Federal Student Aid Head Stepping Down

The Head of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Office, which has faced Criticism for the botched Rollout of this year’s College Financial Aid Form, will be Stepping down.

According to a Letter to Staff, Richard Cordray said Friday that He will Not be continuing in His Role for another Three-year Term. He has served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of FSA, in the Department of Education since May 4th, 2021, and will stay on through June to help with the Transition.

The Announcement of Cordray’s Departure, comes as His Office has been under fire for Problems with a New Version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), released late last year. Delays and Technical glitches have kept Millions of Students, waiting to hear how much Ccollege will Cost them this Fall, and have raised concerns that some Low-Income Students won’t Enroll-at-All.

Earlier this month, Cordray became a Focus of a Hearing held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about the FAFSA Rollout.

“If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep,” Justin Draeger, President of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told Lawmakers.

The Committee, led by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5th District), later posted to X that “It’s time for Richard Cordray to go.”

In a Statement Friday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (D), applauded Cordray’s Work to make Improvements to the Student Loan Program, Administering a Record Amount of Student Debt Forgiveness, and holding Schools that Defrauded Students accountable, but did Not mention the FAFSA Overhaul.

“We are grateful for Rich Cordray’s three years of service, in which he accomplished more transformational changes to the student aid system than any of his predecessors,” Cardona said. “It’s no exaggeration to say that Rich helped change millions of lives for the better,” He added.

Previously, Cordray was the First Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which launched during the Obama Administration. Before that, He served as Ohio’s Attorney General, and was the Democratic Nominee for Governor of Ohio in 2018.

“Over my tenure, we provided student loan forgiveness to more than 4,000,000 borrowers and their families; made it easier for people to apply for and manage federal student aid; and took strong actions to hold schools accountable for defrauding students,” Cordray said in a Statement.

The Congressionally Mandated Overhaul of FAFSA, was Authorized through Two different pieces of Legislation passed in 2019 and 2020. The Changes were Long Overdue and are meant to Simplify the Form and to make more Low-Income Students eligible for Federal Student Aid, such as Pell Grants.

While the New Version of the Form is much Shorter, the Rollout has been plagued by Problems, that have created Major Delays for Students planning to go to College this Fall. First, the Form wasn’t available until the very End-of-December 2023, about Tthree months later than usual, and was Offline for many hours of the Day, during the First week of January, 2024.

Since then, many Families and Students have experienced Problems and Glitches when Submitting the Form. FAFSA Completions among High School Seniors are currently down 36% compared with the prior Class, according to the National College Attainment Network.

Further Problems on the Back-End and a last-minute Change to the Aid Calculation, meant that Colleges did Not receive any FAFSA Information until March, even if a Student submitted the Form back in January. Once Colleges received the Data from the Department of Education, there were Errors with some of the Information, and many Forms must be Reprocessed.

As a Result, many Financial Aid Applicants are still waiting to hear how much College will Cost them next year, even as the typical May 1st College Decision Deadline approaches.

The Biden Administration has said that the Overhaul of the FAFSA was a huge Undertaking, One that Not only transformed the Form itself, but also the Calculations and Back-End Processing system, and that its Requests for more Funding from Congress were Not Met. But Republicans have Argued that the Department of Education was too focused on Implementing Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Policies, and let the FAFSA Work fall to the wayside.

The Department of Education has been facing Criticism from Lawmakers on both sides of the Aisle for the Delays, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has started an Investigation into the New Form’s Implementation.

As the Head of FSA, Cordray oversaw Not only the FAFSA but also the entire $1.6 trillion Federal Student Loan system.

During Cordray’s Tenure, the Department of Education authorized the Cancellation of about $153 billion in Federal Student Loan debt for 4 million Borrowers. FSA tackled a Backlog of Debt Relief Applications, which built up during the Trump Administration, from Borrowers who said they were Ddefrauded by their For-Profit Colleges.

The Office also expanded the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, and Streamlined Debt Cancellation for Permanently Disabled Borrowers. Last year, the FSA launched a Nnew Income-Driven Rrepayment Plan, known as SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education), which offers generous Terms for Low-Income Student Loan borrowers.

Cordray also oversaw the Unprecedented Return to Repayment, after the Three-plus-year Pandemic Pause Ended last year. When the Biden Administration tapped Cordray to run FSA, it was viewed as a Win for Progressives.

During Cordray’s Tenure at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an Agency spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), He made it a Priority to Protect Student Loan Borrowers. The Agency secured more than $480 million in Debt Forgiveness for Borrowers, who had taken out Loans to go to Corinthian Colleges, a Now-Defunct, For-Profit School.

