Latest news with #TomWilliams
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pride Month no more: Trump administration says June is Title IX Month
President Donald Trump's administration has officially declared that June will now be recognized as Title IX Month — not Pride Month. Sign up for the to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment — delivered three times a week straight (well…) to your inbox! The U.S. Department of Education published a new report on Monday, June 2 announcing that June will now be about recognizing instead of Pride Month. The official statement reads: "The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today announced that it is recognizing June as 'Title IX Month' in honor of the fifty-third anniversary of Title IX of the Educational Amendments (1972) being signed into law. June will now be dedicated to commemorating women and celebrating their struggle for, and achievement of, equal educational opportunity. Throughout the month, the Department will highlight actions taken to reverse the Biden Administration's legacy of undermining Title IX and announce additional actions to protect women in line with the true purpose of Title IX." The report also specified that the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is kicking of the first-ever Title IX Month with two "investigations into the University of Wyoming and Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado for allegedly allowing males to join and live in female-only intimate and communal spaces." The official page for the department also wrote in an X post: "By prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded programs, #TitleIX opened countless athletic & academic opportunities for women & girls across the country. This month, we celebrate Title IX's 53rd anniversary & will take more action to protect women's hard-earned rights." News outlets reporting on this update have drawn parallels between this new Title IX Month replacing the long-standing recognition of June as Pride Month. "The Education Department announced Monday that June, typically known as Pride Month, would be honored as 'Title IX Month' as it works to undo Biden-era transgender protections," The Hill reported. Fox News reported, "Dept of Education labels June as 'Title IX Month' in wake of trans athletes winning girls' competitions." Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Title IX sign displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. Title IX is a federal civil rights law enacted as one of the Education Amendments of 1972. The main function of Title IX is to prohibit discrimination based on sex. The official language of Title IX reads: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." A Title IX explainer from Harvard University notes that "Title IX regulations guide how colleges and universities, including Harvard, must respond to sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct through appropriate grievance procedures, supportive measures, and related policies." This story is still developing…
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Surprise Student Loan Reprieve For 450,000 Borrowers Announced By Department Of Education
UNITED STATES - MAY 21: Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies during the House Appropriations ... More Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on the Department of Education's budget on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The Department announced a "pause" on certain student loan collections efforts for Social Security benefits recipients on June 2, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Hundreds of thousands of federal student loan borrowers who were facing potentially imminent seizure of their Social Security benefits got some good news this week after the Department of Education announced a halt to the new collections threats. 'The Trump Administration is committed to protecting social security recipients who oftentimes rely on a fixed income,' said a Department of Education spokesperson on Monday. The department has 'put a pause on any future social security offsets.' But federal student loan borrowers aren't out of the woods. The pause may be only temporary, and the reprieve only pertains to Social Security recipients. The department is continuing to ramp up efforts to forcibly collect from defaulted borrowers through other methods. Here's the latest. In April, the Trump administration announced that it would be restarting collections efforts against defaulted federal student loan borrowers after a five-year pause related to pandemic-era relief programs. The administration characterized the efforts as necessary to recoup costs for taxpayers. 'The Department has not collected on defaulted loans since March 2020,' said the Department of Education in the announcement. 'Resuming collections protects taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers willingly undertook to finance their postsecondary education.' 'Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers" through Biden administration relief programs, argued Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in the statement. 'Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law.' The federal government has vast powers to forcibly seize income and benefits from Americans who are in default on their federal student loans, which typically is defined as being more than nine months past due. Without needing to file a lawsuit or step foot in a courtroom, the Department of Education and the Department of Treasury can seize wages, offset a portion of federal benefits (including Social Security), and intercept federal tax refunds. Student loan borrower advocacy organizations have warned that restarting collections efforts against defaulted federal student loan borrowers could be disastrous, particularly given the significant dysfunction currently plaguing the federal student loan system. This includes massive application backlogs for affordable student loan repayment plans, and lengthy call hold times for borrowers trying to reach their loan servicer. 