Juan Perez Jr.

Washington, D.C.

Education Reporter at POLITICO

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Articles

Democrats sense an opportunity to rally opposition to Trump education agenda

1 week ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr. |Mackenzie Wilkes

“That is where the politics are: ‘We made a mistake during Covid, and we’re going to fix it,’” former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said of Democrats on education policy. President Donald Trump signs an executive order to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department in the East Room of the White House on March 20.
The big deal facing charter schools

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr.

Demonstrators, members of the media and bystanders gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on July 1, 2024. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images A BIG DEAL — The Supreme Court this month will hear arguments over a religious charter school that has blurred the lines between church and state. Charter leaders believe damaging consequences are in store if justices determine the schools operate like private campuses.
Maryland, New Jersey and other states scramble to address halt to Covid-19 education aid

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr.

“These funds have been spent or committed with every expectation of reimbursement,” Maryland schools chief Carey Wright said. Education Secretary Linda McMahon listens as President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education at the White House in Washington DC on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Education Department halts final payouts of federal pandemic relief funds

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr.

“COVID is over,” a department spokesperson said. President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order alongside Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025.
Education Department halts final payouts of federal pandemic relief funds

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Juan Perez Jr.

The Education Department halted the final payouts of federal Covid relief aid to state governments and school districts on Friday, in an abrupt reversal of a Biden administration initiative that let local officials request extended deadlines to spend billions of dollars. A department spokesperson could not specify how much money might be at stake late Friday.
Trump defends his education overhaul with a shield of GOP governors - and kids

1 month ago | politico.com | Megan Messerly |Juan Perez Jr.

“As long as investment in the state and local level continues, and as long as this is seen as a deduction in bureaucracy, [Republicans] will benefit,” said GOP messaging guru Frank Luntz.
Trump to sign order dismantling Education Department Thursday

1 month ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign a long-awaited directive Thursday to officially wind down the Education Department, following weeks of moves to steadily winnow the agency’s staff and spending. Trump’s pending executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate” her department’s closure “and return education authority to the States,” according to a summary of the order obtained by POLITICO.
‘More visas will be revoked’ during Trump campus protest crackdown

1 month ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr.

A pro-Palestinian rally is held at the steps of Lowe Library on the grounds of Columbia University on April 22, 2024, in New York City. | David Dee Delgado/Getty Images REVOKED — The Trump administration will revoke more foreign student visas in the coming days to advance its crackdown on campus protesters, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Education Department documents detail massive scope of agency worker terminations

1 month ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr. |Rebecca Carballo

The Trump administration’s steep workforce cuts at the Education Department include hundreds of attorneys, student aid workers and civil rights office staff, according to agency documents obtained by POLITICO. The Department of Education headquarters is seen in Washington, on Feb. 14, 2025.
Education Department will close Washington offices Tuesday night for ‘security reasons’

1 month ago | politico.com | Juan Perez Jr.

“Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12th”, for any reason,” the message said. All offices were set to reopen to in-person work on March 13th, according to the notice. | Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images The Education Department will close its Washington-area offices beginning Tuesday evening for unspecified “security reasons,” according to a notice sent to agency employees.