Last updated 02/10/26 at 8:30pm MT
This page will update with the latest actions by the Trump administration and its Elon Musk-led advisory group, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to scale back federal government spending and programs.
Which departments have been cut? Where are the biggest rollbacks taking place? In which cases has a judge stepped in to block the Trump administration's moves? Find the latest updates below.
As of February 10, the cuts have eliminated roughly 71,981 federal jobs, according to Layoffs.fyi. This was revised down significantly in mid-April.
An executive order establishing DOGE, which Trump signed on his first day back in office, reformed a different government agency in the process. The order reads, "The United States Digital Service is hereby publicly renamed as the United States DOGE Service (USDS) and shall be established in the Executive Office of the President." DOGE is tracking claimed cuts on doge.gov. On Mar. 6, Trump told Cabinet secretaries that they're in charge of cuts, not Musk.
Some of the actions by the Trump administration have been challenged or reversed. Read the latest on these challenges here.
Did we miss something? Email us.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Elon Musk and State Department officials must sit for depositions over DOGE's dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
- New government data shows roughly 19,500 data, technology and telecommunications employees left their jobs within the last year.
- NBC News reported the Justice Department told a federal judge that two DOGE members working with the Social Security Administration (SSA) may have misused SSA data, possibly violating the Hatch Act.
- According to Science Magazine, roughly 10,109 STEM experts left their federal jobs in 2025, representing 14% of the total number of Ph.D.s employed at the end of 2024.
71,981 Federal Jobs Cut
Public Services
According to Layoffs.fyi, DOGE has cut over 71,981 federal jobs. Scroll down to see a list of the departments where roles have been cut.
- According to Science Magazine, roughly 10,109 STEM experts left their federal jobs in 2025, representing 14% of the total number of Ph.D.s employed at the end of 2024.
- Hundreds of employees from the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) were reinstated the to the coal workers' program this week after mass firings in April 2025.
- The Agriculture Department lost more than 20,000 employees between January and June, according to a report by the agency's inspector general.
- About 1,400 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the US nuclear stockpile, were furloughed amid the ongoing government shutdown.
- The Trump administration laid off 466 Education Department employees, reducing the office that deals with special education to only three workers.
- A judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off federal workers during the government shutdown.
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reinstating hundreds of employees that received accidental termination notices on Friday.
Details: President Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 11 directing federal agencies to work with DOGE to cut employees and scale back hiring. Over 75,000 have accepted buyouts, and tens of thousands of other roles have been eliminated, per ABC News (Lean Left). On Mar. 4, the Office of Personnel Management revised a memo to state that it's "not directing agencies to take any specific performance-based actions regarding probationary employees," but didn't reverse any firings. Still, some agencies have begun to rescind terminations.
Why? "You can't have an autonomous federal bureaucracy. You have to have one that's responsive to the people," Elon Musk said on Feb. 11. He branded bureaucracy an "unconstitutional" fourth branch of government that holds "more power than any elected representative." White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller said federal workers are "overwhelmingly left of center" and that buyouts were "essential" for Trump to "get control of government". Some Trump officials say the move could save up to $100 billion.
Opposition: The president of the National Treasury Employees Union said Feb. 11 that “the arbitrary firing of thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies outlined in tonight’s executive order would decimate government services critical to the American public.” AFGE, the biggest federal employee union, said the "arbitrary and capricious" buyouts violate federal law. Critics say losing many employees at once would significantly disrupt ongoing operations. Some are also expressing concern that foreign adversaries could move to hire some of the more specialized former employees.
Where Have Firings Happened?
Some of the firings include:
Watchdogs: Trump fired Inspectors General (IGs) from 17 different federal agencies on Jan. 24.
Military Branches: The judge advocates general for the Army, Air Force, and Navy were terminated, as was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Roughly 200 CFPB workers have been let go.
Social Security Administration (SSA): The SSA announced plans to fire 7,000 on Feb. 28.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The IRS laid off 6,700 workers on Feb. 20.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): "Several hundred" employees were fired on Feb. 17.
Food and Drug Administration: Roughly 20 researchers were reportedly fired over Presidents' Day weekend.
Health agencies: The CDC has shed one-quarter of its employees, with nearly 3,000 employees leaving the agency. At the National Institutes of Health, 1,165 employees were terminated. The Department of Health and Human Services has eliminated over 20,000 jobs.
Department of Defense: More than 5,000 employees have been removed, and another 50-60,000 are expected to be let go.
Department of Energy: Roughly 2,000 probationary workers were fired Feb. 13, according to Politico (Lean Left).
Department of Education: 1,315 workers were fired on March 11, in addition to 572 who accepted separation packages and 63 probationary workers were let go in February.
Department of Housing and Development: Roughly 780 employees have been let go.
Department of Homeland Security: DHS has fired 400 employees.
Department of Veterans Affairs: More than 2,400 employees have been dismissed as of Feb. 26.
National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service: More than 4,000 employees were fired, most of them new hires.
Environmental Protection Agency: The EPA has fired 388 probationary employees.
NASA: Around 1,000 probationary employees were fired from NASA, and another 750 accepted a deferred resignation, reducing the organization's size by 10%.
National Nuclear Safety Administration: The Trump administration originally planned to fire 300 of the agency’s 1,800 staff, but some are being retained.
General Services Administration: More than 100 people have been laid off.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID): More than 4,700 workers were put on leave, and another 1,600 were terminated.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Roughly 1,900 employees have been terminated.
U.S. Postal Service: The agency plans to cut 10,000 jobs.
More News Coverage:
Trump asks US Supreme Court to allow mass federal layoffs (Source: Reuters, Center)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Administration To Reinstate Nearly 25,000 Fired Federal Workers
Here’s Where Trump’s Government Layoffs Are Targeted—As Judge Orders Reinstatement Of Thousands Of Fired Workers (Source: Forbes, Center)
Federal Government Layoffs Tracker 2025: Latest DOGE Cuts So Far (Source: Newsweek, Center)
Fired, Then Rehired, by the Trump Administration (Source: New York Times, Lean Left)
Judge blocks Trump administration's mass dismissals of probationary federal employees (Fox News, Right)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Musk and Trump Admin Split on Firings, Causing Confusion and Criticism
Major VA Restructuring
Public Services
The Latest: The Dept. of Veterans Affairs is on track to eliminate 30,000 employees, down from previous plans to eliminate 80,000. "The Department of Veterans Affairs would see increased spending under the Trump administration’s budget plan for next year, but is still pursuing workforce cut," according to Federal News Network (not rated).
Why? “Our goal is to reduce VA employment levels to 2019 in strength numbers, roughly 398,000 employees, from our current level of approximately 470,000 employees,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said on Mar. 5. “Now that’s a 15 percent decrease. We’re going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries.”
Opposition: “Make no mistake, cancelling these contracts will cause harm to veterans and VA care and benefits,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in a statement. “And it is completely unacceptable there has been no transparency, accountability, or consultation surrounding these contracts."
