The U.S. Department of Education is planning to fire almost half of its workforce, the department announced. The 1,300-person layoffs were announced by the department on Tuesday, describing Education Secretary Linda McMahon as “an important step in restoring the greatness of the US education system.”
In a post on X, McMahon said: “Today’s (power reduction) reflects efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed to students, parents and teachers where they matter most.”
After the latest layoffs, department staff said in a statement that it would be about half of the previous 4,100. Another 572 employees have already accepted “voluntary resignation opportunities and retirements” in the past seven weeks, according to the department. Newly laid-off employees will be placed on administrative leave next weekend.
US Education Division fires 1,300 people to Trump vows to close agents
The announcement that the U.S. Department of Education intends to fire almost half of its workforce is filled with quick denunciations from democratic and progressive officials. Texas representative Greg Casal wrote in a post on X that the person in charge is “stolen children to pay for the billionaire tax cuts.”
Trump campaigned on a promise to shut down the Department of Education, claiming he was overtaken by “extremists, enthusiasts and Marxists.” At McMahon’s confirmation hearing, she said that while Congress alone had the authority to abolish the agency, there may be deadlines for reductions and reorganization.
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Trump is returning Canadian tariffs by 50% after Tart Day
Donald Trump has announced that he has doubled Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50% in retaliation for Ontario’s surcharge for 25% extra charges on several U.S. electricity exports.
Tuesday was marked by confusion as the US and Canada escalated the trade war. The White House confirmed with Reuters that the White House will face all its allies and US suppliers with new tariffs of 25% on all imported steel and aluminum scheduled to come into effect midnight Wednesday.
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When Kyiv accepts a 30-day ceasefire deal, the US
Ukraine said it was ready to immediately accept a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia as it announced it would immediately resolve restrictions on military aid and sharing intelligence news after high stakes talks in Saudi Arabia.
Donald Trump said he hopes Vladimir Putin will return and forth. If the Russian president did, it would mark its first ceasefire in more than three years since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Judge blocks Trump administration plans to cut millions for teacher training
A federal judge in Boston on Tuesday blocked the Donald Trump administration’s plan to cut hundreds of millions of dollars to train teachers, finding that the cuts have already impacted training programs aimed at addressing a nationwide teacher shortage.
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Judges stop Louisiana’s first execution for the first time in 15 years
A federal judge has halted Louisiana’s first execution using nitrogen gas, scheduled for next week. U.S. District Judge Shelley Dick issued a temporary injunction Tuesday, stopping the state from quickly proceeding with the state’s execution, which would have been Louisiana’s first execution in 15 years. Attorney General Liz Maril said the state would immediately oppose the decision.
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The White House says Columbia University is refusing to shop students because of arrest
The Trump administration said Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security has identified people on campus for arrests after Columbia University detained prominent Palestinian activists and recent Columbian alumni over the weekend.
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House Republicans pass Trump-backed spending bill
House Republicans on Tuesday pulled out a vote near the party to curb the looming government shutdown and pass a controversial fundraising bill to ship to the Senate, which will still face a difficult battle.
The Trump-backed bill passed 217-213, with Kentucky representative Thomas Massey throwing the only Republican “no” vote. Maine Democrat Jared Golden joined the Republicans and supported the measure. The StopGap bill will fund the government through September.
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Trump says he’s buying Tesla in a boycott of masks
Donald Trump said he was buying a “brand new Tesla” and blamed the “radical left-handed man” who was “illegally” boycotted. The announcement comes one day after Tesla’s worst stock price fell nearly five years.
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What happened today:
At Tuesday’s promotional event for Elon Musk’s Tesla electric vehicle at the White House, Trump refused to drive one of his cars and scoffed at the idea that his predecessor, Joe Biden, did that at a similar event. There’s a video of Biden in August 2021 at an event promoting an electric vehicle that is reportedly angry about masks being ruled out beyond anti-union policies.
Elon Musk “is not a serious man,” and US fighter pilot and astronaut Mark Kelly, the owner of Tesla and called him a “traitor” to help fight against Russian invasion forces after closing down Donald Trump’s allies.
Former Democrat Rep. Katie Porter has announced that she will be taking part in California’s 2026 governor’s contest.
Perkins Koy, a well-known law firm, is trying to punish him with an executive order, suing the Trump administration in federal court on Tuesday, saying he cannot “permit clients to bully them.” The March 6 executive order took the company’s security clearance and access to federal buildings to lawyers, saying the government would review contracts with the company’s clients.
