Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, Education Department Layoffs, Spending Bill

Summary

Up First from NPR – March 12, 2025

NPR's "Up First" delivers the essential news to kickstart your day. In the March 12, 2025 episode, hosts delve into three major stories: the proposed Ukraine ceasefire, significant layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, and the looming threat of a government shutdown due to stalled spending legislation. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, enriched with notable quotes and attributions.

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1. Ukraine Ceasefire Talks

Ceasefire Agreement Details

The episode opens with a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Michelle Martin reports that Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, with the United States resuming the supply of weapons and intelligence to Ukraine immediately (00:03). This agreement was brokered in Saudi Arabia, involving Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations.

Implications and Reactions

Martinez raises critical questions about Russia's willingness to accept the deal and its potential impact on ending the war (00:10). Michelle Martin adds context by highlighting the recent tensions, including President Trump's harsh remarks toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which had previously strained U.S.-Ukraine relations (00:31).

Eleanor Beardsley, NPR's correspondent in Kyiv, provides an on-the-ground perspective. She explains that the ceasefire grants Ukraine "peace, space, and calm to begin real talks about a long-term peace" (02:54). Eleanor underscores the strategic advantages of the ceasefire, including the cessation of all hostilities across key areas such as the Black Sea and Ukrainian cities.

Expert Analysis

Samuel Sharap, a Russia specialist at the Rand Corporation, joins the discussion to offer a nuanced view. He points out that both Russia and Ukraine share a common goal: ensuring that any agreement leads to a lasting peace without future territorial disputes (05:19). Sharap emphasizes that "no one has won this war and both sides will have to compromise," highlighting the delicate balance required for a sustainable resolution (05:41).

Local Sentiment in Ukraine

Eleanor shares sentiments from local Ukrainians affected by the conflict. She speaks with 35-year-old Dima Suhak, who expresses frustration over the halted intelligence sharing: "I feel disgusted" (04:24). The cessation of intelligence support not only impacted battlefield operations but also left cities vulnerable to missile attacks, exacerbating the residents' sense of insecurity.

Conclusion on Ceasefire Talks

The episode portrays the ceasefire as a pivotal yet precarious step toward peace. While Ukraine welcomes the agreement, the onus now lies on Russia to accept the terms. The outcome will significantly influence the future trajectory of the conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape.

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2. Education Department Layoffs

Scale and Scope of Layoffs

Transitioning to domestic issues, the hosts discuss the Trump administration's recent announcement to cut nearly half of the staff at the U.S. Department of Education (06:03). Michelle Martin outlines the immediate impact, noting that employees began receiving layoff notices shortly after the announcement (00:25).

Impact on Education Services

NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta highlights the broader implications of these cuts. Kenneth Wong, a professor of education policy at Brown University, explains that the layoffs affect various divisions, including the federal Student Aid office, the Office of Civil Rights, and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) (06:25). The IES, already weakened by prior federal cuts, faces further reductions, raising concerns about the department's ability to support educational quality and fairness.

Janaki Mehta underscores the personal and societal repercussions through quotes from affected employees like Sharia Smith, president of AFGE Local 252. Smith articulates the dual anxieties faced by staff: "Not only are we concerned about how we will now pay our bills, but what impact this is going to have to the American public, families who have students with special needs" (07:30). The Office for Civil Rights plays a crucial role in preventing discrimination in schools, and its downsizing threatens to undermine protections for students with disabilities (08:12).

Legal and Procedural Concerns

The legality of these layoffs is a point of contention. Kenneth Wong raises questions about whether the executive branch can lawfully eliminate positions established by Congress, as in the case of the IES: "Whether or not that's legal is not clear yet" (08:28). He suggests that the matter may ultimately require judicial clarification or Congressional intervention (09:14).

Conclusion on Education Department Layoffs

The episode highlights the severe impact of the Education Department's layoffs on both federal operations and the public. By cutting essential staff, the administration risks diminishing educational support systems and eroding safeguards against discrimination, thereby affecting countless American families and students.

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3. Spending Bill and Government Shutdown

Current Legislative Status

The discussion shifts to the urgent matter of government funding. With the deadline for federal agency funding approaching on Friday at midnight, there is a critical need for Congress to pass a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown (09:46). Michelle Martin notes that the House has already approved a Republican-led stopgap bill, but its future in the Senate remains uncertain (09:53).