'Borrowers report facing extraordinarily long wait times when they reach out to their servicers, with some spending eight-plus hours on hold waiting to speak to customer support,' said The Institute For College Access and Success in a blog post in April. 'Borrowers have fewer resources than ever to navigate their repayment options, and those options are ever shifting. For many borrowers, this is likely to mean default. For those already in default, getting back on track is likely to be even more difficult than ever.' The Trump administration had faced criticism from some advocacy groups for taking steps to offset the Social Security benefits of defaulted federal student loan borrowers. At least 450,000 Americans are over age 62, are in default on their federal loans, and may be on fixed income via Social Security benefits, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Treasury Offset program, which allows the government to offset federal benefits, would lead to a loss of up to 15% of a borrower's monthly benefit amount – potentially catastrophic for older borrowers who are living paycheck to paycheck. On May 5, the Department of Education plowed ahead with implementation of Treasury Offset. Nearly 200,000 defaulted federal student loan borrowers received initial notices threatening to garnish their wages and benefits, with an additional five million borrowers expected to receive warnings by the end of the month. But on Monday, the Department of Education seemingly reversed course, at least for Social Security recipients, and announced that there would be a 'pause' on Social Security benefits offsets as part of the broader defaulted federal student loan collections efforts. 'The Trump Administration is committed to protecting social security recipients who oftentimes rely on a fixed income,' said the department spokesperson. 'In the coming weeks, the Department will begin proactive outreach to recipients about affordable loan repayment options and help them back into good standing.' The department provided no other formal explanation for the decision to pause Social Security offset. While the announcement may be welcome news for the nearly half a million federal student loan borrowers who receive Social Security benefits, borrowers are not out of the woods. First, it's important to note that the Department of Education characterized its action as a 'pause,' not a permanent suspension. This suggests that the department may resume Social Security offset at a later date, perhaps after the forthcoming 'proactive outreach' efforts the department announced will begin in the coming weeks. In addition, the department only announced a pause on Social Security offset. The pause does not appear to encompass the entire Treasury Offset program, which allows the government to also garnish up to 15% of federal employee wages, up to 100% of federal vendor and contractor payments, and up to 100% of federal tax refunds issued to defaulted student loan borrowers. The pause also does not appear to include the administrative wage garnishment program, which allows the government to order private and non-federal employers to garnish up to 15% of a defaulted federal student loan borrower's paycheck. 'For five million people in default, federal law gives borrowers a way out of default and the right to make loan payments they can afford,' said Student Borrower Protection Center Executive Director Mike Pierce in a statement in April. "Since February, Donald Trump and Linda McMahon have blocked these borrowers' path out of default and are now feeding them into the maw of the government debt collection machine. This is cruel, unnecessary, and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country." Administrative wage garnishment efforts against defaulted federal student loan borrowers are expected to begin sometime this summer. By the end of the year, the Department of Education estimates that nearly 10 million borrowers may end up in default, as millions have already begun falling behind on their monthly payments.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BNSF stands up shortline rail team
BNSF Railway on Monday announced the creation of a team focused on growth of single-carload traffic. The First Mile/Last Mile team of 13 combines the Class I railroad's Shortline Development and Industrial Products Business Development teams. The group, led by General Director of Marketing Mark Ganaway, will be dedicated to growing carload volume across BNSF's 32,500-mile network. 'As our industry continues to evolve, every single carload is important to our network, and every single rail shipment helps our customers create more value for the nation's consumer,' said Tom Williams, BNSF executive vice president and chief marketing officer. 'First Mile/Last Mile will be focused on providing solutions and breaking down those barriers, leading to a more streamlined supply chain from start to finish.' The new team comes as the biggest railroads have seen a yearslong slump in carloads roughly paralleling the U.S. decline in manufacturing, but that may be changing amid a reset in American trade plicy. At the same time, the Class Is have been content to hand off the carload freight business to short lines whose lower cost structures and personalized marketing in many cases are built around low-volume the fall of 2024, BNSF announced its Shortline Select program, which combines the benefit of customized shortline service with BNSF's reach, spanning 28 states and three Canadian provinces. First Mile/Last Mile furthers BNSF's efforts to partner with short lines and develop solutions that drive growth for its First Mile/Last Mile team will be primarily based at BNSF headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your more articles by Stuart Chirls concerns pause Watco's Michigan shortline rail deal Union Pacific battery-electric hybrid locomotive completes testing Baun joins railcar builder Greenbrier as chief commercial officer Norfolk Southern expands short line interchange improvement programThe post BNSF stands up shortline rail team appeared first on FreightWaves. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Joni Ernst's Sarcastic 'Apology' for Medicaid Cuts Response Sparks Fury
