Trump’s presidential transition

More give Trump an F than any other grade for first 100 days, poll finds

Nearly half of Americans give President Trump a failing grade for his presidency so far, with near record low approval ratings at this point in the job, as he hits the milestone 100 days in office.

5 takeaways from the week — from a softer approach on trade to Hegseth in hot water

After much volatility because of Trump's trade war, the stock markets responded positively to a softened tone toward both China and the Fed chair. This, plus four more takeaways from this week.

With federal funding on the line, school leaders weigh Trump DEI order

The Trump administration has told states they have until April 24 to promise to end DEI programs in K-12 schools, or risk losing federal dollars.

Families say school civil rights investigations have stalled after federal cuts

The U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights investigates discrimination in schools. It recently lost more than 40% of its staff.

DOGE abruptly cut a program for teens with disabilities. This student is ‘devastated’

The program, Charting My Path for Future Success, aimed to help teens with disabilities transition from high school to the real world. It abruptly ended when DOGE terminated its federal contract.

How will the deep cuts at the Centers for Disease Control affect global programs?

The U.S. agency has not released information on what global programs were cut this week. NPR spoke to current employees who provided exclusive details.

How the Education Department helps students with disabilities get an education

Special education laws and the U.S. Department of Education have evolved together over nearly five decades. Now, the Trump administration seems to want to separate the two.

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.