Kayla Epstein BBC
@kaylaepstein.bsky.social
BBC National Reporter covering the Trump administration's changes to the federal workforce and legal questions surrounding his actions. Talk to me about what's happening at your agency!
Hovering over this whole situation is an even bigger, more existential question: Can the US government use its formidable power to dictate what universities can teach, who they can hire, and who can enroll?
May 30, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Hovering over this whole situation is an even bigger, more existential question: Can the US government use its formidable power to dictate what universities can teach, who they can hire, and who can enroll?
The two big questions in play:
- Do the government's reasons for targeting Harvard's participation in the student visa program hold up under the law?
- And, are those reasons legitimate, or just a pretext for punishing Harvard for constitutionally protected speech the administration dislikes?
- Do the government's reasons for targeting Harvard's participation in the student visa program hold up under the law?
- And, are those reasons legitimate, or just a pretext for punishing Harvard for constitutionally protected speech the administration dislikes?
May 30, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The two big questions in play:
- Do the government's reasons for targeting Harvard's participation in the student visa program hold up under the law?
- And, are those reasons legitimate, or just a pretext for punishing Harvard for constitutionally protected speech the administration dislikes?
- Do the government's reasons for targeting Harvard's participation in the student visa program hold up under the law?
- And, are those reasons legitimate, or just a pretext for punishing Harvard for constitutionally protected speech the administration dislikes?
"We were already so incredibly flooded with cases," said a Department of Education Office for Civil Rights attorney who was hit by the March reduction in force.
"I was never proud of our processing time."
With the new cuts, they said, "this work will not be able to be done".
"I was never proud of our processing time."
With the new cuts, they said, "this work will not be able to be done".
March 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
"We were already so incredibly flooded with cases," said a Department of Education Office for Civil Rights attorney who was hit by the March reduction in force.
"I was never proud of our processing time."
With the new cuts, they said, "this work will not be able to be done".
"I was never proud of our processing time."
With the new cuts, they said, "this work will not be able to be done".
When Trump issued his executive order to "begin eliminating" the Department of Education, he said it would improve education for students around the country.
But these families' experiences tell a different story. Here's my latest for BBC News: www.bbc.com/news/article...
But these families' experiences tell a different story. Here's my latest for BBC News: www.bbc.com/news/article...
Family in limbo after Trump's cuts to education civil rights team
Mass firings at the Office for Civil rights made one mother fear her disabled son's case will vanish
www.bbc.com
March 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
When Trump issued his executive order to "begin eliminating" the Department of Education, he said it would improve education for students around the country.
But these families' experiences tell a different story. Here's my latest for BBC News: www.bbc.com/news/article...
But these families' experiences tell a different story. Here's my latest for BBC News: www.bbc.com/news/article...
As the Michigan family wondered what happened to their disabled son's Office for Civil Rights case, here's what was happening to the Cleveland bureau that was working to help them:
7/12 of OCR's offices were immediately shuttered with no clear plan for their thousands of cases
7/12 of OCR's offices were immediately shuttered with no clear plan for their thousands of cases
March 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
As the Michigan family wondered what happened to their disabled son's Office for Civil Rights case, here's what was happening to the Cleveland bureau that was working to help them:
7/12 of OCR's offices were immediately shuttered with no clear plan for their thousands of cases
7/12 of OCR's offices were immediately shuttered with no clear plan for their thousands of cases
If you're a federal employee who has updates to share from inside your agency, or wants to talk to a reporter, you can DM me here for contact info.
March 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
If you're a federal employee who has updates to share from inside your agency, or wants to talk to a reporter, you can DM me here for contact info.
Speaking of #USAID, as the agency was shut down, I spoke to foreign service officers stationed abroad who were left in limbo without instructions to get home.
"It's terrifying for a lot of people who have lived and worked overseas for a long time," one told me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"It's terrifying for a lot of people who have lived and worked overseas for a long time," one told me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
USAID foreign staff in the dark about plans to return to US
USAID foreign staff say in addition to feeling stranded, they also worry how their absences will harm the countries and people they leave behind.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Speaking of #USAID, as the agency was shut down, I spoke to foreign service officers stationed abroad who were left in limbo without instructions to get home.
"It's terrifying for a lot of people who have lived and worked overseas for a long time," one told me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"It's terrifying for a lot of people who have lived and worked overseas for a long time," one told me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#USAID employees shared remaining staffers were asked to shred and destory classified and personnel documents this week.
The American Foreign Service Association union told me it was "alarmed" at the order, and noted the docs might be releveant for ongoing lawsuits
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The American Foreign Service Association union told me it was "alarmed" at the order, and noted the docs might be releveant for ongoing lawsuits
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
USAID staff told to shred and burn classified documents
USAID's acting executive secretary told staff to use shredders and burn bags to dispose of files
www.bbc.co.uk
March 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
#USAID employees shared remaining staffers were asked to shred and destory classified and personnel documents this week.
The American Foreign Service Association union told me it was "alarmed" at the order, and noted the docs might be releveant for ongoing lawsuits
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The American Foreign Service Association union told me it was "alarmed" at the order, and noted the docs might be releveant for ongoing lawsuits
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
At #NOAA, the cuts to probationary employees ensared several members of the elite Hurricane Hunters team, which flies into hurricanes to provide Americans with data about their path and strength.
Though they have gotten their jobs back, it's been a turbulent time, to say the least:
Though they have gotten their jobs back, it's been a turbulent time, to say the least:
Americans rely on NOAA weather data. Doge cuts may limit services
NOAA data helps many decide what to wear, where to meet friends and what to do during hurricane, tornado or blizzard emergencies.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
At #NOAA, the cuts to probationary employees ensared several members of the elite Hurricane Hunters team, which flies into hurricanes to provide Americans with data about their path and strength.
Though they have gotten their jobs back, it's been a turbulent time, to say the least:
Though they have gotten their jobs back, it's been a turbulent time, to say the least: