Month: March 2018

Among the proposals outlined in the 56-page plan, obtained by The Times, was the consolidation of a number of administrative offices, cutting the number of regional offices in the Office for Civil Rights and acquiring several programs run by the Department of Labor. Department officials said they have since abandoned the civil rights proposals, which were sure to be the most controversial part of the plan. They said the plan remained in flux. It was created last fall to…

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The cuts, coupled with the Trump administration’s decision to examine and possibly rescind guidance meant to protect minority students from racial discrimination in discipline and special education decisions, inflamed a debate about the department’s approach to minority students. “Your head is in the sand about racial bias and racial discrimination,” Ms. Lee said, adding: “You just don’t care about civil rights of black and brown children. This is horrible.” Ms. DeVos said that she was “very proud of the…

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A longtime analyst for Fox News is leaving the network, saying that he could not “in good conscience” remain with an organization that, he argued, “is now wittingly harming our system of government for profit.” In a searing farewell note sent to colleagues on Tuesday, Ralph Peters, a Fox News strategic analyst and a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, castigated the network for its coverage of President Trump and the rhetoric of its prime-time hosts. “In…

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Tuesday’s debate ultimately turned on two separate issues: whether the United States forces in Yemen were, in fact, active participants in hostilities and how lawmakers should confront and potentially curtail foreign policy set by the executive branch. Proponents of the resolution to rein in American involvement argued that the United States’ actions in Yemen did constitute participation in hostilities and were undertaken without the proper authorization from Congress. “The Constitution is clear: The U.S. Congress decides whether we go…

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But Dr. Collins said he was “concerned” about meetings scientists and officials had with beer and liquor company executives before the Foundation for the N.I.H., a nongovernmental foundation authorized to raise private money for research, became involved. “While N.I.H. officials and scientists routinely discuss and present information on proposed collaborations with outside scientists and other members of the public, N.I.H. policy prohibits employees from soliciting donations of funds or other resources to the N.I.H. or any of its components,”…

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Mr. McConnell’s cautious handling of what some fear could become a crisis was no accident; he rarely criticizes the president in public and sees little upside to doing so. But critics — some in his own party — say that by not issuing a more direct warning, Mr. McConnell is undermining Congress’s standing as a coequal branch of government — and inviting Mr. Trump to act on his impulses. It is time, they say, for the majority leader to…

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Federal officials have also concluded that Russian hackers targeted election systems in 21 states and breached that of at least one, Illinois, during the last election cycle. No votes were changed, though. Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, told the Senate committee at a hearing last month that the intelligence agencies were still grappling with these twin challenges: neutralizing Moscow’s disinformation campaign and securing the integrity of vulnerable election systems around the country. The senators shared that assessment….

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With a particular focus on social media, Melania Trump, the first lady, has long said she wants to curb online bullying and harassment as part of a nascent effort to improve the lives of American children. There’s one problem: Mrs. Trump’s efforts often clash with the president’s longtime habit of using social media to insult people. Despite the criticism, she has continued to develop an agenda around cybersafety. On Tuesday, Mrs. Trump invited representatives from Facebook, Snap, Google, Amazon…

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