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. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has sparked fury online after she shared a sarcastic apology on her Instagram story in response to a heated exchange at a town hall event in Butler County. The tense discussion had been about impacts the proposed Medicaid cuts could have on vulnerable populations. An attendee said these could result in people dying, and the Republication senator responded by saying: "Well, we are all going to die." Why It Matters Medicaid has been a hot topic in recent weeks as the GOP budget bill progresses through the legislative ranks. The bill 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. Critics warn this will substantially weaken the Medicaid system, the largest public health insurance program in the country, by forcing millions off the service, while supporters of the plan argue that work requirements will foster employment, reduce fraudulent claims, and improve personal responsibility. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP What To Know After the tense exchange at the town event, Senator Ernst posted an apology on her Instagram account, which some said made matters "worse." While seeming to be apologetic at the start the video, saying she wanted to "apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall," she then continued: "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes we are all going to perish from this earth." The sarcasm of her apology ramped up even higher as she added: "I'm really, really glad I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well." In the background of the video, which has since widely circulated on X, she appears to be walking through a cemetery as what look like gravestones can be seen scattered behind her on the grass. After she shared the video, the internet exploded with comments responding to the senator's statement. Keith Edwards, a political commentator and YouTuber with more than 138,000 followers on X, wrote on the social media platform: "Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse." The post, which was shared on Saturday, went viral, accumulating more than 1.2 million views. Independent journalist Aaron Rupar, who has more than 971,000 followers on X, also wrote on the platform on May 31: "Absolutely bonkers—Joni Ernst doubles down on her "we are all gonna die" defense of Medicaid cuts while walking through a cemetery." His post also went viral, gathering more than 912,000 views on the platform. California congressman Ro Khanna also took to X to respond to the Iowa senator's remarks, and wrote: "Telling people 'we're all going to die' in response to Medicaid cuts & then doing a video quoting Jesus is stunning. Jesus healed the sick. He didn't cut their care." The Medicaid changes have divided Republican lawmakers, some expressing concerns over the risk to constituents losing benefits, while other members have pushed for deeper cuts. House Democrats unanimously opposed the bill, arguing in a joint statement that it would "rip health care and food assistance away from millions of people in order to provide tax cuts to the wealthy, the well-off, and the well-connected." What People Are Saying Joni Ernst, said in a video she posted on her Instagram story: "I would like to take this apology to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall. I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member when a woman who was extremely distraught screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium, 'People are going to die,' and I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes we are all going to perish from this earth. So, I apologize and I'm really, really glad I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well. But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior Jesus Christ." What Happens Next The budget, which proposes to bring in cuts to the Medicaid program, is now awaiting further progress in the Senate.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Map Reveals States Where Americans Spend Most on Health Care
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. Residents of five southern states pay the highest share of their household income on health care, according to data collected by WalletHub. The differences between medical costs across the U.S. largely come down to household income, because as cost of individual health care services vary within each state, the overall costs end up taking a larger percentage out of bank accounts in states where the median income of its residents are lower than others. Why It Matters Health care costs can create significant financial and mental strain on populations and can often lead to people having to file for "medical bankruptcy." The GOP budget proposal, which just passed the House, could lead to over 7 million people having their access to Medicaid impacted—including people in Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Oklahoma—if it becomes law. What To Know The state where the highest share of