Weekly Update- 3/3/2025

Appropriations

GOP leaders say they won’t put reins on Trump and Musk in shutdown negotiations: Top Republican leaders in Congress agreed Wednesday (2/26) to oppose Democratic demands for restrictions on President Trump and Elon Musk's ability…

Johnson floats stopgap funding bill, says GOP should codify DOGE cuts later: House Speaker Mike Johnson announced plans to pass a clean government funding extension until September to avoid a March 14 shutdown… 

Trump’s spending play raises ‘risk of a shutdown,’ top Democrats say: Democratic appropriators warned that President Trump's decision to back a long-term funding patch instead of continuing bipartisan spending talks increases the risk of a government….

President and Administration 

A Trump order made English the official language of the U.S. What does that mean? President Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the U.S., rescinding a 2000 mandate that required federal agencies…

Trump launches lumber probe threatening Canada and others with new tariffs: President Trump has ordered a two-pronged approach to address what his administration calls a "crisis"…

Trump says Canada, Mexico tariffs will go into effect March 4: President Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting March 4…

FEMA is losing scores of employees. What does that mean for disaster recovery?: FEMA has recently fired hundreds of employees, including probationary and contract workers…

Magnolia: ‘It emboldened us’: Pardoned anti-abortion activists vow more protests: Several activists pardoned by Trump for blocking abortion clinics…

California

With eye on Trump, Newsom declares California emergency for forest fires: Governor Gavin Newsom is declaring a state of emergency in California…

Cities: Four early trends defining California AI policy in 2025: California legislators have introduced numerous AI-focused bills this session despite previous setbacks…

Cities: DOGE is hobbling Trump’s plan to unleash California’s water: Firing orders from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are undermining President Trump’s…

Judge to hear California’s voter ID lawsuit after initially tossing case: A California superior court judge has allowed the state’s lawsuit against Huntington Beach's proposed voter ID…

Gavin Newsom calls on SoCal utilities to bury their power lines: California Governor Gavin Newsom has directed utilities in communities affected by the Los Angeles…

California bill would help schools facing immigration-related attendance drops: A California bill aims to prevent schools from losing funding due to decreased…

Education 

Education Department Launches ‘End DEI’ Website to Solicit Complaints About Schools: The U.S. Department of Education has launched a public portal…

House Appropriations Subcommittee Discusses Future of Federal K-12 Funding: On February 26, 2025, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies…

Education Department to staffers: Quit by Monday and get $25K in cash: The U.S. Department of Education is offering voluntary buyouts of up to $25,000…

How the Trump Administration's 'Indiscriminate Cutting' Will Affect Students: Through the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, the Trump administration has terminated…

Chronic Absenteeism Worst in Kindergarten, 9th and 12th Grades, State Data Shows: New state data reveals that chronic absenteeism is most severe in kindergarten, 9th grade, and 12th grade…


Advocates urge judge to let them defend Biden’s Title IX rule: A college student and the Victim Rights Law Center are requesting permission from a federal court to intervene…