It also Sued Navient, Oone of the biggest Federal Student Loan Servicers, for allegedly Processing Payments incorrectly. Navient has Denied the Allegations, and the Lawsuit is ongoing.

“I’m grateful to Rich for his commitment to building a country that doesn’t just work for the wealthy and well connected, but for all Americans,” Warren said in a Statement on Friday.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

U.S. Tightens Gun Export Regulations

Seeking to stem the flow of American Firearms to Mexican Cartels and other Unauthorized Groups, the Biden Administration has rolled out a Series of Stringent New Restrictions on Firearm Exports.

Aimed at significantly Reducing the use of U.S. Firearms in International Crimes and Violence, the Initiative marks a robust effort to Control Arms Trafficking.

In response to Increasing concerns over American-made Firearms being implicated in Crimes and Human Rights abuses Worldwide, the U.S. is toughening its Export Controls.

Such Alterations signify a Major Shift in Policy, with a Renewed focus on Halting the International Misuse of U.S. Civilian Firearms. Recently Updated Regulations now identify 36 Countries as 'High Risk' for Firearm Diversion and Misuse.

American Weapons have a High likelihood of ending up with International Criminal Organizations in these Nations, necessitating rigorous Scrutiny from U.S. Authorities.

Recently, a Senior Commerce Department Official, disclosed Plans to Enhance Scrutiny of Firearm transactions and establish Stricter Export Rules for Non-Government Recipients in High-Risk areas. This Strategic move is geared toward Halting the Supply of Ffirearms to notorious Groups like Drug Cartels.

On October 27th, 2023, the Commerce Department made a Decisive move by Temporarily Halting most Firearm Exports. The Pause enabled an Assessment of Risks, such as Regional Iinstability and potential Human Rights violations. Scheduled to End on May 30th, the Suspension of Rirearm Exports coincides with the Enforcement of New Guidelines.

Following a Structured Review Period, this Resumption lays the Groundwork for Stricter and more Secure Export Practices. A Commerce Department Official emphasized the necessity of Robust Measures to "prevent exported firearms from being diverted for harmful purposes and hurting U.S. national security."

Enhanced Protocols are expected to significantly bolster both U.S. and International Security Frameworks. Predictions from the Commerce Department suggest that the New Export Controls will Decrease U.S. Firearm Exports by approximately 7%, translating to a $40 million Reduction from the usual $600 million Annually.

This anticipated Decrease reflects Dedicated efforts to ensure Ethical and Legal use of Firearms. Recent Policy Adjustments include the Cancellation of some Export Licenses and the Reduction of others from Four years to One. These Changes are designed to Improve the Management and Oversight of U.S. Firearm Destinations Globally.

The U.S. is intensifying its Scrutiny of each Firearm Transaction, especially Targeting Countries that were part of the former Soviet Union. This Detailed approach aims to Prevent U.S. Firearms from exacerbating Conflicts or Contributing to International Abuses.

Despite the New Stringent Rules, Exemptions for Key Allies will remain, allowing them to continue receiving Firearms under Specific Agreements. These Exceptions demonstrate the U.S.'s Commitment to supporting its Allies while Enforcing Strict Export Controls.

The Implementation of New Export Controls has sparked significant Political Debate.

In November, 46 Republican Senators expressed "significant concerns" over the Impact on U.S. Commercial Interests and National Security, underscoring the Complex Balance between regulating Firearm Eexports and Maintaining Essential International Relations.

The Key Changes being Implemented:

- The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS): Will intensify Scrutiny on a Ttransaction-by-Transaction Level. This Measure aims to prevent Firearms from falling into the hands of Foreign Criminals, Gangs, Terrorists, or other Malign Actors.

- Presumption of Denial for High-Risk Countries: Applications involving Nongovernmental Recipients located in Countries identified as High-Risk by the State Department, will face a “Presumption of Denial.” This sStandard applies when there is substantial Risk that Firearm Exports will be Diverted or Misused, contrary to National Security and Foreign Policy Interests.

- Data Collection and Transparency: BIS will Improve Data Collection on Firearms Exports, by Tracking Specific types-of-Firearms using New Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs). This includes creating New ECCNs for Semi-Automatic Pirearms and Related Items.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Anorher House Republican Retirement

Another, Longtime House Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL, 8th District) said Friday, He will leave Congress at the end of this year rather than seek Re-Election.

It's part of a wave of Congressional Retirements in both Parties, as Lawmakers complain of chronic Chaos and a Lack of Productivity.

Republicans in particular have seen an Exodus of Members in recent months, many of whom have voiced Frustration about the Party's Infighting.

Posey said in a Statement that "circumstances beyond my control now require me to suspend my re-election campaign."

Posey said He is supporting Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R-8th District), who jumped into the Race on Friday, just ahead of Florida's Filing Deadline.