More News Coverage:
VA ends plan for further layoffs after workforce drops by 30,000 (Source: Stars and Stripes, Center)
More than $220 million in contracts canceled by Musk and DOGE have been brought back (Source: The Independent, Lean Left)
US Department Of Veterans Affairs To Cut More Than 70,000 Jobs (Source: Barron's, Center)
Withholds to Funding for Schools Nationwide
Public Services
The Latest: "The Trump administration has withheld nearly $7 billion in federal funding that helps pay for after-school and summer programs, support for students learning English, teacher training and other services," according to The New York Times (Lean Left).
Why? According to Newsweek (Center), The White House and Education Secretary Linda McMahon have previously signaled their intent to reassess or cut these programs, citing the desire to align funding with the president's education priorities, including opposition to bilingual education and some diversity initiatives.
Opposition: ““Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they’ll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed,” Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat who is the vice chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement.
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Daily Bias Alert: Trump Admin Withholds Billions in Funding From Schools Nationwide
DOGE Moves to Sell Almost Half a Billion In Federal Real Estate
Public Services
The Latest: DOGE is planning to sell off major real estate in Washington, D.C., including several prominent cabinet agencies, to give the U.S. Treasury a boost in cutting the $36 trillion national debt. Current employees would be relocated.
Why? Fox News (Right) cited a Biden-era report that revealed about 7,700 federal offices are vacant, 2,200 are mostly empty, and annual maintenance costs for 277,000 federal buildings exceed $10 billion. It wrote, "Taxpayers shell out about $81 million to maintain underutilized or unutilized federal offices."
Opposition: The Associated Press (Left) reported on federal agencies across the country terminating leases in March, saying “Many of the terminations would affect agencies that aren’t as well-known but oversee services critical to many Americans."
More News Coverage:
‘For Sale’: DOGE moves to sell off almost half a billion in federal real estate, relocate cabinet agency HQs (Source: Fox News, Right)
DOGE may close hundreds of federal offices this summer (Source: Associated Press, Left)
Dept. of Education Faces Rollbacks
Public Services
The Latest: Republicans' spending plan reportedly calls to cut the Education Dept. budget by 15.3%. The department is canceling $1B in federal grants for school mental health services, citing claims that the contracts included DEI requirements.
Why? The Trump administration wants to give individual states more control over and responsibility for their education systems, as part of efforts to cut federal government spending. Some programs have been cut due to “questionable implementation” and purported financial waste.
Opposition: “Stripping the department of its resources and mission would be catastrophic for the millions of students in low-income communities who need educational services and support. Civil rights protections against discrimination based on race, gender, and disability would also be gutted,” the National Education Association said. Twenty-one Attorney Generals have sued the Trump administration for gutting the Department of Education. States like Massachusetts are calling the termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in education grant funding "illegal".
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Order to Dismantle Education Department
McMahon lays out Education Department ‘final mission’ to House appropriators (Source: Roll Call, Center)
AllSides Headline Roundup: What Happens if the Education Department Shuts Down?
The Department of Education approved a grant to help students with disabilities into adulthood. Then Trump came along (Source: Independent, Lean Left)
AllSides Headline Roundup: In First Step Towards Shutdown, Education Department Lays Off Half Its Staff
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Moves to Dissolve Education Department, Would Require Congressional Approval
Trump is weighing big cuts to US Education Department (Source: NPR, Lean Left)
Trump makes good on threat to try to dismantle Education Department (Source: Daily Mail, Right)
DOGE slashes over $100M in DEI funding at Education Department: 'Win for every student' (Source: Fox News, Right)
Treasury Changes, Data
Economic Regulation
Access to Data: On May 27, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that DOGE could access the Treasury Department's data on payments and people, saying the Trump administration created a sufficient process to train the DOGE staffers and prevent improper disclosures of private data. In February, Vargas blocked DOGE from accessing Treasury’s payment systems, saying the administration didn't “adequately consider” the risks of allowing the access.
BOI Requirement: The Treasury Department announced it is suspending all enforcement of the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement for US citizens, which was a section of the Corporate Transparency Act. President Donald Trump called the "Biden-era" rule "outrageous and invasive" and " an absolute disaster for Small Businesses." Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said they were "reining in burdensome regulations, particularly for small businesses that are the backbone of the American economy."
Opposition: Ian Gary, executive director of the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition said regarding a previous court ruling that ruled the Corporate Transparency Act unconstitutional: "This is a pro-crime, pro-drug cartel, pro-fentanyl ruling that undermines the rule of law and allows criminals to use anonymous shell companies to hide their dirty money from law enforcement. Close to a million law-abiding companies have already complied with the law." DOGE "has faced several lawsuits over its attempts to access sensitive and classified records at various government agencies, as well as over Musk’s unprecedented influence in the government as a temporary employee of the White House who has not been confirmed or vetted by Congress," according to the Washington Post (Lean Left).
Medicaid Cuts, Fraud
Public Services
Why? On May 11, House Republicans released a plan to cut Medicaid spending by $880 billion, including adding work requirements and eligibility checks. An opinion by former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal in Fox News (Right) argued that the bill would make Medicare more affordable and accountable.
The Latest: ‘There’s about $14 billion we’ve identified with DOGE, of folks who are duly enrolled wrongly in multiple states for Medicaid," said Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in late May.
Opposition: Some Republicans are against the cuts, while others say they don't go far enough. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) joined many Democrats in arguing against Medicaid cuts, saying, “If Congress cuts funding for Medicaid benefits, Missouri workers and their children will lose their health care. And hospitals will close. It’s that simple. And that pattern will replicate in states across the country.” The Wall Street Journal (Center) cast the bill as a "middle ground" proposal.
Cutting Gun Regulations
Other
The Latest: DOGE is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) general counsel to cut upwards of 50 gun regulations by July 4, according to Washington Post (Lean Left).
Why? The Trump administration wants to slash the agency’s budget and reduce the number of inspectors. “As Attorney General Bondi has made clear, ATF is working hard to reduce regulatory red tape that burdens lawful gun owners and to ensure agents are doing real police work hunting down criminals and gang members — not knocking on the doors of lawful gun owners in the middle of the night,” said Chad Gilmartin, a spokesman for the Justice Department, which oversees ATF.
Opposition: Some gun-control advocates fear that the changes will allow potentially dangerous people to obtain weapons more easily with little recourse.
More News Coverage:
DOGE Gets the Green Light to Slash Gun Regulations at ATF (Source: Gizmodo, Lean Left)
National Endowment for the Humanities Cuts
Other
The Latest: DOGE said it canceled $163M worth of grants from NEH, including "$350k for interactive gay travel guides to better understand historical LGBTQ+ spaces."
Why? Going forward, "NEH grants will be merit-based and awarded to non-DEI, pro-America causes," according to DOGE.
Opposition: "Critics say the deep cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities, which has supported research and learning at colleges since 1965, 'will ripple across American life,'" per Inside Higher Ed.
Canceling Federal Credit Cards
Other
The Latest: Beginning in February 2025, DOGE launched a program to "audit unused/unneeded credit cards across 32 agencies" that as of May 30 has resulted in the cancelation of ~523,000 cards. DOGE wrote, "As a reminder, at the start of the audit, there were ~4.6M active cards/accounts - we are now expanding the program to more agencies, as there is much more work to do."
