Canada Tariffs, Education Department Targeted, DOGE

Summary

Up First from NPR – February 4, 2025

NPR’s "Up First" episode released on February 4, 2025, delves into significant developments shaping international trade, education policy, and government efficiency in the United States. Hosted by NPR’s seasoned journalists, the episode provides in-depth analysis and firsthand accounts of the evolving political landscape.

---

1. US-Canada Trade Tensions Escalate

The episode opens with escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada, marking a significant strain in one of America’s closest alliances. President Trump’s administration imposed a 10% tariff on U.S. imports from China, prompting China to retaliate with a 15% tax on American goods and export controls on critical metals like tungsten (02:30).

Steve Inskeep explains the precarious situation:
"Trump struck a deal with Mexico and then both sides agreed to send thousands of troops to their borders to curb illegal migration and fentanyl, which raised questions in Canada about the true motivations behind the tariffs." (03:02)

The Canadian response has been one of disbelief and anger. A notable incident highlighted by Steve Inskeep involves Ryan Robinson, a liquor store worker in Ottawa, who stated at (04:45):
"We felt betrayed. I think we thought our closest ally in the world was stabbing us in the back a little bit."

As 加拿大 braced for a possible trade war, public sentiment in Canada has turned against American products, with campaigns encouraging consumers to avoid U.S. goods and even actions like booing the Star-Spangled Banner at sporting events. The threat of a prolonged trade war looms, with Jackie Northam noting a significant trust deficit between Canada and the U.S. (05:05).

---

2. Trump Administration Takes Aim at the Department of Education

In a bold move, President Trump appears poised to issue an executive action targeting the U.S. Department of Education, signaling potential significant staff and program cuts with the ultimate goal of shutting down the department (06:02).

Cory Turner provides insight into the administration's strategy:
"The White House is eager to close the department and plans to use this executive action to cut programs and staff not created by Congress, essentially targeting low-hanging fruit." (06:33)

However, dismantling the Department of Education presents substantial challenges. The department’s core responsibilities, including administering Title 1 funding for schools and managing the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio, were established by Congress and are protected by law, making them difficult to eliminate without legislative approval (07:11).

Furthermore, recent actions within the department have raised concerns. At least 74 non-management staff members have been placed on paid administrative leave under the guise of targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to Cory Turner, these employees were not directly involved in DEI initiatives but had attended DEI workshops, highlighting potential overreach or misdirection in the administration’s actions (08:42).

---

3. Elon Musk’s DOGE Influences Federal Government Operations

Elon Musk’s influence extends into the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an ad hoc group led by Musk that has rapidly intervened in various government departments (10:05).

Bobby Allen outlines DOGE’s aggressive actions:
"In just the first two weeks, DOGE has intervened at the Treasury Department, the Office of Personnel Management, and is analyzing government real estate holdings, aiming to slash federal payrolls and divide what Musk perceives as the deep state." (10:13)

This unprecedented level of access and control has sparked significant controversy. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized DOGE as "a shadow government conducting a hostile takeover," raising legal and ethical questions about Musk's role and the potential conflicts of interest given his leadership of multiple corporations like SpaceX and Tesla (11:08).

Moreover, DOGE has faced legal challenges, including lawsuits from federal employee unions aiming to block its access to sensitive systems like the Treasury Department's payment platforms. These legal battles could shape the future scope and authority of DOGE within the federal government (12:55).

Cory Turner adds perspective on the uniqueness of DOGE's operations:
"I've never seen the White House send their people into the agencies this way in such an intrusive manner in either a Democratic or Republican administration, including the first Trump administration." (12:37)

As DOGE continues to navigate its role, questions remain about the sustainability and legality of Musk’s influence on government operations, especially as experts predict DOGE’s presence in the federal government is likely to expand despite ongoing legal challenges (13:26).

---

Conclusion

This episode of "Up First" highlights the intricate and evolving dynamics of international trade tensions, potential shifts in education policy, and unprecedented corporate influence within the U.S. government. As these stories develop, NPR continues to provide comprehensive reporting and analysis to keep listeners informed about the key issues shaping the day.

---

For those who missed the episode, subscribe to NPR’s "Up First" available on the NPR app or your preferred podcast platform. Stay informed with the three biggest stories of the day, thoughtfully reported and analyzed by NPR News.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

A liquor store worker in Canada was just about to yank American bourbon off the shelf.

