Nova Safo

2 weeks ago | marketplace.org | Nova Safo

Elon Musk’s group under the Trump administration — called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — claims $150 billion in savings from layoffs, canceled government contracts and shuttered agencies such as USAID. Thing is, analysts dispute that number, and it falls far short of what Musk had promised during the election campaign. You may remember that moment during last year’s election: when Elon Musk was asked how much spending he thought he could cut from the federal government.

3 weeks ago | marketplace.org | Nova Safo

The Internal Revenue Service recently struck a deal to share taxpayer information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many undocumented immigrants file tax returns, and the Trump administration says accessing taxpayer data is a way to track down immigrants who have committed crimes or are under deportation orders.  But experts say the plan may be illegal and could end up costing the government tens of billions of dollars in uncollected taxes each year.

1 month ago | marketplace.org | Leanna Byrne |David Brancaccio |Nova Safo

With most pandemic-era student loan pauses and forgiveness programs gone, student debt holders are now feeling the pinch of resumed repayments and higher interest rates. Marketplace’s Caleigh Wells reports on how borrowers are dealing with the financial squeeze. Congressional Republicans are looking to axe Biden-era rules that limit overdraft and other banking fees. Marketplace’s Nova Safo reports on what, and who, is behind the push. Tags: bank fees financial sector banking

1 month ago | marketplace.org | Nova Safo |Dylan Miettinen

The Trump administration’s budget-cutting efforts are having a big impact at research universities, even as those efforts remain in various stages of implementation due to legal challenges. Universities have to plan years ahead, especially when it comes to medical research. And dozens of institutions have announced cuts. Research that started 30 years ago at Donald McDonnell’s laboratory at Duke University led to a new drug in 2023 to treat metastatic breast cancer.

2 months ago | marketplace.org | Nova Safo |Alex Schroeder

Heard on: A lot of U.S. foreign aid money still appears to be frozen, despite a January waiver from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that should exempt critical lifesaving work.