Advocates warn Black and Brown students with disabilities may face increased barriers and undiagnosed needs as the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education continues.
Tag: Congress
Posted inOpinion
The 47th president is hollowing out America’s only agency for minority business
The dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency — the nation’s only federal agency dedicated to supporting minority and other disadvantaged entrepreneurs — threatens millions of small businesses that rely on its technical assistance and capital access. As the 47th president’s administration hollows out the agency’s remaining staff and infrastructure, experts warn that its loss would deepen economic inequities and undermine U.S. competitiveness.
Posted inOpinion
Investing in entrepreneurship after the government shut downÂ
The 42-day government shutdown deepened an already growing crisis for minority- and women-owned small businesses, erasing billions in economic output and halting critical programs that support SEDI entrepreneurs. Eric Morrissette argues that reopening the government must now serve as a broader act of renewal, rebuilding trust and restoring the agencies essential to inclusive economic growth.
Posted inVeterans
Keeping history alive: Remembering the Montford Point Marines
The Montford Point Marines were trailblazers in the U.S. Marine Corps, but their stories have often gone untold. Mallorie Berger, granddaughter of Montford Point Marine Maurice L. Burns, is working to ensure the bravery of these men, including Charles Cargile Hall, is remembered
Posted inNational News
Supreme Court issues emergency order to block full SNAP food aid payments
The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court’s order requiring the 47th president’s administration to fully fund November SNAP food aid payments during the ongoing government shutdown. The decision leaves millions of low-income Americans uncertain about when or if they’ll receive full benefits, as some states already issued payments before the ruling.
Posted inEducation
Pell Grant cuts helped lower Black college enrollment, report says
A new report links cuts and inconsistencies in Pell Grant funding to a nearly half-million drop in Black college enrollment over the past decade, with Southern HBCUs hit hardest. Researchers urge federal and state leaders to stabilize Pell funding to ensure equitable access to higher education.
Posted inWord In Black
USDA warns states about November SNAP benefits
By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black When Congress couldn’t agree on a budget to fund the government before Oct. 1, officials used some budget trickery to guarantee that the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP, would continue through the end of the month. But if Congress doesn’t pass a budget by Nov. 1, millions […]
Posted inScience
MFN pricing is dangerous to drug innovation
By Dan Crippen Earlier this year, when the administration proposed deep cuts to the National Institutes of Health, lawmakers from both parties swiftly and rightly pushed back. Slashing medical research funding, they recognized, would jeopardize the discovery of breakthrough treatments that patients desperately need. That’s why it’s baffling that many of the same lawmakers who […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Government shutdown–what it means for work, travel and daily life
When the federal government shuts down, the effects are felt far beyond Washington, D.C. Federal workers may miss paychecks, travelers can face longer lines, and job seekers often experience delays in background checks and hiring. Even after funding is restored, agencies face backlogs that can take weeks or months to resolve, leaving practical consequences across communities nationwide.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Prince George’s County Council passes emergency support legislation for furloughed federal workers
Council Chair Edward P. Burroughs III (D- Prince George’s County- 08) and Councilwoman Wala Blegay (D-Prince George’s County-06) are working hard on behalf of Prince George’s County residents currently experiencing the sting of yet another federal shutdown.
Posted inU.S. Government
Gridlock in Congress triggers shutdown as Maryland officials work to offset impact
Congress failed to reach a funding agreement, triggering the first federal government shutdown in six years and furloughing hundreds of thousands of workers. Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over health care subsidies and budget priorities, while states like Maryland scramble to support affected employees and contractors.
Posted inFinancials
The president’s last tax cuts failed Americans like me– let’s not repeat the mistake
Brakeyshia Samms is a senior analyst at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. This week, she discusses why Black women often don’t see the benefits gained from tax cuts put in place by political leaders.