On Politics

Tue Feb 25 2025

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Hi there! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY. It's going to be in the 60s today in D.C. I need this warmer weather to stay.

How Trump's expanded ICE raids are causing problems for schools

There's a spike of students staying home from school in fear that they or their parents could be deported following President Donald Trump's highly publicized mass deportation efforts. From New York to Los Angeles, Chicago and Denver, school districts are reporting attendance dropping in the wake of ICE raids – with some classrooms seeing as many as two-thirds of students temporarily absent. Federal immigration agents for decades avoided conducting enforcement sweeps or detentions at or near schools and churches. But Trump rescinded that long standing policy after retaking office. Read more.

Schools aren't the only communities seeing increased anxiety over ICE raids. Native Americans say there is growing fear within their community that they could be wrongly stopped and questioned by agents amid Trump's push to deport millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. While advocates said they don't know how widespread incidents of ICE stopping Native Americans are, the anxiety is real. Read more.

•	Want to stay updated with immigration news from the border? Sign up for the Arizona Republic's new American Border newsletter

On the Hill

The House is working to pass its budget blueprint this week – and as soon as today – which includes up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, increasing the debt ceiling and cuts Medicaid and other social programs.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., departs after speaking to reporters following a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.

Andrew Harnik, Getty Images

A politics pit stop

•	A fortune in rare earths is at stake for US in Ukraine war. Here's what to know.
•	Barnard College students expelled after disrupting Israel history class
•	Los Angeles official says mayor's ousting of fire chief is 'political'
•	Judge blocks Trump-ordered transfer of transgender women inmates to male prisons
•	Huge election gains for far-right German party backed by Musk, Vance

How agencies told workers to respond to Musk's directive

Elon Musk , the world's richest man and special advisor to President Donald Trump, sent an email calling for federal workers to list their weekly accomplishments by the end of Monday. The directive prompted swift pushback from some department heads, with some agencies – like the Department of Defense – telling employees not to respond. However, several federal agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, told workers to comply with Musk's email. See how agencies approached Musk's request.

•	Federal watchdog says firing of probationary employees was illegal
•	DeSantis starts Florida DOGE, aims for job cuts, university audits

Trump pick of rightwing podcaster for FBI post worries agency veterans

President Donald Trump picked Dan Bongino, a rightwing media figure, to be the new second-in-command of the FBI. But some bureau veterans are worried that Bongino lacks the experience to serve as deputy director to help lead a key agency responsible for keeping Americans safe. Read more.

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.