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Sean Salai

Sean Salai is the general assignment/culture reporter for The Washington Times. A former National desk intern and Metro clerk at The Washington Times, he also has served as a City Hall reporter at the Boca Raton News and as a special contributor at America Media. He can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Sean Salai

Federal layoffs strain D.C. region as Trump administration threatens more cuts

Thousands of federal workers in the Washington area will be out of jobs this week, straining the local economy as the Trump administration threatens more cuts.

September 30, 2025

House GOP panel accuses nation’s largest teachers union of exploiting members’ retirement benefits

Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee are investigating the National Education Association for steering public school teachers to purchase retirement benefits that enriched the union.

September 29, 2025

Brown University imposes layoffs, blames Trump cuts for $30 million budget deficit

Brown University laid off 48 administrators and eliminated 55 unfilled staff positions this week to offset a budget deficit, citing the Trump administration's cuts to federal education funding.

September 25, 2025

D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau announces she will not seek a fourth term

D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau announced Thursday that she will not seek a fourth term.

September 25, 2025

Blue Christmas: Support service for laid-off workers sees seasonal retail hiring to hit 16-year low

'Tis the season for holiday hiring, but a leading firm that supports laid-off workers is predicting a 16-year low for end-of-year employment in the retail industry as shoppers squeezed by higher prices spend less this year.

September 24, 2025

Ethics report: DCPS instructional superintendent received $169,464 from favored vendor

An ethics investigation has found that a D.C. Public Schools instructional superintendent accepted nearly $170,000 in "consulting fees" from a vendor whom she favored in professional development contracts.

September 24, 2025

Colleges hustle to adapt as Trump administration reshapes higher education

Colleges nationwide are scrambling to adjust to the Trump administration's overhaul of higher education as the fall semester has kicked into gear, and insiders expect many of them to fail in the process.

September 22, 2025

Survey finds declining trust in U.S. health agencies under Trump administration

Public trust in U.S. health agencies has declined since President Trump returned to office in January, according to the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center.

September 19, 2025

More heads roll at Texas A&M as president resigns over ‘gender unicorn’ outcry

Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh has stepped down following an uproar over his handling of a student's complaint about an English professor caught teaching the "gender unicorn."

September 19, 2025

D.C. Council rolls back some pandemic eviction protections

The D.C. Council voted Wednesday to roll back some pandemic eviction protections, directing local courts to collect overdue balances from deadbeat renters.

September 17, 2025

Satisfaction with K-12 education system hits new low in Gallup polling

A record low 35% of adults expressed satisfaction with the quality of the nation's K-12 education in the latest Gallup survey released Wednesday.

September 17, 2025

Landlords estimate over $1 billion in rent losses as D.C. Council reconsiders pandemic policies

D.C. landlords have lost over $1 billion in unpaid rent due to pandemic-era emergency rules that allowed tenants to ignore their monthly obligations over the past four years, an advocacy group told city lawmakers ahead of a crucial vote.

September 16, 2025

Superintendent turnover surges among urban school districts as pandemic issues linger

Complaints from parents, teachers and school boards about misconduct, curricula and low test scores have driven superintendents out of urban public school districts at a faster rate, as pandemic-era problems linger.

September 16, 2025

Study finds children twice as likely to be suicidal after parental ‘deaths of despair’

New research shows that school-age children whose parents take their own lives, drink themselves to death or overdose on opioids are twice as likely to become suicidal as a result.

September 12, 2025

Trump policies inspire citizens to brush up on civics knowledge

President Trump's sweeping policy changes on topics ranging from the economy to government spending have inspired Americans to learn more about their rights, according to an annual Constitution Day civics survey.

September 12, 2025

FTC probes AI companions bonding with children, teens

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into the harm inflicted on children and teens who form intense, emotional "relationships" with artificial intelligence companions.

September 11, 2025

Perceived value of college education hits new lows in Gallup polling

A record-low 35% of Americans consider a college education "very important," according to new Gallup polling released Thursday.

September 11, 2025

Education Secretary touts private schools, AI-run lessons in latest stop of 50-state tour

Education Secretary Linda McMahon is highlighting AI-run private schools and other alternatives to traditional public education as she barnstorms the nation on a "Returning Education to the States" tour.

September 10, 2025

Free speech report gives U.S. colleges an ‘F’ as most students oppose speakers amid Trump crackdowns

America's colleges have received an "F" grade for their free speech climate in an annual watchdog report, as most students reject speakers from both sides of the political spectrum amid the Trump administration's crackdowns.

September 9, 2025

Report finds teens reaching out to AI companions for ‘sex’

Teenagers are turning to AI companions for intense sexual "relationships" more than any other purpose, according to an industry watchdog report published Tuesday.