Every federal agency, program, and institution being shut down — filtered through the lens of what it means for HBCU students and Black and Brown communities.
Egg prices have dropped since Trump took office, but agriculture experts attribute high prices to avian flu outbreaks that devastated poultry flocks. New Trump administration tariffs and escalating tensions with Iran are creating additional economic pressure on farmers and could destabilize food costs.
NOAA is scaling back research on a powerful El Niño currently driving extreme weather worldwide. During the last major El Niño, federal agencies expanded research to improve forecasting. This time, they're cutting back despite the potential to save lives through better predictions.
The federal government is shifting more of SNAP's operational costs onto states, reducing federal funding for the infrastructure that runs the food assistance program. This means states will have to cover a larger share of administrative expenses — eligibility systems, caseworkers, outreach — potentially leading to cuts in service delivery.
American Oversight, a watchdog group, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states but failed to produce records supporting that claim when requested under FOIA.
The union representing EPA employees (AFGE) is suing EPA management for terminating their collective bargaining agreement, claiming leadership used Trump's executive order stripping federal workers' bargaining rights as cover to retaliate against employees who publicly criticized EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appointed Elon Musk to co-lead a government taskforce examining the future of warfare. This marks Musk's return to a formal government role after his controversial stint leading the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE), which targeted federal programs and workforce for cuts.
The Trump Department of Justice indicted 10 individuals in Minnesota on charges related to noncitizen voting. This represents the latest effort by senior administration officials to amplify voter fraud narratives during midterm election season.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a 20% reduction in general and admiral positions during a 'State of the Force' address at Quantico, framing the cuts as essential restructuring of military leadership. The address introduced several new Defense Department initiatives while defending the leadership downsizing as necessary for departmental reform.
Mark Priebe, Trump's nominee for Education Department Inspector General, defended the president's mass firing of watchdog officials and has shown pro-Trump social media activity. This continues rapid leadership turnover at the office meant to provide independent oversight of federal education programs and spending.
The Trump administration is redirecting $175 million from the State Department's human rights fund to support far-right causes including a $40 million anti-communism fund, white Afrikaner rights groups in South Africa, and campaigns against Brazil's supreme court. This represents a fundamental redefinition of what the U.S. considers 'human rights' work abroad.
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that President Trump colluded with the DOJ to manipulate a lawsuit against the IRS. The case involved a Florida judge's finding that the administration improperly coordinated legal strategy to seek $10 billion in damages from the IRS, then deliberately dismissed the case.
A federal judge extended a temporary block on USDA's plan to relocate employees and reorganize the department. The judge pointed to a new Congressional provision requiring USDA to get approval from House and Senate appropriations committees before any reorganization moves forward.
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report suggesting gender-affirming care 'may' lead to radicalization, marking another attempt by the agency to undermine established transgender healthcare protocols. Critics argue the report delegitimizes transgender identity and frames it as a threat without scientific basis.
Montana began enforcing Medicaid work requirements on October 1, 2024, months ahead of a January 1, 2025 national rollout. Recipients must prove they are working, volunteering, or studying to maintain health coverage. The early implementation is creating confusion and anxiety among patients navigating new bureaucratic requirements.
President Trump announced a voluntary agreement with major tech companies to self-regulate AI development through internal and external reviews. This replaces the Biden administration's executive order on AI safety and governance with industry-led oversight instead of federal standards.
A federal judge ended a 23-year consent decree overseeing the Oakland Police Department, the longest such arrangement in U.S. history. The oversight began after officers known as the 'Riders' were exposed for planting evidence, falsifying reports, and using excessive force primarily against Black residents in West Oakland.
Trump announced a 'morally binding' (non-enforceable) AI agreement with major tech CEOs following a White House luncheon, calling it the 'Joint Commitment On Frontier Responsibilities.' He also issued an executive order officially rebranding 'artificial intelligence' as 'superintelligence.'
The Treasury Department announced it will automatically enroll over 60 million children under 18 in 'Trump Accounts,' a new investment program that no longer requires parental opt-in. The policy shift means families will be enrolled by default into these government-managed investment vehicles.
The White House launched America.gov, a new AI-powered centralized website for federal services. An executive order now requires federal agencies to integrate their services into this single digital platform.
Major AI companies signed a voluntary, non-binding pledge at the White House to self-regulate their development of advanced artificial intelligence systems. The agreement, announced by President Trump and Speaker Johnson, contains no enforcement mechanisms and relies entirely on industry cooperation.
Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee for over four hours regarding his investigation into President Trump, including charges related to the Mar-a-Lago documents case. Separately, the Supreme Court authorized the Trump administration to resume deportations to third countries.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that six federal agencies refused to provide records proving whether Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) followed data security rules when accessing federal systems. Two agencies went further, challenging GAO's legal authority to investigate DOGE's access at all.
The CDC reported a second measles death amid a nationwide outbreak affecting 47 states with over 3,600 confirmed cases. Pennsylvania alone has reported over 900 cases and four deaths, while HHS Secretary RFK Jr. disputes state-level data reporting, creating confusion during a public health crisis.
Trump's latest tariff policy is headed back to court after the Supreme Court blocked his first attempt to invoke emergency powers for a global trade war. He's now citing a different law, and legal challenges are mounting again as advocates argue the tariffs exceed presidential authority.
The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, backed by the NCAA, aiming to impose federal rules on athlete eligibility, transfers, and compensation amid ongoing legal challenges to college sports' traditional structure. The bill's future in the House and with the President remains uncertain.