Why?: DOGE said it aims to consolidate the number of federal card accounts and reduce administrative costs. President Trump later called for a 30-day freeze on agency employee cards via an executive order.
Opposition: Former DOJ lawyer Jessica Childress told Fortune (Center bias) in March, "These cards are the ways that many government workers are performing the duties they've taken an oath to perform. It facilitates the ability of these employees to do their jobs."
More News Coverage: DOGE Cuts Over 600,000 Credit Cards: What to Know (Source: Newsweek, Center)
Musk’s DOGE Tenure Ends
Other
The Latest: Elon Musk has officially concluded his tenure with Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration as his permitted tenure as a special government employee comes to an end.
Musk wrote on X, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President [Trump] for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
For Context: Being a special government employee exempts one from certain financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules that full-time government workers are subject to, but imposes a work limit of 130 days in a 365-day period.
Police Reform
Public Services
The Latest: On May 22, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it plans to roll back Biden-era oversight agreements with the police departments in Louisville, Kentucky and Minneapolis, Minnesota and move to dismiss lawsuits brought against each city's department for alleged unconstitutional violations. It also indicated it would be closing investigations into constitutional violations in six other cities that include Phoenix and Memphis.
Why? The DOJ criticised the Biden administration for enacting "sweeping" agreements "that would have imposed years of micromanagement" of local police departments by federal courts. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the DOJ said the agreements were "handcuffing" local police units.
Opposition: The mayors of Louisville and Minneapolis both said they would move forward with reform plans, despite the likely dismissal of the agreements.
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Admin Announces Rollback of Biden-era Police Reforms
Trump administration to scrap police reform measures in some US cities (Source: BBC, Center bias)
Grant Cuts at DOJ
Public Services
The Latest: On May 14, The Daily Wire (Right bias) reported that "the Department of Justice is taking funds that it formerly granted to groups supporting transgender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and using these funds to support United States law enforcement."
Why? The Justice Department said it was terminating grants that “no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities.”
Opposition: Many of the grant programs support crime victims, fight human trafficking, and protect incarcerated youth.
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: DOJ Cuts $811 Million in Grants
US cancels hundreds of grants for police, crime victims, Justice Dept documents show (Source: Reuters, Center bias)
Tribal Libraries Lose Funding
Other
Why? Over a hundred publicly-funded libraries on federally recognized tribal lands were informed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the agency responsible for funding small libraries and museums nationwide, that grants appropriated to them by Congress had been terminated, according to an IMLS spokesperson.
A letter from the US government to a tribal grant writer obtained by NBC News (Lean Left) read, “IMLS has determined that your grant is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program. IMLS is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda.” The letter was signed by Trump-appointed acting director of the IMLS and Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.
Opposition: The American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, sued Sonderling, Trump and DOGE last month over the cuts.
The Latest: U.S. District Judge Richard Leon temporarily barred the Trump administration from making more cuts to the IMLS and an injunction granted later in a separate lawsuit from 21 state attorneys general established that the IMLS can't be further downsized.
Library of Congress Shakeups
Other
Why? The Trump administration fired Congress' Librarian Carla Hayden without giving her a reason, though later White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters "There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children." Hayden, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2016, was set to finish her term next year. She was the first woman and the first African American to hold the position.
Opposition: Democratic leaders expressed discontent with the move.
The Latest: Shortly after firing Hayden, the Trump administration fired US Copyright Office leader Shira Perlmutter. The Office operates under the Library of Congress.
National Park Funding Cuts
Other
The Details: The Interior Department is reportedly finalizing plans to cut another 1,500 staff from the National Park Service. The Trump administration proposed reducing the budget funding for American public spaces like national parks, monuments, historic sites, seashores and trails from $4.8 billion to $3.6 billion. Many of these would be turned over to the jurisdiction of states, according to USA Today (Lean Left).
The cuts would reportedly include:
- $900 million from park service operations.
- $158 million from historic preservation.
- $77 million to reservation and preservation funding.
- $73 million from national park construction.
Opposition: Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association said, “This is the most extreme, unrealistic and destructive National Park Service budget a President has ever proposed in the agency’s 109-year history." Jennifer Rokala, of the self-described "nonpartisan" Center for Western Priorities said, "Handing over national park sites to states is a non-starter. States can’t afford to manage them, so the inevitable outcome is the closure, then privatization of our most treasured public lands."
IRS Changes
Economic Regulation
The Latest: More than 3,600 agents who collect tax payments have left the agency, according to a watchdog report.
Why? "President Trump is answering Americans’ fears of a supercharged Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with an executive order halting the hiring of federal employees until his Administration determines that it is in the national interest to do so," said a statement from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO). "This includes curtailing the onboarding of tens of thousands new IRS agents called for by Democrats in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act."
Opposition: "Yes, more complex audits will decline," said an analysis from Kilpinger (not rated). "But that means the IRS will focus on the low-hanging fruit, exams that agents conduct solely through correspondence. But good luck in getting a reply to correspondence that you send to the IRS, even if your letter is in reply to an IRS notice. Taxpayer assistance will also suffer, including the phone lines."
More News Coverage:
IRS Lost 31% of Tax Auditors in DOGE Downsizing, Watchdog Finds (Source: Bloomberg, Lean Left)
IRS issues advice as natural disaster season approaches (Source: Newsweek, Center)
Department of Labor Changes
Other
The Latest: On May 6, DOGE said the Dept. of Labor cut "$13.6M in wasteful DEI grants totaling $8.4M in savings. The Guardian (Left) reported speaking to Department of Labor employees who said 20% (approximately 2,700) employees resigned in light of the Trump administration's recent cuts and buyout offers for government employees. The Guardian elevated perspectives of workers upset with the administration's "government efficiency" efforts.
Why? The Heritage Foundation (Right) and other conservative organizations have called for the department to be significantly scaled back.
Opposition: "A 'catastrophic' exodus of thousands of employees from the US Department of Labor threatens 'all of the core aspects of working life,'" The Guardian reported.
USDA Cuts $1B in Local Food Programs
Public Services
The Latest: The Latest: On April 29, DOGE said it cut Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) grants "totaling $2.5B in award value". Roughly $500 million has been cut from the Local Food Purchase Assistance program (LFPA), and $500 million may also be cut from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
Why? A USDA spokesperson said “these programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency.” DOGE has highlighted how some of the money is going toward things like "$150k for 'gender lensed curricula designed to be transdisciplinary in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences'" and "$100k for 'climate resilience and sustainable agriculture in Ghana'."
Opposition: “We’re anticipating we’re going to see greater need as more folks lose government jobs and benefits, which includes SNAP and Medicaid, and as inflation continues to have an impact on price of these items,” said a food bank director in Washington state. “It’s really a perfect storm of factors impacting food supply and we’re seeing shortages.” Politico (Lean Left) said Biden’s administration intended the programs “to build a more resilient food supply chain that didn’t just rely on major food companies,” and that the cut comes as school nutrition officials are “increasingly anxious” about affording healthy food for students. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) said the move “will hurt Georgia kids and Georgia farmers.”
