Coloradans assess how Department of Education job cuts will impact the state
Coloradans are looking at how cuts to the U.S. Department of Education may affect the state going forward.
The department eliminated 1,300 jobs this week. Another 600 employees took voluntary resignations, totaling roughly half of its workforce. Department staffers at the federal building on Speer Boulevard in Denver were told not to come to work Wednesday, but the Denver office was not subjected to the cuts.
Still, the elimination of jobs in neighboring regions at the Office for Civil Rights has some concerned it will be more difficult to protect students from discrimination and bullying.
Disability Law Colorado Co-Legal Director Emily Harvey said, "Without an administrative agency to take those concerns to, parents are left with alternatives like going to a state agency that enforces similar laws or going to court. And that is time consuming and costly."
While President Trump said his administration will shift control of education to the states, he has also signed several executive orders establishing federal regulations for K-12 schools.
In January, Trump signed an executive order prioritizing federal funding for school choice programs. An executive order signed in January banned the "radical gender ideology and critical race theory" in K-12 schools by teaching about race and racism. Another executive order in February would bar federal funding for schools with COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Trump said that, although he would like to eliminate the Department of Education, doing so requires an act of Congress.
Dr. Kevin Welner of the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado Boulder said, "There's a question about whether the department can fulfill its statutory and constitutional duties overall if it degrades its capacity so much that it can't carry out, in any sort of meaningful way, the jobs that have been assigned to it by Congress."
The department said it will continue to oversee formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students and competitive grantmaking.
Pam Bisceglia, executive director of Advocacy Denver, said that Colorado receives about 30% of its funding to implement the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from the federal government. She added, "We do not want the offer of a free and appropriate public education compromised."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
5 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Can Trump Tackle US 'Chronic Disease Crisis'? Experts Weigh In
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vow to "Make America Healthy Again" could fall short when it comes to chronic disease, experts have warned. When the MAHA Commission report on chronic disease came out in May, President Donald Trump made it clear his administration was committed to tackling the epidemic "We will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America, we're going to get it done for the first time ever," said Trump during a MAHA event at the White House on May . In a statement included in the press release accompanying the report, Kennedy Jr. said: "We will end the childhood chronic disease crisis by attacking its root causes head-on—not just managing its symptoms." Nearly 130 million Americans are estimated to have at least one form of chronic disease, which could be heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity or hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts told Newsweek that, while the Trump administration's ambition to "defeat" the "epidemic" is clear, whether its policies will help or hinder chronic-disease patients remains to be seen. On one hand, Kennedy Jr.'s recent MAHA report, which detailed what the administration believed to be the leading causes of chronic disease in children, indicated the aim was to reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions through public education and research. On the other hand, the proposed cuts to Medicaid funding and work requirements for eligibility to the benefits, which are set to come as part of the broader GOP budget bill, could leave many with chronic disease without access to vital care. As many as three in four adults enrolled in Medicaid report having one or more chronic conditions, and many are unable to work the hours needed to meet the new eligibility requirements, according to nonprofit health policy research and news organization, KFF. So, while some may be medically exempt, others will lose their health coverage, meaning their conditions could worsen without access to care. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via email on Tuesday. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Tackling Chronic Disease Since he became health secretary, Kennedy Jr. has promised to increase research in the root causes of illness and ensure the American diet is full of high-quality foods, while limiting access to ultra-processed food and certain chemicals, which he believes are contributors to chronic disease. The report states that consumption of ultra-processed foods "has gone up at an exponential rate as share of the American diet." Earlier in the year, Kennedy, had described products from companies like Kellogg's and McDonald's as "mass poison to children." Prioritizing research on the issue is crucial, Kenneth E. Thorpe, a professor of health policy at Emory University, Georgia, and honorary chair of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), told Newsweek. "Renewed focus on chronic disease and the impact that the U.S. diet has on it—focusing on artificial or chemical ingredients in food, particularly the impact of ultra processed foods—is important," he said. He added that this was because of the fact diet has "a direct impact on the growing rates of chronic conditions like obesity and obesity-related comorbidities such diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and many more." "I applaud the Trump administration's focus on addressing the number one cause of death and disability in the U.S.—chronic, non-communicable disease," said Thorpe, who has been an advocate of chronic disease prevention in the U.S. for over 30 years. "We have more people with more chronic diseases, with just 5 percent of the population accounting for 50 percent of the costs in health care." He added that it is estimated that from 2016 to 2030 the cost of chronic disease will be in excess of $42 trillion. "The time is now to focus on the prevention and better management of chronic disease," Thorpe added. What Should the Trump Administration Do While it's too early to tell if the Trump administration is heading down the right path to lower chronic disease prevalence, Dr. Adrian Hernandez, director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute at the Duke University School of Medicine, told Newsweek that "leading indicators appear to be going the wrong way." He said this was partly because of the changes being proposed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A proposal for the HHS, most of which was reported on in April, reduces by almost 40 percent its budget for 2026 and reveals major funding cuts for the NIH, according to CNN. Newsweek has contacted the NIH via email on Tuesday. Hernandez added that changes, such as the proposed cuts in federal funding, to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were also going down the wrong path. Rather than cuts to these federal health agencies, Hernandez said tackling chronic disease will require "an investment" in science and health. He said that the same was needed for health care delivery models like Medicaid and Medicare—rather than making cuts to the programs, the administration should "invest in preventative health." The GOP budget bill, which is progressing through the legislative ranks, instructs the committee to reduce the Department of Health and Human Services budget by $880 billion over 10 years, which would include cuts to Medicaid alongside other measures such as implementing work requirements. Ross Brownson, director of the Prevention Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, told Newsweek that Medicaid cuts would "likely have a detrimental effect on chronic disease risk among the most vulnerable populations," adding Medicaid-enrolled adults have significantly higher rates of chronic disease than individuals privately insured. "The drive to defeat chronic disease stalls if Medicaid patients are placed in the backseat," Thorpe said. "Today, the federal program is far from perfect, but it is a lifeline for those who need it," Thorpe added, saying it was "often the only pathway to care" for many with chronic disease. 'A Long-Term Challenge' Experts insist that chronic disease is a deeply complex issue that requires long-term solutions and attention. Brownson noted that there has been "sparse attention to physical inactivity and tobacco use," as major risk factors for chronic disease. "This is a two-edged sword," Brownson told Newsweek. He said that while "on one hand, labeling this issue a crisis implies a sense of urgency and may mobilize action." Ultimately "the jury is still out on whether they will solve the chronic disease crisis." "We often have a short attention span and with this crisis label, policy makers may think the problem can be solved quickly and then move on to a new issue. We need to think of this as a long-term challenge in need of attention," he added.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
City launches new assistance program for COFA families
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The City and County of Honolulu are providing help to Micronesian families who lost loved ones to COVID-19. HFD outlines dangers of China Walls, Spitting Caves The Office of Economic Revitalization announced on June 3 the launch of the ʻOhana Memorial Support: COVID-19 COFA Funeral Assistance Program. The program seeks to provide $1.5 million in direct reimbursement of burial expenses to 'Compact of Free Association' residents on O'ahu. 'This program is about doing right by the families who lost a loved one to COVID-19 and were unjustly excluded from federal assistance,' said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. 