Department of Education To Cut Half Its Workforce

 by Aaron Gifford via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The U.S. Department of Education on March 11 announced that 1,315 employees—about half its workforce—will be laid off within 90 days as part of its ongoing cost-saving measures.

The U.S. Department of Education in Washington on June 10, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

A senior official told reporters in a press call that the staff reduction addresses redundancies in the communications, human resources, information technology, and other offices within the department.

The affected workers were to be notified via email at 6 p.m. on March 11. The Washington, D.C., office will be closed on March 12 for safety protocols, and the senior official said the workers are expected to work remotely with full pay and benefits through March 21. They will then be placed on administrative leave, with pay, through June 9.

The laid-off staffers will be awarded severance payments based on their years of service, with the most senior members receiving up to 20 weeks of salary.

The agency said about 600 of its 4,133 employees have already agreed to leave voluntarily, including 313 who accepted $25,000 buyout offers last week.

Department of Education offices outside of Washington, including New York, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, and San Francisco, will be closed. The dates are based on current leases and were not revealed. The senior official said that after the closures, all employees will work in one building in Washington.

The senior official said the staff reduction will not affect any of the department’s services, including college financial aid loan and grants functions, Title 1 funding for low-income students, special education funding, and civil rights functions.

She said these decisions were carefully thought out and will make the agency more efficient.

“What we are doing now is not working,” she said. “It’s just not.”

The Department of Education noted that the pay for administrative leave and severance packages is pursuant to federal regulations and the provisions of the unionized employees’ contract.

“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.

“I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”

The Education Department said some divisions will require “significant reorganization to better serve students, parents, educators, and taxpayers.”

This latest cost-saving effort follows the cancellation of $900 million in contracts related to the department’s Education Sciences agency and $101 million in contracts linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion training in education.

Those planned reductions were verified last month.

President Donald Trump previously noted his intention to shrink the Department of Education, move its functions to other federal agencies or states, and eventually eliminate it.

McMahon supports Trump’s plan to dissolve the department and eliminate her position after the agency’s functions and funding streams are moved to other federal agencies or states.

She previously told federal lawmakers that only Congress, which created the agency in 1979, has the authority to eliminate it.

Last week, McMahon said she would continue working with the Department of Government Efficiency to identify potential departmental reductions. Only 47 cents of every dollar her agency provides to states makes it to classrooms, she said, and most of the federal money is spent on compliance with regulations.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/department-education-cut-half-its-workforce

US Tested Technology To Warn When China Tracks US Satellites: Space Force

 by Dave Malyon via The Epoch Times,

The United States’ Space Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) director, Kelly Hammett, has revealed that in January 2023, America quietly launched a payload designed to detect Chinese satellite tracking in space.

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, Hammet, addressing a media roundtable at the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, on March 5, said the technology alerts its operators when detected and will thus be deployed on all Space Force satellites.

Hammett, explaining that the current prototype can tell if it is being “observed, tracked [or] targeted,” said that since the space vehicles were launched, his division received “very interesting data.”

The payload was fired into space by aerospace, defense, and security company Northrop Gruman, which confirmed the launch in a Jan. 16, 2023, report: “Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE)-3A spacecraft launched successfully in support of the USSF-67 mission.”

The webpage said that the spacecraft allowed for quick transit into space and noted that the launch was the third in the corporation’s LDPE project.

Northrop Grumman’s news release stated that it used a “common baseline,” giving its clients—in this case, the U.S. Space Force—greater control over the mission. It also noted that the launch carried enough equipment for five space missions and did not specify the equipment’s purpose.

The RCO, according to Hammett, plans to proliferate the prototype’s capabilities across the Space Force and has already taken steps in that direction.

In January 2025, it commissioned FedTech, a federal program bridging the gap between government technology labs and the private sector, and various space startups with the task of collaborating to “enhance space situational awareness, defensive capabilities, and operational readiness” in a program it calls the “Space RCO Prime Fusion Accelerator.”

