{"id":601,"date":"2025-03-12T21:02:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T21:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/12\/live-updates-education-department-guts-its-civil-rights-office-the-associated-press\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T21:02:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T21:02:44","slug":"live-updates-education-department-guts-its-civil-rights-office-the-associated-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/12\/live-updates-education-department-guts-its-civil-rights-office-the-associated-press\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Education Department guts its civil rights office – The Associated Press"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Education Department\u2019s<\/a><\/span> civil rights branch<\/a><\/span> is losing nearly half its staff<\/a><\/span> in President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a><\/span> administration lays off, effectively gutting an office that already faced a backlog of thousands of complaints from students and families across the nation.<\/p>\n

Among a total of more than 1,300 layoffs<\/a><\/span> announced Tuesday were roughly 240 in the department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights, according to a list obtained and verified by The Associated Press. Seven of the civil rights agency\u2019s 12 regional offices were entirely laid off, including busy hubs in New York, Chicago and Dallas. Despite assurances that the department\u2019s work will continue unaffected, huge numbers of cases appear to be in limbo.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Military leaders warn of risks to forces\u2019 readiness in temporary budget<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bf5-d183-a7bd-cbf523e60000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741811554584″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Military leaders warn of risks to forces\u2019 readiness in temporary budget<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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The vice chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force said if they don\u2019t get additional funding, they at least need the flexibility to shift money to ensure their priorities are covered.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, the Army can afford a large, ready or modern force, but with the current budget, it cannot afford all three,\u201d Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, told the Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee on Wednesday. \u201cEither we provide soldiers the capabilities needed to win or accept greater risks in other areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

He warned that the Army will pay for those risks down the road \u201cin real-world battlefield consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> <\/a> <\/p>\n

WATCH: Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil say he was taken in retaliation for exercising free speech rights <\/h2>\n
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Mahmoud Khalil\u2019s lawyer says the Trump administration\u2019s detention of a Columbia University graduate for his role in campus protests against Israel are punishment and retaliation for the exercise of free speech. (AP video: Ted Shaffrey)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Speaker Mike Johnson says he and Trump hope the Senate will vote to keep the government open<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bbd-d093-a9bf-efbf5a940000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741809852835″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Speaker Mike Johnson says he and Trump hope the Senate will vote to keep the government open<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Johnson says they \u201care both very happy with the outcome of the vote\u201d in the House to fund the government past Friday\u2019s deadline and are \u201cwatching very closely what happens in the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope they keep the government open,\u201d he said after an annual Irish luncheon at the Capitol.<\/p>\n

He warns that Democrats are \u201cgoing to regret\u201d not joining Republicans to pass the bill and that if Senate Democrats block the bill, \u201cit\u2019s going to be a Schumer shutdown,\u201d referring to the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. \u201cI don\u2019t think he wants that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Scientists see EPA\u2019s regulatory rollbacks as latest form of \u2018Republican climate denial\u2019<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bd7-d3ba-afff-abd7a77d0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741808098752″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Scientists see EPA\u2019s regulatory rollbacks as latest form of \u2018Republican climate denial\u2019<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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\u201cThey can no longer deny climate change is happening, so instead they\u2019re pretending it\u2019s not a threat, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that it is, perhaps, the greatest threat that we face today,\u201d University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann said.<\/p>\n

The United States is the second largest<\/a><\/span> carbon polluter in the world, after China, and the largest historical emitter<\/a><\/span> of greenhouse gases. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s ignorance is trumped only by its malice toward the planet,\u201d said Jason Rylander, legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity\u2019s Climate Law Institute. \u201cTrump and his cronies are bent on putting polluter profits ahead of people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> EPA chief says removing clean-air rules will ensure \u2018American energy remains clean\u2019<\/b> ” data-post-id=”00000195-8bcc-d183-a7bd-cbedcf240000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741807919749″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

