Becca Carballo
@beccacarballo.bsky.social
Covering higher education for Politico. Past lives: The New York Times, Houston Chronicle
Reposted by Becca Carballo
Trump and RFK Jr. are upending cancer research. They're cutting patients off from clinical trials and killing so many kids' only hope for a cure.
I’m fighting to restore funding, but I can't restore lost time. FIRE RFK Jr. NOW.
I’m fighting to restore funding, but I can't restore lost time. FIRE RFK Jr. NOW.
September 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Trump and RFK Jr. are upending cancer research. They're cutting patients off from clinical trials and killing so many kids' only hope for a cure.
I’m fighting to restore funding, but I can't restore lost time. FIRE RFK Jr. NOW.
I’m fighting to restore funding, but I can't restore lost time. FIRE RFK Jr. NOW.
Reposted by Becca Carballo
"You cannot put into words the gravity, the tragedy, or the absolute pain of this situation."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a press conference for shooting at Annunciation Catholic School
www.msnbc.com/top-stories/...
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a press conference for shooting at Annunciation Catholic School
www.msnbc.com/top-stories/...
August 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"You cannot put into words the gravity, the tragedy, or the absolute pain of this situation."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a press conference for shooting at Annunciation Catholic School
www.msnbc.com/top-stories/...
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a press conference for shooting at Annunciation Catholic School
www.msnbc.com/top-stories/...
Reposted by Becca Carballo
CDC union demands Trump officials condemn disinformation after shooting
CDC union demands Trump officials condemn vaccine disinformation after shooting
CDC staff have endured months of "vilification" and condemnation would help prevent more violence against scientists, union says.
www.axios.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
CDC union demands Trump officials condemn disinformation after shooting
Reposted by Becca Carballo
This is right. It’s of little solace that states have greater legal protections than DC for the simple fact that (1) this distinction apparently doesn’t matter at all to the Trump admin and (2) seizing control of the capital is, even if legally a lighter lift, categorically different.
3) And the political precedent is *more* ominous, not less, when it's the national capital, despite the greater legal authority. Sending the armed forces to take control of the streets of the capital is pre-coup behavior, practice for taking control of the whole government.
August 12, 2025 at 2:54 AM
This is right. It’s of little solace that states have greater legal protections than DC for the simple fact that (1) this distinction apparently doesn’t matter at all to the Trump admin and (2) seizing control of the capital is, even if legally a lighter lift, categorically different.
A series of changes to long-running federal student loan programs tucked into the Republican tax plan has doctors panicked and struggling to find GOP allies.
My latest: www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
My latest: www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
Republican plans to cap student borrowing could shatter an everyday profession
One GOP senator said anyone paying more than $100K to go to med school is "making a huge mistake." But the median cost of attending one is more than double that for the class of 2025.
www.politico.com
June 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
A series of changes to long-running federal student loan programs tucked into the Republican tax plan has doctors panicked and struggling to find GOP allies.
My latest: www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
My latest: www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
First, the State Department stopped interviewing applicants for student visas to the U.S. Then Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he’d revoke visas for Chinese students working in “critical fields” or with Communist Party ties.
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
Rubio’s visa crunch has big consequences for public universities
Public institutions in Arizona, California, Illinois, Michigan and Texas rank among the top destinations for international students.
www.politico.com
May 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
First, the State Department stopped interviewing applicants for student visas to the U.S. Then Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he’d revoke visas for Chinese students working in “critical fields” or with Communist Party ties.
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
Reposted by Becca Carballo
🧵 1/n
We will hopefully have more on this and in much more detail in the coming days, but let’s talk about this exec order on accreditation for a minute.
#EduSky
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
We will hopefully have more on this and in much more detail in the coming days, but let’s talk about this exec order on accreditation for a minute.
#EduSky
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reforms Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education
HOLDING ACCREDITORS ACCOUNTABLE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to overhaul the higher education accreditation system,
www.whitehouse.gov
April 24, 2025 at 12:03 AM
🧵 1/n
We will hopefully have more on this and in much more detail in the coming days, but let’s talk about this exec order on accreditation for a minute.
#EduSky
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
We will hopefully have more on this and in much more detail in the coming days, but let’s talk about this exec order on accreditation for a minute.
#EduSky
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
Reposted by Becca Carballo
Legal experts say states could help married women who have changed their last names by accepting documents like a legal decree or a marriage certificate, but it might not fix the issue for all.
Will the SAVE Act make it harder for married women to vote? We ask legal experts
Legal experts say states could help married women who have changed their last names by accepting documents like a legal decree or a marriage certificate, but it might not fix the issue for all.
www.npr.org
April 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Legal experts say states could help married women who have changed their last names by accepting documents like a legal decree or a marriage certificate, but it might not fix the issue for all.
