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The Situation Room

Latest Job Report Stronger than Expected; Challenges to Trump's Military Transgender Ban; Trump's First 100 Days: DOGE. Aired 10:30- 11a ET

Aired May 02, 2025 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:30:00]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning. The latest jobs report is out and it is stronger than expected. The economy added 177,000 jobs last month. That is 40,000 more than expected. The unemployment rate is unchanged at 4.2 percent.

Joining us now is Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Hi, Secretary. Thank you so much for speaking with us. First off, what is your reaction to this new jobs report?

LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER, LABOR SECRETARY: Well, we beat expectations. So, this is an exciting day for the American worker. You know, we knocked it out of the park last month and to beat expectations this month is great, not only for the American economy, but for all Americans.

BROWN: Are you surprised by it, given all the turmoil of the -- for the month of April?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Not surprised at all. You know, this administration has created over almost a half a million new jobs. So, this is in line with what we wanted to see, you know, with the investments and the repatriation of a lot of these businesses, we're seeing that investment in the workforce.

And as I've kicked off my 50-state tour it's been incredible to see the confidence go up. And as we see the American worker manufacturing jobs go up, transportation jobs grow up, construction jobs month over month. So, this is good for the American economy.

BROWN: Let me just ask you on the jobs front. We are seeing, you know, the 177,000 added in April, but also, there's a lot of jobs open. There's nearly half a million manufacturing jobs open, for example, that employers just can't find workers to fill, which is also notable because the tariff policy, the underpinning of it is to bring in manufacturing jobs. So, what are you doing to combat that problem?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, certainly, working with the president. I'm glad you asked this because this is the reason the president nominated me. It's to go out and understand exactly what, you know, the American business needs, what the American worker needs, what the American Union worker needs.

We've been on the road. We want to make sure that we're having our workers skilled, reskilled, and trained up and ready to go. That's what we've heard during this America at Work Tour. People want to know that they have a workforce ready to go. And as we see the manufacturing jobs come back with the investment of these companies -- and listen, the executive order a million new apprentices is what the president wants. That's what I want. And we're working hard to deliver on that as well, so that that pipeline is also fueled and ready to go.

BROWN: But just to follow up on that, because a lot of these open jobs in the manufacturing front, they were open before some of this investment that was announced that hasn't even been implemented yet. So, what specifically is the plan for these businesses to give the workers the skills or to incentivize the workers to fill all of these manufacturing jobs that are open right now in the United States?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, there's a couple things we can point to, market demand. What is exactly needed. You know, I was just in California visiting with a business there and the economic development commission and understanding exactly what the community needs, listening to the American business, and they're telling us oftentimes, you know, there's a lot of skilled workers who've worked for several years. Maybe they're 27, 28, 29, they just need a little assistance in making a change. And so, a quarter turn.

And so, how can the Department of Labor as in that? We want to make sure that we're helping, you know, being good federal partners to our state partners, to our state-run businesses so that they can grow that work force. And again, as these companies invest in the American economy, they're going to be looking to the Labor Department to say, how can you assist in that?

I couldn't be more honored to be out on the trail and understanding exactly what they need and delivering on those promises to the American business and American economy.

BROWN: So, you are certainly painting a very positive picture as it pertains to, you know, the jobs, the jobs report, and the future on that front. President Trump is once again calling for the Fed to lower interest rates. But do you think this latest jobs report, stronger than expected, shows that that's not necessary at least yet?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, look at the participation rate, that's ticked up. Everything in this jobs report was positive. That's why you see, you know, all of us secretaries excited to work together in order to deliver for the American people.

[10:35:00]

Listen, President Trump has assembled a good team. I work with the secretary of commerce, secretary of education, secretary of treasury to understand the full picture so that we can deliver. And then, when I can come in right behind all of them after these trade deals, after the tariffs talks and build that workforce, that's what's key to a good team, and the president is leading that.

I know we've said this over and over again, the president promised that he would deliver the Golden Age. I'm telling you, it's here and it's here to stay.

BROWN: So, just to follow up then, do you not believe that interest rates should be cut because as you know, the president is once again calling for that?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, the president has run a well-oiled machine. I mean, he knows exactly what he's doing. He been a master negotiator. He will determine and he will talk to the people that he needs to talk to for the -- what's best for the American people.

Again, this is not a measured response. This is a positive response and we're seeing it. We saw manufacturing jobs, transportation, jobs, month over month. So, you know, unemployment is holding steady, that is also good for the American economy. So, the president has delivered over and over again and he's going to continue to do so, and he's going to do what's right for the American people.