EPA chief says removing clean-air rules will ensure \u2018American energy remains clean\u2019<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Zeldin said EPA will rewrite a rule restricting air pollution from fossil-fuel fired power plants<\/a><\/span> and a separate measure restricting emissions from cars and trucks <\/a><\/span>that Zeldin and Trump incorrectly label an electric vehicle \u201cmandate.\u2019’<\/p>\n

President Biden made fighting climate change a hallmark of his presidency<\/a><\/span>, pledging that half of the new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. would be zero-emission by 2030.<\/p>\n

Zeldin\u2019s EPA also is undoing restrictions on mercury and other air toxins, federal protections for wetlands<\/a><\/span> and a three-decade effort to improve conditions in areas heavily burdened by industrial pollution. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about abandoning environmental protection \u2014 it\u2019s about achieving it through innovation and not strangulation,\u201d Zeldin wrote. \u201cBy reconsidering rules that throttled oil and gas production and unfairly targeted coal-fired power plants, we are ensuring that American energy remains clean, affordable and reliable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Trump administration resumes detention of migrant families after Biden-era pause<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8ba1-d3ba-afff-abf7ce100000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741807208848″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Trump administration resumes detention of migrant families after Biden-era pause<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Fourteen immigrant families were being held in a South Texas detention facility as of Monday, according to RAICES, a legal nonprofit providing services to migrant families at the Karnes Detention Center. They\u2019re from nations including Colombia, Romania, Iran, Angola, Russia, Armenia, Turkey and Brazil. <\/p>\n

Faisal Al-Juburi, RAICES\u2019 chief external affairs officer, said the nonprofit noticed the shift in detention population last week after adult detainees were moved out. <\/p>\n

Detaining family members together was largely halted, but not abolished, during the Biden administration, which briefly considered restarting it in 2023<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Ukraine has run out of longer-range ATACMS missiles<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bbd-d3ba-afff-abff54ea0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741806580556″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Ukraine has run out of longer-range ATACMS missiles<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Pentagon shipments of weapons to Ukraine have restarted, but officials acknowledged on Wednesday that Kyiv no longer has any of the longer-range Army Tactical Missile System weapons.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s according to a U.S. official and a Ukrainian lawmaker in the defense committee. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to provide military weapons details.<\/p>\n

The American official said the U.S. provided fewer than 40 of those missiles overall and that Ukraine ran out of them in late January. Senior U.S. defense and military leaders had told Ukraine there would only be a limited number of the ATACMs delivered and that the U.S. and NATO allies considered air defense systems to be far more valuable.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more about <\/i>the war between Russia and Ukraine<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> To be combative or conciliatory? Two Democrats diverge sharply on Trump strategy<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bae-d093-a9bf-efaf44c70000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741806174996″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

To be combative or conciliatory? Two Democrats diverge sharply on Trump strategy<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has tried to sound collaborative when it comes to Trump, declaring that she looks forward to talking with him about border security.<\/p>\n

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, meanwhile, began suing the Trump administration at a fast clip.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you can yield to authoritarian, anti-democratic behavior when it\u2019s in the White House and when our country is in as much danger as it is right now,\u201d Mayes said. \u201cOur country has never been in this much peril since the Civil War.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both seek reelection next year in a state that went for Trump. Their starkly different approaches show how Democrats nationwide are struggling to shore up winning coalitions.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more about<\/i> Democrats and Trump<\/i><\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> White House national security adviser Waltz speaks with Russian official about ceasefire proposal<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bb1-dd27-a5f5-fff12e650000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741805809202″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

White House national security adviser Waltz speaks with Russian official about ceasefire proposal<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an appearance on Fox News Channel that national security adviser Mike Waltz spoke Wednesday with his Russian counterpart.<\/p>\n

Leavitt also confirmed that Trump\u2019s special envoy Steve Witkoff will be headed to Moscow for talks with Russian officials. The Trump administration wants Russia to sign off on the U.S. proposed ceasefire agreement to pause fighting with Ukraine for 30 days.<\/p>\n

She did not say with whom Witkoff will be meeting. <\/p>\n

A person familiar with the matter said Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later his week. The person was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> There\u2019s new data on how many immigrants have been arrested since Trump took office<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bac-dd27-a5f5-fffcbdbb0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741805398066″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