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: USDA Cuts $1B From Programs for Schools and Food Banks
USDA is withdrawing a proposal that sought to reduce Salmonella in poultry (Source: NBC, Lean Left)
USDA Directs States to Make Sure Illegal Immigrants Don’t Receive Food Stamps (Source: Epoch Times, Lean Right)
Research, Science Grant Funding Cuts
Other
The Latest: The Department of Energy (DOE) and National Institutes of Health have moved to reduce the rate of overhead they pay as part of research grants for universities. DOGE said it worked with the U.S. National Science Foundation to cancel 402 "wasteful" diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants, claiming the move will save $233 million.
Why? “The purpose of [DOE] funding to colleges and universities is to support scientific research – not foot the bill for administrative costs and facility upgrades,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. DOE says the move will save over $400 million.
Opposition: Per Science Magazine (not rated):
DOE’s directive does contain one new—and puzzling—element. It declares it will “terminate all grant awards to [academic institutions] that do not conform with this updated policy,” which is effective immediately. “Recipients subject to termination will receive separate notice and guidance,” it adds.
Science lobbyists say they are baffled by that language. DOE awards the indirect costs along with the research grant, so institutions have no control over how much they receive—and therefore no power to violate the new policy, noted one senior administrator who requested anonymity because they hadn’t had time to fully analyze the policy.
More News Coverage:
Trump Intends to Cancel All Federal Funds Directed at Harvard (Source: New York Times, Lean Left)
Trump Administration Cancels Scores of Grants to Study Online Misinformation (Source: New York Times, Lean Left)
Trump threatens to move $3B in federal grants from Harvard to trade schools (Source: Axios, Lean Left)
US cuts another $60m in grants to Harvard University (Source: Al Jazeera, Lean Left)
As Harvard Battles Trump, Its President Will Take a 25% Pay Cut (Source: New York Times, Lean Left)
Trump administration terminates another $450 million in grants to Harvard (Source: Reuters, Center)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Harvard Sues Trump Admin Over Frozen Funding
Energy Department reduces funding for grants to colleges and universities (Source: Washington Post, Lean Left)
DOGE abruptly cut a program for teens with disabilities. This student is 'devastated' (Source: NPR, Lean Left)
Trump Administration Irate at Harvard, Plans to Pull Additional $1 Billion in Funding (Source: Wall Street Journal, Center)
Trump administration bars Harvard from future research grants (Source: Al Jazeera, Lean Left)
State Department, UN, and NATO
Foreign Policy
The Latest: In mid-April, Sec. of State Marco Rubio put forth a plan to "eliminate 132 domestic offices, cut around 700 positions in Washington, DC, and close offices focused on war crimes and global conflict" at the State Department, per CNN (Lean Left).
Why? The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has proposed halving the budget for the Department of State. This includes eliminating all funding for most international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO headquarters, and other diplomatic missions.
Opposition: The New York Times (Lean Left) reported quotes from critics Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), the top Democrat on the appropriations committee. Shaheen said, “Why in the world would we cut funding for NATO at a moment when war is raging in Europe and security threats on the continent grow?” Schatz said, “While ultimately Congress controls the purse strings, recent reports about the administration’s plan to gut State Department personnel, U.S. presence overseas and foreign assistance are deeply troubling. These cuts don’t make America safer, they risk our security."
More News Coverage:
State Department plans deeper-than-anticipated staff cuts (Source: Defense One, Center)
Trump Admin Launches the Biggest Shake-Up ‘In Decades’ at the State Department (Source: Free Press, Lean Right)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Admin Proposes Halving State Dept. Budget, Including NATO and UN Funds
AmeriCorps Cuts
Public Services
The Latest: Roughly 75% of full-time AmeriCorps employees have been placed on administrative leave. Gov. Newsom sued DOGE over the cuts.
Why? "The agency has received roughly $1 billion in taxpayer funds every year, the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee previously found, but had failed eight consecutive audits across the past decade," per Fox News (Right).
Opposition: “The work we perform for the American public is vital and we’ve now been stripped of our ability to do that,” an AmeriCorps employee placed on leave told POLITICO (Lean Left). “I worry about the impact that this will have on grantees, members, and volunteers who have committed themselves to providing service for Americans.”
More News Coverage:
Newsom sues DOGE over AmeriCorps cuts, saying it ‘gives the middle finger to volunteers’ (Source: Politico, Lean Left)
DOGE Targets AmeriCorps Community Service Program (Source: TIME, Lean Left)
Trump admin guts AmeriCorps, Clinton-era volunteer agency that failed 8 consecutive audits (Source: Fox, Right)
Cuts, Layoffs at HHS
Public Services
What Happened: The Trump administration announced it would fire 10,000 full-time employees and close half of its regional offices. Previously, the administration cut National Institute of Health grants that support research institutions, whcih amounted to $4 billion annually. DOGE also posted on X that it had canceled $182 million worth of HHS contracts, which it said were entirely for administrative expenses, not health care programs. In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eliminated 1,300 probationary jobs, including half of its Intelligence Service officers who serve for two years on the front lines of public health responses.
Opposition and Support: The Association of American Medical Colleges said the decision to cut grants is “harmful and counterproductive” and would “diminish the nation’s research capacity,” urging the Trump administration to rescind the order. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) said she would work with the administration to protect research: "A smart, targeted approach is needed in order to not hinder life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions like those in Alabama.”
The Latest: The Trump administration, in an internal memo, laid out $40 billion in HHS cuts. HHS has become the latest federal agency to offer buyouts. Most of HHS's 80,000 employees received an email offering a $25,000 buyout for "voluntary separation," which they must choose whether to accept by Mar. 14. HHS is expected to cut a further 20,000 jobs across all departments. All 25 staffers for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program were also fired.
More News Coverage:
CDC rehires 450 employees fired from HIV prevention, environmental centers (Source: Washington Examiner, Lean Right)
Federal judge extends block on HHS termination of billions in public health funds (Source: The Hill, Center)
Trump Administration Proposes Sharp Budget Cuts for H.H.S. (Source: New York Times, Lean Left)
Utility bill assistance program hit by federal staff cuts (Source: Center Square, Lean Right)
How HHS gets DOGE’d (Source: Politico, Lean Left)
CDC's "disease detectives" halved as part of DOGE cuts at health agencies (Source: CBS News, Lean Left)
Mass firings at HHS: Up to 5,200 probationary workers will be dismissed, reports say (Source: Fierce Healthcare, Not Rated)
Key safety hotlines disrupted by HHS cuts (Source: Axios, Lean Left)
‘We are flying blind’: RFK Jr.’s cuts halt data collection on abortion, cancer, HIV and more (Source: Politico, Lean Left)
In a reversal, the Trump administration restores funding for women's health study (Source: NPR, Lean Left)
NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know (Source: NPR, Lean Left)
Trump budget proposes drastic cuts for US scientific research (Source: Reuters, Center)
Democratic-led states sue to prevent Trump from gutting health agencies (Source: Reuters, Center)
Trump Ends Federal Funding of Gain-of-Function Research, Citing Covid-19 Pandemic (Source: National Review, Lean Right)
Trump nixes CDC infectious disease advisory committee: Report (Source: The Hill, Center)
Trump health cuts create ‘real danger’ around disease outbreaks, workers warn (Source: The Guardian, Left)
CFPB Layoffs on Hold
Economic Regulation
Why? "The [Consumer Financial Protection] Bureau’s current balance of $711.6 million is in fact excessive in the current fiscal environment," said the new head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought. "This spigot, long contributing to CFPB’s unaccountability, is now being turned off."
