## To fight Trump's funding freezes, states propose a new gambit: Withholding federal payments

Authored by nbcnews.com

The novel and untested approach — so far introduced in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin — would essentially allow states to withhold federal payments if lawmakers determine the federal government is delinquent in funding owed to them.

“Trump is illegally withholding funds that have been previously approved,” said David Moon, the Democratic majority leader in Maryland’s House of Delegates.

Moon said the two bills are in response to various Trump actions that have withheld federal funding for programs that pay to assist with children’s mental health and flood wall protections.

Early in his second term, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency unilaterally froze billions of dollars in funding for programs that states rely on.

He’s also threatened to withhold federal funding from states that implement policies he politically disagrees with, including “sanctuary” policies for undocumented immigrants, though some such freezes have been halted by courts.

Payments available for withholding include the federal taxes collected from the paychecks of state employees, as well as grant payments owed back to the federal government.

Super added that states withholding money could potentially further worsen the status of programs affected by federal cuts. »

### Landmark deepfake law aims to give Denmark's citizens rights over their image, voice, and likeness

Authored by techspot.com

These digital forgeries convincingly replicate a person's appearance or voice, creating false impressions of actions or statements they never made.

Under the proposed legislation, individuals would have the legal right to demand the removal of any deepfake that uses their likeness or voice without consent.

Engel-Schmidt has indicated plans to use Denmark's upcoming EU presidency to push for a unified European strategy to combat AI abuse. »

### Russia hits Ukraine with biggest attack of the war; F-16 pilot is killed

Authored by politico.eu

Ukraine used its full arsenal to repel the attack, including combat aircraft, officials said.

F-16 fighter jets provided by Western allies have become a key tool for defending against Russia’s missile attacks.

The Ukrainian president renewed his calls for allies to help protect Ukraine and to pressure Moscow to end the war. »

### EA CEO’s pay is up, as EA worker median income drops

Authored by gamefile.news

It also went in the opposite direction as the EA worker pay to which the company annually compares Wilson’s take.

EA reported that the median income for its full-time employees in 2024 was $117,000, down from $149,000 the year before.

Confusingly, EA says it used “the same median employee” in 2025 that it used to compare compensation with Wilson in 2023 and 2024. »

### Zelensky signs decree to withdraw from Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines

Authored by kyivindependent.com

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, a step that follows the Baltic nations and Poland's move to boost their defense as the war rages on in Ukraine.

"Russia has never been a party to this convention and uses anti-personnel mines extremely cynically," Zelensky said in justifying the decision.

In a surprise move that angered Moscow, the Biden administration in 2024 approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. »

## In pictures

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