NPR News: 04-17-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 17, 2025

Host: Shea Stevens

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1. Controversial Deportation Case: Kilmar Obrego Garcia

[00:18] Shea Stevens opens the episode with breaking news about the Trump administration's staunch position on the case of Kilmar Obrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this month. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt categorically stated, “Abrego Garcia is a gang member who will never live in the US again” (00:18).

Despite these claims, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision overturning the administration's stance. The Court ruled that neither the President nor the Secretary of State can be forced to retrieve Garcia, who is currently incarcerated in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador due to his alleged MS-13 gang membership (00:38).

[00:55] In a significant turn, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate Garcia's return and process his case as if he had never been deported. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen expressed frustration, noting that he was denied access to Garcia during a recent trip to El Salvador (00:55).

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2. Federal Funding Freeze Impacts Tribal and Nonprofit Initiatives

Shea Stevens transitions to a critical issue involving the freezing of federal funds intended for tribes and nonprofits. More than 20 tribes and organizations nationwide were awarded approximately $350 million from the EPA's Community Change Grants, a program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at addressing urgent infrastructure needs. However, the Trump administration has subsequently frozen these funds (00:55).

[01:25] NPR's Nate Perez reports that the frozen funds were crucial for projects like the Tabona Foundation's $20 million grant, designated to replace homes in Tyonek, Alaska, contaminated with asbestos and lead. Vaide Croto, executive director of the Tabona Foundation, highlighted the dire consequences of the freeze:

“Everything is in limbo, and the bills still come in, the rent still comes in.” (01:48)

The EPA spokesperson, Molly Vaslou, clarified that the Community Change Grants are currently under review to ensure they align with the administration's priorities, leaving dozens of tribes uncertain about when or if they will receive their awarded funds (01:55).

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3. Department of Defense Schools Under Fire for Curriculum Changes

Shea Stevens brings attention to a growing controversy in Department of Defense (DoD) schools, where students and parents are suing the administration over alleged removals of books and modifications to curricula. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman details the case of Jessica Henninger, a resident of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, whose children attend a DoD-operated school:

[02:24] Jessica Henninger states:

“My husband fights for our constitutional rights and our freedoms in this country, and to see those rights being taken away from my children was just absolutely something that I could not abide.” (02:35)

The lawsuit alleges that significant educational content, including a fourth-grade reading titled "A Nation of Immigrants" and a canceled Black History Month project, has been removed. Additionally, other DoD-led academies, such as the U.S. Naval Academy, have reportedly cut nearly 400 books from their libraries (02:48).

A spokesperson for the DoD Education Activity (DODEA) declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but affirmed the commitment of military schools to provide an excellent educational experience (02:48).

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4. Infrastructure and Power Challenges: Puerto Rico’s Ongoing Struggles

[03:10] Shea Stevens reports on a massive power outage that has plunged Puerto Rico’s 1.4 million residents into darkness. The blackout has severely affected both residents and the tourism industry, with hotels operating near capacity and relying on generators to accommodate thousands of tourists celebrating Easter. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of residents are without access to water. The exact cause of the outage remains unclear, but it underscores Puerto Rico’s ongoing challenges with an aging power grid, exacerbated by repeated blackouts since the devastating 2017 hurricane.

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5. United Nations' Humanitarian Response Faces Significant Cuts

[03:55] Fatma Tanis updates listeners on the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) facing a severe funding shortfall of $60 million. In response, Tom Fletcher, head of OCHA, announced that the organization must reduce its workforce by 20% and scale back operations in several countries, including Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. Fletcher emphasized the dire situation:

“Underfunded, overstretched and literally under attack. Vital life-saving work is ending.” (03:55)

These cuts are attributed to the Trump administration’s dismantling of U.S. foreign aid, with other nations also withdrawing support from humanitarian funding efforts (03:55).

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6. Financial Markets Update

[03:10] Shea Stevens provides a brief update on financial markets, noting that U.S. futures are higher in after-hours trading on Wall Street.

