POLITICS

Trump Has Vowed to Close the Department of Education—How Would That Work?

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The U.S. Department of Education Could Essentially Become Just a Big Building with Empty Offices. In September 2023, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign announced 10 principles for reforming education. Chief among them was closing the Department of Education in Washington, and sending “all education work and needs back to the states.” The president-elect has maintained that

Biden Administration Races to Issue Final Grants, Spending Projects Before Trump Takes Office

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Administration officials are working at the last minute to issue billions in grants before Biden leaves office in January. In the remaining weeks of his administration, President Joe Biden and his officials are racing against the clock to issue billions in grants and take other steps to retain as much as possible of his legacy

How Does Budget Reconciliation Work in Congress?

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The GOP will have control of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House, making passing and enacting reconciliation bills easier. WASHINGTON—A powerful but little-known mechanism is expected to be employed in the upcoming Congress to advance significant parts of President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. The budget reconciliation mechanism can be used to

Oregon Poised To Force Health Insurers To Cover Trans Genital Surgeries for Children—or Risk Losing Their Licenses

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Oregon officials are set to require health insurers, both public and private, to cover procedures like sex-change surgeries and cross-sex hormones for all ages. Those that fail to do so risk losing their state licenses. The proposed rule from Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services relies on the latest standards of care developed by