On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to close the Department of Education and transfer its functions to state and local authorities, citing federal education control as a failure. The executive order criticizes the $200 billion spent during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing poor academic outcomes, with “This year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress 70 percent of 8th graders were below proficient in reading, and 72 percent were below proficient in math.” The order also suggests there are inefficiencies within the department, which manages over $1.6 trillion in student loans with a small staff, which has fewer than 1,500 in its Office of Federal Student Aid. The order directs the Secretary of Education to “ensure that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds is subject to rigorous compliance with Federal law and Administration policy.” It also mandates that federal education funds comply with policies addressing issues like “illegal discrimination obscured under the label “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.” According to Trump, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will handle the entirety of the student loan portfolio moving forward, which includes $1.6 trillion in loans for approximately 43 million students. In a statement on X, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said, “As the government’s largest guarantor of business loans, the SBA stands ready to deploy its resources and expertise on behalf of America’s taxpayers and students.” However, those resources are set to be significantly reduced, as the SBA announced on Friday that it plans to cut its workforce by over 40%.
Detained Georgetown Professor Badar Khan Suri
A federal judge has blocked the deportation of Georgetown University Professor Badar Khan Suri, who was detained outside his home in Virginia by “masked federal agents who identified themselves as part of the Department of Homeland Security” on March 17. U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled that Suri, an Indian national, cannot be removed from the U.S. “until the Court issues a contrary order.” However, Suri has not yet been released. The government accuses Suri of spreading Hamas propaganda, a claim his lawyers deny. Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown, was in the U.S. on an educational or cultural exchange (J-1) visa. A lawsuit filed by Suri’s attorneys claims that the Trump administration is targeting him because of his wife’s Palestinian identity and their support of the Palestinian movement. Suri is currently being held in an immigration detention center in Louisiana.
Homeland Security Makes Cuts to Civil Rights and Immigration Oversight Offices
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is cutting jobs as part of a broader federal workforce reduction. The offices affected include the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, “These offices have obstructed immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles and undermining [the department’s] mission.” The cuts are intended to streamline operations and better support the department’s core missions.. These reductions are part of a wider federal workforce reduction plan. In response, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns, warning that reducing staff in the CRCL could impair DHS’s ability to uphold civil rights protections and meet legal obligations.
European Countries Warn their Citizens About Traveling to the United States
Several European countries, including Germany, the UK, Denmark, Finland and Canada, have updated their travel advisories for citizens visiting the U.S., urging strict compliance with entry rules to avoid detention. Germany’s Foreign Office stated that an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) authorization or a U.S. visa does not guarantee you entry, while the UK warned that you “may be liable to arrest or detention.” Finland and Denmark highlighted the risks for travelers with non-binary gender markers, with Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs citing President Trump’s executive order stating the U.S. now only recognizes two genders, and that mismatched gender markers on passports may result in visa or travel permit denial. These warnings could impact tourism, with a report by Tourism Economics predicting a $22 billion annual loss due to potential declines in Western European travel.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, News Editor: Deeya Gupta, Sports Editor: John Lindroos