Opposition: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said Vought was "giving big banks and giant corporations the green light to scam families."
The Latest: On April 18, a federal judge in Washington D.C. halted the planned firings of nearly 1,500 employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. On Feb.1, Vought ordered most of the nearly 1,700 CFPB employees to stop a majority of their work. On Feb, 13, between 70-100 employees were laid off from CFPB. Those laid off were term employees, meaning their positions were for a set length of time. The terminations follow 73 employees laid off earlier that week. On Feb, 16, a judge blocked Trump's mass layoffs.
More News Coverage:
Federal judge orders halt to Trump admin's CFPB terminations (Source: Fox News, Right bias)
Russell Vought takes the helm at CFPB as Musk's DOGE accesses key systems (Source: NPR, Lean Left bias)
Congressional watchdog investigating Trump efforts to dismantle CFPB (Source: The Hill, Center bias)
DEI Workers Placed on Leave, Initiatives Paused
Public Services
The Latest: The NAACP sued the Department of Education on April 15, accusing it of illegally cutting funding to schools that have diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Removing All "DEI" Workers: "The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military," reads a Jan. 20 executive order.
Environmental Protection Agency: Per Bloomberg (Lean Left): "The EPA on Thursday put 168 employees within its environmental justice office on administrative leave as the Trump administration executes presidential actions to roll back diversity initiatives... The agency "is in the process of evaluating new structure and organization to ensure we are meeting our mission of protecting human health and the environment for all Americans."
Military Academies: “Our Service Academies have been infiltrated by Woke Leftist Ideologues over the last four years. I have ordered the immediate dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard,” Trump said on Truth Social. “We will have the strongest Military in History, and that begins by appointing new individuals to these Boards. We must make the Military Academies GREAT AGAIN!”
Universities: In March, the Trump admin paused $175M in federal funding to UPenn over its inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports. It's also investigating 50+ other schools for alleged discrimination against white and Asian American students.
Opposition: Critics are concerned that pausing federal DEI work would significantly weaken efforts to strengthen equity. "A lot of what we did in DEIA, specifically at the Labor Department, was to ensure that we were creating pathways to good paying jobs," said Alaysia Black Hackett, former chief diversity and equity officer at the Labor Department. "Our strategy was to build an economy for all workers." Some say the move violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: "[Federal workers] are protected from either opposing discrimination or participating in any proceeding or activity related to opposing discrimination."
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Admin Investigates DEI Practices at Over 50 Universities
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Directs Government DEI Employees to be Placed on Leave
Trump Dismantles Environmental Justice Team, Staff Put on Leave (Source: Bloomberg, Lean Left)
Social Security Changes
Economic Regulation
The Latest: The Social Security Administration said beneficiaries will continue to have the ability to complete identity checks over the phone, reversing a previous announcement.
Why? The Trump administration has cited issues with overpayments, payments to "dead people", issues with living people being marked as dead, and more. It's moving to implement stricter identity verification measures.
Opposition: "Retiree advocates warn that the change will negatively impact older Americans in rural areas, including those with disabilities, mobility limitations, those who live far from SSA offices and have limited internet access," according to AP (Left).
More News Coverage:
Social Security Chief Says Musk’s DOGE Figures Heavily in Agency’s Plans (Source: Wall Street Journal, Center)
Social Security announces major change to filing claims (Source: Newsweek, Center)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Social Security Administration Implementing In-Person Identity Verifications
Social Security employees warn of benefit delays (Source: Newsweek, Center)
Inside the DOGE Threat to Social Security (Source: New Yorker, Left)
Social Security Administration preempts DOGE cuts with $25,000 ‘early out’ option (Source: Washington Examiner, Lean Right)
DOGE Cuts Update: 'Major Cleanup' of Social Security Nears Completion (Source: Newsweek, Center)
Cuts to Media Agencies
Public Services
The Latest: Trump is planning an executive order to cut funding for NPR and PBS (both Lean Left).
Why? NPR QUOTE Among the cuts was the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees state media outlets Voice of America (VOA) (Center bias) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Trump nominee Kari Lake called USAGM “pound-for-pound the most corrupt agency in Washington DC.” On April 1, the Institute of Museum and Library Services placed its entire staff on administrative leave.
Opposition: In a statement, NPR said: "Eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would have a devastating impact on American communities across the nation that rely on public radio for trusted local and national news, culture, lifesaving emergency alerts, and public safety information." RFE/RL CEO Stephen Capus said cutting funding to the outlet is “a massive gift to America’s enemies.”
More News Coverage:
EU to sustain Radio Free Europe with emergency funding after Trump cuts (Source: Al Jazeera, Lean Left)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Should the Government Continue Funding NPR and PBS?
Americans more likely to support than oppose continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS (Source: Pew, Center bias)
AllSides Headline Roundup: Republican Reps Question PBS, NPR About Bias at Committee Hearing
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Signs Order to Eliminate Seven Federal Agencies. Cuts Include Voice of America and RFE/RL
AllSides Headline Roundup: FCC Chair Opens Investigation into NPR and PBS
College Funding Cuts, Probes
Public Services
Which Schools Have Lost Funding?
- Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, over alleged campus antisemitism and transgender athlete policies.
- Harvard University lost $2 billion in federal funding after refusing demands from the White House.
- Brown University had $510 million in funding paused.
- Cornell had over $1 billion in funds paused over alleged civil rights violations.
- Northwestern University had roughly $790 million paused over alleged civil rights violations.
Why? The administration argues that schools should not receive public funding if they are not in line with civil rights laws. Trump has threatened to revoke funding for any university that allows "illegal" protests on campus.
Opposition: Some worry that Trump's vision of higher education limits academic freedom. A New York Times (Lean Left bias) piece described Trump's mandate as, “Teach what you must, defend 'the American tradition and Western civilization,' prepare people for the work force, and limit protests and research.”
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Administration Plans to Freeze $510 Million in Federal Funding to Brown University
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Admin Launches Antisemitism Probe into Harvard's Federal Funding
AllSides Headline Roundup: How Are Universities Changing Under the Trump Administration?
Environmental Protection Agency
Other
Why? The Environmental Protection Agency began the termination of 280 of staffers in a "reduction in force" operation on April 21, and moved some staffers to new roles. EPA spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou said in an email, “Today, EPA notified diversity, equity, and inclusion and environmental justice employees that EPA will be conducting a Reduction in Force in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Workforce Reshaping Handbook and federal regulations governing RIF procedures. The agency also notified certain statutory and mission essential employees that they are being reassigned to other offices.”
