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Welcome to The Logoff: At the moment, I’m specializing in the Trump administration’s resolution to withhold practically $7 billion in federal schooling funding.
What simply occurred? The Trump administration refused to launch congressionally mandated funding to assist a wide range of schooling initiatives: after-school and summer season applications, applications for college students who’re studying English, instructor coaching, classroom know-how, and extra.
The practically $7 billion was allotted to states and native colleges, and will have gone out on Tuesday. Its loss can be notably dangerous as a result of college districts have already made plans with the idea that the cash could be there, solely to have it pulled on the final minute.
What’s the administration saying? The Trump administration argues the withholding isn’t a freeze and is as an alternative as a result of the funds are below evaluation. However this argument is probably going a fig leaf, given the administration’s opposition to the applications in query and its earlier efforts to withhold funding for applications it disagrees with. What the administration seems to be doing known as impoundment — the choice to not spend cash that Congress has already appropriated for a selected function.
Can they try this? Not likely — however we’ll see how the courts rule, because the administration’s resolution is sort of sure to be challenged in court docket. Although the president can request Congress withdraw funding — and making that request would set off a brief freeze — the administration hasn’t carried out so on this case.
What’s the massive image right here? The Trump administration is waging a struggle in opposition to the congressional energy of the purse, led by Workplace of Administration and Price range director Russ Vought (of Venture 2025 fame).
The choice to withhold schooling funding is one in every of various efforts to wrest spending energy from Congress, and current reporting suggests the administration is contemplating methods to step up its assault and problem restrictions on impoundment extra broadly. If it’s profitable, it is going to be a serious growth of Trump’s powers — and one other blow to Congress’s.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
I completely liked this story from my colleague Bryan Walsh in regards to the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, which simply final month shared its first pictures of the cosmos. The telescope itself is a scientific marvel that has already supplied helpful information to researchers, however, as Bryan factors out, it’s additionally the “final perspective supplier,” a reminder of our place in an enormous, lovely universe. I hope you take pleasure in his piece — and the photographs — as a lot as I did, and I’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
