very deserving case and I hope that he finds more."Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash and Larry Fink contributed to this post.