Opposition: Tracey Woodruff, a former senior scientist and policy adviser at the EPA who now teaches at UCSF said, “This is just terrible. EPA’s research program is already woefully underfunded, particularly when considering the enormity of the health problems faced by environmental exposure to the American public.”
More News Coverage:
More than $220 million in contracts canceled by Musk and DOGE have been brought back (Source: The Independent, Lean Left)
US Interagency Council on Homelessness Placed on Leave
Other
Details: According to Straight Arrow News (Center), "The agency had a budget of just over $4 million and focused on managing high homelessness rates, especially among veterans."
Coverage Notes: The story broke on April 17, and Straight Arrow, which uses many of AllSides' Media Bias Ratings, found that the story was covered mostly by the left, and not covered by the right as of Sunday, April 20.
NASA and Space Research Funding
Other
Why? According to The Washington Post (Lean Left), the White House has proposed a budget cut for NASA that would nearly half its budget from $7.3 billion to $3.9 billion. The White House didn't immediately offer a comment, but NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said, “NASA has received the fiscal year 2026 budget passback from the Office of Management and Budget, and has begun the deliberative process.”
Opposition: Some scientists have pushed back, like Casey Dreier, chief of space policy for the Planetary Society, who said, “This is an extinction-level event for NASA science. It needlessly terminates functional, productive science missions and cancels new missions currently being built, wasting billions of taxpayer dollars in the process. This is neither efficient nor smart budgeting.”
More News Coverage:
Massive cuts to NASA science proposed in early White House budget plan (Source: Washington Post, Lean Left)
Sanctuary City Funding
Other
The Latest: Trump said he is "working on" cutting all federal funding for cities that designate themselves as "immigration sanctuaries."
Why? “Consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, court orders, and terms, the Department of Justice shall pause the distribution of all funds until a review has been completed, terminate any agreements that are in violation of law or are the source of waste, fraud, or abuse, and initiate clawback or recoupment procedures, where appropriate,” new Attorney General Pam Bondi said when announcing the pause.
Opposition: Last month, the nonprofit U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants said pausing funds “could disrupt critical programs funded by federal dollars, including public safety initiatives, disaster relief, housing support, and healthcare services. These cuts are not just an attack on immigrants—they are an assault on the well-being of every resident in these cities,” the nonprofit said in a statement.
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Bondi Sworn in as Attorney General, Halts Sanctuary City Funding
Federal Buildings Sold
Other
Why? The General Services Administration (GSA) says it will "consider assets for divestment from government ownership in an orderly fashion to ensure taxpayers no longer pay for empty and underutilized federal office space, or the significant maintenance costs associated with long-term building ownership—potentially saving more than $430 million in annual operating costs."
Opposition: "Critics worry DOGE’s rush to sell excess federal buildings could hurt agency missions, squander revenue opportunities," according to Government Executive (not rated).
Ending Language Translation Services
Public Services
The Latest: A contract between the National Weather Service (NWS) and an AI firm offering non-English language translations of emergency weather alerts was allowed to lapse, meaning translations of NWS products are no longer available. In March, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reportedly canceled a contract providing translation services for people seeking information on their employment status or benefits.
Why? At the time of this writing, AllSides couldn't locate comment from government officials on either of the moves. A March 1 executive order from Trump reads, "To promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement, it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language. Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society."
Opposition: According to an official at the American Immigration Council, “Lack of interpretation services will only make it harder for many workers and families whose dominant language is not English from being able to correct immigration status errors in these databases. This risks people being wrongly denied benefits or being unfairly terminated from their jobs." Associated Press (Left) reported, "Not being able to read urgent weather alerts could be a matter of life or death, said Joseph Trujillo-Falcón, a researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who has worked with NOAA researching how to translate weather and climate information to the public, including the use of artificial intelligence."
More News Coverage:
National Weather Service halts automated translation for alerts (Source: Washington Post, Lean Left)
LGBTQ Funding Cuts
Public Services
Why? New National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said on April 2 that the agency is “committed to supporting research aimed at improving the health and well-being of every American” but will shift attention “away from politicized DEI and gender ideology studies.” At least 270 unspent grants worth a total of over $125 million have been canceled. See a full list of terminated NIH grants here.
Opposition: "Hundreds of researchers, many of them panicked, have watched as the system that supports their life’s work — to address the myriad health disparities faced by sexual and gender minorities — has been upended," according to NBC News (Lean Left bias).
More News Coverage:
White House proposes axing 988 suicide hotline services for LGBTQ youth (Source: NBC News, Lean Left)
Trump administration axes more than $125M in LGBTQ health funding, upending research field (Source: NBC News, Lean Left)
Cuts to Global Vaccine Aid
Foreign Policy
Why? According to a 281-page document reportedly sent to Congress on Mar. 24 from the United States Agency for International Development, the Trump administration is continuing significant cuts to foreign aid programs across the board. A State Department spokesperson reportedly said that “each award terminated was reviewed individually for alignment with agency and administration priorities, and terminations were executed where Secretary Rubio determined the award was inconsistent with the national interest or agency policy priorities.”
Opposition: The New York Times (Lean Left) called the move "a retreat from a half-century-long effort to present the United States to the developing world as a compassionate ally and to lead the fight against infectious diseases that kill millions of people annually."
Defense Department Cuts
Public Services
Why? Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with the help of DOGE, cut $580 million in contracts and grants. “They are not a good use of taxpayer dollars. Ultimately, that’s who funds us, and we owe you transparency and make sure we’re using it well,” Hegseth said.
Opposition: The majority of the cuts are grants that fund DEI programs, COVID-19 research, climate research, and social science. Some argue that climate and COVID-19 research are particularly essential.
More News Coverage:
Hegseth cuts $580 million in contracts, grants with DOGE’s help (Federal News Network, not rated)
US admiral at NATO fired in expanding national security purge (Reuters, Center bias)
Hegseth ends Trump-backed Pentagon program for women (Axios, Lean Left bias)
Global South Cuts
Foreign Policy
Why? The U.S. provides humanitarian aid to many countries in the Global South via governmental programs, some of which DOGE has cut.
Opposition: International activist or humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations have voiced opposition to some of these cuts.
More News Coverage:
DOGE cuts $51M from US African Development Foundation, including $229K to market shea butter (Source: Fox News, Right bias)
UN agencies that provide aid worldwide slash jobs or cut costs as US funding drops (Source: Associated Press, Left bias)
Battle Over USAID
Foreign Policy
Why? Trump and Musk have framed the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as unnecessary at best, and financially fraudulent at worst. The Trump administration said it will cut 90% of USAID contracts.
Opposition: Critics say friendly foreign governments and global perception of the U.S. will suffer. CNN (Lean Left) describes the USAID as “a key soft power tool of the US to foster relations with communities around the world.” As of Feb. 10, a judge had blocked the plan to put thousands of USAID workers on leave.