There\u2019s new data on how many immigrants have been arrested since Trump took office<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said during a call with reporters that they have arrested 32,809 people so far.<\/p>\n

The official said of those ICE has arrested, 14,111 were convicted criminals. Another 9,980 had pending criminal charges. <\/p>\n

A further 8,718 had violated U.S. immigration law, which usually means they crossed the border illegally but haven\u2019t committed other crimes since arriving.<\/p>\n

The administration has said its first priority is deporting people who committed crimes in the U.S. but that they\u2019ll arrest others in the country illegally that they find during operations.<\/p>\n

The official also said there are about 47,600 people currently in ICE detention, which he described as \u201cmaxed out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Trump\u2019s EPA targets bedrock of climate law. Scientists say they won\u2019t win<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8bac-d093-a9bf-efafb2490000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741805208132″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s EPA targets bedrock of climate law. Scientists say they won\u2019t win<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Zeldin said he and the president support rewriting the agency\u2019s 2009 finding that planet-warming greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare \u2014 a Clean Air Act underpinning of climate regulations on pollution sources.<\/p>\n

Environmentalists and climate scientists say any attempt to undo this bedrock of U.S. law won\u2019t succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the face of overwhelming science, it\u2019s impossible to think that the EPA could develop a contradictory finding that would stand up in court,\u201d said David Doniger, a climate expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Trump says the friendship between the US and Ireland is \u2018strong and unbreakable\u2019<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8ba5-d1bb-a5ff-ebed4f510000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741805107648″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Trump says the friendship between the US and Ireland is \u2018strong and unbreakable\u2019<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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The president made the comment during the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon, also attended by Irish Prime Minister Miche\u00e1l Martin, on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson toasted the relationship between the two countries and the Irish dance group \u201cRiverdance\u201d \u2014 which is performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. \u2014 made a surprise appearance to round out the event.<\/p>\n

Martin called Trump \u201ca great friend of Ireland\u201d and said he hopes to welcome him back to the country soon.<\/p>\n

Trump noted he missed the luncheon in 2020, the last year of his first term, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to do this at least three more times,\u201d Trump said of the remaining years in his term, to laughter in the room. \u201cWhen I say \u2018at least\u2019 they go crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> EPA administrator declares the \u2018most consequential day of deregulation in American history\u2019<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8ba4-dd27-a5f5-fff433e30000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741805102428″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

EPA administrator declares the \u2018most consequential day of deregulation in American history\u2019<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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Environmental Protection Agency<\/a><\/span> administrator Lee Zeldin announced rollbacks Wednesday of 31 environmental regulations including rules on pollution from coal-fired power plants, climate change and electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America\u2019s Golden Age,\u2019’ Zeldin said in an essay in the Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n

Zeldin says these actions will eliminate trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and \u201chidden taxes,\u201d lowering the cost of living for American families and reducing prices for buying cars, heating homes and operating businesses.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more on <\/i>EPA regulatory rollbacks<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Layoffs hit nearly half the staff at the Education Department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8b8f-d3ba-afff-abdfa2fc0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741804620872″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Layoffs hit nearly half the staff at the Education Department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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The layoffs effectively gut an office that was already facing a backlog of thousands of complaints from students and families.<\/p>\n

Among a total of more than 1,300 layoffs announced Tuesday were roughly 240 in the department\u2019s civil rights office, according to a list obtained and verified by The Associated Press. Seven of the civil rights agency\u2019s 12 regional offices were entirely laid off, including busy hubs in New York, Chicago and Dallas.<\/p>\n

Some staffers who remain say there\u2019s no way to pick up all of their fired colleagues\u2019 cases, which involve families trying to get school services for students with disabilities<\/a><\/span>, allegations of bias related to race and religion<\/a><\/span>, and complaints over sexual violence<\/a><\/span> at schools and college campuses.<\/p>\n