BROWN: As you know, the jobs report is backward looking, it's not forward looking and some economists say that this sort of stronger than expected jobs report is probably not going to stick if the current tariff policy stays what it is, particularly as it pertains to China. How confident are you that a jobs report like this will continue?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Oh, I'm very confident. You know, the president and his tariffs talks was very clear, fair trade practices is what he promised the American people, and that's exactly what he is doing. I don't think it's a surprise to anybody who listened to the president on the campaign trail that he's now delivering on those promises.

He made a promise to the American people that he would grow this economy. It would be strong. My job in this equation is to deliver the American worker, labor, union workers. You know, we want to make sure that we can help our businesses comply with the laws, but we want to assist them in growing the economy. We want to be their allies, not their adversaries. That's why I am positive about this jobs report and I think it's going to continue to grow month after month.

BROWN: Right. But some union workers, you know, while many of them have been very supportive of President Trump, there has been some concern. I want to share the concern of dock workers on the West Coast. Those workers are expecting a drop of Chinese imports within days. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union released a statement saying, quote, "We demand fair trade policies that put working class Americans first. protect jobs, and reduce taxes on the American people, not trade policies dictated by a president's whims."

How do you respond to that?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, the president is certainly supported by a lot of the unions. That's who elected him. That's why he was so dominant in this win. I have been supported by the trade unions. We are going to protect the American worker. We want to make sure that they have the wages that they deserve and that they're protected.

And so, this sounds like -- that quote sounded exactly in line with the president. So, we're going to do everything we can to make sure --

BROWN: But they're criticizing the president.

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: -- that the workforce is strong across the sectors. No, exactly what you said, that we want fair trade practices, which is exactly what the president has done. I mean, the president has gone and negotiated with these other countries for these fair-trade practices. The transition time is right here among us, and we're seeing the workforce grow because of it. The president knows what's best for this economy. He's built a team to do so, and I'm looking forward to continue the work with him so that we can deliver the American -- to the American people with the promises that he made before.

BROWN: Before we leave, I just wanted to follow up on that because the union that I just talked about, yes, they said, we want fair-trade practices, but they are concerned, they feel like the trade practices are reckless and hurting them as it pertains to the Chinese trade war. But just to follow up quickly, a lot of Americans are really concerned about a recession happening. What is your concern on that front?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, certainly with the this jobs report, it's been positive. I'm not an economist, but I have surrounded myself and had discussions with my colleagues and I have great economists right here at the Department of Labor. We see no reason that a recession is anywhere near. And so, again, as we capitalize on what the president has enlisted us to do, is to be out on the ground, listen to the American worker, listen to the American unions, listen to the workforce and say, what is it that we need? And we're going to do everything we can to strengthen that workforce skill, reskill, and make sure that we have the workforce that delivers for American first.

BROWN: All right. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, thank you for speaking with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:00]

BROWN: Well, this morning we could learn if the Supreme Court will take up President Trump's ban on transgender Americans in the military. Several active-duty transgender service members are urging the court to reject Trump's enforcement of the ban, saying it would end distinguished careers and put holes in military units.

CNN Senior National Enterprise Correspondent MJ Lee, spoke with two soldiers challenging the administration in this Situation Room Special Report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MJ LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you remember the first time you put this on?

LT. NIC TALBOTT, TRANSGENDER U.S. ARMY RESERVIST: Yes, I do. This particular one was at basic training. I was starting to think I was never going to get to wear this. And here I am. And especially now, you know, getting to be a lieutenant and getting to wear my rank, I worked really hard for this.

[10:45:00]

LEE (voice over): Lieutenant Nic Talbott waited almost nine years to enlist in the U.S. military. Now he's the face of. Talbott versus Trump, a lawsuit that could determine whether transgender individuals can be banned from serving in the military.

MAJ. ERICA VANDAL, TRANSGENDER U.S. ARMY OFFICER: I've deployed before my transition, during my transition and after my transition. My ability to meet the standards, to maintain my readiness and my deployability has never changed throughout this time period.

LEE (voice over): For Army Major Erica Vandel, her 14 years as an active duty soldier now hang in the balance as she prepares for her next deployment to Iraq and Syria. Talbott and Vandel are among a group of transgender soldiers suing the Trump administration. They could get an answer as soon as Friday on whether the Supreme Court will allow President Trump's ban to go into effect while the cases make their way through the lower courts.

TALBOTT: I used to be in the Nicole Kathryn (ph).

LEE (voice over): Talbott began his transition from female to male as a teenager.

TALBOTT: This is from my mom's wedding. This is like -- probably like just shy of a year on hormones at that point.

LEE (voice over): In 2017, the first Trump administration's ban on transgender service members upended Talbott's plans to enlist.