[Steve Inskeep]

We felt betrayed.

[Jackie Northam]

At the last moment, the US Paused its trade war. How's all this look from the US Ally to the north?

[Michelle Martin]

I'm Michelle Martin. That's Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News. An ethics watchdog who criticized the first Trump administration now watches the second.

[Cory Turner]

I've never seen the White House send their people into the agents this way in such an intrusive matter.

[Michelle Martin]

Elon Musk's authority for accessing Treasury Department records of almost everybody.

[Jackie Northam]

Also, NPR has details of President Trump's plans for the Department of Education. Closing a cabinet department requires an act of Congress, so he will ask for one. Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

[Sarah Levy]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Betterment, the automated investing and savings app. CEO Sarah Levy shares how Betterment utilizes tech tools powered by human advice.

[Steve Inskeep]

Betterment is here to help customers build wealth their way. And we provide powerful technology and complete human support where technology can deliver ease of use and affordability. And the people behind that technology can.

[Cory Turner]

Provide advice and guidance.

[Sarah Levy]

Learn [e-mail] investing involves risk performance not guaranteed. This message comes from Mattress Firm. The start of a new year can feel overwhelming, but quality sleep is the foundation for staying energized and focused on your goals. That's where Mattress Firm comes in, helping you find the right bed from their premium selection of top brand mattresses. Plus with 120 nights to try it out, love it or get your money back. Get matched at Mattress Firm's President's Day sale and Sleep at Night. Restrictions apply. See mattressfirm.com or store for details.

[Cory Turner]

This message comes from Comedy Central's the Daily Show. Jon Stewart and the Daily show news team are kicking off 2025 with brand new episodes covering a brand new administration and a not quite brand new president. While it may feel like history is repeating itself, it's never been covered like this. With Jon Stewart behind the desk kicking off every week, Comedy Central's the Daily show new weeknights at 11 on Comedy Central and streaming next day on Paramount.

[Jackie Northam]

New US Tariffs on Chinese goods went into effect today and China has already retaliated.

[Michelle Martin]

The Trump administration imposed 10% taxes on U.S. imports from China. China responded with 15% taxes on U.S. goods. China also put export controls on vital metals like tungsten.

[Jackie Northam]

Now the trade war with Mexico and Canada is paused for now after the president made threats that jolted relations with a close US Ally. So how does all this look from Canada? NPR international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam is in Ottawa. Jackie, good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

Good morning, Steve.

[Jackie Northam]

So how did the United States and Canada at least put off a confrontation?

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, you know, it did come right down to the wire. Trump's tariffs against Canada were set to go into effect one minute after midnight, and that's the same for Mexico. And Canada was bracing for it. You know, it had already announced it would retaliate by imposing 25% tariffs on $100 billion of US goods. But earlier on Monday, Trump struck a deal with Mexico and then and both sides said they would send thousands of troops to their borders to curb the illegal flow of migrants and fentanyl, which is what Trump had asked for. But, you know, Ottawa says the amount of fentanyl coming across from Canada is a fraction of that coming from Mexico, which has led to a lot of questions here in Canada of what this was really about. Why impose high tariffs on the country, which is one of, you know, the closest allies of the U.S. yeah, I.

[Jackie Northam]

Am thinking the Canadians made new measures at their border before the threat of tariffs. Now they've apparently are promised something and still the threat of tariffs hangs over them for 30 days. How are people responding?

[Steve Inskeep]

Oh, you know, I've been talking with Canadians for the past couple of weeks since Trump first announced he was going to do this. And the responses have been anger and disbelief and really wanting to hit back. You know, there's a campaign that got underway to avoid buying any American products here. And Canadians were booing during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner at major sporting events. And liquor stores in some provinces were going to pull American bourbon and wine from their shelves. And, you know, I dropped in at a liquor store here in Ottawa last night, and one of the workers, Ryan Robinson, said they were all ready to remove American bourbon off the shelves. Here he is. We felt betrayed. I think we thought, you know, our closest ally in the world was stabbing us in the back a little bit.

[Jackie Northam]

Right.

[Steve Inskeep]

I think Trump is blowing things out of proportion a little bit. So I don't really understand his reasoning to start such a trade war. And, you know, Steve, Canada is one of the U.S. largest trading partners. But, you know, it's more than that. This feels personal up here, especially when Trump keeps saying he wants to turn Canada into the 51st state.

