AURN News

(AURN News) — You could possibly receive a stimulus check from money saved through federal spending cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

President Donald Trump endorsed the initiative while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

"I love it, a twenty percent dividend, so to speak, for the money that we're saving by going after the waste and fraud and abuse and all the other things that are happening. I think it's a great idea," Trump said. 

So how much could you receive?

“Could be a lot... I mean, if it's twenty percent, it would give back a lot of money to the taxpayer, and also would give an incentive for the taxpayer to go out and report things to us where we can save money."

DOGE, headed by Elon Musk, revealed significant wasteful spending in a recent post on X. "Schools have spent nearly $200B of COVID-Relief funds with little oversight or impact on students," the department posted. "$393K to rent out a Major League Baseball stadium, $86K in Caesars Palace hotel rooms, $60k in swimming pool passes, and even an ice cream truck. All of this money was drawn with zero documentation."

The proposal comes as part of DOGE's broader mission to identify and eliminate what it calls inefficient federal spending. The department continues to review expenditures across government agencies to identify additional areas for potential cost savings.

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On February 20, 1895, Frederick Douglass passed away at approximately 77 years old in Washington, D.C. A towering figure in American history, Douglass escaped slavery to become one of the nation’s most powerful voices for abolition, justice, and equality.

His autobiography, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” exposed the brutal realities of slavery and remains a cornerstone of Black literature. As an orator, he captivated audiences, demanding the end of bondage and the fulfillment of America’s democratic promise.

After emancipation, he fought tirelessly for Black civil rights, women’s suffrage, and Reconstruction policies to protect freedpeople. His death marked the loss of a revolutionary leader, but his words and legacy continue to inspire the fight for freedom and justice today.

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The Trump administration has eliminated 400 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jobs, raising concerns about potential risks to air safety. While officials insist that no critical safety roles were cut, union leaders and former employees warn that many of the eliminated positions were support roles essential to aviation safety.

The layoffs affect aviation safety assistants, maintenance mechanics, and specialists who update digital maps relied on by pilots. These roles help inspectors, repair air traffic control facilities, and ensure smooth system operations—particularly important following recent incidents in Washington airspace.

Critics argue that even if the affected employees were probationary staff, their absence could strain FAA oversight and weaken safety measures.

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Who decides what the law means? If you thought it was Congress or the courts, President Donald Trump wants you to think again.

Trump has signed an executive order declaring that only the president and attorney general have the final authority to interpret U.S. laws, restricting federal agencies from making independent legal determinations.

The order, signed Tuesday, bars agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from issuing their own legal interpretations, significantly curbing their regulatory independence.

The sweeping order, signed Tuesday, effectively erases decades of independence for agencies that oversee everything from consumer protections and environmental laws to Wall Street regulations.

The move is part of a series of executive actions, including a memorandum ordering reports on government waste, fraud, and abuse, and another expanding in vitro fertilization (IVF) access. However, legal analysts say this particular order is the most consequential, as it centralizes legal authority under Trump and his appointed attorney general.

Critics warn the order could serve as a backdoor mechanism for the administration to circumvent court rulings or weaken regulatory enforcement on issues such as consumer protections, environmental laws, and Wall Street oversight.

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Media mogul Sheila Eldridge, the powerhouse behind Café Mocha Radio and the Mocha Podcast Network, joins Tanya Hart to talk about her NAACP Image Award-nominated podcast, Two Funny Mamas, featuring Sherri Shepherd and Kim Whitley.

Sheila shares her journey as a trailblazing Black woman in media, how she built her multi-platform empire, and the importance of strategic partnerships to sustain and uplift Black voices in today’s industry. Plus, she gives an exclusive look at her new radio station launch in Martha’s Vineyard and the growing impact of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.

From entrepreneurial wisdom to game-changing advice for young Black women in business, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!

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The Trump administration has begun mass layoffs of federal employees, with more than 10,000 workers terminated across multiple agencies.

Many of those affected were recently hired and still on probationary status, according to officials speaking anonymously to NPR.

Nearly 300 employees were fired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), while the Department of Energy cut up to 2,000 positions, including staff at the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The Department of Health and Human Services saw thousands of job losses at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including nurses at the NIH Clinical Center.

The Department of Homeland Security lost over 400 employees, while the Department of Veterans Affairs terminated 1,000 workers.

The IRS is expected to lay off thousands more next week, which could impact tax processing.

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Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney has introduced a bill to designate June 14, President Donald Trump’s birthday, as a federal holiday by merging it with Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777.

The legislation, officially titled the Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act, has no co-sponsors yet. Tenney argues that Trump deserves recognition alongside George Washington, calling him the most consequential president in modern history.

The bill follows a pattern of symbolic pro-Trump proposals from Republican lawmakers, including efforts to place his likeness on Mount Rushmore, rename Dulles Airport after him, and even explore a path for him to run for a third term.

While the bill is unlikely to pass, it highlights Trump’s continued influence over the Republican Party, where lawmakers frequently push legislation aimed at solidifying their loyalty to him. Critics, however, question why Congress is focusing on Trump’s birthday instead of addressing issues like inflation, healthcare, and national security.

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The head of the Social Security Administration is out. Acting Commissioner Michelle King stepped down over the weekend, reportedly after refusing to grant the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive Social Security recipient data.

Sources say King’s decision to protect private taxpayer information clashed with the Trump administration’s push for expanded oversight. King, a 30-year veteran of the agency, is the latest high-ranking official to resign amid concerns over DOGE’s growing access to federal databases, including Treasury payment systems and IRS records.

In her place, the White House has appointed Leland Dudek as acting commissioner until Trump’s nominee, Frank Bisignano, is confirmed.

The administration insists its efforts are aimed at eliminating fraud, but with Social Security serving more than 72 million Americans, the key question remains: Why does Elon Musk’s DOGE need access to this level of personal data?

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(AURN News) — More bad news for the U.S. economy. U.S. retail and food service sales fell 0.9% in January to $723.9 billion, according to recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The monthly report, based on a survey of approximately 4,800 retail and food service firms, showed widespread declines across multiple sectors. Furniture and home furnishing stores, food and beverage establishments, and general merchandise stores all reported decreased sales.

The January decline comes as economists await February's sales figures, scheduled for release on March 17, to determine if the downturn represents the beginning of a longer-term trend.

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On February 18, 1867, just two years after the Civil War ended, Rev. William Jefferson White, a Baptist minister, founded the Augusta Theological Institute in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. The school’s mission was to educate young Black men for teaching and ministry.

The institution relocated multiple times before settling in Atlanta’s West End in 1885, where it remains today as Morehouse College.

In 1913, the school was renamed in honor of Henry L. Morehouse, a key figure in the Northern Baptist Home Mission Society. Under its first African American president, Dr. John Hope, Morehouse expanded its academic programs and attracted top scholars to its faculty.

Today, Morehouse College stands as a beacon of excellence and leadership in Black higher education.

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