[04:42] The positive trend continues in Asia-Pacific markets, with shares in Hong Kong and Tokyo rising by 1% (04:42).

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Recorded at 3:00 AM EDT on April 17, 2025.

Note: Sponsorship messages from Home Instead and Bombas have been omitted to focus on the core news content of the episode.

Transcript

[Sponsor Announcement]

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The Trump administration is refusing to budge on the case of Kilmar Obrego Garcia. He's the Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this month. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says Abrego Garcia is a gang member who will never live in the US Again.

[NPR News Reporter]

And the United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the president of the United States and the secretary of state could not be compelled to forcibly retrieve this citizen of El Salvador who is currently locked up in a maximum security prison in his home country due to his MS.13 membership.

[Shea Stevens]

The US Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return and to process him as if he never left. Democratic U.S. senate Senator Chris Van Hollen says he was denied access to Abreco Garcia during a trip to El Salvador on Wednesday. More than 20 tribes and nonprofits across the nation were awarded around $350 million to address critical infrastructure needs, but the Trump administration has frozen those funds. As NPR's Nate Perez reports, the money.

[Nate Perez]

Came from the EPA's Community Change Grants, funded through the country's first significant climate policy, the Inflation Reduction Act. The tabona foundation received $20 million to replace homes contaminated with asbestos and lead for the native village of Tyonek in Alaska. The foundation's executive director, Vaide Croto, says that money would have changed people's lives.

[Vaide Croto]

Everything is in limbo, and the bills still come in, the rent still comes in.

[Nate Perez]

Now dozens of tribes don't know if or when they will have funds that were awarded to them under the Biden administration. The EPA spokesperson, Molly Vaslou, says that Community Change grants are under review to see how they align with the administration's priorities. Nate Perez, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Students in schools run by the Defense Department are suing the administration for allegedly removing books and changing curricula. Kentucky Public Radio's Sylvia Goodman reports.

[Sylvia Goodman]

Jessica Henninger has three children in a school run by the Department of Defense Education Activity in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She says books and curriculum have been removed and a project' Celebrating Black History Month canceled.

[Jessica Henninger]

My husband fights for our constitutional rights and our freedoms in this country, and to see those rights being taken away from my children was just absolutely something that I could not abide.

[Sylvia Goodman]

The curriculum list marked do not use includes a fourth grade reading called A Nation of Immigrants. Other DoD led academies have also cut books, including nearly 400 from the U.S. naval Academy. A spokesperson for DODEA told NPR he cannot comment on active litigation, but the military schools are committed to providing an excellent educational experience. For NPR News, I'm Sylvia goodman in Louisville, Kentucky.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall street. This is NPR. A massive power outage has left Puerto Rico's 1.4 million residents in the dark. Hotels were near capacity and using generators on Wednesday as thousands of tourists prepared to celebrate Easter on the island. Hundreds of thousands of residents had no water. The cause of the outage is unclear, although Puerto Rico has struggled with repeated blackouts since a 2017 hurricane damaged its already aging power grid. The United nations humanitarian response arm says it plans to cut its workforce by 20% because of funding shortages. Details from NPR's Fat Matanis.

[Fatma Tanis]

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs, also known as OCHA, is facing a funding gap of $60 million. In a note to staff, the head of OCHA, Tom Fletcher, that the organization would have to regroup and cut a fifth of its overall workforce. OCHO will also scale back its operations in several countries, including Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Fletcher said OCHO was facing its toughest ever moment with the humanitarian community, quote, underfunded, overstretched and literally under attack. Vital life saving work is ending. Fletcher said these cuts come in the wake of the Trump administration's dismantling of U.S. foreign aid. Other countries around the world have also pulled back from humanitarian funding. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Again, U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall street, on Asia Pacific markets. Shares are also higher, up 1% in Hong Kong and in Tokyo. This is NPR News.

[Sponsor Announcement]

This message comes from Bombas. Their slippers are designed with cushioning so every step feels marshmallowy soft. Plus, for every item purchased, Bombas donates to someone in need. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off your first order.