New at Little Bit

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Yesterday, the Trump administration sought the U.S. Supreme Court’s approval to proceed with major cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants specifically targeting diversity initiatives. This action is part of a broader effort to limit federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and to reduce federal spending generally. The District Court in Boston had blocked these cuts as a violation of federal law, but the administration is now appealing that ruling, aiming to continue its rollback of support for programs addressing underrepresented groups in biomedical research.
In higher education, Columbia University reached a $200 million settlement with the federal government after being accused by the Trump administration of not doing enough to address harassment of Jewish students. As part of this agreement, Columbia must adopt stricter antisemitism policies, including the IHRA definition, and submit its admissions data to external oversight, reflecting heightened federal scrutiny and intervention in academic institutions. Reactions from the university community and beyond were deeply divided, with some claiming it was a capitulation to political pressure and others viewing it as a pragmatic step to safeguard federal research funding.
Additionally, environmental groups took legal action against the administration over the alleged unlawful extension of a coal plant’s operating license, accusing the Trump administration of undermining clean air standards and environmental protection statutes. This move has been widely criticized by advocacy organizations focused on public health and climate policy.
While these are the most immediate and significant actions attributed to the Trump administration yesterday, the administration’s pattern of using executive action, interventions in university governance, and major funding cuts to federal scientific research mark a continuation of its assertive efforts to reshape American policy on multiple fronts.