[Jackie Northam]

Yeah. Which I think people took as a joke when Trump first said that. But he keeps saying it again and again and again. So how do the two countries move forward?

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, you know, this is only a month long reprieve and I think it's fair to say that there is a trust deficit between Canada and the US and the US And Mexico for that matter. Canada faced a serious threat of recession if Trump's tension tariffs went ahead. You know, there's a fear that it's not over, at least for now. And as you mentioned, Steve, the threat of a trade war goes beyond North America as the US And China launch these tit for tat tariffs on each other. The White House says Trump is due to talk to Chinese leader Xi Jinping today, but negotiations between the rivals, you know, could be a drawn out process.

[Jackie Northam]

NPR's Jackie Northam, thanks so much for your work.

[Steve Inskeep]

Thanks, Steve.

[Jackie Northam]

Okay. Some changes are underway at the U.S. department of Education with bigger potential moves on the horizon.

[Michelle Martin]

Sources tell NPR that President Trump is getting ready to issue an executive action that would do two move quickly to make relatively small staff and program cuts and call on Congress to close the department entirely. This comes as several dozen of the department's 4,400 workers have already been placed on paid leave.

[Jackie Northam]

NPR's Cory Turner joins us now. Tori, good morning. Cory good morning. Tory Turner Anyway, Corey, good morning. By your proper name, what do you know about this executive action?

[Cory Turner]

Well, and not a lot, at least not through official channels. The White House did not respond to a request for comment, but multiple sources have told me folks who are not allowed to speak publicly, the Trump administration is eager to close the department. And so in the near term it plans to use this executive action to try to move quickly to cut programs and staff that were not created by Congress so they're not protected by law. The idea being these will be the programs that are the ease easiest to cut, essentially low hanging fruit. The problem here, Steve, is the department itself and its signature responsibilities were all created by Congress. And so they're much harder to cut.

[Jackie Northam]

Unless of course, you operate within the rule of law and go to Congress and ask them to reconsider that. So what are the responsibilities that could be targeted by executive action?

[Cory Turner]

Yeah, so the department has a budget of around $79 billion. On the K12 side, it administers Title 1, which sends extra funding to schools and lower income commun, both urban and rural. And it administers idea, that's the civil rights law that guarantees special education. And obviously on the higher ed side, it manages the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. Now I have spoken with a bunch of experts over the past year who all say they really don't see how a president can make meaningful legal changes to these programs without Congress. And that's why, Steve, I'm hearing from my sources that this executive action would essentially acknowledge that by calling on Congress either cut or move some or all of these programs to other agencies. The challenge for the administration is there have been plenty of past efforts to close the department and rewrite the rules of big programs like Title 1. But lawmakers, including many Republicans, have always opposed them.

[Jackie Northam]

Although that's the system. That's checks and balances. That's the Constitution. So what you're saying is we expect an executive order that really is just a statement asking Congress to do what the president asks, which is the way the Constitution works. At the same time, you're reporting that some Education Department staff are being placed on leave. What's going on?

[Cory Turner]

Yeah, that's right. At least 74 non management department of Education staff have been placed on paid administrative leave. They all got this email in the last few days saying they're being placed on leave because of President Trump's executive action targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs. In a statement I got, a department spokesperson said, quote, we are evaluating staffing in line with the commitment to prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in schools and putting student outcomes above special interests. But I spoke yesterday and last night with a bunch of these employees, and they all told me they don't work in dei, their career staff, they work in multiple departments. The only thing they had in common was that they had all attended at some point a DEI workshop the department has been offering for years, including, by the way, going back to the first Trump administration.

[Jackie Northam]

Okay. NPR's Cory Turner will continue listening. For your reporting on that. Thanks very much. You're welcome. And we have an update on the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency.

[Michelle Martin]

Which is not actually a department, it's more like an ad hoc group. But whatever you call it, it's been an agent of chaos and confusion led by the unelected advisor to the president, Elon Musk.

[Jackie Northam]

NPR's Bobby Allen has covered Musk for years. Bobby, good morning.

[Bobby Allen]

Good morning.

[Jackie Northam]

Well, just remember, Department of Government Efficiency, doge, what have they done so far?

