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President Donald Trump moved Thursday to end collective bargaining with federal labor unions in agencies with national security missions across the federal government, citing authority granted him under a 1978 law. The order, signed without public fanfare and announced late Thursday, appears to touch most of the federal government. Affected agencies include the Departments of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice and Commerce and the part of Homeland Security responsible for border security. Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain. Trump said the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 gives him the authority to end collective bargaining with federal unions in these agencies because of their role in safeguarding national security. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers, said late Thursday that it is preparing immediate legal action and will fight relentlessly to protect our rights, our members, and all working Americans from these unprecedented attacks. President Trumps latest executive order is a disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of patriotic American civil servants nearly one-third of whom are veterans simply because they are members of a union that stands up to his harmful policies,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement, Its clear that this order is punishment for unions who are leading the fight against the administrations illegal actions in court and a blatant attempt to silence us. She also vowed, We will fight this outrageous attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being. The announcement builds on previous moves by the Trump administration to erode collective bargaining rights in the government. Earlier this month, DHS said it was ending the collective bargaining agreement with the tens of thousands of frontline employees at the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA union called it an unprovoked attack and vowed to fight it. A White House fact sheet on Thursday’s announcement says that Certain Federal unions have declared war on President Trump’s agenda and that Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests. President Trump supports constructive partnerships with unions who work with him; he will not tolerate mass obstruction that jeopardizes his ability to manage agencies with vital national security missions, the White House said. Darlene Superville, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
After decades of partnership with the U.S. government, colleges are facing new doubts about the future of their federal funding.President Donald Trump’s administration has been using the funding spigot to seek compliance with his agenda, cutting off money to schools including Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. All the while, universities across the country are navigating cuts to grants for research institutions.The squeeze on higher education underscores how much American colleges depend on the federal governmenta provider of grants and contracts that have amounted to close to half the total revenue of some research universities, according to an Associated Press analysis.It adds up to a crisis for universities, and a problem for the country as a whole, say school administrators and advocates for academic freedom. America’s scientific and medical research capabilities are tightly entwined with its universities as part of a compact that started after World War II to develop national expertise and knowledge.“It feels like any day, any university could step out of line in some way and then have all of their funding pulled,” said Jonathan Friedman, managing director of free expression programs at PEN America. Tens of billions of dollars are at stake The AP analysis looked at federal funding for nearly 100 colleges currently under investigation for programs the administration has deemed as illegally pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion, or for not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism. Those schools took in over $33 billion in federal revenue in the 20222023 academic year. That’s before taking into account federal student aid, which represents billions more in tuition and room-and-board payments.For most of the schools, around 10% to 13% of their revenue came from federal contracts or research funding, according to the analysis. For some prestigious research universities, however, federal money represented up to half of their revenue.The AP analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics and federal audit reports, with help from researchers Jason Cohn and James Carter at the Urban Institute.Perhaps no school is more vulnerable than Johns Hopkins University, which received $4 billion in federal funds, close to 40% of its revenue, according to the analysis. Much of that went to defense research, paying for projects like missile design, submarine technology, and precision tracking systems in outer space. Billions of dollars also went to medical research for topics such as immunology and transplants, aging, neuroscience, and mental health.Johns Hopkins is facing an anti-Semitism investigation, which threatens its federal money, but already it has been feeling the effects of cuts to research grants from the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies. Earlier this month, it announced 2,200 layoffs.“We face challenging times for the patients and families that rely on us for cures and treatments, and for the researchers dedicated to the pursuit of improving the health of all Americans,” the university said in a statement. Trump extracted concessions from Columbia Trump has singled out Columbia University, making an example of the Ivy League school by withholding $400 million in federal money. The administration repeatedly accused Columbia of letting anti-Semitism go unchecked at protests against Israel that began at the New York City university last spring and quickly spread to other campusesa characterization disputed by those involved in the demonstrations.As a precondition for restoring that moneyalong with billions more in future grantsthe Republican administration demanded unprecedented changes in university policy. Columbia’s decision last week to bow to those demands, in part to salvage ongoing research projects at its labs and medical center, has been criticized by some faculty and free speech groups as capitulating to an intrusion on academic freedom.At the White House on Wednesday, Trump expressed satisfaction with the pressure campaign on colleges.