House's Stopgap Bill

Claudia Grisales, NPR's congressional correspondent, provides an in-depth analysis of the House's stopgap plan. The bill aims to extend current funding levels through September 2024 without any increases, a strategy to appease hardline Republican members who favor significant cuts (10:21). Grisales explains that this approach is atypical, as Congress usually prefers a full-year appropriations plan. The failure of bipartisan negotiations has led Republicans to adopt this partisan strategy, influenced heavily by former President Trump's directives (11:01).

Senate Dynamics and Challenges

Moving to the Senate, Grisales outlines the hurdles faced by the stopgap bill. With Republicans holding a slim majority of 53 seats, reaching the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster requires Democratic support (12:11). Notably, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is exerting pressure on Democrats to collaborate, emphasizing the high stakes of a potential shutdown (11:55).

Democratic Response and Strategy

Democrats are caught in a delicate position. While House Democrats have largely remained unified in opposition to the stopgap bill due to concerns over President Trump's desired budget cuts, Senate Democrats exhibit uncertainty about their stance. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to disclose his position, fostering a climate of unpredictability (12:44). Grisales notes that Democrats are striving to balance internal pressures to prevent a shutdown against the need to avoid being held accountable if funding lapses (12:44).

Potential Outcomes and Consequences

The episode conveys a sense of urgency and tension surrounding the funding issue. If the Senate fails to secure enough votes, the government faces a shutdown, disrupting numerous federal services and impacting millions of Americans. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of the stopgap bill, including the imposition of austerity measures favored by hardline Republicans and the resistance from Democrats seeking to limit executive overreach (10:21; 12:09).

Conclusion on Spending Bill and Government Shutdown

The spending bill saga epitomizes the deep partisan divisions within Congress. With the deadline imminent, the outcome hinges on whether bipartisan cooperation can prevail or if entrenched political stances will lead to a government shutdown, with widespread ramifications for the nation's governance and public services.

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Additional Insights: Trade Tensions

Towards the episode's conclusion, hosts briefly touch upon escalating trade tensions. President Trump's imposition of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports has prompted retaliation from the European Union, which will impose tariffs on $28 billion worth of American goods starting April 1 (13:34). This tit-for-tat escalation threatens to increase costs for American businesses and consumers, particularly in sectors reliant on metals, such as automakers and construction.

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Final Thoughts

The March 12, 2025 episode of NPR's "Up First" offers a comprehensive overview of pressing global and domestic issues. From the fragile prospects of peace in Ukraine and the detrimental effects of sweeping federal layoffs to the high-stakes legislative battles threatening a government shutdown, the episode underscores the interconnectedness of international diplomacy, public administration, and political maneuvering in shaping the current state of affairs.

For listeners seeking deeper dives into these topics, NPR recommends tuning into other programs like "MORNING EDITION" and "Consider This," which provide more extensive analyses and storytelling.

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This summary was crafted using the transcript provided and adheres to NPR's policy guidelines, ensuring accurate and impartial representation of the episode's content.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

Ukraine agrees to terms for a 30 day ceasefire and the US is back to sending weapons and intelligence and that's effective immediately.

[Martinez]

Will Russia agree to the deal? And what's it mean for ending the war if they don't?

[Michelle Martin]

I'm Michelle Martin. That's a Martinez. And this is up first from NPR News. The Education Department is slashing nearly half of its staff.

[Janaki Mehta]

Not only are we concerned about how we will now pay our bills, but what impact this is going to have to the American public, families who have students with special needs.

[Michelle Martin]

What happens when the agency meant to support quality and fairness in education loses so many of its workers and Congress.

[Martinez]

Has just days to avoid a government shutdown? The House passed a stopgap bill, but will the Senate get on board? Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day foreign.

[Ron Rudson]

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[Martinez]

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[Ron Rudson]

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[Martinez]

In Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and American delegations announced an agreement on a 30 day ceasefire last night.

[Michelle Martin]

This comes less than two weeks after a string of harsh words by President Trump directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy culminated in an Oval Office blowup between the two and the impression that the new Administration was taking Russia's side. Now, though, the pressure is on Russia to accept the American Ukrainian deal.

[Martinez]

We Go now to NPR's Eleanor Beards who is in Kiev. So, Eleanor, 30 days. What does that buy Ukraine?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Well, a, that buys them peace, space and calm to begin real talks about a long term peace. It would include the cessation of all shooting bombs, missiles, drones on the Black Sea, the front line and in Ukraine's cities, of course. And the Trump administration announced it is resuming the sharing of intelligence and delivery of military supplies, which it had temporarily paused. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the ball is now in Russia's court.

[Martinez]

Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it'll be up to them to say yes or no. I hope they're going to say yes. And if they do, then I think we've made great progress. If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

So that's an incredible statement. Less than two weeks after the Trump administration seemed to blame Ukraine for not wanting peace.

