Trump’s Executive Action Threatens Education Department Staff

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Top News Highlights

President Trump initiated a significant change by signing an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. While the administration assures that certain federal education grants for disadvantaged and rural schools will remain intact, the future of nearly all statisticians and data professionals involved in fund allocation could be uncertain.

• 🎧 The directive instructs U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to undertake all feasible measures to reduce the department’s role as much as possible, reports NPR’s Jonaki Mehta on Up First. The National Center for Education Statistics, which focuses on “formula grants,” will be significantly impacted, retaining only three staff members. These grants provide essential funding that states and districts can use for salaries, transportation, technology, and tutoring.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is set to question the Department of Justice today over the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. Utilizing the Alien Enemies Act, Trump targeted alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Over 250 individuals were removed via flights to El Salvador, despite Boasberg’s order to halt such flights already in the air.

• 🎧 The Justice Department was required to submit additional details about these deportations yesterday. Yet, Boasberg claims the department has sidestepped its duties. He is investigating potential non-compliance with his directives, according to NPR’s Ximena Bustillo. In response, the Trump administration denies disobedience and has called for Boasberg’s impeachment.

A recent National Transportation Safety Board report criticizes Maryland officials for not conducting essential evaluations prior to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, following a cargo ship collision last year. The board warns of additional at-risk bridges.

• 🎧 The NTSB’s analysis revealed that the bridge’s risk level was 30 times above the industry standard, emphasizes Scott Maucione from NPR’s WYPR. As ships have grown in size, these evaluations have become crucial, examining vessel traffic, speed, and loading characteristics. Almost 70 bridges nationwide don’t meet necessary specifications, prompting the NTSB to urge bridge owners to undertake assessments and propose remediation plans.

Today’s Listen

Television isn’t just a human pastime; dogs also enjoy unwinding with a snack and some screen time. But do they engage with it like humans do? Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are exploring this, having surveyed over 1,200 dog owners. Findings suggest dogs respond most to animal images, especially dogs. This is why reactions to Flow, featuring a mix of animals, are trending on social media. Veterinary ophthalmologist Freya Mowat joined Morning Edition to discuss why such films appeal to pets.

Weekend Picks

Discover this weekend’s cultural highlights from NPR:

🍿 Movies: With a new Disney movie premiering, it’s time to hit the theaters. This weekend, don’t miss out on five much-anticipated films.

📺 TV: In the comedy series The Studio, Seth Rogen portrays a Hollywood executive who unexpectedly becomes the head of a movie studio.

📚 Books: This week, new literary releases, including Suzanne Collins’ much-awaited Sunrise on the Reaping, have hit the shelves. Dive into these five new reads here.

🎵 Music: Indie band Japanese Breakfast’s latest album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), is out now. Explore today’s new music releases here.

🎮 Gaming: Released yesterday, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has received a review from NPR’s James Perkins Mastromarino, who shares his impressions of the game.

❓ Quiz: I missed two questions today, including one about Ben & Jerry’s. Hopefully, with this info, you can score perfectly.

3 Things to Know Before You Go

1. Two individuals were convicted in the U.K. for their role in the 2019 theft of an 18-karat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, worth $6 million.
2. The Boston Celtics are poised for a record-breaking sale at $6.1 billion, marking the largest North American sports franchise sale ever. New owners plan to take over this summer. (via GBH)
3. Director Carl Erik Rinsch faces charges of defrauding Netflix of $11 million while working on a never-finished TV series, having allegedly misused the funds for personal investments.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.