The Department of Education (ED) just took a big step closer to shutting down.

The Trump administration announced on Thursday an interagency agreement between the ED and the Treasury to move student lending operations to the Treasury, which will “assume operational responsibility for collecting on defaulted Federal student loan debt and provide operational support to ED’s efforts to return borrowers to repayment,” the ED said in a release. 

“I think we’ve been very clear about this last week that this is a multiphase process,” Nicholas Kent, Undersecretary of Education, told Fox News Digital on Monday.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PULL BACK RACE-BASED CRITERIA IN FEDERAL GRANTS

The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington, D.C.  (Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Throughout the 2024 campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump promised to eliminate the Department of Education and signed an executive order directing his administration to start disbanding it. 

“The Secretary has been on the record saying that these interagency agreements are proof of concept, that we want to show Congress, that we want to show families, we want to show moms and dads and families that the Department of Education does not need to be here for federal grant aid and federal student loans to continue flowing to borrowers,” Kent said.

Andrew Gillen of the Cato Institute told Fox News Digital that this particular shift in responsibilities is significant because previous interagency agreements have been “relatively small.”

“Whereas this student loan move–this is the biggest staffing and the biggest budgetary component of the Department of Education. So, if it’s sent over to Treasury, this really does indicate that this is moving a substantial portion of the Department of Education elsewhere,” Gillen said.

“I think that that’s absolutely right,” Kent said in agreement with Gillen’s analysis. “Characterizing it as the next and largest step toward winding down the Department of Education is absolutely the right way to think about it.”

This interagency agreement follows the Trump administration’s effort to shift power from a handful of its offices and programs to other federal agencies as it works to dissolve the federal department completely.

TRUMP ADMIN CUTS RED TAPE AS IOWA JOINS EFFORT TO RETURN EDUCATION TO STATES

The Department of Education (ED) just took a big step closer to shutting down, an expert told Fox News Digital. (Getty Images)

“Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a press release. “As we partner with these agencies to improve federal programs, we will continue to gather best practices in each state through our 50-state tour, empower local leaders in K-12 education, restore excellence to higher education, and work with Congress to codify these reforms.”

The department added that shifting student loan responsibilities to the Treasury will “mitigate the continuing fallout and cost to taxpayers from the Biden Administration’s mismanagement of the Federal student loan portfolio, and facilitate the return of defaulted borrowers to repayment.”

The total of student loans owed is at nearly $1.7 trillion, according to the department. It said less than 40% of borrowers arrange a repayment plan and almost 25% of them are in default.

“This will benefit students by streamlining the aid application and student loan repayment processes and save taxpayers money by reducing losses on student loans,” Gillen told Fox News Digital. “Once the move is complete, Education’s biggest budgetary and staffing requirements will be handled elsewhere, which will make it much more feasible to shut down the Department of Education.”

The Trump administration announced an interagency agreement between the Department of Education and the Treasury Department to move student lending operations to the Treasury. ( Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

MCMAHON RECOUNTS STORY OF REASSURING PARENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS THAT FUNDING WILL CONTINUE AS DEPARTMENT SHRINKS

The ED has made “historic progress in such a short period of time,” according to Kent. 

“In over a year, we have reduced the size of the department by over 40%. We have entered into 10 interagency agreements. We have done multiple staff details for other agencies where staff who are in the department are literally physically sitting at other agencies,” he said. “We are showing Congress and others that this proof of concept works and that we want to continue to work with Congress to memorialize these changes in legislation and with the ultimate goal of closing down the department and putting ourselves out of a job.”

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday raided nine places in Jammu and Kashmir in the Red Fort bomb blast case. Many digital devices have been seized and sent for forensic examination. According to the NIA spokesperson, locations have been searched in districts Srinagar, Baramulla, Jammu, Kulgam, Ganderbal and Kupwara.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (23 March 2026). During this, he also met the ambassadors of Gulf countries. Jaishankar told on social media that he had a long conversation with Marco Rubio, in which the situation in the Middle East and its impact on the world economy was discussed. Especially concern was expressed regarding energy security and it was said to remain in touch in future also.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also met the ambassadors of the member countries of the Gulf Corporation Council. Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar participated in this meeting. During this, everyone shared their views on the situation in the Middle East. Jaishankar also thanked these countries for their support to the Indian people living there.