household income, 18.66 percent, goes to health care costs is Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, where the median household pays above 16 percent of their income on essential medical visits and medicine. Maryland residents pay the least percentage of their income, on average, for health care, as health services take up 9.03 percent of household earnings in the state. Mississippi has the lowest average income in the country, at $54,915, meaning health care costs can quickly add up to take up a larger percentage of a household budget. Although Mississippi is the 38th most expensive state to see a doctor in, it is the 12th most expensive state to see a dentist in, and the 16th most expensive state for the heart drug Lipitor, per WalletHub data. The five states where the highest percentage of income goes toward health care costs, are also among eight poorest states in the country. The five states where the lowest percentage of household income goes to seeing a doctor are among some of the richest states in the country. This includes New Jersey, which boasts the highest average earnings in the U.S. Higher wages can often result in better health insurance from an employer, less fear about medical debt and less reliance on state and federal health care services like Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid activists wait to enter the House Energy and Commerce markup of the Fiscal 2025 budget resolution in Rayburn building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Medicaid activists wait to enter the House Energy and Commerce markup of the Fiscal 2025 budget resolution in Rayburn building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Tom Williams/AP Photo How Medicaid Cuts Could Affect Health Care Costs The House-passed GOP budget calls for a reduction of $700 billion in Medicaid spending over the next decade and the implementation of work requirements, which are a mandated 80-hour-per-month community engagement for Medicaid recipients. Proponents of work requirements say they encourage workforce participation, but opponents say that many people on Medicaid already have jobs but they are so low-income that they still qualify for state health care. Approximately one in five Americans are enrolled in Medicaid. Cuts to Medicaid could not only impact those who rely on its services but could also increase health care costs for Americans overall. "Most likely the prices [of health care] will go up because when people lose their health insurance coverage they still need care and few of them have the money to pay the high cost of medical care so each of us have to dig deeper into our pockets to pay for the health care we receive," Gerard Anderson, Professor of Health Policy at Johns Hopkins University, told Newsweek. He also noted that "Medical professionals caring for current Medicaid recipients will feel the greatest impact [of the cuts]," as although payments from Medicaid is not high, it is more than nothing at all which is what they will receive from fully uninsured patients." People losing access to Medicaid could also lead to other issues within the health care complex, including longer wait times. "If people without Medicaid are not able to receive preventive care they will access care in the emergency department, leading to longer wait times for everyone," Jennifer Wolff, Professor of Health Policy at Johns Hopkins University told Newsweek. Anderson also discussed proposed work requirements on Public Health on Call. "This might make sense in theory, but not in practice: If people are able to work, they should be able to get off Medicaid," he said. "But the fact is that many of these people work very low-wage jobs, so they would still qualify for Medicaid. "Many people on Medicaid live in rural areas where there aren't any jobs. In order to get a job, they would need to move to another community, likely in a more affluent area where they can't afford to rent." Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents Louisiana, one of the most costly states for health care in the country, said that the work requirements for Medicaid included in the GOP budget have a "moral component" to them, as they encourage young men to get jobs. One-third of the residents in Johnson's district in Eastern Louisiana are currently on Medicaid. Demonstrators protesting cuts to Medicaid and U.S. Capitol Police officers outside a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2025. Demonstrators protesting cuts to Medicaid and U.S. Capitol Police officers outside a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2025. Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images What People Are Saying Professor of Health Policy at Johns Hopkins University, Gerard Anderson told Newsweek told Newsweek: "[All Americans] will be impacted [by Medical cuts] because the prices for their health care services, and their health insurance premiums will increase. Someone must pay for the services the people without health insurance receive." Professor of Health Policy at Johns Hopkins University, Jennifer Wolff told Newsweek: "Families will incur higher out of pocket costs and/or may need to exit the workplace if Medicaid is no longer able to cover home and community-based long-term care and nursing facility care is not supported by the program." Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Face the Nation: "If you are able to work and you refuse to do so, you are defrauding the system. You're cheating the system. And no one in the country believes that that's right." What Happens Next The proposed GOP budget is heading to the Senate for a vote. If passed via the Senate and signed by President Donald Trump, it has been projected to increase health care costs and possibly impact millions of Medicaid recipients.
