NPR News: 04-17-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now - April 17, 2025, 6 AM EDT

1. Whistleblower Reveals Concerns Over DOGE's Access at Federal Agency

A significant development at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has emerged after a whistleblower raised serious concerns regarding the Department of Global Economic Engagement (DOGE). Daniel Baroulis, an IT department employee at the NLRB, filed an official disclosure with Congress and spoke to NPR about DOGE's activities within his agency. According to Baroulis, DOGE requested the highest level of access rights just before a substantial amount of data was removed from the NLRB's systems. "DOGE requested the highest level access right before a large chunk of data was removed from the system," Baroulis stated ([00:29]).

The NLRB has responded by asserting that it never authorized DOGE to access its systems in such a manner. Adding to the controversy, senior officials from DOGE visited the NLRB headquarters, and it has been revealed that two DOGE representatives will be working at the agency on a part-time basis. While the NLRB intends to comply with DOGE's requests, it has assured that all personal data will be removed from any records shared with DOGE ([00:29]).

2. Senator Chris Van Hollen Challenges El Salvador's Deportation Practices

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has taken a contentious stance against the government of El Salvador by attempting to visit Kilmer Abrego Garcia, a U.S. citizen who was wrongfully deported and is currently incarcerated in a Salvadoran prison. Despite his efforts, El Salvador denied Van Hollen access to Garcia. The Senator criticized the denial, emphasizing the importance of due process. "We have a court system to hold people accountable when they commit crimes, to make sure that they get the punishment they deserve. We also have a court system to make sure that people who have not committed crimes or not been convicted of crimes are not disappeared," Van Hollen remarked ([01:34]).

In a related legal battle, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has indicated that the Trump administration may be in criminal contempt for allegedly ignoring his orders to halt the deportation of migrants to El Salvador. Judge Boasberg stated, "The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders," highlighting the severity of the administration's actions ([01:53]).

3. Puerto Rico Suffers a Widespread Power Outage Amid Infrastructure Struggles

Puerto Rico is grappling with a significant power outage that plunged the entire island into darkness yesterday. The outage occurred around 12:40 PM local time, and as of the latest reports, only about 16% of customers have had their power restored. Greg Allen of NPR reports that Genera PR, the company responsible for Puerto Rico's power generation since two years ago, attributed the outage to an unexpected shutdown of their systems. "Genera PR, the company that took over Puerto Rico's power generation two years ago, says the unexpected shutdown caused a massive power outage across the island," Allen explained ([02:33]).

Governor Jennifer Gonzalez has assured the public that her administration is actively working with Genera PR to determine the cause of the outage and to expedite the restoration of services. This incident follows a similar island-wide blackout on New Year’s Eve, underscoring ongoing issues with Puerto Rico's aging infrastructure and the financial struggles of its public power company ([02:33]).

4. Funding Delays Threaten Head Start Child Development Programs

U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington State has raised alarms over the delayed federal funding for Head Start centers across the nation. Head Start, a vital child development program serving over 800,000 of the poorest children in the United States, is reportedly owed $1 billion in federal funds. Senator Murray criticized the Trump administration for "slow walking" the disbursement of these essential funds, resulting in the closure of some Head Start preschool classrooms. The delay in funding jeopardizes the continuity and quality of education and support services provided to vulnerable children and families ([03:11]).

5. Trump Administration Seeks to Narrow Protections Under Endangered Species Act

The Trump administration is proposing a significant change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that could weaken protections for endangered species by altering the definition of "take." Jonathan Lambert from NPR explains that traditionally, "take" includes actions that harm the habitats essential for the survival of endangered species. "Their proposal would only prohibit harmful actions directed immediately against a particular animal, not their habitat," Lambert detailed ([03:53]).

This narrow interpretation could have far-reaching implications, making it easier for developers and other stakeholders to engage in activities that may lead to habitat destruction without direct impact on the animals themselves. Given that habitat loss remains the primary driver of species decline, this proposed change could accelerate the deterioration of ecosystems critical to the preservation of endangered species ([03:53]).