'While no amount of funding can ever replace the lives lost, we hope this support demonstrates our deep commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in our community.' The program contractor, We Are Oceania, will reimburse burial expenses up to $9,000 for each household member who passed away due to reimbursement amount for households experiencing multiple deaths in one family is capped at $35,500 per application. We Are Oceania is providing both in-person and virtual support sessions for families requiring assistance: Weekly Virtual Community Sessions: Join Facebook livestreams for community-specific information sessions: Marshallese Community: Every Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kosraean Community: Every Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pohnpeian Community: Every Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chuukese Community: Every Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In-Person Outreach Events in June 2025: Kosraean Church visits: June 15th at Kalihi Union Church (2214 N. King St.), 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Daily assistance at We Are Oceania Shim Hall (720 N King Street, Honolulu): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding weekends and June 11) Marshallese Full Gospel Church: June 15 at Kalihi Union Church, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chuukese Church: June 22 at Kalihi Union Church, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pohnpeian Church: June 29 at Central Union Church (1660 Beretania St.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Leader Sessions: June 17 and 19 at Shim Hall Eligibility requirements are as follows: Immediate surviving family members of a COFA Citizen whose death was attributed to COVID-19 between January 20, 2020, and September 30, 2024 The deceased family member must have resided on O'ahu and must demonstrate COFA citizenship (FSM, RMI, or ROP). Applicants must prove a relationship to the deceased through official documents. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For more information, visit the We Are Oceania website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Myth of Trumpian Deterrence
EVER SINCE DONALD TRUMP RETURNED to the White House, the darnedest thing has been happening in Ukraine. Every day or so, Trump says Russia wouldn't have attacked Ukraine if he were president. And every time he says it, Russia attacks Ukraine. You might have thought that by now, Trump would stop saying it, since Russia's continuing onslaught makes a mockery of his boasts. But he's no more fazed by this falsification than he is by the evidence that he lost the 2020 election. He just keeps repeating his story. In March, Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine accepted the proposal, but Russia didn't. Russian forces pushed into eastern Ukraine, and on April 13, Russia fired missiles into Sumy, a Ukrainian city, killing at least 34 civilians and injuring more than 100. When reporters asked Trump about the missile strike, he excused it as 'a mistake' and said the war had started only because Vladimir Putin 'had so little respect for [Joe] Biden.' 'If I were president,' said Trump, 'that war would have never started.' The next day, Trump claimed that in his first term, he had deterred Putin from invading Ukraine. 'I told him, 'Don't do it,'' said Trump. But now that Trump was back in office, Putin seemed strangely undeterred. While Trump was touting his magical ability to rein in Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeated that Russia wouldn't accept Trump's ceasefire plan. Meanwhile, along the front, Russian troops continued their assaults on Ukraine. On April 17, Trump bragged again that he had deterred Russia in his first term. 'I spoke to President Putin about it a lot,' said Trump. 'There's no way he would've ever gone in if I were president.' The next day, Russia fired missiles into Kharkiv, killing a civilian and injuring more than 100 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a moratorium on strikes against civilian targets. Putin rejected it. On April 22, in an interview with Time, Trump was pressed about a promise he had made in his 2024 campaign. 'You said you would end the war in Ukraine on Day One,' the interviewer reminded him. Trump dismissed the quote. 'I said that as an exaggeration,' he scoffed. 'Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest.' But he repeated that the war 'would have never happened if I was president.' Support our independent political journalism by signing up for a free or paid Bulwark subscription. Again, Putin defied him. A day after the Time interview, Russia launched a missile and drone barrage against Kyiv, hitting five neighborhoods and killing a dozen people. Trump, in response, tried to do what he claimed to have done in his first term: talk Putin out of further aggression. 'Vladimir, STOP!' he wrote on Truth Social. 