As a nod to the communist state’s 970-strong satellite inventory—per a July 2024 analysis on China’s space threats by Andrew Erickson, a professor of strategy at the U.S. Naval War College—Hammett suspects that the data relayed to his team since the prototype launch likely came from a Chinese SISO, which refers to a sensor and radar network used for space object surveillance and identification.

According to Erickson, more than 490 of these satellites are ISR-capable (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) and equipped with optical, multispectral, radar, and radio frequency sensors.

China’s Desire to Dominate Space

In 2021, China was noted to have launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). What set it aside from the Russian, U.S., or any other variant was that the projectile’s function changed during flight from an ICBM to a glide vehicle.

This anomaly, according to Air Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna M. Burt, who was also deputy head of the cyber and nuclear space operations, was “even more scary,” she told the space defense forum on April 5, 2022, as it hinted at the missile’s ability to evade certain detection capabilities.

A 2022 whitepaper named “China’s Space Program: A 2021 Perspective,” set a five-year goal to “integrate space science, technology, and applications while pursuing the new development philosophy, building a new development model, and meeting the requirements for high-quality development.”

The communique, published by the State Council Information Office, noted that the Chinese regime said that this endeavor would “start a new journey toward space power.”

The paper said that China planned to launch at least 40 satellites in 2022.

A November 2022 report by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs found that China had been using its satellites “for military and civilian remote sensing and mapping, terrestrial and maritime surveillance, and intelligence collection.”

“China’s ISR satellites are capable of providing electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery as well as electronic and signals intelligence data,” the report continued.

On April 5, 2023, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, who headed up the space operations for the Space Force, said that China and Russia were capable of attacking satellites.

Speaking at a Space Defense conference, he said that the communist regime possessed “counter-space capabilities, including terrestrial lasers to disrupt and degrade satellite sensors, electronic warfare jammers, targeting GPS and satellite communications, as well as anti-satellite missiles.”

On July 17, 2024, Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting told an Aspen Institute think tank, “In the last six years, they’ve tripled the number of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites they have on orbit.”

He further noted these satellites posed a threat to the United States and allied Forces in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Space Forces Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir spoke at the same 2025 AFA Symposium in Colorado on March 4, when he warned of the complexities China’s space capabilities added to the Indo-Pacific status quo.

“We have begun to see the space piece integrated into some of that [military training drills], not as much early on, but more recently.”

In the context of his observations, he cited a need for the U.S. Space Force to protect its soldiers from a Chinese “space-enabled attack.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-tested-technology-warn-when-china-tracks-us-satellites-space-force

Virginia governor say US must develop fusion or fall behind China on energy

 The United States must expedite its development of fusion energy or risk falling behind China on energy dominance, said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston on Tuesday.

Virginia is home to the world's biggest hub of energy-hungry data centers, with about 70% of the world's internet traffic routing through the state.

We've got to drive hard to accelerate fusion, otherwise China will," Youngkin said during a panel discussion at the conference alongside Virginia utility Dominion Energy CEO Robert Blue and Bob Mumgaard, chief of Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems announced in December that it planned the first utility-scale fusion power plant, which it would build in Virginia.

Fusion is the reaction that fuels the sun and which scientists are trying to replicate on Earth with lasers or magnets.

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-03-11/virginia-governor-say-us-must-develop-fusion-or-fall-behind-china-on-energy

US top diplomat Rubio welcomes Syrian deal with Kurdish forces

 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington welcomed an agreement between the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria's new government.

The SDF, which controls much of Syria's northeast, signed an agreement to join Syria's new state institutions, the Syrian presidency said on Monday.

"The United States welcomes the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate the northeast into a unified Syria," Rubio said in a statement.

"The United States reaffirms its support for a political transition that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict. We will continue to watch the decisions made by the interim authorities, noting with concern the recent deadly violence against minorities," Rubio added.

The accord provides for SDF-controlled civilian and military institutions in northeast Syria to be integrated with the state, and for border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields there to come under the Damascus administration's control.

The accord comes at a critical moment for Damascus as it grapples with the fallout from mass killings of Alawite minority members in western Syria - violence that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Monday threatened his effort to unite Syria after 14 years of conflict.

