‘The Evergreen’: OPB journalists help us make sense of federal government changes

Dozens of current and former federal employees packed into a federal building to condemn the Trump administration's efforts to diminish federal spending.

Like many federal agencies, employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were laid off in recent weeks. Former staff members are speaking out before there are more cuts.

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, said Wednesday that the nation’s spending on Medicaid programs is unsustainable, and he urged patience as Republicans in Congress formulate their plan to dramatically reduce spending on the health care program.

The group, appointed under former President Joe Biden, has completed its core assignment, but still has some remaining goals.

State environmental officials say Oregon once again has access to hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding aimed at climate action. That’s after the federal government froze the funds in January.