Trump’s presidential transition
6 things borrowers should know about federal student loans right now
NPR has spent the past few weeks catching up with student loan experts and asking the Trump administration for clarity on some of borrowers' biggest questions.
Signal chat fallout, tariff tension — and 3 more takeaways from Trump’s week
Here, five takeaways from a week when the Trump administration has had to deal with the Signal chat leak, announced new tariffs and made more deportations.
Pete Marocco tried to upend USAID in 2020 — and failed. In 2025, he dismantled it
This Trump administration official was a key figure in the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development — and will help set the agenda for the future of foreign aid.
Pentagon restores webpages of Black veterans, Navajo Code Talkers and others after outcry
A Pentagon official not authorized to speak publicly said its review to scrub websites of DEI content was too hasty and also used search terms like "gay," leading to the flagging of Enola Gay images.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, gets his Senate hearing
Dr. Mehmet Oz is set to appear before the Senate Finance committee Friday for his confirmation hearing to be the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
What parents, teachers and school choice groups think of Education Department cuts
Teacher unions and some parent groups condemned the cuts, while school choice advocates celebrated them.
U.S. Education Department switches to remote work amid talk of layoffs
The announcement further unsettled department employees who have spent the past several weeks anticipating sweeping staff cuts.
The short history of Trump’s tariff chaos — and more that happened this week
It was a week that saw not only more twists in the tariffs saga but also Trump's big Hill address, the suspension of aid to Ukraine, more firings at agencies, and more. NPR keeps track, day by day.
Trump prepares order dismantling the Education Department
The draft executive action, obtained by NPR, acknowledges the department and its signature responsibilities were created by Congress, and cannot legally be altered without congressional approval.
Linda McMahon has been confirmed as Trump’s secretary of education
The White House has been clear that it intends to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and that it will be McMahon's job to oversee that effort.
1 thing that upended years of U.S. foreign policy — and other big Trump developments
Three years after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the U.S., in a split with its European allies over the war, sided with Russia at the U.N.
Musk says work to stop Ebola was accidentally cut but restored. Experts raise doubts
Elon Musk said USAID's "Ebola prevention" was "accidentally canceled" but "immediately" restored. Health specialists following the current outbreak in Uganda raise doubts about the restoration.
Musk says federal workers should expect another round of ‘pulse check’ emails
President Trump warned federal workers who did not reply to recent emails asking them to describe "five things" they accomplished are "on the bubble" suggesting they are at risk of losing their jobs.
Why Dean Karlan, chief economist of USAID, resigned on Tuesday
He was hired in 2022 so the aid agency could get 'more bang for our buck' with its projects. He tried to reach out to help in the rebuilding of the agency. On Tuesday he tendered his resignation.
Trump suspends the head of ‘The Nation’s Report Card’
Peggy Carr, a federal official who leads one of the country's most extensive student testing programs, known as The Nation's Report Card, was placed on administrative leave.
Judge tells Trump administration it has less than 2 days to resume USAID funding
U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali said officials have provided no evidence of compliance with repeated orders to unfreeze the money.
Trump administration backs off requiring response to ‘What did you do last week?’ email
"No one knows what we are supposed to do," said one federal employee amid conflicting and shifting directives on whether to comply with Elon Musk's directive to list five accomplishments.
Federal workers feel betrayed and alone in Trump administration’s chaotic purge
Mike Macans is one of an unknown number of Small Business Administration employees who were fired, unfired and fired again as part of the Trump administration's deep cuts to the federal workforce.
Trump officials will put 4,700 USAID employees on leave and eliminate 1,600 jobs
The decision comes in the wake of a judge's ruling that such a move will not cause irreparable harm to the employees. There will be exceptions for several hundred employees in roles deemed critical.
In case you missed it: Here’s what happened with Trump this week, from Ukraine to DOGE
NPR rounds up what happened this week, the fourth week of President Trump's administration, and takes a look at some developments that have been overlooked.
Senate confirms Kash Patel, fierce critic of FBI, to head the bureau
Republicans welcomed Kash Patel's confirmation, seeing him as someone who can fix the FBI's alleged targeting of conservatives in recent years.
As the U.S. steps back from global health, what role will China play?
With the U.S. withdrawing from the World Health Organization and rethinking foreign aid, China has an opportunity to play a bigger role — with different goals.
A military vet and a scientist were securing America’s food system. Trump fired them
More than 10,000 federal employees who had yet to complete their probationary periods have been fired by the Trump administration, including those who work to protect American agriculture.
DOGE released data about federal contract savings. It doesn’t add up
A new government tracker claims DOGE has saved billions from ending federal contracts. But an NPR analysis of the data finds the claimed savings don't add up.
Trump officials will not restart most foreign aid despite court order
A judge last week ruled that the freeze on foreign aid must be reversed. But Trump's USAID team responded that many contracts give them the right to halt funding.
A former NASA scientist has big dreams for his small business. Will Trump dash them?
Ryan Dowdy, a former NASA food scientist, won a USDA innovation grant to further develop a meal replacement bar for first responders. Trump's freeze on government awards has jeopardized those plans.
A judge orders a temporary thaw to Trump’s foreign aid freeze. What will that mean?
He wrote that there was no explanation "why a blanket suspension of all congressionally appropriated foreign aid" is needed to review programs. But how funds will start flowing again is unclear.
A federal worker tried to take Trump’s ‘Fork’ resignation offer. Here’s what happened
Liz Goggin, a social worker with the Veterans Health Administration, took the offer to resign in exchange for pay and benefits through September. Then she learned her position was exempt.
This week in DOGE: Elon Musk’s role in overhauling ‘America, Inc.’
Elon Musk has emerged as a key figure in President Trump's plans to reshape the government. Here's a recap of this week with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team he leads.
What’s happening with the anti-HIV program PEPFAR? It depends whom you ask
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has been the subject of a series of presidential orders and memos that have left uncertainty about how it operates.
A judge extends the pause on Trump’s plan to put USAID workers on leave
A federal judge has ruled to continue for another week the freeze on the Trump administration's plan to put thousands of staffers for the U.S. Agency for International Development on paid leave.
Trump’s pick for secretary of education is Linda McMahon. Here’s what to know
McMahon's confirmation proceedings are likely to focus on how she would handle Donald Trump's plans to dissolve the U.S. Education Department.
