Education Dept. to Cut Workforce in Half; Trump Drops Canada Metal Tariffs to 25 Percent | NTD Good Morning (March 12)

The Department of Education announced on Tuesday that it’s laying off roughly half its workforce. The department is closed on Wednesday, and employees have been asked to work from home. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said this is the first step toward eliminating the department entirely—a move that would line up with what President Donald Trump has previously promised.

Trump is dropping his recent threat to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25 percent to 50 percent. The decision came after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Tuesday that his province was suspending its 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to the United States. Ford said he had had a productive conversation with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and that the two will be meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Thursday to discuss a renewed agreement.

Ukraine says it is ready to accept a U.S. proposal for a 30-day cease-fire after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz met with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Waltz said that he’ll meet with his Russian counterpart in the coming days to get Moscow to agree to the deal. Rubio is also set to see G7 foreign ministers soon, with both U.S. officials expected to use those meetings to get the cease-fire deal over the line.