"Without going into a lot of personal details, stars aligned during the past week and Mike decided he was ready for Congress. I enthusiastically endorse him and will do everything I can to help him get elected," Posey said.

A former State Legislator, Posey was First Elected to Congress in 2008, and is a Member of the Right-Wing House Freedom Caucus.

Posey is a Senior Member of the House Financial Services and Science, and the Space & Technology Committees.

Posey joins nearly Two Dozen House Republicans planning to Retire from the House this year, only a handful of whom are running for Higher Office.

The List includes several Powerful Committee Chairs and Longtime Lawmakers, as well as Young rising Stars such as 36-year-old, Two-Term Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS, 2nd District).

This week, 40-year-old China Select Committee Chair Mike Gallagher (R-WI, 8th District) became the latest, in a series of Republicans to Resign from Congress without Serving-Out their Full Term.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Campaign Accused Of Hiding Payments

A Complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), has alleged that the Trump Campaign and its related Political Committees, have potentially Violated Federal Law, by Concealing who is being Paid for Trump's Legal Work.

The Complaint, which was filed with the FEC by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC), a Nonprofit Government Watchdog, alleges that Trump’s Campaign and Four related Political Committees, Reimbursed Compliance firm Red Curve Solutions $7.2 million for Legal Fees and Expenses, between December, 7th, 2022 and 18th March, 2024.

However, Red Curve “does not appear to offer any legal services,” CLC noted in the Complaint. According to the Company’s LinkedIn page, Red Curve Solutions helps Political Campaigns with a Range-of-Services, including “comprehensive budgeting, accounting and financial management and compliance services.”

The Company is Managed by Bradley Crate, who serves as Treasurer for the Trump Campaign, and the Four other Committees, according to the Complaint.

The Complaint adds that the Arrangement between the Trump Campaign and Red Curve “seems designed to obscure the true recipients of a noteworthy portion of Trump’s legal bills and, in doing so, seems to violate federal law.”

CLC is asking the FEC to Investigate the Payments immediately, citing the fact that the Arrangement is still ongoing. “Red Curve appears to have been fronting legal costs for Trump since at least December 2022, with Trump-affiliated committees repaying the company later,” CLC said in the Complaint.

“This arrangement appears to violate FEC rules that require campaigns to disclose not only the entity being reimbursed Red Curve) but also the underlying vendor.”

The Complaint goes on to say that the fact that the Committees and the Company, which Specializes in Campaign Finance Reporting Services, did Not properly Itemize these Reimbursements “undermines the bedrock transparency” of Public Disclosure Laws.

In the Filing, the Trump Campaign is also accused of Violating a Federal Prohibition on Corporate Political Contributions with its Arrangement with Red Curve.

As a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), Red Curve “would be legally barred from making any contributions, such as an in-kind contribution or advance, to Trump’s campaign and any other ‘hard money’ committee – even if that payment or advance is fully reimbursed,” the Complaint states.

CLC Director of Federal Reform, Saurav Ghosh said the Public should Not be deprived of its Right to know exactly who Trump-connected Political Groups are Paying.

“Available information points to the conclusion that Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and other Trump-affiliated committees violated federal law by obscuring who they paid for legal services and how much they paid for those services,” Ghosh said in a Statement.

“Voters have a right to know exactly how these Trump-affiliated committees are spending their money, particularly since it is unprecedented to see political candidates or committees spending such massive amounts of money on legal expenses.”

Figures released by the FEC earlier this week, revealed that Trump’s Legal Fees are taking a chunk out of His Campaign Funds, with the Save America Political Action Committee (PAC), which is connected to the Trump Campaign, spending $3.7m on Legal Fees for Trump in March.

While Save America has Not Disclosed the Details of how much it has spent on each of Trump’s Legal Cases, its Filings show that since the start of 2023 it has spent more than $59 million on Lawyer Fees.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

VA Solar Farm Project

Supervisors from Patrick Country, Virginia, Voted 3-2 to Approve the region's First Utility-Scale Solar Farm, after a nearly Two-hour-long Public Hearing, that included 24 Speakers. Only One Speaker voiced their Support for Fairy Stone.

The Fairy Stone Solar Project will generate 12 megawatts, enough to power 2,000 Homes, on a 211-acre plot of land, Southeast of the Town of Stuart.

According to a Representative from Developer Energix Renewables, who spoke at the Hearing, Fairy Stone will draw a Tax revenue of $2.48 million to the County across its 40-year Lifespan and an advanced Payment of $198,000.

The Proposal sparked a Heated Discussion, as nearly Two dozen Citizens expressed Concerns about the Solar Farm's impact on the County's Scenic views, Tourism, and Environment.