TALBOTT: My phone just starts buzzing like crazy. And I'm not sure what's going on. And I remember my best friend Jessie (ph) being on his phone and him saying, you know, hey, Nic, I think we should probably pull over at this rest stop up here and maybe take a lunch break. You don't want to be driving when you hear this. I just kind of remember in that moment going, oh, my gosh, what am I going to do now?

LEE (voice over): At the time, Talbott had no choice but to put on hold his pursuit of enlisting. When the Biden administration lifted Trump's first ban, he started trying again. Talbott enlisted a year ago.

LEE: And how did that feel?

TALBOTT: Oh, obviously I still get emotional talking about it. It was like the most incredible feeling ever. At that point I'd been working for this for right around nine years.

LEE (voice over): He's now a lieutenant in the Army Reserve but doesn't know for how much longer because of Trump's ban.

TRUMP: To ensure that we have the most lethal fighting force in the world we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military. It's going to be gone.

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Get rid of all the DEI, all of the -- not transgender nonsense, all of the quotas, make this -- if you want to have different standards, fine, but have different standards for different jobs.

LEE (voice over): The Pentagon also said in a memo that "the department only recognizes two sexes: male and female. An individual sex is immutable, unchanging during a person's life."

LEE: The executive order says, quote, "adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual's sex conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life."

TALBOTT: Statements like that couldn't be farther from the truth. You know, I look in the mirror every day now and I go, yes, this is like -- this is the most Nic Talbott version we've ever had of Nic Talbott. It's just absolutely ridiculous to insinuate that trans folks and trans service members are, you know, going home and trying to pretend to be something that we're not.

LEE (voice over): Major Vandal's career is also in limbo.

LEE: If tomorrow you got the news that you could no longer be in the military, what would that do to you?

VANDAL: It -- it would be devastating.

LEE (voice over): Born into a military family, Vandal commissioned in 2011 as a lieutenant after graduating from West Point. She began her transition from male to female in 2021.

LEE: Was there anything you found physically more challenging after the transition?

VANDAL: Oh, sure. I think hormones can change a lot. I think there was definitely a reduction in muscle mass and everything associated with that. So, you do have to work harder in that regard.

LEE (voice over): After she transitioned, Vandal says her military duties and responsibilities remain the same, but she found herself pushing harder.

VANDAL: You kind of feel that need to prove that you do truly belong. So maybe you work that little bit extra, work that little bit harder just to -- just to prove you're still capable of meeting all the same expectations, you know?

LEE: You mean as a woman you feel like you have to prove yourself more?

VANDAL: Yes. And again, there's never been anything explicit associated with that. Maybe it's just my own self expectations.

LEE: So, the DOJ is arguing, without the Supreme Court taking action, the military will be, quote, "forced to maintain a policy that it has determined, in its professional judgment, to be contrary to the military readiness and the nation's interests." What do you think about that?

[10:50:00]

VANDAL: If anything, I think removing proven soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, proven leaders with very specific skill sets would be removing decades and decades of training that's gone into these people, millions of dollars invested in these individuals, and they'd be removing it for no reason associated with their ability to do their job or meet their standards.

LEE (voice-over): MJ Lee, CNN, Washington, D.C.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And coming up, our Situation Room special series on President Trump's first hundred days. Today, we break down Elon Musk and DOGE. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I'm Andy Scholes. Well, New York Knicks fans having themselves a good Friday. Jalen Brunson, he was named the Clutch Player of the Year this season, and he once again showed why in game six against the Pistons.

[10:55:00]

Late in this one, the series was heading for seven as Detroit had a seven-point lead with two and a half to go, but Brunson coming through once again with game tied at 113 crosses over. Soa Thompson hit the dagger three. Brunson finished with 40 points. Knicks closed the game on 11-1 run and win 116 to 113. They now move on to face the Celtics in round two starting Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JALEN BRUNSON, NEW YORK KNICKS GUARD: I don't want to like say it's going to be different, but obviously, we're playing against the defending champs next time. So, it's going to be a lot different. They have experience. The Celtics have experience. And playing these guys, they were just physical. They just -- they were -- they brought the fight to us and then we had to respond and then we did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. And tomorrow, we've got the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. Two-time Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert is back this year. He was suspended for the last three years after 2021 winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned substance. Baffert did have two horses in the race, Rodriguez and Citizen Bull, but Rodriguez was scratched from the race yesterday. Grande was then scratched this morning. Now, the favorite for the derby this year, a horse named Journalism. There's also a Publisher, another one of the favorites named Sandman. There is a good chance of rain tomorrow in Louisville. So, it could be a very muddy track. And if that's the case, you want the horses close to the rail.

But that's going to do it for me. More news will be coming your way after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:00]