[Bobby Allen]

Quite a bit. Musk's deputies are moving very fast. In just the first two weeks of the Trump administration, they have intervened at the Treasury Department, which, you know, processes trillions of dollars of payments every year. And it's not just Treasury. Doge is involved in the Office of Personnel Management looking for ways to slash the federal payroll. They're analyzing the government's real estate holdings and some DOGE at The direction of Musk is barreling into vast swaths of the federal government and promising to divide and conquer what he sees as the deep state. Not that unlike the way Musk bulldozed Twitter. And then when he purchased it, of course, he renamed it X. I would.

[Jackie Northam]

Not say that this has been the most transparent effort. We hear about things happening, and we're not exactly sure what the purpose is from the outside. How are people responding to this?

[Bobby Allen]

Yeah, well, in Congress, Republicans have been mostly quiet, but Democrats are sounding the alarm. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Doge, quote, a shadow government conducting a hostile takeover. Sharp words. And that gets at one of the questions Doge is facing. Can Musk legally have this much access and control over the federal government? And then there are other questions, Steve, about whether Doge creates conflicts of interest. Because, as we know, Musk runs six companies, including rocket company SpaceX, electric vehicle company Tesla, while Musk is also a senior adviser to President Trump. And we learned just yesterday that the White House has made Musk a special.

[Jackie Northam]

Government employee, which means that he does have some formal government role, I guess. What is a special government employee?

[Bobby Allen]

It's essentially a temporary government job. It can't run longer than 130 days. And Doge itself was stood up as a temporary organization to radically cut costs in government. But Musk's exact remit is kind of unknown. It's a little murky. Government watchdogs, though, are worried he is going to operate with no guardrails. Now, President Trump said Musk is acting only with the explicit approval of the White House. And that, quote, where we think there's a conflict or a problem, we won't let him go near it. That's what Trump said recently. But experts I spoke to aren't so sure. Richard Painter was the White House's top ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration. And Painter says the level of access Musk seems to have sure does look like there are very few checks on him.

[Cory Turner]

I've never seen something like this happen before. I've never seen the White House send their people into the agents this way in such an intrusive manner in either a Democratic administration or a Republican administration, including the first Trump administration.

[Bobby Allen]

Unprecedented is a word very much overused in this political moment. But Painter says Doge is indeed charting new territory.

[Jackie Northam]

Well, this raises a question. If Congress is not going to jump up immediately, and if the White House says it's on board, are people who object in some way likely to take this to court?

[Bobby Allen]

Yes. Doge has been hit with multiple lawsuits over its legality. The most recent one came yesterday. Unions representing federal employees sued to block doge's access to the Treasury Department's payment system. They are concerned about Musk and his deputies having direct access to millions of people's tax refunds, veterans benefits, disability checks and the private information of federal employees. So we will see, Steve, what happens in court. But experts tell me that unless a judge steps in, DOGE is expected to only grow its presence inside of the federal government.

[Jackie Northam]

I'm thinking about some of the things DOGE has done. There were actions over the weekend against the U.S. agency for International Development, acted as if he was shutting down the agency, which is arguably illegal, but it seems instead just to have been folded under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who talks of continuing some foreign aid and just reforming the agency, which a lot of people would like. Is it possible this agency is less radical than it seems?

[Bobby Allen]

Yeah. For some of the agencies in Doge's crosshairs, you know, their opening bid is to completely dismantle the agencies. Right. But what may end up happening in the end is just a smaller version of the agencies that DOGE is going after. So fewer employees and fewer resources, but still existing in some form. We'll just have to see.

[Jackie Northam]

NPR's Bobby Allen. Thanks so much.

[Bobby Allen]

Thanks, Steve.

[Jackie Northam]

And that's up first for this Tuesday, February 4th. There's an exclamation point written down here. So I'm fourth. It's February 4th. Let the fourth be with you. I'm Steve Inskeep.

[Michelle Martin]

And I'm Michelle Martin. Make your next listen. Consider this the team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jackie Northam]

Today's episode of Up first on February 4 was edited by Tara Neal, Brett Neely, Stephen Drummond, Janaya Williams and Alice Wolfley, produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange, who also deserves an exclamation point, in my opinion. Join us again tomorrow.

[Sarah Levy]

Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to Up First Sponsor free through Amazon Music, or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get up first [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org this message comes from Warby Parker. If you wear glasses, you know how hard it is to find the perfect pair. But step into a Warby Parker store and you'll see it doesn't have to be. Find a Warby Parker store near [e-mail] retail. This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile might be right for you with plans starting from 15 bucks a month. Shop plans [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month 5 gigabyte plan required new customer offer for first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.