Had a detailed telecon this evening with US @SecRubio. Our discussions focused on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the international economy. We particularly spoke about energy security concerns. Agreed to remain in touch.

—Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 23, 2026

Cabinet meeting on security matters in India

This meeting has taken place at a time when recently the Cabinet Committee on Security in India also held an important meeting. In this meeting, measures to deal with the situation arising after the attacks on Iran by Israel and America were discussed. Special attention was paid to securing the supply of grains, fuel and fertilizers in the country. The government is also alert about the security of about 1 crore Indians living in the Middle East. Of these, about 80 lakh Indians live only in Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Talked to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister

Jaishankar also spoke to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on Monday. During this, the impact of the situation in West Asia was discussed. Due to this crisis, Sri Lanka has also demanded additional fuel from India, which India is considering. Apart from this, Jaishankar also talked to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful and discussed the situation in West Asia. On the current situation, the Government of India is continuously monitoring this entire matter and is taking necessary steps, so that the needs of the country and the safety of Indians living abroad are maintained.

Also read: When will the Iran war end? America has announced the date, mediation meeting will be held in Pakistan

A United States Park Police officer was shot in Southeast Washington, D.C., the D.C. Police Union confirmed Monday.

“We can confirm that a member of US Park Police was shot in the 5000 blk of Queens Stroll Place SE,” the union posted on X. “The officer was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. We’re all sending prayers for the officer and @1791FOP at this time.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Metropolitan Police Department for additional information.

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Authorities shut down multiple blocks in the area, restricting both vehicle and pedestrian access as police responded to the incident, FOX 5 in D.C. reported.

The closures include areas along Benning Road SE as well as nearby residential streets, including the 5000 through 5100 block of Queens Stroll Place SE and the 4600 block of Hillside Road SE.

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Members of DEA patrol on M Street in Georgetown on August 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.   (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Officials said no vehicular or pedestrian traffic is allowed in the affected zones and are urging the public to avoid the area and follow police directions. Closures remain subject to change.

The station also reported a heavy law enforcement presence remains as investigators work to determine what led to the shooting.

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FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that he is praying for the injured officer.

“Praying for the Park Police officer shot in Washington, D.C. The FBI is actively supporting the investigation alongside our law enforcement partners and will bring those responsible to justice,” Patel wrote.

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“We will provide updates as we are able – please keep the officer and their family in your prayers,” he added.

This is a developing story.

A top strategist for former President Barack Obama said he discouraged then-Vice President Joe Biden from running in the 2016 presidential election. 

The University of Virginia’s Miller Center on Monday published an interview with Obama strategist David Plouffe, who was tasked with informing Biden that he should not run for president because he “could not win.” At the time, Biden was grieving the death of his son Beau Biden and was well behind Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. 

“What I would say is: ‘Listen, sir, first of all, I’m concerned about you as a human being. I’m not sure you’re in a state to run. But if this was six, seven months ago, it’s a different conversation. There’s no room. There’s just no room for you,’” Plouffe said.

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Democratic strategist David Plouffe spoke to the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

“Iowa is a tough state for you. New Hampshire is a tough state for you, Bernie’s going to win. And South Carolina, Hillary’s going to clean up there. There’s just no room for you,” he continued. “And by the way, Hillary’s not going to implode.” 

Plouffe told Biden that Sanders wouldn’t implode, either. 

“I think he ultimately accepted it, but I think it was more a couple of people around him. They really got him stirred up because part of it was, ‘Well, donors are telling us to run.’ I’m like, ‘Well, I know these donors. Let’s talk about them.’ It was a couple guys in California. I’m like, ‘That’s not a campaign. I get that Hillary is struggling in this campaign vis-a-vis Bernie. That’s true. But there’s no room for you in part because of that. Bernie and Hillary both are guaranteed 80 percent of this electorate,’” Plouffe said, adding that Clinton was better with Black voters than Biden at the time. 

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A top strategist for former President Barack Obama said he discouraged then-Vice President Joe Biden from running in the 2016 presidential election.  (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Plouffe explained that he felt Biden would have struggled against now-President Donald Trump but “didn’t have the trust and character issues that Hillary” had with the electorate. He suggested Biden may have performed better than Clinton in some areas during the general election, but there was simply no path for him to get there. 