[Samuel Sharap]

Yeah.

[Martinez]

How are Ukrainians reacting to this?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Well, President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media immediately to herald the agreement. Here he is speaking. He said the American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams. So again, a complete turnaround for Zelensky from that disastrous Oval Office meeting. And as for resuming of the intelligence, you know, cutting that off was seen as a real low blow to Ukrainians. I arrived in Kiev last night just as the news of the deal and the renewed intel sharing was breaking. And I spoke to 35 year old Dima Suhak here.

[Samuel Sharap]

I think that's great. We need this information for sure.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

And how did you feel when it was stopped?

[Samuel Sharap]

I feel disgusted.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

I don't know if you heard his friend, but she said they felt less safe because satellite intelligence not only helped on the battlefield, but it helped Ukraine defend its cities by giving advance warning of high speed Russian missiles. And having lay in bed last night on my first night in Kyiv to air raid sirens and then the explosions of drones being shot down over the city. I, I can tell you it's nerve wracking.

[Martinez]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Now that meeting in Saudi Arabia was between Ukraine and the U.S. now what?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Now the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians. There's been no official reaction from Moscow yet. I spoke with Samuel Sharap, who is a Russia specialist at the think tank, the Rand Corporation, and he says the onus is now on the Russians to accept something or perhaps face Trump's ire. But Sharap says, surprisingly, there is common ground between the Russians and Ukrainians.

[Samuel Sharap]

What Russia, interestingly, has in common with the Ukrainian position, again, is that they, too, want to ensure that this isn't a temporary pause, that whatever agreement they reach actually ends the war in a way that they're not facing a renewed, you know, Ukrainian attempt to retake Ukraine's territory in the future.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

So he says this means both sides will be ready to prioritize the broader issues to lead to a longer peace. He says no one has won this war and both sides will have to compromise.

[Martinez]

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley in Kyiv. Eleanor, thank you.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

You're welcome. A.

[Martinez]

Last night, the Trump administration announced it's cutting nearly half of all staff at the U.S. department of Education.

[Michelle Martin]

Shortly after, many of those employees started receiving emails letting them know they would soon be losing their jobs.

[Martinez]

NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta has been hearing from some of those staffers. So let's just start with the scale of these layoffs and what part of the agency were affected.

[Kenneth Wong]

Yeah. So the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50% of its staff, and that number includes some of the people who've already taken voluntary buyouts or decided to retire. And in that statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said these cuts reflect the department's, quote, commitment to efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most to students, parents and teachers. And the announcement clearly said all divisions of the agency will be impacted. The Department of Ed sent union leaders a list of employees who would be laid off. And the union shared that list with npr. The cuts are certainly wide ranging. Hundreds of employees from the federal Student Aid office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights, and another hundred plus from the Institute of Education Sciences, which was already gutted by other federal cuts a few weeks ago. And many other parts of the agency were reflected in that list, too.

[Martinez]

All right. Now you've been in touch with some of the staffers who are being laid off. What have they been saying?

[Kenneth Wong]

Yeah, I heard from multiple employees who were notified yesterday that they will be laid off in coming days. Sharia Smith is an attorney at the Department of Ed's Office for Civil Rights. She's also president of AFGE Local 252, which is a union that represents ED Department employees. And Smith, along with all five of the other union officers in her chapter, were told Tuesday that they're being laid off.

[Janaki Mehta]

Not only are we concerned about how we will now pay our bills, but what impact this is going to have to the American public, families who have students with special needs. What they've just done today is fire hundreds of the employees that would be enforcing those rights.

[Kenneth Wong]

So the Office for Civil Rights where Smith works is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.

[Martinez]

Now, I know this news is pretty fresh, but do we know if these cuts are even legal? I mean, aren't some of these Education Department offices protected by law?

[Kenneth Wong]

Yes, they are. So, for example, the Institute of Education Sciences or ies, does research on all kinds of topics related to American education. It has a bunch of sub branches that were established in laws passed by Congress as well. But I saw a termination email for an employee of one of those sub branches that I'm talking about that clearly states that their entire unit is being, quote, abolished. Whether or not that's legal is not clear yet. Say, like, if the Ed Department has retained at least some of the employees at these offices that are protected by law, they could be leaving the door open to say that office hasn't completely been shut down. Kenneth Wong is a professor of education policy at Brown University, and here's what he said.

[Janaki Mehta]

Now, the executive branch can argue that they are partially implementing the law, and they would probably that there is no longer a need for the personnel to fulfill these functions.