“You see what we’re doing with the colleges, and they’re all bending and saying, ‘Sir, thank you very much, we appreciate it,'” Trump said during an event for Women’s History Month.In the 20222023 academic year, Columbia got close to a fifth of its revenue from federal sources, around $1.2 billion. An audit shows that much of Columbia’s federal money went to research and development, including $166 million for global AIDS programs, $99 million to study aging, $28 million for cancer biology, and $24 million for drug abuse and addiction research. A new approach on enforcement of civil rights laws Federal law allows the Education Department to terminate funding to colleges that violate civil rights laws, but only after taking certain steps. Title VI of the law says the department must first make a formal finding of noncompliance, offer a hearing, notify Congress, and then wait 30 days before pulling aid.But the Trump administration has a new strategy, moving quickly from demands to penalties with little room for negotiating, and little indication of due process, legal experts say.At Penn, the administration suspended $175 million in federal funding from the Defense Department and the Department of Health and Human Services over a transgender swimmer who last competed for the school in 2022. The White House said the action came out of a review of discretionary money going to universities.“It looks like much of the playbook is intimidation, more so than actual substantiated legal findings,” said Michael Pillera, director of educational equity issues at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “I think all of this is designed as an attempt to intimidate all universities, not just the institutions under investigation.”The cuts and the uncertainty have led some universities to accept fewer graduate students, cutting off pathways to careers. Many graduate students in science programs receive scholarships and stipends that come from federal research grants.Purdue University senior Alyssa Johnson had been planning to pursue graduate research on amphibian diseases, and she was accepted into one of three schools she applied to. She said one of the schools appeared to have limited their acceptances to preemptively avoid funding concerns. But given her application experience, the changing landscape of research, and her shifting interests, she decided to change her course of study to something she felt would help build trust between scientists and the public.“I kind of went through a little bit of career crisis, which was definitely catalyzed by what’s going on with the current administration and their attitudes toward science and science communication,” Johnson said. AP writers Kasturi Pananjady, Cheyanne Mumphrey and Chris Megerian contributed to this report. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Sharon Lurye and Jocelyn Gecker, AP Education Writers
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E-Commerce
Losing your job can hurt you in many ways. Maskot/Getty Images The Trump administrations firing and furloughing of tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors have obviously caused economic hardship for Americans employed in national parks, research labs, and dozens of government agencies. As a professor of social work who studies how peoples finances affect their physical and mental well-being, Im concerned about the health hazards theyll face, too. My research shows that losing your job can seriously harm your physical and mental health, especially when you see the situation as a catastrophe rather than a temporary setback. Power of financial perception When people lose their jobs, they do have real problems. Typically, for example, their income and savings decline. They might struggle to keep up on their rent or mortgage payments and might not be able to afford to maintain the same standard of living they had beforehand. However, research shows that your perspective regarding your financial situation can do more harm to your health than your actual financial circumstanceseven as your savings dwindle. Someone might view losing their job as a temporary setback and remain relatively calm, while another person might experience the same circumstances as a disaster, triggering intense stress that cascades into serious health problems, such as depression and substance abuse. This difference in perspective often determines whether somebody will suffer significant health problems when they lose their job or experience a similar financial setback. In a study I published in 2023 with social work scholar Theda Rose, we found that how a person felt about a decline in income mattered 20 times more than the actual financial change itself. This finding comes from our analysis of data from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study, which surveyed more than 27,000 American adults. We used advanced statistical methods to examine how different financial factors affected peoples health and financial decision-making, looking specifically at financial strain, confidence in managing money, and overall financial satisfaction. The study confirmed earlier work about the vastly different psychological and physical responses two people can have when their income falls by the same amount, based on how they perceive this change. Pathway to illness Previous research has typically viewed whats known as financial precaritynot having enough money to get byin either purely technical terms, such as being able to come up with U.S.$400 in an emergency, or in terms related to your feelings about that situation, such as persistent worrying about your finances. However, we found that both aspects of financial precarity can influence health and behavior. Among the many variables we explored, a decline in income surprisingly contributed much more in terms of worry than just not being able to pay the bills. This distress caused by economic hardship isnt just a psychological problemit can produce physical changes that may have long-term health implications, such as high blood pressure. A fired IRS employee, right, talks to a recruiter during a jobs fair for laid-off federal workers on March 15, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Mental health suffers Theres also a toll on your mental health. Losing a job can lead to anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem. Interestingly, people who face ongoing financial challenges but dont get stressed about their situation arent more likely to develop depression symptoms than people without any financial stress. A systematic review of 65 studies found clear connections between debt and mental health problems, depression, and even suicide attempts. Physical health troubles Losing your job can harm your body in two main ways. First, the stress from financial worries can affect peoples bodies directlyfor example, by increasing blood pressure. Being in debt is associated with other ailments, including back pain and obesity. Second, when money is tight, people often try to save money by skipping doctor visits or forgoing prescription drugs. Even with health insurance, high deductibles can mean paying thousands of dollars out of pocket before insurance helps. When choosing between paying for rent, food, and healthcare, people often put their medical needs last. Unhealthy coping methods Some people turn to lcohol, tobacco, or other substances to cope with the loss of their jobs. These habits