The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk during President Trump’s second term, has been dissolved with its functions absorbed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), according to OPM Director Scott Kupor. Musk’s departure and the subsequent exodus of staff were expected following the expiration of his contract. Despite DOGE’s claims of substantial savings, reports suggest inflated or overstated figures, and many former staffers have moved on to new roles within the government. Initiatives like the hiring freeze, implemented by DOGE, have also been discontinued.
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Under the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” nursing has been removed from the definition of a “professional” degree, and the Grad PLUS loan program is slated for elimination. This means that students pursuing post-baccalaureate nursing degrees will face new borrowing limits. These changes have caused significant concern within the nursing community. Several organizations, including the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, have expressed their opposition and worry about the impact on the existing nursing shortage. Despite this outrage, the Department of Education has refuted claims of the changes by calling the reporting “fake news”.
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The Department of Education, under the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” has excluded nursing from the definition of a “professional degree,” which could limit student nurses’ access to crucial funding. This decision, eliminating Grad PLUS loans and capping borrowing amounts for graduate students, has raised alarm among nursing organizations, who claim it will harm patient care. Despite concerns over the impact on an already strained nursing workforce, the Education Department dismissed criticisms, citing a consistent definition of professional degrees. This exclusion also affects other fields, while programs like theology are still deemed “professional,” raising questions about the criteria.
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Under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Department of Education is implementing changes to student loan reimbursement, with the “Repayment Assistance Plan” (RAP) replacing previous programs. A key factor in determining reimbursement is whether a degree is considered “professional,” leading to concern as several degrees, including nursing, are excluded from the list. This reclassification could significantly impact students pursuing these degrees, as they may receive less financial aid, potentially deterring them from entering high-demand professions and possibly exacerbating workforce shortages. Various stakeholders are criticizing the exclusion of these professions, arguing it contradicts the traditional understanding of “professional” and could have detrimental effects on public health and other critical sectors.
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A leaked 28-point peace plan drafted by the Trump administration, revealed by Axios, proposes significant concessions from Ukraine. The plan, which includes territorial losses, limitations on the Ukrainian armed forces, and a commitment to not joining NATO, is being pushed on an “aggressive timeline”. The plan envisions the de facto recognition of Crimea and parts of the Donbas region as Russian territory, while also freezing the situation in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The document, which was discussed with both Ukrainian and Russian officials, outlines a comprehensive non-aggression agreement and envisions the reintegration of Russia into the global economy.
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A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to end the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., citing the president’s illegal intrusion on local law enforcement authority. The court found that while the president can protect federal assets, he cannot unilaterally deploy the D.C. National Guard for crime control. The judge has put the order on hold for 21 days to allow for an appeal. This decision follows a lawsuit from D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and other court challenges regarding similar deployments in other cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon.
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The Trump administration is proposing new rules to weaken the Endangered Species Act, which environmental groups claim will endanger vulnerable species. The Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service plans to roll back key provisions that had been in place for decades. Environmental groups argue that these changes could allow the government to disregard science and approve projects that destroy habitats, potentially accelerating the extinction crisis and that these revisions would also reduce requirements for other federal agencies to consult with wildlife agencies.
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The indictment alleges that Weinstein, using the alias Mike Konig, defrauded numerous investors out of approximately $35 million by falsely claiming investments in goods like Covid-19 masks and aid for Ukraine. This alleged fraud was made possible by a presidential pardon in 2021, which released Weinstein from a 24-year prison sentence for previous fraud convictions. These earlier schemes involved real estate and a fraudulent pre-IPO Facebook investment that had defrauded investors out of millions of dollars. Weinstein was among 143 individuals pardoned by the former president, which included other notable figures like Steve Bannon and Lil Wayne.
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The Trump administration removed the congressionally mandated “Not One More Report” on missing and murdered Native Americans from the Department of Justice website nearly 300 days ago, citing compliance with an executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The report, produced by the Not Invisible Act of 2020, aimed to provide solutions and educate the public on the crisis affecting Indigenous communities. Senators who championed the legislation, like Catherine Cortez Masto, expressed outrage and have reached out to the administration to have the report restored. The report detailed recommendations for alleviating the crisis, and its removal has been criticized as a misclassification of tribal nations and a lack of understanding regarding the issue.
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John Q. Hosedrinker