Department officials insist the cuts will not affect civil rights investigations.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more on the Department of Education layoffs<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> JUST IN: EPA head announces sweeping actions to revoke Biden-era rules on power plants, climate and electric vehicles<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8ba3-d3ba-afff-abf7621d0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741804547691″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

JUST IN: EPA head announces sweeping actions to revoke Biden-era rules on power plants, climate and electric vehicles<\/b> <\/h2>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> On the economy, Trump said: \u2018Remember, Trump is always right\u2019<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8b91-d093-a9bf-ef9b2e690000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741804390725″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

On the economy, Trump said: \u2018Remember, Trump is always right\u2019<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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It\u2019s another volatile day for financial markets <\/a><\/span>as Trump escalates his trade war and blames Biden for losses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot of the stock market going down was because of the really bad four years that we had, when you look at inflation and all of the other problems, I mean wars and inflation and so many others problems,\u201d Trump told reporters on Wednesday. \u201cFinancially, we\u2019ll be stronger than ever before. I think the markets are gonna soar when they see what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day before, he dismissed fears of a recession, <\/a><\/span>and told reporters that his results \u201care going to be 20 times greater. Remember, Trump is always right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more about <\/i>how Trump takes credit, dishes blame for stock market<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Research group says state-required abortion reporting should be scaled back<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8b8a-d9a4-afb7-dfef3e6d0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741803301946″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Research group says state-required abortion reporting should be scaled back<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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A research organization that advocates for abortion rights is calling on state governments to stop requiring providers to submit reports on every terminated pregnancy<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Data can be collected voluntarily and in the aggregate instead, says the Guttmacher Institute, which noted that Trump has appointed abortion opponents to key federal jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be a mistake for anyone to assume now that the information a state could collect about abortion would not be used to harm people,\u201d said Kelly Baden, Guttmacher\u2019s vice president for public policy.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more about <\/i>how abortions are tracked nationwide<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Trump talks with Irish PM about his passion for mixed marital arts<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8b8e-d093-a9bf-ef8f970b0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741803200115″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Trump talks with Irish PM about his passion for mixed marital arts<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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The topic came up during the president\u2019s meeting with Miche\u00e1l Martin in the Oval Office when a reporter asked Trump to name his favorite person in Ireland.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do like your fighter. He\u2019s got the best tattoos I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d Trump says of the MMA fighter Conor McGregor. \u201cConor\u2019s great, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIreland\u2019s always had a lot of good fighters,\u201d he continues. \u201cYou know why? Because they are tough people. They are smart people and they are passionate people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump attended multiple Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts during the 2024 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n

The president notes that Martin\u2019s father was an acclaimed boxer then motions to Martin saying, \u201cYou\u2019re so smooth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a pretty good defensive boxer,\u201d Martin jokes in reply.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Southwest Key Programs was the nation\u2019s largest provider of housing for unaccompanied migrant children<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8b74-dd27-a5f5-fff48c8e0000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741801871820″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Southwest Key Programs was the nation\u2019s largest provider of housing for unaccompanied migrant children<\/b> <\/h2>\n
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The Biden administration\u2019s complaint <\/a><\/span>alleged a litany of sex abuse and other offenses between 2015 and 2023 as Southwest Key Programs, which operates migrant shelters in Texas, Arizona and California, amassed nearly $3 billion in contracts from the Department of Health and Human Services.<\/p>\n

That lawsuit was dismissed on Wednesday after the federal government announced they would no longer use its services. Children who were still in Southwest Key shelters were moved to other housing, and the company said Tuesday it was furloughing about 5,000 employees.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more about <\/i>the allegations involving unaccompanied minor detainees<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/bsp-liveblog-post> Federal Trade Commission requests delay to Amazon Prime deceptive practices trial<\/b>” data-post-id=”00000195-8b6c-d3ba-afff-ab7e75f00000″ data-posted-date-timestamp=”1741801482012″ data-seconds-delta-text=”sec ago” data-minutes-delta-text=”min ago” data-hours-delta-text=”h ago”> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Federal Trade Commission requests delay to Amazon Prime deceptive practices trial<\/b> <\/h2>\n