4 h. ago Education Department layoffs hit offices that oversee special education and civil rights enforcement

A new round of layoffs at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was already hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous mass firings, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools

Events

6 h. ago Staff overseeing $15 billion in special education funding is gutted by Trump’s shutdown layoffs: report

An estimated 7.5 million students with disabilities will be impacted by the latest move

Economics

33 h. ago Trump officials reportedly consider selling student loan debt to private investors

Experts say the move could eliminate the federal government’s power to cancel educational loansOfficials in the Trump administration are reportedly weighing the possibility of selling portions of the federal government’s $1.6tn student loan portfolio to private investors, which experts say could carry risks for both taxpayers and borrowers – potentially reshaping the student loan landscape in unpredictable ways.Senior officials at the education and treasury departments have been engaged in internal conversations about offloading select, high-performing segments of the government’s student debt holdings, according to a Politico report this week. These loans are part of the larger portfolio owed by roughly 45 million borrowers nationwide. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago ‘Substantial’ federal layoffs begin as Congress remains deadlocked over funding to end shutdown – live

No official numbers have been announced but treasury, HHS, DHS and education departments among agencies confirming cuts White House announces federal worker layoffs as government shutdown nears third weekAs the shutdown enters its 10th day, and both chambers are out of session today, House speaker Mike Johnson has defended not passing a separate bill that would keep members of the military paid throughout the shutdown.“Republicans have voted to OPEN the government and get our troops, Border Patrol, TSA, and veterans PAID,” Johnson said, before blaming Democratic leadership for refusing to pass the House-passed continuing resolution. “Chuck Schumer is terrified of a challenge from the Marxist left – so he and the Democrats voted to CLOSE the government-and to STOP PAYCHECKS from being issued.” Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Nobel peace prize officials investigate surge in bets for winner

Bets for Maria Corina Machado spiked on Polymarket gambling site hours before she was awarded prizeNorwegian officials who oversee the Nobel peace prize are investigating suspicious online betting for this year’s winner that suggests a rare leak from the secretive committee that hands out the prize.Online bets for the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado spiked on the Polymarket gambling site shortly after midnight on Thursday, Norwegian time, according to the information on its website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Universities have made cuts ‘equivalent to 15,000 jobs in last year’ – union

The UCU is set to ballot members over strike action.

Politics

4 d. ago Civil servants working from home 'could miss fake asylum claims'

Home Office staff, who oversee asylum seeker claims and cases of foreign national offenders, are permitted to work three out of five days a week from home.

Events

6 d. ago US attorney resists pressure from Trump to prosecute Letitia James

Prosecutor reportedly does not believe there is probable cause to file charges against the New York attorney generalA career federal prosecutor in Virginia has told colleagues she does not believe there is probable cause to file criminal mortgage fraud charges against New York attorney general Letitia James, according to a person familiar with the matter.The prosecutor, Elizabeth Yusi, oversees major criminal cases in the Norfolk office for the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia and plans to soon present her conclusion to Lindsey Halligan, a Trump ally, who was installed as the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia last month. Yusi’s thinking was first reported by MSNBC on Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Federal prosecutor resists pressure from Trump to charge Letitia James

Prosecutor reportedly does not believe there is probable cause to file charges against the New York attorney generalA career federal prosecutor in Virginia has told colleagues she does not believe there is probable cause to file criminal mortgage fraud charges against New York attorney general Letitia James, according to a person familiar with the matter.The prosecutor, Elizabeth Yusi, oversees major criminal cases in the Norfolk office for the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia and plans to soon present her conclusion to Lindsey Halligan, a Trump ally, who was installed as the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia last month. Yusi’s thinking was first reported by MSNBC on Monday. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Trainee teachers to get up to £31k tax free to train in Stem subjects

The Department for Education will continue to provide bursaries and scholarships for trainee teachers in certain subjects.

Economics

1 week ago Federal agencies blaming Democrats for shutdown in potentially illegal move

Departments and staff are using out-of-office emails and websites to engage in partisan political activityA growing number of federal agencies and staff are explicitly blaming Democrats for the current government shutdown. The political messaging by the agencies may be a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.Furloughed federal employees at some agencies have been instructed to set out-of-office messages explaining that they are not working because Democrats caused a shutdown. Government agency websites also have displayed messages informing site visitors the websites are temporarily on hold due to the “Democrat-led” shutdown.The Department of JusticeThe Department of StateThe Department of the TreasuryThe Department of AgricultureThe Department of Housing and Urban Development (Hud)The Department of EducationThe Department of Health and Human ServicesThe Department of CommerceThe Department of LaborThe Small Busine...

Events

1 week ago ‘One in 10 young carers have missed school exam due to looking after loved ones’

The Carers Trust said the findings show that many young carers end up being cut off from opportunities others have.

Politics

1 week ago Texts to parents highlighting missed school days help improve attendance – study

A trial evaluation found texts stating, for example: ‘Tom has missed five days this term’ had a small positive impact on school attendance.

Culture

1 week ago The government shutdown will halt some work at a diminished Education Department

The government shutdown means further disruption for the U.S. Education Department, which has seen half of its employees laid off by the Trump administration

Politics

1 week ago Civil rights agency drops a key tool used to investigate workplace discrimination

The U.S. civil rights agency responsible for enforcing worker rights will stop investigating complaints about company policies that don’t explicitly discriminate but may disproportionately harm certain groups

Events

2 w. ago Liverpool headteachers warn Chancellor their schools are at breaking point

Heads have signed an open letter to Rachel Reeves calling on Labour to ‘restore the achievements of the last Labour government’ as conference starts

Events

2 w. ago UK government tells Brits to pack 'crucial ID' when heading out on holiday

The UK government's Foreign Office has issued a useful checklist for travellers heading overseas

Politics

3 w. ago New Work and Pensions Secretary will not rule out tougher universal credit rules

‘Look, I’m not ruling anything out. Welfare reform is really important,’ Pat McFadden told the BBC.

Economics

3 w. ago Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds

Four out of five making staff cuts as physicists say findings are ‘great concern’ for UK’s leadership in important areasThe heads of UK physics departments say their subject is facing a national crisis as one in four warns that their university departments are in danger of closing because of funding pressures.In an anonymous survey of department heads by the Institute of Physics (IoP), 26% said they faced potential closure of their department within the next two years, while 60% said they expected courses to be reduced. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Bomb squad called out to Turning Point USA’s headquarters ahead of Charlie Kirk’s funeral

Superbowl-like security operation for memorial of right-wing campaigner poses major challenge to law enforcement

Events