The Trump administration has halted the release of over $1 billion in federal funds earmarked for Cornell University, along with $790 million intended for Northwestern University. This decision comes as a direct result of civil rights probes currently underway at both institutions.
“The money was frozen in connection with several ongoing, credible, and concerning Title VI investigations,” a Trump admin official told Fox News.
According to two administration sources who spoke to the New York Times, the funding freeze primarily targets grants and contracts from several major federal departments, including Agriculture, Defense, Education, and Health and Human Services.

Family getting up: Shacharis: 8:00 pm Mincha: 7:10 pm Maariv: 9:00 pm

President Donald Trump on Tuesday helped shovel dirt onto the replacement for a historic White House tree that had to be removed because of safety concerns around its deteriorating condition. “We have a beautiful tree now at the White House,” Trump said. The White House did not allow news media coverage of the tree planting, but afterward shared a brief video clip on social media. Dale Haney, the longtime grounds superintendent, also participated. “Dale’s been here 53 years. He’s fantastic,” Trump said.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday evening issued an interim order freezing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s dismissal after 11 hours of deliberations over an issue it has no authority over. Israeli law clearly authorizes the government to dismiss the Shin Bet chief. Meanwhile, the court granted the government an extension until April 20 for the government and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to reach an “acceptable and creative solution” – and if one is not found, the Supreme Court will issue a ruling. The court also ordered the government not to announce a replacement for Bar or interview candidates for the position until a compromise is reached or a ruling is issued.

Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, who helped draft a bipartisan proposal to rein in President Trump’s authority on trade, said Tuesday that he believes the legislative branch has surrendered too much control to the executive when it comes to trade policy.
“I made very clear throughout my public service that I’m a free and fair trader. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. I believe that Congress delegated too much authority to the president in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Trade Act of 1974,” Grassley stated.

In her first in-depth interview since assuming the role of second lady, Usha Vance is offering a candid look at how she’s navigating life in the political spotlight, sharing that her main goal is simply staying grounded.
“To me, the highest priority right now is to be actually a normal person,” Vance, a practicing trial attorney, told The Free Press in a profile published Monday.
“Obviously,” she added, “our lives are not normal, and it feels almost absurd to say that they are.”

The Trump administration canceled $188 million in federal grants meant to reimburse New York City for sheltering migrants, saying the money was being spent to support illegal immigration and leading the city’s mayor to vow to fight the clawback. In a letter sent April 1 and shared with The Associated Press on Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency informed city officials that it was canceling the grants, which included roughly $80 million that the agency withdrew from city’s bank account in February. The latest move would require the city to return an additional $106 million that officials said was used to house and care for migrants.

What was President Donald Trump’s motive when he requested that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu fly straight to Washington from Budapest, refusing a suggestion to delay the meeting until after Pesach? On the surface, the meeting was ostensibly about the 17% tariff the Trump administration imposed on Israel, with Netanyahu holding great hopes that he could negotiate a reduction. But Trump surprised Netanyahu, revealing to him the real reason for his urgent summons to Washington: not the tariff but the beginning of direct high-level negotiations between the US and Iran. Ynet reported that Trump wanted to personally inform Netanyahu about his intention to initiate direct talks with Tehran.

Jordanian security forces prevent protesters from storming into the Israeli embassy in Amman during a demonstration against the war in Gaza.