Musk proposes privatizing Amtrak

Speaking at a tech conference Wednesday, Elon Musk added Amtrak to the list of government-funded services on his chopping board, calling the federally owned railroad “embarrassing” and saying that privatization was the only way to fix it.

Musk, who has criticized an ambitious effort to build a high-speed rail system in California, has also called for the privatization of the U.S. Postal Service, a concept that President Donald Trump has floated. The president has not called for privatizing Amtrak, and the White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Amtrak responded to Musk by saying that its “business performance is strong” and that it looked forward to working with Trump to create a “world-class passenger rail system.” Amtrak said it expected to make a profit for the first time under Trump.

Asked if U.S. needs the Education Dept., McMahon says ‘no’

Education Secretary Linda McMahon delivered a stark message Friday about the future of her agency. Asked on “Fox & Friends” whether the U.S. “needs this department,” McMahon answered, “No, we don’t.”

In the interview, her first since she was confirmed to her Cabinet post this week, McMahon said that President Donald Trump intended to sign an executive order aimed at closing her department, but she declined to give details on timing.

States sue over mass firings of federal workers

ANNAPOLIS, Md. >> Maryland and 19 other states are suing multiple federal agencies, contending President Donald Trump’s administration has illegally fired thousands of federal probationary workers.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is leading the coalition of attorneys general in the federal lawsuit that was filed late Thursday in Maryland, where the state estimates about 10% of households receive wages from the federal government.

Brown followed up on Friday by moving for a temporary restraining order in federal court in Maryland seeking to stop any more firings of federal probationary employees and to reinstate those who have already been dismissed.

Hundreds of affordable housing projects in limbo

The Trump administration has stalled at least $60 million in funding intended largely for affordable housing developments nationwide, throwing hundreds of projects into a precarious limbo, according to information and documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The move is part of a flurry of funding freezes, staffing cuts and contract cancellations by the Trump administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, changes that have instilled widespread uncertainty in the affordable housing industry.

The money is often used as seed funding for affordable housing projects, turning a concept into a viable development and consequently drawing in more public and private investment.

— Denver Post wire services