Trump signs executive order aimed at ‘eliminating’ Education Department ‘once and for all’: Live updates
President claimed giving control of education to states will halve costs and improve standards
Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “begin eliminating” the Department of Education in favor of leaving decision-making up to individual states. Some programs, such as special needs and student loans, will be preserved and eventually rehomed in other departments.
The policy, which was recommended in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 manifesto that Trump once distanced himself from, will reportedly see former wrestling boss McMahon instructed to undertake “all necessary steps to facilitate the closure… and return education authority to the states.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has frozen $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) over opposition to a transgender swimmer’s participation in the institution’s training program.
It has also sparked a fresh diplomatic spat with France after it was accused of denying entry to the U.S. to a French research scientist after immigration officers searched his phone at an airport and found messages critical of the president.
Itching for a major battle with the courts, Trump is playing a dangerous game
“If presidents can do whatever they want, including putting people on a plane and sending them to prisons in a foreign country with no due process whatsoever, then really, who are we?” legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance wrote this week. “We are inevitably headed, whether it’s in this case or another, to a confrontation between a president who has rejected the rule of law and a judge sworn to enforce it. We are in an exceedingly dangerous moment for democracy.”
Read the rest of John Bowden’s report:
Trump is itching for a major battle with the courts — but it’s a dangerous game
Minnesota lawmaker who introduced ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ bill resigns after soliciting a minor charge
A Minnesota State Senator who made headlines for introducing a bill to label “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a mental illness, has resigned after he allegedly tried to meet up with a police officer who posed as a minor.
Senator Justin Eichorn was arrested Monday night around 6 p.m. for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution, according to a statement from the Bloomington Police Department.
Katie Hawkinson and Andrew Georgeson have the details.
Lawmaker who introduced ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ bill charged with prostitution
Trump administration deported Venezuelan asylum seeker over Real Madrid tattoo
Jerce Reyes Barrios, described by his attorneys as a professional soccer player and a youth soccer coach, fled Venezuela for the United States after he was arrested and “tortured” by “election shocks and suffocation” for marching in demonstrations protesting Nicolas Maduro’s regime.
He doesn’t have a criminal record, and a judge is scheduled to hear his asylum claims next month, according to his attorney.
But last week, Barrios was put on a plane with dozens of other Venezuelan men and sent to a prison in El Salvador.
Alex Woodward reports.
Lawyers for asylum seekers fear Trump administration deported them for their tattoos
Zelensky defies Trump, warning: Hands off my nuclear power stations
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that “all nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine” after reports that his US counterpart Donald Trump said an American takeover of the country’s nuclear power would offer the “best protection” for it.
In their first conversation since Mr Trump verbally attacked Mr Zelensky in the White House and had him thrown out, the US president reportedly suggested Washington take ownership of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
But Kyiv says the discussions referred only to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian occupation.
Jane Dalton reports.
Zelensky defies Trump, warning: Hands off my nuclear power stations
Elon Musk responds after Jimmy Kimmel mocks him over Tesla fires
Jimmy Kimmel has mocked Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO complained that people protesting his electric car company must have “some kind of mental illness.”
Musk, 53, was being interviewed on Fox News when he described protestors as “deranged.” The comments come after an onslaught of arson attacks have hit Tesla showrooms.
The late-night host tried to explain to the billionaire what was happening, as Kevin E G Perry reports.
Elon Musk responds after Jimmy Kimmel mocks him over Tesla fires and Nazi salutes
Musk's vision of Mars trip in near future not happening 'anytime soon'
A NASA advisor is taking billionaire Elon Musk’s Mars plans to task, writing Thursday that the highly ambitious endeavor won’t happen “anytime soon.”
Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has repeatedly stated that getting humans to Mars is his end goal. Speaking on Fox News this week, he predicted that a multi-planetary civilization could come as soon as the next 20 to 30 years. Previously, he had predicted that an uncrewed landing on the red planet could happen as soon as 2026, with humans there before 2030.
Not so fast, says Dr Paul Sutter...
Here’s Julia Musto’s report.
Scientist bluntly blasts Musk’s hope to go to Mars in the coming years
Report: Republican senators want Musk and DOGE to keep away from Social Security
Billionaire Elon Musk’s repeated attacks on Social Security are reportedly causing disquiet among Republicans, who fear any cuts to the welfare service by his Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, will lead to disruption and inspire an angry backlash from their constituents.
Joe Sommerlad reports.
Republicans want Elon Musk to stay away from Social Security
New York granted 30-day extension to end Manhattan congestion pricing zone
President Donald Trump's administration announced on Thursday an extension of 30 days for New York to end Manhattan's congestion pricing program, originally set to expire on March 21 and which began in January.
In February, the U.S. Transportation Department rescinded federal approval of the program, which had been issued under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on Thursday that the department would grant a one-month extension as discussions continue, but he cautioned on X: “Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check. Continued non-compliance will not be taken lightly.”
Read Duffy’s post in full:
Musk must choose between Tesla and Trump says major investor
An early investor in Tesla has called for Elon Musk to leave his post as the company’s CEO if he doesn’t depart from his current job focusing on cutting down the federal government.
Ross Gerber told Sky News that Musk has lost his focus and that he’s now too “divisive,” pointing to Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk’s slashing of federal agencies has prompted outrage and protests against Tesla, with owners being urged to sell their vehicles.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Major Tesla investor says that Elon Musk should step down as CEO
GOP lawmakers get donations from Musk after supporting judge impeachments,
Elon Musk is sending money to members of Congress - including Lauren Boebert - who have expressed support for impeaching judges blocking actions by President Donald Trump and his administration, five people told The New York Times.
Musk has handed the largest possible hard-dollar donation under the law, $6,600, to the seven Republicans and their campaigns after they backed impeachments of judges or called for “action” to be taken against them. This comes after recent rulings against the Trump administration, such as a decision over the weekend by Judge James Boasberg in the Federal District Court in the nation’s capital.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
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