'Lets [sic] get the Peace Deal DONE!' Despite Russia's persistent bombardment, Trump insisted that Putin wanted peace: Reporter: This proposal that you put on the table, it's a 30-day ceasefire proposal. Your national security team presented it to both Ukraine and Russia. Two months ago, Ukraine agreed to that ceasefire proposal immediately. Russia has not. And my question is: Is Russia the obstacle to peace. . . . Trump: I don't think so. I think that they both want peace right now. Again, Trump said the war 'would have never happened if I were president,' since Putin 'understood that I would not be happy' if Russia were to attack Ukraine. The next day, April 25, Trump announced, 'Work on the overall Peace Deal between Russia and Ukraine is going smoothly.' He added, 'They are very close to a deal. . . . Most of the major points are agreed to.' No such deal materialized. Four days later, as Russian forces continued to advance, another Putin mouthpiece—Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of the Russian Security Council—declared that the only acceptable outcome of the war was the destruction of Ukraine's government. Share In an interview on April 29, Trump assured ABC's Terry Moran, 'Because of me, I do believe that he's [Putin] willing to stop the fighting.' Moran was incredulous: 'You think Vladimir Putin wants peace?' Trump stood by his man: 'I think he does, yes. I think he does.' On May 2, Trump told NBC's Kristen Welker that his magic chemistry with Putin was already working. 'If I didn't get involved, they [Russia] would be fighting right now for all of Ukraine,' said Trump. 'If it weren't me, they would keep going.' But Russia did keep going. From one town to another, its troops continued to advance. On May 6, a reporter asked Trump 'what type of progress' his overtures to Putin had achieved. 'A lot,' said Trump. 'I think Russia wanted to take all of Ukraine, and they've stopped.' They hadn't stopped. Again, Trump proposed an unconditional ceasefire. And again, the Kremlin rejected it, insisting on impossible conditions. Trump responded by welcoming Russia's demands and shifting the burden to Ukraine. 'President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.' Trump refused to punish Russia. On May 12, a reporter asked him whether he would impose 'sanctions on Russia if Putin doesn't agree with the 30-day ceasefire.' Trump reaffirmed his faith in Putin's regime: 'I have a feeling they're going to agree. I do. I have a feeling.' Share The Bulwark They didn't. Zelensky offered to meet with Putin in Istanbul, but Putin spurned the invitation. Again, Trump made excuses for Putin. 'Nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together,' Trump told reporters. 'And obviously, he wasn't going to go.' On May 16, Fox News host Bret Baier reminded Trump: 'You said, 'Stop bombing.' He [Putin] hasn't stopped bombing. He's not at the table.' But Trump—with the same delusional confidence he routinely expresses about massive fraud in the 2020 election—insisted, 'He is at the table.' Throughout the interview, Trump tried to shift blame to Zelensky. The next day, Russia launched its biggest drone attack of the three-year war. On May 19, Trump had a two-hour phone call with Putin. 'The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent,' Trump declared on Truth Social. As a result, he promised, 'Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire.' The ceasefire didn't happen. Instead, last week, Russia launched more than 300 drones and missiles into Ukraine, killing more civilians. By this point, it was clear that Trump's boasts about deterring Putin were empty. 'He doesn't seem willing to do anything that you want him to do,' a reporter told Trump. 'Do you still believe that, that he wouldn't have launched the war?' Trump clung to his intertwined myths: 'If I were president—if the election weren't rigged—you wouldn't have had the war.' Join now THE SADDEST THING about Trump's Ukraine delusion is that he really could have deterred Putin from extending or escalating the war. But that would have required action, not braggadocio. At every turn, Trump refused to antagonize the dictator he thought was his friend. Last Wednesday, after another barrage of Russian missiles and drones, a reporter asked Trump, 'What stopped you from imposing new sanctions on Russia?' Trump answered that peace might be at hand. 'If I think I'm close to getting a deal,' he explained, 'I don't want to screw it up by doing that.' Then, on Friday, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy tried to ask Trump about the challenges of dealing with 'a very stubborn Vladimir Putin.' Trump, offended that Putin was being singled out, interrupted the question. 'And Zelensky,' Trump added. 'Very stubborn Zelensky, too.' What Trump doesn't understand is that the world's crises and tragedies—the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, the October 2023 massacre in Israel, the plight of Afghans abandoned by the United States—aren't a stage for his ego. He treats these scenes of suffering as opportunities to promote himself, by crowing that if he had been president, they never would have happened. He doesn't understand that being president is a job, and the job is to alleviate crises, not exploit them. Putin recognizes that this is how Trump thinks. He knows that the American president, while yapping that the war never would have happened on his watch, won't lift a finger against the aggressor. And that's why the war goes on. Zip this article to a friend's inbox or zap it onto social media. Share
