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WATCH: Coons, Rubio disagree on whether Congress should’ve been consulted before Maduro ouster
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said the Trump administration failed to properly consult with Congress in the months leading up to the dramatic U.S. military raid that ousted President Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was "a trigger-based operation."
Here's what to know about the $50 billion states are getting for rural health
To satisfy Republicans opposed to last summer's cuts to health care, the Trump administration launched an ambitious 5-year initiative known as the Rural Health Transformation Program.
After D.C. clears homeless encampments, health workers warn of growing risks
While Trump administration officials say that sweeps of homeless encampments make public spaces safer, health workers say they are disrupting care for people with serious medical needs and increasing the risk of illness and death.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Trump Administration declares pristine Alaskan seafloor “open for business,” mocks environmental safeguards - Greenpeace
At a time of accelerating ocean, climate, and biodiversity crisis, the priority should be on protecting these ecosystems, not opening new frontiers of extraction.
WA hospital to close gender clinic, citing Trump administration threats
Hospital leaders write that "recent developments at the federal level" threaten to halt Medicaid and Medicare payments to the entire MultiCare Health System.
Top White House aide Stephen Miller acknowledges possible breach of protocol before Alex Pretti’s shooting
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Tuesday that officials were evaluating why Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis “may not have been following” proper protocol before the fatal shooting of VA nurse Alex Pretti – a remarkable acknowledgment of possible wrongdoing from one of the Trump administration’s most influential and hardline operators on immigration enforcement.
Gun-rights groups decried the administration’s rhetoric on Alex Pretti’s gun. Then Trump went even further.
The Trump administration didn’t have a whole lot to work with after a federal officer shot and killed someone again this weekend in Minneapolis.
Trump has a new problem in Minneapolis — a GOP-appointed judge
The Trump administration on Monday bowed to increasing pressure to change up its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, after a second person was killed by federal agents. The White House replaced Greg Bovino with Tom Homan on the ground and signaled a more cooperative tone with local Democrats.
The tricky science of forecasting extreme winter weather
It doesn't help that the Trump administration is decimating climate research.
Health Insurer Stocks Slide After Trump Administration Proposal Keeps Medicare Payments Flat
The Trump administration’s proposal would raise Medicare Advantage payment rates to insurers by 0.09% in 2027, well below Wall Street estimates of between 4-6%.
Exclusive: CIA moves to establish foothold in Venezuela following Maduro’s capture
The CIA is quietly working to establish a permanent US presence on the ground in Venezuela, spearheading the Trump administration’s plans to exert its new-found influence over the country’s future, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning.
The Trump administration is admitting it lied about Alex Pretti
A baby-step back from the brink.
US health insurers slump after 2027 Medicare Advantage payments proposal disappoints
Shares of health insurers tumbled in premarket trading on Tuesday after the Trump administration proposed a smaller-than-expected increase to next year's Medicare Advantage plans.
Goldman's CEO Says Washington Is "Open for Business"
Goldman Sachs' CEO, David Solomon, says the Trump administration is "open for business" and that the company has a “very, very good” relationship with Washington. (Source: Bloomberg)
Kentucky Republican suggests Trump consider moving ICE from Minnesota
The shooting and the response from the Trump administration has prompted other Kentucky Republicans to defend gun rights.
Minnesota targeted by federal government over trans girls in sports
The notice comes as the Trump administration faces a substantial backlash to its immigration enforcement in the state, which has led to the shooting deaths of two Minnesotans.
Alex Pretti Shooting Poses a Question for the Right: Who’s a Conservative?
Republicans wrestle with Trump administration positions that seem to contradict their beliefs on gun rights, states’ rights and limited use of federal power.
Minneapolis and Washington respond to another DHS shooting: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the Trump administration's media playbook for these incidents.
The shootings in Minneapolis are upending the politics of immigration in Congress
The shooting deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis have upended the politics of the Trump administration’s deportation agenda
Trump officials raise pressure on Minnesota over transgender sports
The announcement on transgender sports comes as Minnesota officials fight the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
Health insurers tumble after Trump administration proposes keeping Medicare Advantage rates flat next year
Shares of large Medicare plan providers Humana, CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group plunged in extended trading.