“It’s like, Poor Joe. And my view is, listen, Biden’s career was over. Obama picked him to be vice president. And Biden was very clear he wasn’t going to run even before Beau [died]. But once Beau happened, of course you’re like, there’s no way it’s to going run,” Plouffe said. 

“By the time he [Biden] kind of kicked the tires on this, we were just fully developed, two incredibly strong, vote-getting candidates,” he continued. “And Biden’s natural lane, White working-class, working union guys were kind of split between Sanders and Clinton, but they both had strong support.”

CARVILLE CLAIMS DEMOCRATS DON’T WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE FROM FAILED 2024 HARRIS CAMPAIGN IN 2028

Then-Vice President Joe Biden talks with his son Beau Biden at Camp Victory on July 4, 2009, near Baghdad, Iraq. (Khalid Mohammed-Pool/Getty Images)

Plouffe then shifted gears and said that many Democratic voters objected to former Vice President Kamala Harris receiving the 2024 nomination without the party holding a primary after Biden was essentially forced out of the race.

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“It really bothered voters more than I thought it would and kind of undercut any kind of authority around the danger Trump posed,” he said.

“And by the way, all these Democrats, as they saw it, had covered up Biden. And so, you put that together, which is Kamala kind of being installed in there and then the cover-up on Biden, as voters saw it. I mean, I don’t think the party has fully come to a full reckoning on that,” Plouffe added. “I don’t think we should belabor it, but I think every Democrat should obviously say, ‘Of course he shouldn’t have run. We know that now. A good president shouldn’t have run.’ And we should never again have a nominee that isn’t fully vetted by the voters and chosen by the voters.” 

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A repeat offender with nearly 100 arrests is back behind bars after deputies say he led officers on a dangerous chase following a retail theft spree across multiple counties in Washington state.

Police released video showing the chase and the suspect’s eventual capture.

Authorities say the suspect, now arrested for the 98th time, was part of a duo accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from several stores, at times using stolen bags from one retailer to take items from another.

Deputies spotted the suspects’ truck on Interstate 5 near Olympia, but before they could initiate a stop, the driver sped off, triggering a high-speed chase.

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Police dashcam video shows deputies pursuing a pickup truck during a high-speed chase that reached triple-digit speeds before the suspects fled on foot. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

Video from the pursuit captures deputies calling out speeds topping 100 miles per hour as the truck raced toward downtown Olympia.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but called off the pursuit when the driver began racing through city streets and intersections, putting others at risk. 

A second attempt was also halted for safety reasons as the suspect continued driving recklessly toward Lacey, at times running red lights at speeds near 80 mph, according to radio traffic.

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Bodycam video shows a deputy taking aim as a suspect stands with hands raised following a high-speed chase through a neighborhood. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

A short time later, the truck was found abandoned near College Street.

Authorities say the suspects ran from the vehicle toward a nearby neighborhood and in the direction of an elementary school, prompting a search.

A K9 team tracked them down minutes later.

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Video shows deputies confronting the suspects at gunpoint, repeatedly ordering them to “show me your hands” and “keep walking backwards” before both were taken into custody.

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Police video shows the suspect walking with hands on his head before deputies take him into custody moments after a 100 mph chase. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

Inside the vehicle, investigators say they found thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, along with meth, heroin and fentanyl.

Deputies also discovered what they described as a custom-built bong embedded in the dashboard, allegedly allowing the driver to use drugs while behind the wheel.

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A suspect arrested for the 98th time is seen surrendering at gunpoint after a high-speed chase, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

Authorities say they obtained a warrant to test the driver’s blood as part of a DUI investigation.

The suspect, a four-time convicted felon with dozens of prior convictions and 97 previous arrests, now faces charges including DUI, attempting to flee from police, and drug possession.

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He is expected to face additional organized retail theft charges in Lewis County once released from the Thurston County Jail. The second suspect was turned over to another police department in connection with a separate theft case.

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In a statement, the sheriff’s office highlighted the suspect’s history and the outcome of the arrest:

“Tonight, he is back in jail for the 98th time on charges of DUI, eluding, and possession of narcotics,” Sheriff Derek Sanders wrote in a post. “Nice work by deputies and dispatchers to get some career criminals into custody… again.”

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.