Trump Struggles to Recruit ICE Agents as Most Can't Pass Basic Fitness Tests
ICE struggles to meet hiring goals as over one-third of recruits fail basic fitness test requiring 15 push-ups, 32 sit-ups, and 1.5-mile run.
By Aaron Parnas•October 22, 2025•6 min read
Immigration
Good morning, everyone. I hope you got some rest because it is already shaping up to be a big news day.
This morning, I am tracking several major developments: Donald Trump’s plan to expand ICE has run into a major obstacle as most recruits fail basic fitness tests; the White House east wing demolition is accelerating under Trump’s orders; and Arizona’s Adelita Grijalva is suing Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to swear her in. I will be speaking with her later this week, so stay tuned for that interview.
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With that, here’s the news:
Trump’s plan to double the ICE workforce is faltering as over a third of recruits fail basic fitness tests, with officials reporting “athletically allergic” candidates who misrepresented their condition, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to meet its aggressive hiring goals without compromising standards.
Over one-third of recruits have failed the physical fitness test—15 push-ups, 32 sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run in 14 minutes—hindering the agency’s goal to hire and train 10,000 deportation officers by January.
New images of the White House East Wing show a much larger demolition site. This is why the White House ordered employees not to share any new photographs or videos of the demolition process:
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sued House Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, arguing the delay disenfranchises her district; Johnson says he’ll seat her once Democrats agree to reopen the government, while Democrats allege he’s stalling to block her vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein investigation files.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has demanded that the U.S. Treasury disclose whether taxpayer funds were used to buy Argentine pesos as part of a $20 billion bailout for Argentina, criticizing the Trump Administration for a lack of transparency and questioning the bailout’s timing, scope, and potential political motivations amid a government shutdown. I exclusively reported on this for MeidasTouch this morning. Read more here.
Trump’s nominee for the federal whistleblower office, Paul Ingrassia, withdrew after reports surfaced of racist texts in which he called himself a “Nazi,” marking rare GOP pushback; meanwhile, Trump-Putin talks were postponed, VP JD Vance touted progress on a Gaza ceasefire, and Arizona sued Speaker Mike Johnson over blocking Democrat Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a new Pentagon memo requiring all staff to get approval before communicating with Congress, tightening control over information flow and prompting criticism from lawmakers who say it reflects growing secrecy and paranoia within the Defense Department.
Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon has spoken for over 12 hours on the Senate floor protesting what he called President Trump’s “grave threats to democracy,” accusing him of undermining the Constitution and using authoritarian tactics amid the ongoing government shutdown.
As the government shutdown enters its third week, Democrats are urging President Trump to engage in negotiations, accusing him of being “disengaged,” while Republicans admit his involvement could help but remain aligned with his stance to reopen the government before talks resume; the stalemate persists amid partisan blame and stalled discussions over health care funding.
After lobbying from the gun industry and Republican lawmakers, the Trump administration deemed firearms examiners “essential” during the shutdown, allowing sales of silencers, short-barreled rifles, and pre-1986 machine guns to resume while other federal services remain halted.
California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the prolonged Trump administration shutdown could delay SNAP food benefits for millions, accusing Trump of “endangering lives” as federal aid programs stall ahead of Thanksgiving while Republicans blame Democrats for the funding lapse.
President Trump paused planned peace talks with Vladimir Putin after Russia launched deadly new attacks on Ukraine that killed at least 13 people, including at a kindergarten; the breakdown followed tense exchanges between U.S. and Russian officials over ceasefire terms, as Kyiv urged for long-range missiles and Russia insisted on continued military operations.
Russia launched massive overnight missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing six people including two children and hitting a kindergarten, just hours after a planned Trump-Putin peace meeting was canceled, as energy infrastructure was heavily damaged and power outages spread nationwide.
Billy Joe Cagle, arrested for allegedly planning a shooting at Atlanta’s airport, was a convicted felon and longtime Trump supporter who frequently defended the Confederate flag and gun rights online; authorities say his family’s alert prevented a potential tragedy.
Elon Musk escalated his public feud with Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, mocking him as “Sean ‘Dangerously Stupid’ Dummy” on X amid Duffy’s controversial suggestion to fold NASA into the Department of Transportation and ongoing silence from Trump.
At least 46 people were killed and several injured in western Uganda when two buses attempting to overtake collided head-on, marking one of the country’s deadliest crashes in years and highlighting ongoing issues with reckless driving, poor enforcement, and unsafe road conditions.
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus won a $50 million defamation verdict against his former business partners at Nicklaus Companies after a Florida jury found the firm damaged his reputation by spreading false claims that he considered joining LIV Golf and was suffering from dementia.
A driver was arrested after crashing a car into a Secret Service security checkpoint near the White House late Tuesday night; no injuries were reported, and authorities found no explosives or ongoing threat after assessing the vehicle.
Good news:
After Kirsty Southern comforted Ryan McLeod when he was crushed by a car five years ago, the two reconnected through social media, fell in love, and recently married—celebrating their wedding with photos at the crash site where they first met.
In Yorkshire, England, the Yorkshire Spoon Club repurposes fallen city trees into handcrafted spoons, bowls, and steins—turning storm-damaged wood into art while promoting sustainability, community, and mental well-being through shared woodworking sessions in nature.
The eastern Australian humpback whale population has surged to over 50,000—about 60% higher than pre-whaling levels—after near extinction in the 1960s, a “miracle” recovery credited to decades of conservation, citizen science monitoring, and the 1963 whaling ban.