Does Alex Pretti’s death mark a turning point for Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast
The fatal shooting by federal immigration officers of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and an intensive care unit nurse at the VA, escalated tensions surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis and prompted bipartisan calls for investigation. We discuss whether the incident could mark a turning point for the president.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, Minnesota Public Radio host Clay Masters, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Controversial Border Patrol chief and some agents expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday, sources say
Top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday and return to their respective sectors, according to three sources familiar the discussions, sidelining a key player in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Exclusive | Trump Administration Proposes Keeping Steady the Rates Medicare Pays Insurers
The proposal for a .09% average rate increase is less than what Wall Street expected and will probably hurt health-insurer stocks.
Trump admin deports Iranians for first time since brutal crackdown on protests
The Trump administration sent about a dozen Iranians back on a deportation flight Sunday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
Why Is the Trump Administration Demanding Minnesota’s Voter Rolls?
The Justice Department has urged Minnesota to hand over voters’ private data. It is part of a national push that has raised concerns about the Trump administration’s motives.
Trump Officially Cuts Ties With WHO, Ending Decades-Long Partnership
By I. Edwards HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, Jan. 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The United States has officially pulled out of the World Health Organization (WHO), a year after President Donald Trump announced plans to leave the global health group. The Trump administration said the decision was based on what it called WHO’s poor ...
Chris Madel ends GOP bid for governor, says he can’t support federal ‘retribution’ against Minnesota
His exit comes as some other Republicans have started to distance themselves from the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the state.
Gun rights groups and legal experts question Trump administration’s stance on the Second Amendment after shooting
Claims by Trump administration officials that the man fatally shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis lacked a right to possess a firearm and that his killing was justified are being dismissed by legal experts and assailed by gun rights groups ordinarily aligned with the president.
Defying CDC, Pediatricians Recommend All Kids Get Vaccinations Against 18 Diseases
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for hepatitis B, influenza and other shots buck changes made by the Trump administration.
Trump administration redoubles immigration enforcement strategy as cracks emerge in the president’s coalition
President Donald Trump and his top lieutenants are doubling down on their hardline immigration policies and rhetoric following the shooting of a US citizen by federal officers in Minneapolis — even as the incident has revealed cracks in the president’s coalition.
The Trump administration’s false claims and shifting rhetoric about the killing of Alex Pretti
Top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration have responded to the killing of Alex Pretti by the Border Patrol in Minneapolis on Saturday with a torrent of claims that are either contradicted by video footage or unsupported by any evidence presented so far.
CEOs of major Minnesota businesses finally speak out, sign meek call for 'deescalation'
Minnesota's biggest employers have been criticized for their silence in the wake of the Trump administration's unprecedented immigration action in the state.
Trump administration goes after Second Amendment rights in justifying Minneapolis shooting
A number of pro-gun rights Republicans pushed back on the administration's argument that Alex Pretti was dangerous because he had a gun. Pretti was legally licensed to carry one.
Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril
The killing of a 37-year-old man by a federal agent exposed fresh cracks in G.O.P. unity, with some expressing alarm while others stayed silent or backed the Trump administration.
Washtenaw County health care aid program could close after Trump administration cuts
The program will likely need between $2-4M from various methods of funding to continue providing coverage.
Videos show deadly Minneapolis shooting and political leaders reach different conclusions
Videos quickly emerged Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by a Border Patrol agent, with Democratic leaders in Minnesota saying the footage showed the deadly encounter was the result of untrained federal officers overreacting and the Trump administration saying the man...
Confusion swells as Trump administration abruptly halts public health funding to cities and states, then reverses course
As public health departments across the country prepared for a massive winter storm this weekend, notice landed in their inboxes that pivotal grant funding from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was paused. No more money could be spent.
Freeze of public health funds for states, then reversal, sows confusion
A sense of whiplash spread across state public health agencies after the Trump administration paused $5 billion in federal spending, only to quickly say it would lift the pause on Saturday.
Yes, alcohol is bad for you. But could it make us less lonely?
When the Trump administration changed the dietary guidelines for alcohol consumption, it fueled a debate over whether booze helps Americans connect.
