This Week’s Briefing: March 15–21, 2025

POLITICS

Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education

President Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. The administration says the goal is to return authority to the states and reduce federal oversight. While core programs like Title I funding and federal student loans are not immediately impacted, the order directs staff cuts and operational shutdowns that significantly weaken the department’s reach. Some lawmakers argue the order bypasses Congress and may destabilize education systems that rely on federal support.

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A CLOSER LOOK

This move signals a larger shift in how federal agencies may be restructured in the coming years. While dismantling a department requires congressional approval, cutting staff, ending programs, and reallocating funds can reshape its role without a formal shutdown. For schools that rely on federal grants, especially those serving low-income or special needs students, uncertainty is likely. State level funding decisions may become more politicized, and programs like teacher training or civil rights enforcement could be deprioritized. It’s worth watching how states respond and what this means for public education access and consistency nationwide

GEOPOLITICS

Trump Warns Houthis Will Be ‘Annihilated’ as U.S. Expands Strikes in Yemen

President Trump declared that the Houthi militant group in Yemen would be “completely annihilated” following a series of U.S. military strikes. The U.S. has targeted Houthi drone sites, command centers, and weapons facilities in response to Red Sea attacks on commercial and American vessels. Trump warned Iran to stop arming the Houthis, framing the strikes as both a tactical response and a broader warning to Tehran. U.S. officials say dozens of militants have been killed, while the Houthis claim civilian casualties and ongoing resistance.

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A CLOSER LOOK

This signals a potential escalation in both U.S. military involvement in Yemen and tensions with Iran. The administration is leaning into a more aggressive posture in the Middle East, potentially setting the stage for broader conflict in a region already strained by the war in Gaza. Strikes may continue to expand, even as officials insist this isn’t an open-ended campaign. The U.S. also appears to be shifting toward a more unilateral approach, with fewer public mentions of allied cooperation. For now, global shipping lanes remain at risk, and a wider regional confrontation is still on the table.

POLITICS

Concerns Rise Over Pentagon’s Planned China War Briefing for Musk

According to multiple officials, the Pentagon had planned to brief Elon Musk on U.S. military strategy in the event of a conflict with China. The meeting was reportedly set to take place in the Pentagon’s secure “Tank” conference room and would include top officials from Indo-Pacific Command and the Joint Chiefs. After the report surfaced, both the Pentagon and President Trump denied that China would be discussed, framing the meeting as informal. Still, the situation raised alarms over Musk’s deepening government role and potential conflicts of interest given his business ties to China and existing defense contracts.

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A CLOSER LOOK

The possibility of a high-level Pentagon briefing for Elon Musk, someone with both major defense contracts and significant business ties to China, raises fair questions about transparency and oversight. Even if the meeting was ultimately reframed, the initial plan reflects how much influence certain private actors now have in federal decision-making. As the lines between government and private enterprise continue to shift, it’s worth paying attention to how access, influence, and accountability are being balanced.

POLITICS

Judge Blocks Musk’s Team From Accessing Unredacted Social Security Data

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team from accessing sensitive personal data held by the Social Security Administration. The court found that their attempts to analyze agency records violated federal privacy laws, particularly around personally identifiable information (PII). The SSA can still share anonymized or redacted datasets, but direct access to individual-level data is prohibited while the case proceeds. This ruling follows similar legal challenges over DOGE’s access to sensitive systems in other agencies.

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A CLOSER LOOK

This decision underscores growing legal pushback against efforts to centralize government data access under private oversight. While Musk’s team says it’s working to improve efficiency, federal judges have raised concerns about the lack of safeguards around privacy, oversight, and potential misuse. The case also adds to broader worries that sensitive personal data could be used to fuel enforcement initiatives or budget cuts, especially in areas like immigration or social services. How the court rules long term may determine whether guardrails on data access hold—or erode further—in this new era of tech-powered governance.