NPR News: 03-13-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of March 13, 2025 Episode

Released on March 13, 2025

1. Federal Probationary Workers Reinstated by California Judge

In a significant ruling, a U.S. district judge in California has mandated the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were terminated last month across six federal agencies. The affected departments include Veterans Affairs, Defense, Agriculture, Energy, Treasury, and the Interior.

During today's hearing, U.S. District Judge William Alsop declared the firings unlawful, stating that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and its acting director, Charles Ezell, lacked the authority to order these terminations. Lakshmi Singh reported at [00:16]:

“This is in addition to a temporary restraining order he issued earlier this month that halted the administration’s firing of probationary employees,”

The Trump administration contends that agency heads authorized the dismissals in accordance with established laws. However, Judge Alsop's decision reinforces the legal boundaries of agency directives regarding employment actions.

2. Trump Administration Cuts NIH Research Grants

The Trump administration continues its effort to overhaul research funding priorities by eliminating grants deemed misaligned with the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) objectives. Specifically, over 40 grants focusing on vaccine hesitancy and immunization improvements have been canceled, as reported by Will Stone at [01:11].

These cuts stem from executive orders targeting gender and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Brittany Charlton, a Harvard researcher, highlighted at [01:37]:

“This goes beyond research on LGBTQ health and includes studies working to understand health issues affecting a wide range of other vulnerable communities.”

Additionally, NIH is reviewing research on mRNA vaccines, raising concerns among scientists that further valuable studies could face termination. This shift in funding priorities has sparked debate over the administration's impact on public health research.

3. U.S. Envoy Engages in Moscow Talks with Putin

Today, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Putin emphasized the necessity for any peace plan to address the fundamental issues underlying the crisis, stating at [02:00]:

“Any peace plan with Ukraine should remove the root causes of the crisis.”

This meeting marks a continued effort to resolve the decade-long tensions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the subsequent full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

4. Fifth Anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s Killing Highlights Incomplete Police Reforms

Marking the fifth anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s tragic death, Roberta Roldan reports from Louisville, Kentucky, that promised reforms within the Louisville Police Department remain unfinished. Congressman Morgan McGarvey commemorated the day on the House floor at [02:42]:

“While we will never forget how Breonna Taylor died, we get to choose to remember how she lived. Breonna was a sister, a daughter, a girlfriend. Breonna was a caregiver working at UofL's emergency room to save lives.”

Taylor's death ignited nationwide protests against police brutality and spurred initiatives to ban no-knock warrants. Although local officials in Louisville enacted such a ban in 2020, the Kentucky Legislature did not pursue a comprehensive prohibition, leaving some reforms unaddressed.

5. Ongoing Search for Missing College Student Siddiq Shokonaki in Dominican Republic

The search continues for Siddiq Shokonaki, a college student from Virginia who disappeared a week ago while on spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Last seen at a local resort, Shokonaki's family reports that her personal belongings, including her wallet and phone, were left with friends, raising concerns about her safety and whereabouts. Authorities are actively investigating the case to locate her.

6. Decline in Bird Populations Across the United States

A new report from conservation groups reveals a troubling decline in bird populations across nearly every U.S. habitat. Jonathan Lambert shares insights at [03:45]:

“Roughly a third of all species are at high or moderate levels of conservation concern.”

This decline continues a troubling trend noted in a 2019 study, which documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years. The latest analysis covers over 240 species, indicating ongoing losses primarily due to habitat destruction, drought, and invasive species. Notably, grassland and desert birds are experiencing the fastest declines.

Efforts to protect certain species, such as the American oystercatcher, have shown positive results, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted environmental policies. However, recent actions by the Trump administration, including the weakening of protections for migratory birds, threaten to reverse these conservation gains.

Recap of the Top Story

To summarize, a U.S. district judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were dismissed last month across six federal agencies, including Veterans Affairs, Defense, Agriculture, Energy, Treasury, and the Interior. This ruling underscores ongoing legal challenges facing administrative decisions affecting federal employment.