California splits with Trump administration over World Health Organization
California is once again breaking ranks with the Trump administration, this time over the World Health Organization.
California sues the Trump administration over plans to restart oil pipelines
The U.S. Transportation Department agency that approved the plan pushed back on the lawsuit
California becomes first state to join a World Health Organization network, Newsom's office says
The news comes after the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization.
California joins UN health network following US departure from WHO
California said on Friday it will become the first U.S. state to join the World Health Organization's global outbreak response network following the Trump administration's decision to pull Washington out of the WHO.
California Joins UN Health Network Following US Departure From WHO
By Jasper Ward Jan 23 (Reuters) - California said on Friday it will become the first U.S. state to join the World Health Organization's global outbreak response network following the Trump administration's decision to pull Washington out of the WHO. The network, comprised of more than 360 ...
HUD orders citizenship verification after audit reveals ineligible tenants in taxpayer-funded housing
Trump administration orders public housing authorities to verify tenant citizenship within 30 days or face federal sanctions following HUD audit findings.
Trump privately frustrated that he risks losing control of immigration message amid Minnesota chaos
The ongoing protests and images coming out of Minnesota have prompted concerns from some Trump administration officials over the optics of the immigration crackdown as Americans grow alarmed by the chaotic scenes unfolding in the state.
Anti-vaccine sentiment pushes Moderna away from new late-stage infectious disease trials
As the Trump administration erodes U.S. | As the Trump administration erodes U.S. infrastructure supporting infectious disease vaccines, mRNA heavyweight Moderna plans to pull away from late-stage clinical trial investments in the area.
US expected to deport dozens of Iranians as Trump threatens regime over crackdown
The Trump administration is expected to deport dozens of Iranians back to their home country as soon as this Sunday, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Want to Fight for Science? Look to South Dakota. No, Really.
Nature this week offers a series of terrifying, interactive graphs detailing the Trump Administration’s Idiocratic War on Science. Not only has it butchered federal scientific research grants, but as you can see in this graphic, it has hollowed out the federal scientific workforce – the dedicated professionals who develop data to allow for science-informed policy … Continue reading "Want to Fight for Science? Look to South Dakota. No, Really."
US Withdraws from World Health Organization
The Trump administration terminated the United States' membership in the World Health Organization on January 22, 2026.
Meet the OB-GYNs fighting back against Trump’s ‘guerrilla war on science’
As some medical groups cave to the Trump administration, the American College of OB-GYNs is taking a stand
Trump’s ‘run it hot’ economic strategy could work — but it’ll cost Americans dearly
There’s a pitch taking root within the Trump administration and some corners of Wall Street that envisions two somewhat incompatible realities playing out at once: rapid economic growth and low inflation.
These 3 Policy Moves Are Likely To Change Health Care for Older People
Two Trump administration regulatory rollbacks affect nursing home staffing and home care workers, and a new AI experiment in Medicare has alarmed eldercare advocates and congressional Democrats.
‘Mr. President, it’s now time’: Social conservatives beg Trump for abortion pill crackdown
As thousands of protestors demonstrate in Washington, DC, at Friday’s annual March for Life, the Trump administration faces a deadline to explain why it opposes a lawsuit that could end the availability of abortion pills by mail.
Philadelphia sues Trump administration over removal of long-standing slavery exhibit from historic park
The City of Philadelphia is suing the Trump administration after the National Park Service removed a long-standing exhibit on slavery in the city’s Independence National Historical Park.
Trump's Weaponization of the Department of Justice to Bring Political Investigations and Indictments Threatens our Democratic System
Given the political chaos that now exists from the “flood the zone” approach of the Trump Administration, it is easy to be only dimly aware.
New ICE warrant policy disregards a fundamental American right, experts say. Here’s what we know
With an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement memo that allows officers to enter homes without a judicial warrant, the Trump administration is seeking to usurp guardrails that are enshrined in the Fourth Amendment and have protected Americans’ civil liberties for centuries, experts in constitutional law and immigration policy told CNN.
Pentagon to take ‘sledgehammer’ to contracting program central to many Alaska Native corporations
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks over the weekend are latest in the Trump administration’s criticisms of the 8(a) program.
White House and China finalize deal to sell control of U.S. TikTok business to investors backed by Trump administration
The popular short-form video platform has been subject to years of scrutiny across the political aisle in the U.S. over its Chinese ownership.
WATCH: Vance says Trump administration doesn't think Insurrection Act is needed 'right now'
Trump administration completes US’ split from the World Health Organization
The US has completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, the US Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday, finalizing a longstanding goal of President Donald Trump.
Alarm as US mulls prioritising citizens in research funding
A senior White House official said the Trump administration is considering ways to prioritise research funding to American citizens, triggering alarm in the research community that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”The precise meaning of his impromptu comments, and what they could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have alarmed former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Related articlesNIH turmoil risks reciprocal EU-US access to health research fundingUS set to close office responsible for global science and technology dealsTrump halts new NIH grants to international health-research partnersSince then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
Alarm over US plan to prioritise citizens in research funding
The US’s leading science official has said the country will focus its research spending on scientists with US citizenship, triggering alarm that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”Kratsios’s precise meaning, and what it could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have stunned former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Since then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
U.S. makes exit from the WHO complete
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO became official Thursday, formalizing a fissure between the Trump administration and the Geneva-based global health agency.
What You Need to Know About the New $50 Billion Rural Health Fund
The Trump administration recently announced how much money each state will receive under an ambitious 5-year initiative known as the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Colorado halts wolf releases for 2026 as federal pressure mounts
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, facing mounting criticism from the Trump administration over its management of the wolf reintroduction program, announced Wednesday they will not bring in any new wolves to the state for the 2026 winter season. CPW was turned down in November by Washington state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington residents criticized Colorado for […]
Newsom barred from public address in Switzerland by the Trump administration
Newsom's office shared texts with the press showing how it played out in real time.
Pfizer CEO lays blame for US vaccine woes on RFK Jr.'s 'anti-science' stance: WSJ
While much of the biopharma industry has spent the past 12 months treading lightly around the Trump administration and the tumult it has wrought on U.S. | While much of the biopharma industry has spent the past 12 months treading lightly around the Trump administration and the tumult it has wrought on U.S. medical research and regulation, Pfizer’s CEO cut to the chase this week in a blatant rebuke of HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to The Wall Street Journal.
Trump administration admits DOGE accessed personal Social Security data
A DOGE employee signed an agreement to share Social Security data with the aim of overturning election results in certain states, according to a new court filing.
Scott Bessent says Greenland is 'essential' for Trump's Golden Dome defense plan
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration views Greenland as a critical part of America's national defense and plans for a Golden Dome.
US science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remains
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
Live updates: Trump administration and the latest on Greenland
What can we expect in American politics in 2026?
A year into Trump administration 2.0, here’s what The Advocate’s team expects for its second year.
Columbia University Protest Culture Is Tame Even in Anti-Trump New York
The Trump administration has pushed universities all over the country to act against student protesters.
‘An antidote to hopelessness’: At MLK Jr. Day events across Boston, people call for action amid political turmoil
The work Martin Luther King Jr. fought for is being dismantled by the Trump administration, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said.
Top U.S. Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to use moral compass in foreign policy
In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington's foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”
What happened after the Trump administration upended childhood vaccine planning
Pediatricians say they’re fielding more questions from confused parents and finding some even more determined to vaccinate their children.
Trump administration social posts amid Minnesota immigration tensions seen as appealing to far right
As its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis intensifies, the Trump administration is leaning into messaging that borrows from phrases, images and music about national identity that have become popular among right-wing groups.
Your biggest legal questions about ICE and the Minneapolis shooting, answered
In recent days, Minneapolis has seen tense protests against the Trump administration’s deployment of federal agents to the city for an immigration crackdown that has escalated following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Rennee Good
Trump administration quietly abandons plan to merge ATF and DEA after pressure from both sides of gun debate
After pushback from both gun rights and gun control groups, the Trump administration has quietly abandoned its plan to merge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to people briefed on the matter.