The Latest: A group of House Democrats introduced legislation on Feb. 11 to stop the Trump administration from breaking up the agency. On Mar. 5, a judge unfroze $2 billion in USAID aid in a loss for DOGE's efforts. On Mar. 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 83% of USAID programs had been canceled. On Mar. 18, a federal judge ruled that USAID's dismantling likely violated the constitution.
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Federal Judge Blocks DOGE's Dismantling of USAID
AllSides Headline Roundup: Marco Rubio: 83% of USAID Programs Canceled
AllSides Headline Roundup: Supreme Court Upholds Order Forcing Trump Admin, USAID to Pay Contractors
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump, Musk Take Steps to Shut Down USAID
AllSides Headline Roundup: Supreme Court Pauses Lower Court’s Ordering of Trump Admin to Pay $2B in Foreign Aid
Trump administration says it’s cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts (Source: Associated Press, Left bias)
Farewell to USAID: Reflections on the agency that President Trump dismantled (Source: NPR, Lean Left bias)
Gov't Credit Cards Frozen, Canceled
Economic Regulation
The Latest: As of June 7, DOGE said it had canceled around 610,000 cards.
Details: On Mar. 11, DOGE says its canceled over 200,000 "unused/unneeded" credit cards of roughy 4.6 million government-issued cards. On Mar. 5, civilian Department of Defense workers were given a $1 spending limit on their government travel credit cards, with exemptions for "direct support of military operations or a permanent change of station."
Why? An executive order reads, "To the maximum extent permitted by law, all credit cards held by agency employees shall be treated as frozen for 30 days from the date of this order, except for any credit cards held by employees engaged in, or charges related to employees utilizing such credit cards for, disaster relief or natural disaster response benefits or operations or other critical services as determined by the Agency Head, and subject to such additional individualized or categorical exceptions as the Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, deems appropriate."
Opposition: The move is "upending work across the government, according to more than two dozen affected employees and records obtained" by The Washington Post (Lean Left bias).
More News Coverage:
DOGE’s $1 Federal Spending Limit Is Straight Out of the Twitter Playbook (Source: WIRED, Left)
Billions in EPA Grants Canceled
Economic Regulation
The Details: The Trump administration is moving to recoup roughly $20 billion in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds that were committed to climate-friendly groups. Trump added in a cabinent meeting that he wants to reduce the EPA's overall budget by 65%.
Why?: “The days of irresponsibly shoveling boatloads of cash to far-left activist groups in the name of environmental justice and climate equity are over,” EPA Director Lee Zeldin said. “The American public deserves a more transparent and accountable government than what transpired these past four years.”
Opposition: "Your announcement is the latest example of the Trump Administration and its government efficiency 'experts' using unfounded claims of waste, fraud, and abuse as a smokescreen to ignore congressional spending authority and ignore court orders in order to freeze or terminate programs designed to reduce carbon pollution," wrote a group of Democrats on the Senate environmental and public works committee. In March, a judge blocked the Trump admin. from canceling roughly $14 billion in EPA grants.
More News Coverage:
Climate group sues EPA over frozen billions in bank accounts (Source: Newsweek, Center)
Trump team digs in, finds millions of wasted dollars at EPA, HUD with DOGE help (Source: Fox News, Right bias)
The $20 Billion Controversy Over E.P.A. Climate Funds, Explained (Source: New York Times, Lean Left)
Trump Threatens Schools Over 'Illegal Protests'
Public Services
Why? "All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Trump announced via Truth Social on Mar. 4. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Opposition: "Colleges can and should respond to unlawful conduct, but the president does not have unilateral authority to revoke federal funds, even for colleges that allow 'illegal' protests," a statement from The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) said.
More News Coverage:
Trump Says He’ll Defund Schools, Universities that Allow ‘Illegal Protests' (Breitbart, Right)
Can Trump legally force US universities to silence protests? (Al Jazeera, Lean Left)
More News Coverage:
Donald Trump Celebrates End of Corporate Transparency Act Measure (Source: Newsweek, Center bias)
Trans Troops Slated for Removal
Other
Why? "It is the policy of the United States government to establish high standards for service member readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity," a policy memo from the Department of Defense (DoD) reads. "This policy is inconsistent with the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria or who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria."
Opposition: “This is a purge of unprecedented magnitude," said Jennifer Levi, Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights. "There is nothing confusing or complicated about it. The military has 30 days to identify anyone it thinks is transgender, and the only way to avoid discharge is to prove you are not transgender. This is an unconscionable ban that forces the removal of talented service members who put their lives on the line for our nation and slams the door on qualified patriots who meet every standard and want nothing more than to serve their country.”
More News Coverage:
Pentagon Plans to Expel Transgender Troops from Military in Expansion of Trump's Trans Service Ban (Source: People, Lean Left)
DOD intends to kick out transgender service members (Source: Washington Examiner, Lean Right)
Trump to Takeover USPS
Public Services
The Latest: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to cut 10,000 workers in the next 30 days and signed an agreement with DOGE to address "big problems" in the agency.
Why? According to a Washington Post (Lean Left bias) report, President Donald Trump plans to dissolve the United States Postal Service board and move the organization under his control, placing it under the Commerce Department. The news comes two days after USPS announced that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will step down from his leadership role in the agency. Privatizing USPS could result in it becoming a for-profit agency, cutting costs in alignment with DOGE's goals. “There is a lot of talk about the Postal Service being taken private,” Trump remarked back in December. “It’s a lot different today, between Amazon and UPS and FedEx and all the things that you didn’t have. But there is talk about that. It’s an idea that a lot of people have liked for a long time.”
Opposition: Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union said, "Any attack on the Postal Service would be part of the billionaire oligarch coup, directed not just at the postal workers our union represents, but the millions of Americans who rely on the critical public service our members provide every single day."
More News Coverage:
Trump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say (Source: Washington Post, Lean Left bias)
Trump Reportedly Seeks Hostile Takeover Of USPS, Union Decries 'Outrageous, Unlawful' Plans (Source: International Business Times, Center bias)
Federal Benefits End for Some Migrants
Economic Regulation
Why? The order accused the Biden administration of moving to "repeatedly undercut" federal laws prohibiting unauthorized immigrants from getting many taxpayer-funded benefits, "resulting in the improper expenditure of significant taxpayer resources."
Opposition: "Undocumented immigrants are largely not eligible for federal benefits, with only some exceptions allowed for emergency situations, and many immigrant families are hesitant to enroll in programs they are eligible for," according to the New York Times (Lean Left).
End of "Independent" Agencies?
Other
Why? The executive order states that "in order to improve the administration of the executive branch and to increase regulatory officials’ accountability to the American people, it shall be the policy of the executive branch to ensure Presidential supervision and control of the entire executive branch."
Opposition: "Given Trump's insistence on complete loyalty to him on the part of all government employees, this move is designed to extend his grip on the government to areas that previously have been nonpartisan," said Daniel Farber, a law professor at University of California, Berkeley, to NPR (Lean Left).
More News Coverage:
Supreme Court allows Trump to fire independent regulators for now (Source: Washington Post, Lean Left)
Advisory Boards Ordered to Disband
Other
Why? "“Reducing the size of the Federal Government will minimize Government waste and abuse, reduce inflation, and promote American freedom and innovation,” the order states.
Opposition: The boards are "part of an independent oversight process that our government needs and uses to better serve the American public, and that Congress needs and uses to better engage in congressional oversight and legislative action," said a fellow at Brookings Institution (Center). "When you dismantle these entities, you rob the executive branch and Congress of critical information. Ultimately, this puts the privacy, civil liberties, and national security interests of the American public at risk."
More News Coverage:
Judges finds a huge reduction in staff and funding would be legal at African development agency (Source: AP, Left)
Trump Moves to Fire US Attorneys
Other
Why? “Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining 'Biden Era' U.S. Attorneys,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We must 'clean house' IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!”
Opposition: The Trump administration's actions put it "in conflict with nonpolitical career prosecutors who say these actions violate accepted practices and undermine the rule of law," according to the New York Times (Lean Left).
EV Charging Program Paused
Public Services
Why? “We are utilizing the unique authority afforded under the NEVI Formula Program to ensure the Program operates efficiently and effectively and aligns with current U.S. DOT policies and priorities,” a DOT spokesperson said in a statement.
Opposition: According to The Washington Post (Lean Left bias), the move, "which comes as many states are still working to build out their public chargers supported by $5 billion in grants, could strike a major blow to an industry that has experienced slower-than-expected sales and could lose critical federal tax incentives in coming months."
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Trump Administration Halts EV Charging Infrastructure Program
FEC Chair Refuses Firing Notice
Other
Why? Trump is moving to oust his critics within the federal government, and Federal Election Chair Ellen Weintraub has criticized his unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud in federal elections.
Opposition: “There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn’t it,” Weintraub wrote.
More News Coverage:
'This Isn't It': FEC Chair Refuses Firing Attempt by Trump, Calling It Illegal (Source: Common Dreams, Left)
Democratic Federal Election Commission chair shares the termination notice she received from Trump: ‘You are hereby removed’ (Source: New York Post, Lean Right)
Gov't Politico Subscriptions Canceled
Other
Why? “I can confirm that the more than eight million taxpayer dollars that have gone to essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayer’s dime will no longer be happening,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Opposition: Critics took issue with misinformation and unproven theories circling about alleged ulterior motives for the subscriptions.
News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: White House Cancels Subscriptions to Politico After Spending $8.2M Since 2016
US Considers Syria Withdrawal
Foreign Policy
Why? “Syria is in its own mess. They've got enough messes over there. They don't need us involved," Trump said on Jan. 30.
Opposition: Some say the move would significantly weaken the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Defense Forces, which are currently working to fight and detain ISIS.
More News Coverage:
DOD drafting plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria after recent Trump comments (Source: NBC News, Lean Left bias)
US to Stop Funding UNRWA
Foreign Policy
Why? "I've always felt that the U.N. has tremendous potential," Trump said. "It's not being well-run… A lot of these conflicts that we're working on should be settled, or at least we should have some help in settling them. But we never seem to get help. That should be the primary purpose of the U.N." Israel banned the UNRWA over accusations that some members participated in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
Opposition: Politico (Lean Left) said, “UNRWA is the main agency providing aid for Gaza’s population amid the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel’s offensive in the area after the Oct. 7 attack. But the U.N. fired several staffers last summer after an internal investigation found they may have been involved in the attack.”
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: US to Withdraw from UN Human Rights Council, Stop Funding UNRWA
Some Federal Websites Removed
Public Services
Why? The Trump administration has removed government websites and digital resources that stray from its positions on abortion, LGBTQ issues, Diversity , Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and more. A judge ordered the websites be restored on Feb. 11.
Opposition: The Verge (Lean Left) reported that “scientists, researchers, and health and environmental advocates” have concerns about changes the Trump administration may make to government websites in their fields.
More News Coverage:
AllSides Headline Roundup: Government Website On Reproductive Rights Is Gone
Some Inflation Reduction Act Funding Paused
Economic Regulation
Why? “In recent years, burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations have impeded the development of these resources, limited the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, reduced job creation, and inflicted high energy costs upon our citizens,” read the executive order.
Opposition: The move “significantly narrows the application of clean energy tax incentives” and “could also delay or even withdraw regulations, which would slow the ability of project sponsors to benefit from these provisions,” according to a writer for accounting group NOVOGRADAC.
More News Coverage:
Trump freezes IRA funding (Source: Manufacturing Drive, not rated)
US Leaves WHO
Foreign Policy
Why? "The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states," reads Trump's executive order. "In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO."
Opposition: "One of the strengths of our global public health system is the fact that it is a largely coordinated global public health system and this is because of organizations like the World Health Organization,” said Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern University’s master of public health program.. “When you start to pull players, major players like the United States, out of that system, it has a ripple effect and significant impacts on countries around the world, including our own,” he says.
More News Coverage:
Jan. 27, 2025 - CDC Tells Staff to Immediately Stop All Work With World Health Organization (Source: TIME, Lean Left)
US Exits Global Tax Deal
Foreign Policy
Why? “The OECD Global Tax Deal supported under the prior administration not only allows extraterritorial jurisdiction over American income but also limits our Nation’s ability to enact tax policies that serve the interests of American businesses and workers,” read the executive order.
Opposition: One economist said the move endangers “an initiative that could generate up to $32B in global tax revenue, particularly aiding low-income nations.”
More News Coverage:
India asks whether global tax deal can work after US withdrawal (Source: Reuters, Center)
Cuts Coming to FEMA?
Public Services
Why? During an interview with Dana Bash on CNN, Bash asked Noem if Trump can shut FEMA down and if he should. "He can and I believe that he will do that evaluation with his team," Noem said. "He'll work with Congress though to make sure it's done correctly and that we're still there to help folks who have a terrible disaster or crisis in their life." Adding that we need to "get rid of FEMA the way it exists today" because "you need to let the local officials make the decisions on how that is [resources and finances] deployed so it can be deployed much quicker and we don't need the bureaucracy that's picking and choosing winners."
Opposition: Some argue that Trump's claims about corruption within FEMA are unfounded. Former FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said in October, before Hurricane Milton hit, that disinformation about hurricanes reached a level "that I've never seen before."
More News Coverage:
Kristi Noem Would Tell Trump to Abolish FEMA 'The Way It Exists Today' (Source: Newsweek, Center)
‘A more vulnerable nation’: FEMA memos lay out risks of plan to cut $1B in disaster and security grants (Source: CNN, Lean Left)
Treasury to Stop Making Pennies
Economic Regulation
Why? President Trump said, "For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let's rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it's a penny at a time."
Opposition: Advocates for the penny argue the change could have unintended consequences. Nickel production, which is already costly, will increase and rounding transactions to the nearest nickel may cause prices to rise, affecting low-income consumers.
More News Coverage:
Is the US going 'penniless'? Why Trump wants to halt production of the coins (Source: Fortune, Center)
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