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Today's Political News Compilation - Monday, April 21, 2025
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Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection, Education Department says
By ANNIE MAUpdated 7:52 PM CDT, April 21, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.
Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.
The Trump administration ’s announcement marks an end to a period of leniency that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default. Under President Joe Biden, the Education Department tried multiple times to give broad forgiveness of student loans, only to be stopped by courts.
“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.
Beginning May 5, the department will begin involuntary collection through the Treasury Department’s offset program, which withholds government payments — including tax refunds, federal salaries and other benefits — from people with past-due debts to the government. After a 30-day notice, the department also will begin garnishing wages for borrowers in default.
The decision to send debt to collections drew criticism from advocates, who said borrowers had experienced whiplash and confusion with the changing student loan policies between the Biden and Trump administrations. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Trump renews attack on Federal Reserve Chair Powell, Dow Jones tumbles 1,000 points
President Donald Trump is repeating his attacks against the chair of the Federal Reserve, demanding that the central bank lower its key interest rate to boost the economy.
apnews.com
Analysis: As tariffs darken the economic outlook, Trump sizes up Powell as a scapegoat | CNN Politics
Donald Trump is showing why independent central banks are a good idea.
www.cnn.com
Trump administration live updates: Trump defends Pete Hegseth after new reporting on a second Signal group chat
Live updates from President Donald Trump and the Trump administration as the White House holds the Easter Egg Roll.
www.nbcnews.com
Vance and Modi meet in New Delhi to discuss trade deal and avoid US tariffs
The US Vice President has arrived in India as New Delhi looks to avoid U.S. tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington and strengthen ties with the Trump administration.
apnews.com
Protesters removed from GOP Rep. Byron Donalds' chaotic town hall
A town hall hosted by Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, was repeatedly interrupted by protesters.
www.cbsnews.com
Homeland Security Secretary Noem's purse stolen at DC restaurant, officials say
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse was stolen at a Washington, D.C., restaurant on Easter night.
apnews.com
Pope Francis used final Easter address to call for Gaza ceasefire
In the Easter message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza was "dramatic and deplorable."
www.usatoday.com
Alito's dissent in deportation case says court rushed to block Trump with middle-of-the night order
Justice Samuel Alito has written a sharp dissent that castigates the seven-member majority for blocking the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law.
apnews.com
El Salvador proposes swapping US-deported Venezuelans for Venezuelan 'political prisoners'
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Sunday proposed sending 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. and imprisoned in his country to Venezuela.
www.usatoday.com
White House voices support for Hegseth as a new Signal chat revelation stirs fresh Pentagon turmoil
The White House has expressed support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following reports that he shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat.
apnews.com
Hegseth blames 'anonymous smears,' Trump defends him after 2nd Signal chat revealed
President Donald Trump defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after news of a second Signal chat Hegseth used to share details of military action against Houthis.
abcnews.go.com
After NY ignores latest deadline, feds give yet another month to stop toll that Trump hates
President Donald Trump’s administration has given New York another month to cease its congestion toll after the state ignored a Sunday deadline to shut down the $9 fee for drivers into Manhattan.
apnews.com
Sen. Chris Van Hollen says Salvadoran government "tried really hard" to prevent him from seeing Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador last week, where he met with Abrego Garcia after he said his attempts were repeatedly turned down by the Salvadoran government.
www.cbsnews.com
Wall Street and the dollar tumble as investors retreat further from the United States
Wall Street weakened as investors worldwide get more skeptical about U.S. investments because of President Donald Trump’s trade war and his criticism of the Federal Reserve, which are shaking the traditional order.
apnews.com
White House Easter Egg Roll features Big Tech logos, branding | CNN Politics
The logos of Big Tech companies and key associations were featured prominently Monday at the White House Easter Egg Roll, offering an unprecedented scene and use of the grounds to promote private business.
www.cnn.com
US Supreme Court appears likely to uphold Obamacare's preventive care coverage mandate
The Supreme Court seems likely to uphold a key preventive care provision of the Affordable Care Act.
apnews.com
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EDUCATION DEPT. TO RESUME COLLECTIONS ON...
Continue reading...It’s a nine-front crusade, although I could easily double that number.
If there’s a common thread here, it’s the president taking on elite institutions that he has long resented or reviled.
That’s why his first three months seem stuck on hyperspeed – critics would say chaos – because he’s broken with the traditional model of tackling one or two issues at a time. Voters gave him a second term to shake things up. It’s the first Trump term on steroids.
EDUCATION DEPT. TO RESUME COLLECTIONS ON...
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