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Welcome to The Logoff: Right this moment, I’m specializing in the Trump administration’s resolution to withhold almost $7 billion in federal schooling funding.
What simply occurred? The Trump administration refused to launch congressionally mandated funding to help quite a lot of schooling initiatives: after-school and summer season packages, packages for college students who’re studying English, trainer coaching, classroom know-how, and extra.
The almost $7 billion was allotted to states and native faculties, and may have gone out on Tuesday. Its loss shall be significantly dangerous as a result of college districts have already made plans with the belief 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 a substitute as a result of the funds are underneath assessment. However this argument is probably going a fig leaf, given the administration’s opposition to the packages in query and its earlier efforts to withhold funding for packages 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 objective.
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 short lived freeze — the administration hasn’t executed so on this case.
What’s the large image right here? The Trump administration is waging a struggle towards 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 certainly one of plenty of 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 will likely be a serious enlargement of Trump’s powers — and one other blow to Congress’s.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
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 photos 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, stunning universe. I hope you take pleasure in his piece — and the images — as a lot as I did, and I’ll see you again right here tomorrow!