Pressure has been growing on Syria's Islamist-led government to investigate after reports by witnesses and a war monitor of the killing of hundreds of civilians in villages where the majority of the population are members of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-top-diplomat-rubio-welcomes-012734131.html

Countdown Has Begun To Resumption Of Attacks On Red Sea Shipping: Houthis

 The Houthis of Yemen (Ansar Allah) have announced on Tuesday the countdown has begun to the resumption of attacks on Red Sea shipping and military vessels patrolling the waters.

The Iran-backed Shia group which has effectively been at war with Israel since the Oct.7 2023 Hamas attacks and beginning of the subsequent Gaza war has issued a new deadline for Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to the Strip.

Prior Houthi attack, via Associated Press

"Confirming the readiness of the Yemeni naval operations, whose mission is to confront the Israeli American starvation and terrorist siege of Gaza," an Ansar Allah spokesman Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi, posted in an Arabic statement on X.

"Any escalation will be the responsibility of the Israeli and American enemies," the statement added. The Houthis had paused their long-running attacks on Red Sea vessels - both merchant ships and military - when the Hamas-Israel truce and hostage exchange deal took effect.

Deputy Head of Ansar Allah's Media Authority Nasruddin Amer on X:

"Only hours separate us from announcing the closure of the sea to Zionist navigation if the efforts of the mediators fail to pressure the Zionist enemy to adhere to the agreement and lift the siege on Gaza."

But when Israel starting last week blocked humanitarian aid and fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip, which has also more lately included the cutting off of remaining electricity supplies, the Houthis warned to restore the aid or else face resumed attacks.

The group's leader last Friday had declared a four-day deadline before attacks on shipping would resume. That four day timeline is about to end by close of Tuesday, which means the Red Sea could be fiery scene of drone and missile attacks out of Yemen once again.

Since 2023 over 100 missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels have occurred in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have also downed several MQ-9 Reaper drones operated by the Pentagon.

A US-led naval coalition which began under the Biden administration has been able to do nothing in terms of putting a dent in Houthi capabilities, even after several bombing raids on Yemen, also at times including Israeli and UK jets.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/countdown-has-begun-resumption-attacks-red-sea-shipping-houthis

Iran Tells Trump 'Do Whatever The Hell You Want' On Oil Crackdown

 As fully expected, Iran in a new Tuesday statement rejected the possibility of nuclear talks with the US under the Trump administration so long as it is threatened. 

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has ruled out any dialogue "while being threatened" - as cited in state media. That's when he used some colorful words expressing that Trump can do "whatever the hell you want." Iran has greatly struggled economically, but has endured - as is deepening relations with Russia and China.

Via Press TV

"It is unacceptable for us that they (the US) give orders and make threats. I won’t even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want," Pezeshkian stated.

This is part of the continuing response to President Trump's saying late last week he had sent a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging Tehran to come to the table for new talks.

On Saturday, Khamenei had stressed that the Islamic Republic will be bullied into talks with the US as it exerts a "maximum pressure" campaign, targeting Iran's oil revenue.

This after Trump had already pulled of the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal in April of 2018. Iranian leaders have repeatedly said over the years they can no longer trust Washington to stick to any agreements.

Trump had late out in a Fox News interview Friday, "There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal." He added: "I would prefer to make a deal because I’m not looking to hurt Iran. They’re great people.”

In addition to the possibility that the US administration could begin ordering naval intercepts of 'illicit' Iranian oil shipments, there is the further development on Tuesday which adds to the squeeze on Iran's energy sector: 

The Trump administration ended a waiver that allowed the Iraqi government to buy Iranian electricity in a renewed effort to choke off Iran's profits.

National security advisor Mike Waltz told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani that the end of the waiver was consistent with President Donald Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran as the administration goes all-in on trying to prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"Waltz welcomed the Iraqi Prime Minister’s efforts to achieve energy independence for Iraq, and encouraged the Iraqi government to welcome more western and U.S. energy companies into Iraq’s oil and gas sectors." 