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Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[NPR News Reporter]

A U.S. district judge in California is ordering the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were fired last month at six agencies the the Departments of Veterans.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Affairs, Defense, Agriculture, Energy, treasury and the Interior.

[NPR News Reporter]

This is in addition to a temporary restraining order he issued earlier this month that halted the administration's firing of probationary.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Employees, which he also extended.

[NPR News Reporter]

At today's hearing, U.S. district Judge William Alsop said the firings were unlawful because the U.S. office of Personnel Management and the agency's acting director, Charles Ezell, did.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Not have authority to order the termination of the employees.

[NPR News Reporter]

Lawyers for the administration argue that the agency heads themselves directed the firings of.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Probationary workers in accordance with established law.

[NPR News Reporter]

President Trump is slashing more areas of research funded by the National Institutes of Health, claiming they no longer align with the agency's priorities.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Here's NPR's Will Stone.

[Will Stone]

More than 40 grants funded by NIH on vaccine hesitancy and how to improve immunization levels have been canceled. That's according to several NIH sources who were not authorized to speak publicly and emails reviewed by npr. The Trump administration administration began slashing other existing grants last month because of President Trump's executive orders on gender and dei. Brittany Charlton is a researcher at Harvard who says she knows of about two dozen grants in this area that have been cut.

[Brittany Charlton]

This goes beyond research on LGBTQ health and includes studies working to understand health issues affecting a wide range of other vulnerable communities.

[Will Stone]

NIH documents indicate research on MRNA vaccines is also being reviewed, and some fear those could be cut next. Will stone, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

[NPR News Reporter]

At a news conference today, Putin said any peace plan with Ukraine should, quote.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Remove the root causes of the crisis. Nearly a decade after annexing Crimea, Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. Today is the fifth anniversary of the police killing of Breonna Taylor in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Her slaying, along with the murders of other black Americans such as George Floyd, sparked protests in 2020. From Louisville P Public Media, Roberto Roldan reports. Promised reforms in the Louisville Police Department are still incomplete.

[Roberta Roldan]

Louisville Congressman Morgan McGarvey marked the anniversary of Breonna Taylor's killing on the House floor earlier this week.

[Morgan McGarvey]

While we will never forget how Breonna Taylor died, we get to choose to remember how she lived. Breonna was a sister, a daughter, a girlfriend. Breonna was a caregiver working at UofL's emergency room to save lives.

[Roberta Roldan]

Taylor's death led to calls to ban no knock warrants. Local officials did just that in 2020, but the Kentucky Legislature stopped short of an outright ban. For NPR News, I'm Roberta Roldan in Louisville.

[Lakshmi Singh]

From Washington, this is NPR News. A search continues today for college student Siddiq Shokonaki of Virginia, who was last seen a week ago at a resort in the Dominican Republic. She and other students were in Punta Cana for spring break. The University of Pittsburgh student's family says her belongings, including wallet and phone, were left with her friends. A new report from conservation groups finds that bird populations in nearly every habitat in the United states are declining. NPR's Jonathan Lambert explains roughly a third.

[NPR News Reporter]

Of all species are at high or.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Moderate levels of conservation concern.

[Jonathan Lambert]

In 2019, a comprehensive study reported that North America had lost 3 billion birds in 50 years. Now a follow up report analyzing Trends in over 240 species finds that these losses are continuing. Grassland and desert birds are declining fastest as habitat loss, drought and invasive species shrink populations. Species targeted by conservation efforts, like the American oystercatcher saw improvement, highlighting the power of environmental policy. But recent actions by the Trump administration, including weakening protections for migratory birds, could slow such efforts. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[NPR News Reporter]

Recapping our top story, a U.S. district.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Judge in California is now ordering the.

[NPR News Reporter]

Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were dismissed last month at six federal agencies.

[Lakshmi Singh]

They include the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Agriculture, Energy, treasury and the Interior. This is NPR News.

[Carvana Representative]

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