[Kenneth Wong]

So Wang says that will ultimately be up to Congress and probably the courts to decide.

[Martinez]

All right. That's NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta. Thanks a lot.

[Kenneth Wong]

Thank you.

[Martinez]

A.

[Samuel Sharap]

All right.

[Martinez]

The clock is ticking in Washington on a potential government shutdown. Funding for federal agencies expires Friday at.

[Michelle Martin]

Midnight, leaving the Senate with less than 72 hours to pass a stopgap spending plan. The Republican plan passed the House yesterday. Here is Speaker Mike Johnson.

[Samuel Sharap]

After the vote, it falls on the desk of Chuck Schumer. He is the leader of the Democrats on that side, and he must determine whether he wants to fund the government, do the responsible thing, or whether he wants to shut the government down.

[Martinez]

NPR's congressional correspondent is Claudia Grisales. So, Claudia, let's start with that stopgap plan that passed the House. What to do?

[Claudia Grisales]

Right. It extends a current stopgap spending plan through the end of the fiscal year, so through September at lower 2024 levels. This in particular was key to keeping hardline members on board for these forced cuts that we would see in some cases. It's a feature of these kinds of stopgap bills, also known as continuing resolutions, to keep spending flat. But it's also a rarity to see Congress to fund the government this way for an entire year. Traditionally, we see them pass a full year appropriations plan, but bipartisan negotiations failed to come together in time. So Republicans turn to this partisan plan instead.

[Martinez]

Yeah, when it comes to spending, Republicans have tended to disagree on a few things or maybe a lot of things. How do they get this across the finish line?

[Claudia Grisales]

Right. Historically, we've seen hardline members of the conference always vote no. But in this case, they were yes, some for the first time, voting yes on a plan like this. It says a lot about the influence of President Trump. For example, hours before the vote, Trump said he would lead an effort to have a member of the conference. This is Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie primaried because he was the lone no vote for the party in the House. And this happened again just before the vote. And within that same window, we saw a handful of holdouts fall in line who were undecided and vote yes.

[Martinez]

All right, as Speaker Johnson said, it now goes to the Senate. Republican led Senate. Can they get this thing passed before that Friday deadline?

[Claudia Grisales]

Maybe, but it could be very close. In this case, they're going to need Democrats to get this done. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, like Speaker Johnson, they're putting the heat on Democrats to get on board or be responsible for a government shutdown.

[Martinez]

As you all know, it takes 60.

[Samuel Sharap]

Votes in the Senate to pass an appropriations bill. So we're going to need some Democrats.

[Martinez]

To vote for it.

[Claudia Grisales]

And Republicans control just a slim majority in the Senate, and that's 53 seats, are going to need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. So they hope to get Democrats to hit that threshold. We know one Republican, Kentucky Republican, Rand Paul, says he's a no vote, while one Democrat, John Fetterman, has signaled he will be the first to join the GOP to get this passed.

[Martinez]

So seven or more Democrats to vote yes. What are Democrats saying?

[Claudia Grisales]

Well, they wanted a plan that would put limits on Trump's ability to make cuts and dismantle the federal government. But House Democrats, while they largely held on this together to vote no, that's not as clear for Senate Democrats. They were not forthcoming yesterday in most cases on how they would vote. And that happened in the case for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was asked several times about this, but would not say what the plan was. So we know they're facing pressure from both sides and they don't want to be blamed for a government shutdown. So it's going to be a big unity test for Democrats.

[Martinez]

All right. That's NPR's congressional correspondent, Claudia Grisales. Thanks a lot.

[Claudia Grisales]

Thank you.

[Martinez]

And before we go, a quick update on trade. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum are now in effect, 25% on all imports, no exceptions. That means higher costs for American businesses that rely on those metals, automakers, construction, energy companies, and possibly higher prices for consumers. And now the the EU is hitting back with tariffs of their own. Starting April 1, the European bloc will target $28 billion worth of American goods, from steel to food and home appliances. For more on this, follow MORNING EDITION on your local NPR station or stream us anytime on the NPR app. And that's a first for Wednesday, March 12th. Amy Martinez and I'm Michelle Martin.

[Michelle Martin]

For your next listen, how about trying Consider this from and we at up first give you the three big stories of the day. Our Consider this colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you. Learn about a big story of the day in less than 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Martinez]

And today's episode of up first was edited by Ryland Barton, Nicole Cohen, Jason Breslow, Alice Wolfley and Mohamed El Bardisi, was produced by Zia Butch, Mia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Damien Herring. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Join us again tomorrow.

[NPR Sponsor]

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