6. Spotify Experiences Temporary Service Disruption

Music and podcast enthusiasts experienced a brief outage on the popular streaming platform Spotify yesterday. Thousands of users reported being unable to stream content for several hours before the service was restored. Spotify has yet to disclose the cause of the disruption but has emphatically denied that the outage was the result of a cyberattack or hacking incident. "Spotify said service has been restored. It has not said what caused the outage, but denied reports that Spotify had been hacked," the report stated ([04:35]).

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the NPR News Now episode released on April 17, 2025. For detailed information and live updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR.

Transcript

[Nature Conservancy]

This message comes from the Nature Conservancy. Working together to create a future with a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature. Explore ways to act during Earth Month and every [e-mail] NPR Live from NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A day after NPR broke the story on a whistleblower's concerns about Doge's activities at his federal agency, several Doge representatives visited that agency's headquarters, including NPR's Jenna McLaughlin has more.

[Jenna McLaughlin]

In recent days, a whistleblower working in the IT department of a small independent federal agency filed an official disclosure with Congress and spoke to npr. Daniel Baroulis works for the National Labor Relations Board, which protects employees rights to unionize. He says DOGE requested the highest level access right before a large chunk of data was removed from the system. The NLRB told NPR that it never authorized access to the systems. Then, a day later, senior officials at NLRB sent an email obtained by NPR revealing that Doge had made its first official visit to the agency and that two Doge representatives will be working there part time. NLRB says they will comply with Doge's requests, but will remove personal data from records before sharing them. Jenna McLaughlin, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The government of El Salvador has denied a US Senator the ability to visit a migrant who was wrongfully deported from the US Kilmer Abrego Garcia is now incarcerated in a Salvadoran prison. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen flew to El Salvador yesterday. He says Abrego Garcia was denied the due process required by US Law.

[Chris Van Hollen]

We have a court system to hold people accountable when they commit crimes, to make sure that they get the punishment they deserve. We also have a court system to make sure that people who have not committed crimes or not been convicted of crimes are not disappeared.

[Korva Coleman]

The Trump administration insists Vergo Garcia is a gang member, a charge his lawyers deny. In a related matter, U.S. district Judge James Boasberg says the Trump administration is likely in criminal contempt. He says the administration purposely ignored his order to turn around planes deporting migrants to El Salvador. Judge Boasberg says the Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders. Puerto Rico is grappling with an island wide power outage. The territory went entirely dark yesterday. Utility officials say about 16% of customers have gotten their power back. NPR's Greg Allen reports the shutdown was unexpected.

[Greg Allen]

Genera PR, the company that took over Puerto Rico's power generation two years ago, says the unexpected shutdown caused a massive power outage across the island. The company said it was working to bring backup power generators online. The outage began around 12:40pm Puerto Rico time. A little later, the island's governor, Jennifer Gonzalez, said her administration was working with the power company and would provide details about the cause of the outage and when service would be restored. It follows a similar island wide blackout on New Year's Eve. Puerto Rico has been plagued by power outages and failing infrastructure as its public power company has struggled with bankruptcy. Greg Allen, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR. U.S. senator Patty Murray of Washington State says that Head Start centers across the country have not been able to get the $1 billion federal funding they're owed. The Democratic senator says some Head Start preschool classrooms are now closed. Murray charges the Trump administration is slow walking the money. Head Start is a child development program for more than 800,000 of the nation's poorest children. The Trump administration is proposing to limit the definition of what it means to harm an endangered species. NPR's Jonathan Lambert explains a change could make it easier to damage habitats that endangered species use.

[Jonathan Lambert]

The Endangered Species act prohibits the take of endangered species. By law, take means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect a species. For decades, federal agencies have interpreted this definition to include harming the habitats endangered species depend on. Since habitat loss is the biggest driver of species loss now, the Trump administration wants to narrow that interpretation. Their proposal would only prohibit harmful actions directed immediately against a particular animal, not their habitat. The change could make it easier for developers to build on habitats used by endangered species. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Audio streaming service Spotify was out briefly yesterday. Thousands of users said they could not stream music or podcasts for a few hours. Spotify said service has been restored. It has not said what caused the adage, but denied reports that Spotify had been hacked. This is npr.

[Shopify]

This message is brought to you by NPR sponsor Shopify. It's 2025, a new year with new opportunities. The best time to start your new business is right now. Go to shopify.com NPR allovercase to sign up for a $1 per month trial period today.