Reposted by Becca Carballo
The Small Business Administration faces huge staff cuts as Trump hands it a $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. ESB's Michael Negron warns that w/o the right resources, the plan could create more problems than it solves for 43M borrowers. @beccacarballo.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
April 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The Small Business Administration faces huge staff cuts as Trump hands it a $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. ESB's Michael Negron warns that w/o the right resources, the plan could create more problems than it solves for 43M borrowers. @beccacarballo.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Roughly 570 employees have left FSA, through RIFs and other offers to encourage people to leave. But the agency is starting to bring a handful of people back
My latest
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
My latest
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Federal Student Aid calls back some workers
subscriber.politicopro.com
March 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Roughly 570 employees have left FSA, through RIFs and other offers to encourage people to leave. But the agency is starting to bring a handful of people back
My latest
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
My latest
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Becca Carballo
Actual text I sent to my high school senior the day before. We did get it done that day. But, sigh.
March 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Actual text I sent to my high school senior the day before. We did get it done that day. But, sigh.
One day after the Education Department fired nearly half its employees, most students and parents across the country couldn’t access the agency’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
72 employees spent hours on a
call to try and fix the form
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
72 employees spent hours on a
call to try and fix the form
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: A day after mass firing at Education Department, FAFSA troubles start
Those within the agency worry about how quickly issues will be resolved after a reduction in force plan goes into effect.
subscriber.politicopro.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
One day after the Education Department fired nearly half its employees, most students and parents across the country couldn’t access the agency’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
72 employees spent hours on a
call to try and fix the form
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
72 employees spent hours on a
call to try and fix the form
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
ED slashed its team that handle student aid complaints and is in the process of making it more difficult to submit a grievance online.
The "submit a complaint" button will be changed to "submit feedback" and moved to the bottom of the webpage.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
The "submit a complaint" button will be changed to "submit feedback" and moved to the bottom of the webpage.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Education Department shrinks staff that fields student aid complaints
The agency in February fired eight out of 21 people who handled complaints submitted online.
subscriber.politicopro.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
ED slashed its team that handle student aid complaints and is in the process of making it more difficult to submit a grievance online.
The "submit a complaint" button will be changed to "submit feedback" and moved to the bottom of the webpage.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
The "submit a complaint" button will be changed to "submit feedback" and moved to the bottom of the webpage.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
There are a lot of unanswered questions around this federal aid freeze. Education Department officials are telling us that federal student loans and Pell Grants shouldn't be affected. But...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Pell Grants, direct loans spared in federal aid freeze, Education Department says
subscriber.politicopro.com
January 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM
There are a lot of unanswered questions around this federal aid freeze. Education Department officials are telling us that federal student loans and Pell Grants shouldn't be affected. But...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
House Republicans are mulling policies that would either repeal or significantly narrow various student loan programs. The deets:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: House Republicans target student loan programs
subscriber.politicopro.com
January 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
House Republicans are mulling policies that would either repeal or significantly narrow various student loan programs. The deets:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
The FAFSA deadline bill, which mandates an Oct. 1 launch date, heads to the President’s desk
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
POLITICO Pro: FAFSA deadline bill heads to president's desk
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 21, 2024 at 3:48 PM
The FAFSA deadline bill, which mandates an Oct. 1 launch date, heads to the President’s desk
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
Reposted by Becca Carballo
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general is trying to build support with meetings on Capitol Hill.
November 20, 2024 at 6:54 PM
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general is trying to build support with meetings on Capitol Hill.
Reposted by Becca Carballo
Like a lot of school districts across the country, Fort Worth ISD is facing declining enrollment, which (probably) means closing schools. I sat in on the task force that's figuring out how that's going work.
www.star-telegram.com/news/local/e...
www.star-telegram.com/news/local/e...
www.star-telegram.com
November 18, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Like a lot of school districts across the country, Fort Worth ISD is facing declining enrollment, which (probably) means closing schools. I sat in on the task force that's figuring out how that's going work.
www.star-telegram.com/news/local/e...
www.star-telegram.com/news/local/e...
This one is for the Ed policy ppl:
The Education Department, in a last ditch effort to provide lower monthly payments to student loan borrowers, will publish a rule Friday that brings back some income-related repayment plans.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
The Education Department, in a last ditch effort to provide lower monthly payments to student loan borrowers, will publish a rule Friday that brings back some income-related repayment plans.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
POLITICO Pro: Biden administration pushes through repayment plan rule
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 14, 2024 at 8:17 PM
This one is for the Ed policy ppl:
The Education Department, in a last ditch effort to provide lower monthly payments to student loan borrowers, will publish a rule Friday that brings back some income-related repayment plans.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...
The Education Department, in a last ditch effort to provide lower monthly payments to student loan borrowers, will publish a rule Friday that brings back some income-related repayment plans.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024...