Administration’s DEI Rollback Efforts Paused by Federal Judge

Late on Friday, a federal judge in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction pausing certain elements of the Trump Administration’s two recent executive orders (“EOs”) addressing “illegal DEI programs.” The two EOs, Exec. Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (the “J20 Order”) and Exec. Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (“J21 Order”), … [Read more…]

The State Department says it has reviewed over 6,000 of USAID’s foreign assistance grants, and only 500 of them will continue

The State Department says it has reviewed over 6,000 of USAID’s foreign assistance grants, and only 500 of them will continue, NPR’s Fatma Tanis tells Up First. The programs being kept include food and lifesaving assistance for HIV, TB and malaria. A humanitarian official told Tanis that “this is a global health massacre.” Aid groups … [Read more…]

Serbian authorities raid critical CSOs, cite Trump administration’s statements on USAID

BELGRADE – Serbian police entered the offices of four civil society organizations (CSOs) this morning to collect information on the possible misuse of USAID funds, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade stated. This institution confirmed it had formed a case based on the claims of several officials of the United States that USAID funds … [Read more…]

Trump administration says it has canceled most foreign aid contracts

President Donald Trump’s administration said in a court filing on Wednesday it has made final decisions terminating most U.S. foreign aid contracts and grants, while maintaining it cannot meet a court-ordered 11:59 p.m. EST (0559 GMT) deadline to pay for past work. The filing in Washington, D.C., federal court , opens new tab came in … [Read more…]

State Department Completes Foreign Funding Review, Identifying 15,000 Grants Worth $60 Billion for Elimination

‘The effort will balance genuine humanitarian relief with the need to use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests at home and abroad,’ internal memo says President Donald Trump’s State Department completed its review of U.S. foreign aid, identifying nearly 15,000 grants worth $60 billion for elimination, an internal memo reviewed by the Washington Free … [Read more…]

Fired USAid workers and HIV activists hold ‘die-in’ to protest Trump and Musk

Dozens of demonstrators lie down in government office building to warn against dismantling foreign aid agency Fired USAID employees and advocates for people with HIV staged a protest in a Capitol office building on Wednesday, warning that Donald Trump’s drive to dismantle the agency tasked with implementing Washington’s foreign aid agenda imperils the fight against … [Read more…]

As ‘Layoff Anxiety’ Rises, Here’s How to Safeguard Your Finances

U.S. workers are starting off the year feeling pretty glum about their job security. Perhaps it’s because waves of layoffs at Meta and across the federal government have been dominating headlines in recent weeks. The release of the second season of the dystopian workplace drama Severance may also be contributing to the fear of getting … [Read more…]

One Voice for America’s Foreign Relation – New Trump Executive Order Calls for ‘Reform’ to the U.S. Diplomatic Corps

Failure to faithfully implement the president’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation,” the order says. One Voice for America’s Foreign Relation By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:      Section 1.  Purpose.  Article II of … [Read more…]

New NIH policy: Pitt faces big cut in federal research money

The University of Pittsburgh will see about $183 million less in government research funding — overall at least a 25% cut — under a new National Institutes of Health directive that went into effect Friday, a policy change that could chill Western Pennsylvania’s meds and eds economy. The cuts affect research universities nationwide, a move some … [Read more…]