Trump Administration Begins Criminal Inquiry Into Minnesota Leaders
The Justice Department’s investigation is a major escalation in the state-federal battle over the conduct of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
LA's Fashion District resembled 'war zone' during immigration operation, business owner says
The Fashion District is where the first large-scale immigration enforcement operations started by the Trump administration in June 2025.
Congress, content creators, and Can't Let It Go : The NPR Politics Podcast
There's another fight on Capitol Hill as lawmakers work to get four more spending bills passed before the end of the month. We talk about what's at stake and how both parties are navigating the high cost of health care.Then, a look at how the Trump administration is using social media content to sway public opinion & influence governance, and what our panelists can't stop thinking about this week.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and political reporters Stephen Fowler & Jude Joffe-Block.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Funding whiplash for federal public health grants hits Lancaster County
The Lancaster County government was among some 2,000 organizations nationwide that received a surprise message late Tuesday stating that the Trump administration had terminated their federal funding.
Hassett reveals Trump housing plan would let Americans tap 401(k)s for down payments
The Trump administration proposes allowing Americans to use their 401(k) funds for home down payments as housing costs soar, with details expected next week.
Trump Administration Restores Nearly $2 Billion in Mental Health Grants
By I. Edwards HealthDay ReporterFRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Federal funding for mental health and addiction treatment programs will continue after the Trump administration abruptly reversed a plan to end nearly $2 billion in grants across the country. Late Tuesday, thousands of grants overseen by Substance Abuse and ...
Federal mental health funding restored for programs in San Antonio, across US after abrupt reversal
Federal funding for mental health and addiction services will continue after a sudden reversal by the Trump administration — ending a brief but alarming period of uncertainty for nonprofits across the country, including in San Antonio.
CT officials voice concerns about Trump health care plan
Connecticut health officials and lawmakers on Thursday expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s new health care policy framework.
US names major sporting events other than World Cup, Olympics exempt from Trump visa ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has identified a host of athletic competitions it classifies as “major sporting events” — aside from soccer's 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games — that athletes and coaches will be allowed to travel to the U.S. to take part in despite a broad visa...
Confusion erupts in mental health and substance abuse programs as HHS cuts, then reinstates grants
Providers, state health agencies and others are feeling whiplash and confusion after the Trump administration eliminated and then abruptly reinstated grants that support substance abuse and mental health programs nationwide.
Big problems in a big world : The NPR Politics Podcast
Between pledging support for protesters in Iran, calling once again for the U.S. annexation of Greenland, and meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, it's been a busy week for President Trump on the global stage. We look at why the White House wants to be involved in so many geopolitical issues despite the president's campaign pledges to be less invested in global affairs, and what outcomes the Trump administration wants in each location.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Trump admin warns of 'widescale doxxing' of ICE if House Dem's new bill passes
Trump administration fires back at Bronx congressman's QR code plan for ICE agents, calling it a 'doxxing campaign' to protect 'criminal illegal aliens.'
U.S. Cuts Health Aid and Ties It to Funding Pledges by African Governments
The Trump administration has signed $11 billion in agreements with African nations, in deals tied to foreign policy goals.
The State of the Science 1 Year On: Executive Summary
How the Trump Administration is redefining the way science is practiced and perceived in the United States.
FBI searches WaPo reporter's home. And, Trump restores $2B to public health funds
The FBI searches the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of a leak investigation. And, the Trump administration restores $2B for mental health and addiction programs.
Trump administration cuts $2 billion in mental health, addiction grants
Many of the populations affected by these cuts have endured historic gaps in care needs.
FBI Search Journalist's Home, U.S. Greenland Talks, Mental Health Funding : Up First from NPR
The FBI searches the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of a leak investigation, raising concerns among press advocates about an escalation against press freedom.U.S. talks with Denmark and Greenland end without a deal on Greenland’s future, but a new working group forms as allies push back on President Trump’s security-driven claims.And after widespread confusion and backlash, the Trump administration reverses course and restores roughly $2 billion in funding for mental health and addiction programs nationwide.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Emily Kopp, Rebekah Metzler, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
Chaos for mental health and addiction treatment providers as Trump administration cuts — then restores
A lot happens in Boston every day. To help you keep up, WBUR, Boston's NPR News station, pulled these stories together just for you.