Tax-exempt status of Harvard challenged
It’s reported that President Trump has ordered the Internal Revenue Service to begin the process of revoking the tax-exempt status of Harvard University. Trump’s move is in retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to allow Trump to determine the university’s policies, including what it teaches. Trump demanded that Harvard bring on board auditors of whom the administration approves and who would monitor the school’s academics. Trump has frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts for Harvard as part of his wider plan to exert control over the country’s institutions of higher education.
Puerto Rico slowly getting power back
Just under half of the electric customers in Puerto Rico once again have electricity today, after the island suffered another complete electrical blackout yesterday. In addition to an estimated 1.4 million customers losing power, about 400,000 customers were without water. What happened yesterday seemed to be a repeat of the massive blackout that hit Puerto Rico on New Year’s Eve. It is expected to take a few days to determine exactly what went wrong this time. The power company Luma said the system shut down after it detected a problem in the distribution grid.
Trump goes after Powell
After Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell yesterday warned that inflation could come back as a result of President Trump’s tariffs, Trump today said Powell needs to go as chairman of the Fed. Trump has wanted to end the independence of the Federal Reserve and bring its decision making under his control. Powell’s term runs until May of next year and he has said he does not plan to leave early. Trump had named Powell to the Federal Reserve in 2018.
Judge may hold Trump Administration in criminal contempt
Federal Judge James Boasberg has given the Trump Administration until April 23 to prove to him it did not violate his order to stop deportations using the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg ruled yesterday that there is probable cause to hold the administration in criminal contempt of court for ignoring his order. Boasberg said that if the government doesn’t prove it’s not violating his order, it needs to identify the individual or individuals who ordered the deportations to continue in violation of the order.
Trump planning massive cuts to health programs
CNN reports that it has seen a memo that originated at the White House that describes massive cuts to government health programs that the Trump Administration is planning to put into effect. The budgets for the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be cut by 40%. About 20 centers that perform medical research would be closed, ending research to seek treatments and cures for diseases ranging from cancer to HIV.
Trump seeks to end IRS Direct File tax-filing program
The Associated Press quotes sources as revealing that the Trump Administration is ending the fledgling IRS Direct File electronic tax filing program that began last year. The AP says that Republicans in Congress and companies that make tax software and operate tax filing services had complained about the free IRS service. Direct File was designed to make it free and easy for Americans who can’t afford or don’t need an accountant to file their tax returns electronically with the IRS at no charge.