Trump had in his prior Fox interview additionally stated, "I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily it's going to be a terrible thing for them." Tehran had initially said it didn't receive the letter. In the meantime Russia, China, and Iran have been conducing fresh military drills in the Gulf of Oman.

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/iran-defiantly-tells-trump-do-whatever-hell-you-want-oil-crackdown

California Bill Would Limit Residents' Ability To Use Deadly Force To Defend Their Property

 by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A California bill that would restrict the use of lethal force to defend people’s property from criminals could be heard by a legislative committee March 24.

Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur speaks at a press conference on April 30, 2024. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times

Assembly Bill 1333, by Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, a Democrat representing Santa Monica, would eliminate certain circumstances under which homicide is justifiable, including if the person was defending a residence or property or trying to prevent someone from committing a felony.

The legislation, introduced in February, also states homicide is not justifiable when “more force than was reasonably necessary” was used to defend against danger, according to the bill’s proposed text.

In addition, it restricts lethal action when a person is “outside of their residence and knew that using force likely to cause death or great bodily injury could have been avoided with complete safety by retreating,” among other restrictions.

LEXIT, a group representing the conservative Latino movement in the United States, said the bill “would eviscerate the ‘castle doctrine,’ meaning that you could no longer protect your property,” according to a video shared on March 1 on the social media group X by the group.

The castle doctrine, also called the “stand your ground” common law principle, states that a person is justified in the use of deadly force to protect his or her home and its inhabitants from intruders, without being obliged to retreat.

‘Protecting People From Vigilante Violence’

According to Zbur, the bill does not change the long-standing “castle doctrine,” which gives people extra self-defense protections in their home, and which exists in a different part of the Code—California Penal Code 198.5.

“AB 1333 was never intended to limit a crime victim’s right to defend themselves, their families, or their homes,” Zbur told The Epoch Times in an email on March 5.

Zbur said he already plans to amend the legislation to clear up any confusion that might have been raised about it.

“The [goal] of AB 1333 is to promote public safety by protecting people from vigilante violence in public places,” Zbur said. “We will be amending the bill to make this crystal clear.”

The legislation was introduced on the Assembly floor on Feb. 21 and is waiting to be assigned a committee.

*   *   * 

According to a gun-control group backing the measure, AB 1333 would make it clear that a person cannot kill someone if he or she has a safe and easy way to de-escalate and leave.

“The legislation explicitly underscores that Californians must avoid resorting to fatal actions when they have the opportunity to de-escalate or disengage from a conflict outside their homes, with the aim of preventing violent confrontations,” Everytown for Gun Safety and its affiliated groups stated in a fact sheet about AB 1333.

In October 2024, the group reported that violence involving firearms costs California $41.9 billion each year, of which $1.1 billion is paid by taxpayers.

‘Assault on Self-Defense’

State Assemblyman Tom Lackey, a Republican who represents Southern California’s high desert communities, said the bill was a “complete assault on self-defense” in a social media post Feb. 25.

“Imagine this: A violent criminal breaks into your home, and you have to second-guess whether defending your family is ‘justifiable,’” Lackey wrote in the post. “The misguided energy behind this proposal is beyond comprehension.”

Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said March 5 on the radio show “The Morning Answer” that the bill represented almost “everything that’s wrong with Sacramento.”

“This one is two things: It is horrific on its face in terms of what it tries to do and it’s utterly tone-deaf,” Wagner said. “If you are facing a violent crime, you have now got to retreat until literally your back is against the wall and you can no longer retreat.”

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco also posted a video voicing his concerns about the measure on Feb. 26.

“For more than a decade, the leadership in Sacramento has literally tied the hands of law enforcement and made it almost impossible for us to protect you,” Bianco said in the video. “Now, they’re coming after you and your ability to protect yourself. ... It is time we stand up to this insanity in Sacramento.”

Crime Survivors Political Action Committee, a group that supports electing leaders who are tough on crime, said it opposed the measure in a post on X on Feb. 26.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/california-bill-would-limit-residents-ability-use-deadly-force-defend-their-property