Vice President JD Vance, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and boxer Mike Tyson are headlining the second 'Make America Healthy Again' summit in Washington, D.C. The event concludes with a conversation between Vance and Kennedy about health policy direction under the current administration.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has made it easier for federal agencies to award performance bonuses up to $25,000 to top-performing employees, while simultaneously capping the percentage of federal workers who can receive the highest two performance ratings in fiscal year 2026.
NASA and Boeing are holding a briefing on the future of the Starliner spacecraft after its first crewed mission faced significant technical problems. The update will cover plans for future crewed flights to the International Space Station.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is meeting privately with President Trump at the White House for dinner. Amodei has publicly raised concerns about AI safety risks, while Trump has recently dismissed such concerns.
Major tech companies are allegedly manipulating EPA air pollution permit applications to avoid stricter emission controls and public scrutiny of their datacenter projects. Environmental groups warn firms are splitting up emission sources artificially to stay under thresholds that would trigger more rigorous federal review and pollution controls.
Bill Gates called for federal regulation of artificial intelligence development, warning that unchecked AI could lead to catastrophic consequences including mass casualties. The Microsoft co-founder told NBC that self-regulation of AI technology is insufficient and requires government oversight.
President Trump told an MS Now reporter to 'be quiet' while defending his administration's decision to bar CNN from Air Force One press pool coverage. The White House is escalating restrictions on media outlets it deems critical of the administration.
Former Kennedy Center employees claim leadership deliberately halted waterproofing repairs months before citing those same leaks as justification for closing the venue. Whistleblowers provided Congress with internal documents contradicting the board's stated reasons for the sudden shutdown.
Pennsylvania is experiencing a major measles outbreak with 55 new cases reported in just two days, bringing the total to over 173 hospitalizations and four deaths. Less than 1% of those infected had been vaccinated, as health officials scramble to contain spread across multiple counties.
President Trump rejected a seven-day ceasefire proposal from Iran and indicated military strikes against Iran could resume after midterm elections. The proposal would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.
The U.S. and China reached an agreement to reduce tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods traded between both countries and establish a formal communication channel to manage AI-related incidents. The deal came during Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to Washington, part of an eight-point consensus aimed at stabilizing the world's two largest economies.
President Trump delivered remarks at the United Nations openly discussing potential military annihilation of Iran, marking a dramatic departure from how previous U.S. presidents have publicly discussed the use of American military force on the world stage.
Some states use Medicaid funds to deliver medically tailored meals to patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Research shows these programs reduce hospital readmissions and lower healthcare costs, but proposed federal Medicaid cuts could force states to eliminate them.
President Trump unilaterally cancelled nearly $1 billion in federal funding using a rarely-used process called 'pocket rescission' that bypasses Congress. The cuts gutted Health and Human Services programs serving undocumented immigrants, unaccompanied minors in legal proceedings, and specifically targeted HHS's Office of Minority Health.
President Trump canceled nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending using contested executive authority. The cuts target immigrant services and diversity-focused initiatives, with the White House claiming it's eliminating 'harmful government spending.'
The Trump administration has rescinded a policy that sent mass layoff notices (reduction in force or RIF notices) to thousands of federal employees during the 43-day government shutdown in fall 2024. This reversal comes as part of a settlement agreement with federal employee unions who challenged the administration's actions during the shutdown.
The Office of Personnel Management removed a controversial essay question asking federal job applicants to name their favorite executive order after a federal court ordered them to stop. The new question tests applicants' ability to follow instructions instead of their political alignment with the current administration.
The Office of Special Counsel declined to discipline federal agencies that posted partisan messages blaming congressional Democrats during last year's government shutdown. These messages appeared on agency websites and employee out-of-office replies, but OSC issued warnings against future 'derogatory' political messaging.
Sen. Susan Collins is pushing the Trump administration to spend over $1 billion in global health funding that Congress already approved before it expires on Wednesday. The money is sitting unused while OMB Director Russell Vought and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have yet to release it.
White House border czar Tom Homan defended ICE's expanded immigration enforcement operations, declaring the agency will continue its current approach despite public scrutiny. The statement came during a speech at the Justice Department focused on violent crime victims.
The Department of Homeland Security falsely flagged 185 Nevada voters as non-citizens, all of whom state officials confirmed were legal U.S. citizens. This error came after Donald Trump's July speech claiming DHS data showed non-citizen voting, raising concerns about deliberate voter intimidation tactics disguised as election security.
ICE attempted to deport a Peruvian asylum seeker to the Central African Republic despite a federal appeals court ruling that explicitly blocked the Trump administration from sending migrants to third countries. The 1st Circuit Court had to intervene again to clarify its own order was being violated.
The Senate Finance Committee advanced Chris Klomp's nomination as HHS Deputy Secretary with a 15-12 vote, including one Democratic crossover. Klomp is currently a senior adviser at HHS and will move to a floor vote for confirmation.
The Trump administration is scattering Education Department staff across multiple federal agencies, claiming it's part of dismantling the department. But employees report the moves are creating more bureaucracy and making it harder to serve students — not eliminating the department as promised.
NIH funding under the Trump administration has experienced significant disruptions, with cuts affecting biomedical research labs across the country. Scientists are reporting lab closures, job losses, and halted research projects as federal research dollars become increasingly uncertain.