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Major Tech Companies File Brief Opposing Trump Travel Ban Major Tech Companies File Brief Opposing Trump Travel Ban
(35 minutes later)
You may have been up late watching an epic Super Bowl finish, and missed the fact that major American technology companies are joining the court fight to oppose President Trump’s travel restrictions on the citizens of certain countries.You may have been up late watching an epic Super Bowl finish, and missed the fact that major American technology companies are joining the court fight to oppose President Trump’s travel restrictions on the citizens of certain countries.
■ A bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials also filed court documents opposing the ban.■ A bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials also filed court documents opposing the ban.
■ Mr. Trump will receive a military briefing in Tampa, Fla., before returning to Washington on Monday.
■ Vice President Mike Pence may have to be summoned to the Capitol to break a tie and save the nomination of Betsy Devos as education secretary.■ Vice President Mike Pence may have to be summoned to the Capitol to break a tie and save the nomination of Betsy Devos as education secretary.
It’s official: Silicon Valley really, really despises Mr. Trump’s immigration order.It’s official: Silicon Valley really, really despises Mr. Trump’s immigration order.
Overnight, 97 companies — most of them technology firms, including Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft — filed a legal brief arguing that the ban is unconstitutional and harms the interests of American businesses.Overnight, 97 companies — most of them technology firms, including Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft — filed a legal brief arguing that the ban is unconstitutional and harms the interests of American businesses.
The brief, filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is blunt and direct. The ban, it says, “hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace; and gives global enterprises a new, significant incentive to build operations — and hire new employees — outside the United States.”The brief, filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is blunt and direct. The ban, it says, “hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace; and gives global enterprises a new, significant incentive to build operations — and hire new employees — outside the United States.”
The legal brief is a remarkable statement of unity from the country’s technology firms, many of whose businesses rely heavily on foreign workers. And it is a shot across the bow for Mr. Trump, foreshadowing a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley leaders over the next four years. It is a remarkable statement of unity from the country’s technology companies, many of which rely heavily on foreign workers. And it is a shot across the bow for Mr. Trump, foreshadowing a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley leaders over the next four years.
Mr. Trump weighed in this morning with a Twitter message that said several recent polls were wrong and that Americans supported his position.
And the president said his decisions were driven by data.
The companies were not the only ones joining in opposition. Susan E. Rice, former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, was among the leaders of a petition signed by a bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials.The companies were not the only ones joining in opposition. Susan E. Rice, former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, was among the leaders of a petition signed by a bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials.
Mr. Trump begins his week with a quick stop at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa for his first photo opportunity as commander in chief.
Heading back to Washington after a long weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, Mr. Trump will receive briefings from commanders at the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command, both located on the base. He will also have lunch with troops there, give a speech and meet with Gov. Rick Scott of Florida.
The visit will give Mr. Trump a less grim military moment than last week, when he traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the remains of William Ryan Owens, a team leader in the Navy SEALs who was killed in an operation in Yemen.
The president plans to return to Washington in the early afternoon, amid reports of chaos inside his White House.
Mr. Pence may be called on to save Mr. Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Betsy Devos.Mr. Pence may be called on to save Mr. Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Betsy Devos.
In case of a tie in the Senate, Mr. Pence may have to cast the 51st vote to confirm Ms. DeVos as education secretary over vociferous, now bipartisan objections. The Senate could vote on her nomination as late as Tuesday.In case of a tie in the Senate, Mr. Pence may have to cast the 51st vote to confirm Ms. DeVos as education secretary over vociferous, now bipartisan objections. The Senate could vote on her nomination as late as Tuesday.
The Capitol has been flooded with thousands of calls and messages from constituents, many of them urging senators to vote against Ms. DeVos. Still, it looks unlikely that more Republicans will defect.The Capitol has been flooded with thousands of calls and messages from constituents, many of them urging senators to vote against Ms. DeVos. Still, it looks unlikely that more Republicans will defect.
It would be the first time a vice president casts a tiebreaking vote on a cabinet nomination, said Betty K. Koed, the Senate historian.It would be the first time a vice president casts a tiebreaking vote on a cabinet nomination, said Betty K. Koed, the Senate historian.
Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska thrust Ms. DeVos’s nomination into question last week when they became the first two Republicans to declare their opposition to her. Should the Democratic caucus vote as a bloc, their votes would set up a 50-50 tie that Mr. Pence would have to settle in his capacity as president of the Senate.Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska thrust Ms. DeVos’s nomination into question last week when they became the first two Republicans to declare their opposition to her. Should the Democratic caucus vote as a bloc, their votes would set up a 50-50 tie that Mr. Pence would have to settle in his capacity as president of the Senate.