Reuters US Domestic News Summary

President Joe Biden announced plans on Monday to ease student debt that would benefit at least 23 million Americans, addressing a key issue for young voters whose support he needs as he seeks re-election in November. What does the gag order mean in Trump's hush money case? The gag order imposed on Donald Trump by a judge in next week's New York criminal trial bars the former U.S. president from talking publicly about certain people involved in the case and their families.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Biden cancels $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers

The Biden administration will cancel $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers, the White House said on Friday, the latest in a series of debt cancellations. President Joe Biden announced plans on Monday to ease student debt that would benefit at least 23 million Americans, addressing a key issue for young voters whose support he needs as he seeks re-election in November.

What does the gag order mean in Trump's hush money case?

The gag order imposed on Donald Trump by a judge in next week's New York criminal trial bars the former U.S. president from talking publicly about certain people involved in the case and their families. Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment before the 2016 election to stop porn star Stormy Daniels from talking about a sexual encounter she says she and Trump had in 2006. Trump denies an encounter.

Truck slams into Texas public building, killing one, injuring over a dozen

An 18-wheel truck with a loaded flatbed slammed into a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) building on Friday, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others in what a county judge said was a deliberate act. "This incident was intentional and done by the suspect who was denied a CDL yesterday," said Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said in a Facebook post, referring to a commercial driver's license or CDL. "He returned today with intent to harm."

President Biden's son Hunter loses bid to dismiss gun charges

A federal judge in Delaware on Friday declined to dismiss gun charges against Hunter Biden, one of the two criminal cases against Joe Biden's son as the Democratic U.S. president ramps up his campaign for re-election. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika in Wilmington ruled against Hunter Biden's request to dismiss two counts of lying about his use of illegal narcotics when he purchased a Colt Cobra handgun in 2018 and a third count of illegally possessing that weapon.

US House passes controversial surveillance bill on fourth attempt

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize a controversial surveillance program on Friday, in a major step toward keeping a key element of the United States' foreign intelligence-gathering operation in place. The House passed a bill reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in a 273-147 vote. The FISA bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to give it bipartisan approval. Without congressional action, the program will expire on April 19.

US biotech executive sentenced to 7 years in jail for COVID test fraud

The chief executive of a U.S. biotechnology company that falsely promised investors it could produce a quick and accurate COVID-19 test was sentenced to seven years' in jail on Friday, the Justice Department said. Keith Berman, 70, of Westlake Village, California, pleaded guilty last December to securities fraud totaling around $28 million.

Trump's hush money trial will not be delayed because of publicity, judge rules

The New York judge overseeing Donald Trump's hush money criminal case rejected the former U.S. president's bid to delay Monday's scheduled trial on the ground that substantial pre-trial publicity would make the proceedings unfair. Trump had sought an indefinite delay, saying media coverage was prejudiced against him, and finding an acceptable jury in Manhattan would be tough because the borough was "overwhelmingly biased" against him.

As foreign leaders urge US Ukraine support, Republicans look to Trump

An unprecedented series of foreign officials, including from Japan, Britain and Italy, have visited Washington over the past several months and appealed to congressional Republicans to approve more military aid for Ukraine. But those lawmakers may listen to a different voice entirely - former president, and current Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

Biden hails work to reduce racial wealth gap as he seeks voter support

U.S. President Joe Biden hailed his administration's efforts to close the racial wealth gap, one of the country's most persistent inequalities, in a speech to Reverend Al Sharpton's racial justice conference in New York on Friday. Biden, who is working to shore up support among Black voters ahead of his November rematch with former President Donald Trump, contrasted his policies with Republican efforts to cut funding for racial equity initiatives, state-provided health insurance, and social security.

Trump says embattled House Republican Speaker Johnson doing 'good job'

Donald Trump threw his support behind embattled U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday, seeking to demonstrate unity as Johnson struggles to quell dissent within his fractious Republican majority. "He's doing a really good job under very tough circumstances," Trump said at a press conference with Johnson at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.