NPR News: 03-21-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 21, 2025

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President Trump Initiates Closure of the U.S. Department of Education

In a significant move, President Donald Trump officially commenced the process of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The announcement was made during a ceremony at the White House, where Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the department's size and scope. NPR's Ilissa Nadworny reports that the decision was motivated by concerns over poor national testing performance.

President Trump was accompanied by students seated with state flags, symbolizing the grassroots support for this initiative. He stated, “[...] the department's useful functions would be preserved in full” (00:30). Despite the closure, essential services such as federal funding for K-12 schools, Pell grants, student loans, and the authority to investigate schools will remain intact. The ceremony featured Republican governors from Texas, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio, underscoring bipartisan support for the move. This development follows early February expectations and accompanies a recent notification to nearly half of the department's staff about impending layoffs.

Concerns Arise Over Reduced Federal Oversight in Alabama

The executive order has sparked apprehension among educational leaders at the state level, particularly in Alabama. NPR's Stephen Basahov highlights the unease felt by local officials who fear diminished federal oversight could negatively impact educational standards. Greene County Superintendent Corey Jones expressed his worries, stating, “By taking that federal umbrella away and put no funds in the state hand. We assume that our governor is going to do the right thing, but there's no guarantee” (01:55). Jones emphasized that over 40% of his district’s funding originates from federal sources, raising questions about the sustainability and quality of education without this support.

Pentagon Revises Representation of Minority Veterans

In response to previous directives, the Pentagon has reinstated several websites that honor the contributions of Black, Asian, and Native American veterans from World War II. NPR's Tom Bowman reports that the removal of these sites was in compliance with President Trump's guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. John Elliott, a Pentagon spokesman, clarified the department's stance: “We salute them for their strong and, in many cases, heroic service to our country, but we do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or we do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission, like every other American who has worn the uniform” (02:38). This statement underscores the Pentagon’s commitment to recognizing all veterans equally, regardless of their background.

North Korea Conducts Sixth Missile Test Amidst US-South Korea Drills

Tensions escalate as North Korea announces the test-firing of new anti-aircraft missiles in retaliation to joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. According to NPR, the North’s Defense Ministry claims that these drills involve "simulations to destroy its underground tunnels," exacerbating regional security concerns. This missile launch marks the sixth such test by North Korea this year, reflecting the ongoing volatility in East Asian geopolitics.

Surge in South African Afrikaners Seeking U.S. Refugee Status

A controversial executive order by President Trump has led to nearly 70,000 South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, expressing interest in relocating to the United States. Kate Bartlett of NPR explains that the order alleges persecution of the Afrikaans minority, descendants of Dutch colonists, without substantial evidence. This policy specifically targets white farmers amidst reports of farm murders and land confiscations. Recent police statistics reveal that, in the last quarter of 2024, one farmer and four employees were killed, intensifying fears among the affected communities. The South African Chamber of Commerce notes that most applicants have Afrikaans surnames, highlighting the ethnic dimensions of this migration wave (03:50).

Heathrow Airport Faces Major Disruption Due to Power Outage

A significant power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation in London has led to the closure of Heathrow Airport. NPR reports that the incident has disrupted approximately 124 inbound flights, which have been diverted to other airports. London's assistant fire commissioner stated that the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, and authorities are working to restore normal operations as swiftly as possible. This event underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to unforeseen technical failures (04:28).

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Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump has formally begun the process of closing the U.S. department of Education. NPR's Ilissa Nadwarny has details.

[Ilissa Nadworny]

In a ceremony at the White House, President President Trump signed the executive order aimed at shuttering the department. He was flanked by students sitting at desks with state flags. The president pointed to poor national testing as a motivator for reducing the scale and the size of the department, but said the department's useful functions would be preserved in full. The department administers Federal funding for K12 schools, Pell grants and student loans, and has the ability to investigate schools. At the ceremony, Trump was joined by Republican governors from Texas and Indiana, Florida and Ohio. The move to shutter the department has been expected since early February and comes a week after the department notified nearly half of its staff that they will be laid off. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The president's executive order on education could lead to less oversight of states and schools in the Gulf States newsroom. Stephen Basahov reports that it's causing concern in Alabama.

[Stephen Basahov]

Trump signed the order about an hour before Democratic Congresswoman Terry Sewell spoke at a panel in Utah. Alabama she got applause when she said she'd do all she could to push back.

[Corey Jones]

Not only am I a proud product of the Black Belt, but I am a proud product of public schools in the Black Belt.

[Stephen Basahov]

That region in Alabama is known for its rich soil, high poverty and history of slavery. Greene County Superintendent Corey Jones also worries about federal oversight going away.

[Corey Jones]

By taking that feral umbrella away and put no funds in the state hand. We assume that our governor is going to do the right thing, but there's no guarantee.

[Stephen Basahov]

Jones said more than 40% of the district's funds come from the federal government. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Besaha in Utah.

[Shea Stevens]

Alabama, the Pentagon has restored some of its websites highlighting the contributions of black, Asian and Native American veterans during World War II. Two defense officials tell NPR that the sites were removed in compliance with President Trump's guidance on diversity, equity and inclus. An article on baseball great Jackie Robinson was among the material that had been removed. As NPR's Tom Bowman reports, Pentagon spokesman.

[John Elliott]

John Elliott sent out a memo saying everyone at the Defense Department loves Jackie Robinson as well as the Navajo Code talkers. The Tuskegee Airmen and the Marines at Iwo Jima and so many others. We salute them for their strong and, in many cases, heroic service to our country, but we do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or we do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission, like every other American who has worn the uniform.

[Shea Stevens]

Tom Bowman reporting. You're listening to npr. North Korea says it has test fired new anti aircraft missiles in response to joint military drills between South Korea and the United States. The North's Defense Ministry alleges the drills involve simulations to destroy its underground tunnels. Friday's reported missile tests would be the north's sixth so far this year. Almost 70,000 South Africans have expressed interest in moving to the United States since President Trump invited white Afrikaners to apply for refugee status. More from Kate Barlett in Johannesburg.

[Kate Bartlett]

Most of those who have registered have Afrikaans surnames, according to the South African Chamber of Commerce. In the US Last month, Trump signed an executive order claiming, without evidence that the Afrikaans minority, descendants of mostly Dutch colonisers, were being persecuted and their land confiscated. Some Afrikaans groups so white farmers are also specifically targeted in farm murders. This week, police statistics showed one farmer had been murdered in the last quarter of 2024. Four employees had also been killed. Their raises were not given. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

[Shea Stevens]

Britain's Heathrow Airport has been closed due to a major power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation in London. It's unclear how many flights were immediately affected by the incident. According to the tracking site Flighttrade24, around 124 inbound flights will have to be diverted to other airports. London's assistant fire commissioner says the cause of the fire is not immediately clear. This is NPR News.

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