are bad for your health and may empty your wallet, adding to the financial strain. Others turn to gambling or excessive shopping to cope, which can also make money problems even worse. Marriage and other relationships may fray amid financial stress, too. Borrowing money excessively from friends and family or snapping at your loved ones when you feel stressed out can weaken ties with those closest to you. Moving on in healthy ways To be sure, some people become more resilient after losing their job by adopting positive coping strategies. Whenever you lose a job, try reaching out. Your friends and loved ones can help protect your health while you move on. In addition to applying for new positions, spend time networking. Reach out to former colleagues, join professional groups, and attend events related to your career. Try to volunteer. It will help you sharpen or expand your skills while expanding your networks and perhaps lead you to a new job. And consider starting or expanding a side hustle. It will generate some income, give you a greater sense of control over your life, and keep you feeling productive during the monotony of sending out applications. Its also essential to stick to self-care basics: Regular exercise reduces stress hormones. Getting enough sleep improves cognitive function, and maintaining a busy social life provides emotional support. Keeping healthy habits is always important. But they could protect your mental and physical health during challenging times. Losing a paycheck is hard enough. Losing your health over it is even worse. Jeffrey Anvari-Clark is an assistant professor of social work at the University of North Dakota. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
If youve bought the antihistamine medication Benadryl from Amazon in the past few years, youll want to make sure to carefully check its packaging to make sure it is not part of the recall that was posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this month. Thats because a select Benadryl product sold on the e-commerce giants website has a fault that could lead to the risk of a child being poisoned. Heres what you need to know. Benadryl Liquid Elixir sold on Amazon.com is being recalled On March 20, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission posted a recall notice on its website for Benadryl Liquid Elixir imported by Arsell Inc. of Brooklyn, New York. The medication was manufactured in Canada. While the medication itself is safe, the Benadryl Liquid Elixirs packaging is not child-resistant as required by law. This means that the product poses a safety risk to young children. If they open the product and swallow the medicine inside, they could be poisoned. The Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, which must be in child-resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The packaging of the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children, the notice posted on the CPSC website warns. What Benadryl product is being recalled? According to the notice posted on the CPSC website, only one specific Benadryl product is being recalled. The details of that product are: Product name: Benadryl Liquid Elixir, 100 mL bottles Product packaging: paper box with a round dark plastic bottle inside. Label code: X003VRIGUL In total, about 2,300 bottles are being recalled. Images of the product packaging can be viewed here. Where was the recalled Benadryl product sold? According to the notice on the CPSC website, the recalled product was sold online at Amazon.com. It was sold between July 2023 and October 2024. The price of the product ranged from $16 to $19. Have any children been harmed by the recalled Benadryl product? Thankfully, no. As of the March 20 posting date, the recall notice says that there have been no reported injuries or incidents so far. What do I do if I have the recalled product? The CPSC notice says the recalled product should be immediately secured and kept out of sight and reach of children. People with the product should contact the importer, Arsell, for a full refund. You will be asked to provide proof of your Amazon purchase and proof that you have disposed of the bottle and its contents. Those with the recalled Benadryl can contact recall@arsellsupport.com to begin the recall process. Full details of the recall can be found on the notice here.
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E-Commerce
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday launched investigations into Stanford University and three University of California schools to ensure they comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-conscious admissions. The 2023 ruling effectively prohibited affirmative action policies that were long used to raise the number of Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented minority students on American campuses. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi directed the department’s civil rights division to investigate to ensure that the schools comply with a Supreme Court decision that prevents colleges and universities from discriminating when choosing students for admission, the department said in a news release. In addition to Stanford, the review will cover the University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Irvine. Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump’s administration has attempted to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the government and the private sector. He has also taken aim at academic institutions and universities, launching dozens of investigations and threatening to cut off funding to schools that promote DEI. “President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country,” Bondi said in the release. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character, not the color of their skin.” The investigations were “just the beginning” of the Justice Department’s attempt to eradicate DEI programs, the media release said. Stanford University said in a statement it began taking steps to comply with the Supreme Court decision immediately after it was issued. “We continue to be committed to fulfilling our obligations under the law. We do not have details about today’s announcement, but we look forward to learning more about their concerns and responding to the department’s questions,” Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi said in an email. The University of California said it has adhered to a ban on affirmative action in admissions since California voters approved one in the ballot initiative Proposition 209 in 1996. “At the same time, we remain committed to expanding access for all qualified students,” the statewide university system said in a statement. “The UC undergraduate admissions application collects students’ race and ethnicity for statistical purposes only. This information is not shared with application reviewers and is not used for admissions.” Ryan Patrick Jones and Daniel Trotta, Reuters
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E-Commerce