Wednesday, April 9, 2025
All civic learning topics for this day
Today's Topics
DOGE orders agencies submit RIF plans affecting 50,000 positions
DOGE directed agencies to file Reduction-in-Force plans on April 9, 2025, that could eliminate up to 50,000 federal positions. The blueprint affects service delivery as fewer inspectors, scientists, and caseworkers impact daily operations nationwide.
FBI Director Patel secretly removed from ATF role as Army Secretary takes over
FBI Director Kash Patel was secretly removed as acting chief of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in April 2025 and replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. The change was never publicly announced and senior ATF leaders only learned through media reports in April about the leadership switch that had occurred weeks earlier.
Trump pauses tariffs on most nations for 90 days while escalating trade war with China
President Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries April 9, 2025, while dramatically increasing taxes on Chinese imports to 125%. The move narrows what had been an unprecedented global trade war to a focused U.S.-China economic conflict, giving American businesses temporary relief while maintaining maximum pressure on Beijing.
Trump consolidates presidential power through nine executive orders
President Trump signed nine executive orders and memoranda between January 20 and April 9, 2025 that concentrate authority in the presidency. Executive Order 14148 rescinded Biden-era climate, DEI and border directives to centralize policy control. EO 14159 widened expedited removals and Section 287(g) agreements under the Immigration and Nationality Act, bypassing immigration courts. EO 14160 challenged birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. The orders systematically expand presidential authority while limiting congressional and judicial oversight.