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U.S. House passes bill banning trans athletes from competing in women’s school sports
WASHINGTON — A measure that would bar transgender students from participating on women’s school sports teams consistent with their gender identity passed the U.S. House on Tuesday. The legislation — which advanced 218-206 — came as an increasing number of states have passed laws banning trans athletes from participating in sports in K-12 schools and colleges that […]
Former President Jimmy Carter honored at state funeral
WASHINGTON — On a wintry Thursday morning, mourners and dignitaries gathered at 51ԹϹ National Cathedral to honor the life of former President Jimmy Carter. Speakers at Carter’s state funeral, including President Joe Biden and the sons of Carter’s political contemporaries delivering eulogies written by their fathers, described the Georgia native and U.S. Navy veteran as a […]
Trump calls for avoiding default, possibly using military force for expansion
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said during a wide-ranging press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday he wanted to see the country’s debt limit addressed while cutting spending and would not rule out military force to expand U.S. territory. Trump, who will take office Jan. 20 after lawmakers breezily certified the election results Monday, continued to place […]
Louisiana’s Mike Johnson elected U.S. House speaker by GOP in cliff-hanger vote
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Friday elected Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson as their speaker for the 119th Congress, following weeks of speculation about whether the GOP would begin another protracted, public dispute over leadership. The drama-filled vote ensured that Johnson, who was first elected speaker in October 2023, will hold the gavel as Republicans […]
Late President Jimmy Carter to lie in state at U.S. Capitol next week
WASHINGTON — Funeral services of former President Jimmy Carter will span from Jan. 4 to Jan. 9, the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region said Monday. Carter, who died Sunday at 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, lived the longest of any U.S. president in history. Following a service in Georgia and a public viewing as […]
Johnson wins Trump’s endorsement to continue as U.S. House speaker
WASHINGTON — As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson vies to keep his gavel, President-elect Donald Trump on Monday gave the Louisiana Republican a major boost with his “Complete & Total Endorsement.” Trump’s coveted backing — just days ahead of Friday’s House vote to elect a speaker — came as Johnson sat in the hot seat […]
FAFSA form must launch by Oct. 1 every year under new law
WASHINGTON — The form to apply for federal financial student aid must roll out by Oct. 1 annually after President Joe Biden signed a bill into law Wednesday that ensures an earlier processing cycle. Though the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, typically launches in October each year, the U.S. Department of Education legally had […]
Republicans will control Congress. But a slim House majority may trim their ambitions.
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans huddled behind closed doors Tuesday to plot the path forward for the unified control of government they won in the November elections, though GOP senators said afterward a very narrow House majority will likely determine how sweeping their policy proposals will be. Republicans are planning to use the complicated budget reconciliation […]
U.S. Education Department pings states, schools to set policies on cellphone use
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department called on every state, school and district on Tuesday to adopt policies on cellphone use in schools. The department asks schools to have well-thought-out policies on the matter, but does not dictate exactly what those policies should be. An accompanying resource for schools notes the risk social media can […]
Unlikely Trump can actually eliminate Education Department, experts say
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to get rid of the U.S. Department of Education will be far easier said than done. As Trump seeks to redefine U.S. education policy, the complex logistics, bipartisan congressional approval and redirection of federal programs required make dismantling the department a challenging — not impossible — feat. It’s an effort […]
Feds roll out 2025-26 college financial aid form ahead of planned date
WASHINGTON — The 2025-26 form to apply for federal student aid is now available to all students and families, the U.S. Department of Education said Thursday. The department used a staggered approach to launch the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA — to address any issues before the form became available […]
Trump to nominate transition co-chair Linda McMahon as Education secretary
President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday night he plans to nominate Linda McMahon, the co-chair of his transition team, to lead the Education Department in his second administration. “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” Trump said in a statement, referring to his pledge during this campaign to abolish the Department […]