President Trump signed an executive action yesterday to start shutting down the Education Department, which could hurt low-income and rural schools. And, this week’s new music, movies and books.
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President Trump signed an executive action yesterday to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The administration has promised that certain federal education grants, including for low-income and rural schools, would be preserved. However, today, nearly all the statisticians and data experts who help get that money to schools could be out of a job.
???? The action essentially tells U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps toward eliminating the department to the maximum extent possible, NPR’s Jonaki Mehta tells Up First. The National Center for Education Statistics, the agency that will have all but three staff workers eliminated, works on “formula grants.” States and districts primarily decide what to do with these funds. For example, Title I and rural school grants could be used to pay for school staff salaries, transportation costs, technology and extra tutoring.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg will try to get answers from the Department of Justice today in a hearing about the Venezuelan migrants who were deported to El Salvador. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act last weekend to target alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang he claims is invading the U.S. Planes with over 250 people were sent to El Salvador. The flights happened even though Boasberg ordered the government to turn around any planes already in the air.