A few Speakers referenced the potential Threat of the Cadmium Telluride, used as a Semiconductor Material leeching Toxic Chemicals into the surrounding Water and Soil.

Energix Spokesperson Shawn Henderson Refuted that Point, saying that the 250 million Solar Panels manufactured and distributed Worldwide by First Solar, have yet to cause any Contamination in its 25-plus years of Operation. "There's misinformation and fear-mongering, and then there's reality," Henderson added.

The EPA states that Cadmium can Harm Human Health at High levels, but the Department of Energy notes that Cadmium Telluride-based Solar Cells comprise just 5% of the Global Market for Photovoltaic technology.

Others questioned the Accountability of Energix, citing a Fine of $99,000, that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality proposed, for Stormwater Control Violations at Seven Solar Farms across the State.

Henderson said that the Infractions were Minor and have since been Resolved.

"Solar is here because we've got a problem with climate change," Resident Steve Ferring said. "I don't like it, but it's affecting the world now, and we have an obligation. We have an obligation to try and mitigate it. Solar is one option."

Despite the Heavy Opposition, the Project's Approval marks another step in the State's Transition toward a Cleaner Future.

The Inflation Reduction Act is creating Careers in Virginia's Solar and Wind Industries, while neighborhood Solar Cooperatives have made Solar Panel installations Cheaper and more Accessible.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

FCC Reinstates Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday, Voted to Approve a Regulation that will Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules, that allow the Agency to Regulate Broadband Internet access as a Telecommunications service.

Network Neutrality is the Principle that Internet Service Providers (ISPs), must treat all Internet Communications equally, offering Users and Online Content Providers consistent Rates irrespective of Content, Website, Platform, Application, type of Equipment, Source Address, Destination address, or Method of Communication, without Price Discrimination.

Net Neutrality Rules were first imposed during the Obama Administration in 2015, but were Repealed in 2017 after the Trump Administration Controled of the FCC, which returned Broadband Internet to being Regulated as an Information Service.

With the Biden Administration having returned the FCC to a Majority of Democratic Appointees, the Agency is reinstating Net Neutrality Rules that allow Broadband to be Regulated under Title II of the Communications Act.

Ahead of the FCC's 3-2 Vote, Biden Appointee and Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said: "I think in a modern digital economy, we should have a national net neutrality policy and make clear the nation's expert on ommunications has the ability to act when it comes to broadband. This is good for consumers, good for public safety and good for national security, and that is why we are taking this action under Title II of the Communications Act today."

But, there will be Legal Challenges to the FCC's Reinstatement of Net Neutrality Rules, that could have the Regulation being Struck-Down.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

U.S. Weapons Contracts For Ukraine

The U.S. is putting the finishing touches on One of its largest Ukraine Military Aid Packages to date.

The Contracts for as much as $6 billion worth of Weapons and Equipment for Kyiv’s Forces.

The package, which could be finalized and announced as soon as April 26th, will dip into the $61 billion in Ukraine Funding Signed into Law by President Biden on Wednesday.

It would include Patriot Air Defense Munitions, Artillery Ammunition, Drones, Counter-Drone Weapons, and Air-to-Air Missiles to be fitted on Fighter Planes.

It also include:s Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, won’t arrive in Ukraine for awhile, as the money is being allocated under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Under USAI, the Pentagon issues Contracts to American Defense Firms to build New equipment for Ukraine, as opposed to drawing from current U.S. Stocks.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to announce the New Aid during a Virtual Meeting on Friday, of the 50-plus Nations that make up the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The package, which comes on top of the $1 billion in more immediate Aid announced by Washington on Wednesday.

That drawdown of Artillery rounds, Air Defense missiles, Armored Vehicles and Army Tactical Missile Systems with a range of nearly 200 miles, represents more immediate help for Ukraine as it tries to blunt recent Russian Advances and stepped-up Missile Attacks on Ukrainian critical Infrastructure.

The Biden Administration last month secretly shipped the Long-Range Version of the ATACMS to Ukraine, for the First time in the Two-year War,and Kyiv has already used the Weapon several times to strike deep behind Russian Lines.

“One of the things we’ve been able to see is that when Ukraine is supplied, they’ve been able to be effective,” Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown said in a Discussion at Georgetown University on Thursday.

The $1 billion in immediate Aid and Long-Rage Missiles follows a similar move by the U.K., which first sent its Long-Range Storm Shadow Cruise missiles to Ukraine in May 2023, giving Kyiv the ability to hit Targets up to 155 miles away.

The Weapon, which is launched from Ukrainian Fighter Planes, has allowed Ukraine to precisely target Ammunition Dumps, Bridges, and other Critical Infrastructure deep inside Russian-occupied Crimea.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker