Northern Virginia Apartment Rents ‘Surge’

While the average apartment rent in the U.S. has recently decreased compared to last year, rents in Northern Virginia continue to rise, showing a stark contrast. According to data released by Apartmentlist.com on the 27th of last month, Annandale, a community with a large Korean population, saw the highest increase in apartment rents in the region. Tysons, another area in Northern Virginia, recorded the highest rent prices overall.

In March, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Annandale was $1,945, with a two-bedroom apartment renting for $2,220. These figures represent a significant 9.7% increase from a year ago. Merrifield followed closely behind with a 5.5% increase in both one-bedroom rents ($2,329) and two-bedroom rents ($2,863). Other areas also experienced notable rent hikes, including Herndon (up 5.1% to $1,842 for one-bedroom and $2,210 for two-bedroom), Fairfax (up 4.4% to $1,944 for one-bedroom and $2,410 for two-bedroom), Fair Oaks (up 4.2% to $2,235 for one-bedroom and $2,499 for two-bedroom), and Centreville (up 2.7% to $2,064 for one-bedroom and $2,397 for two-bedroom).

In contrast, the median rent nationwide in March was $1,216 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,370 for a two-bedroom, both showing a slight decrease of 0.4% from the previous year. Apartmentlist.com noted that the nationwide rent decline is partly due to an increase in new apartment supply, which has left more vacant apartments unoccupied. However, the downward trend in national rents is gradually shifting toward an upward trend, signalling potential increases across the country in the future.

Trump Mentions ‘Musk Will Quit Soon’

President Donald Trump has reportedly told his aides that Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, will soon step down from his role leading the federal government’s restructuring efforts, according to a report by Politico on April 2nd. The report indicated that Musk, who has been overseeing large-scale reforms at federal agencies as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will return to his business ventures once his work is completed. However, the White House quickly denied the claims, dismissing the report as “garbage.”

According to sources speaking anonymously, Trump discussed Musk’s impending departure with his Cabinet members, suggesting that Musk would soon leave the government. Musk, who is exempt from ethics and conflict of interest regulations, is limited by law to working for the government for no more than 130 days a year. This limitation is set to expire by late May or early June, which could explain the timing of his exit.

Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of Musk’s departure during a March 31st Q&A session at the White House, saying, “At some point, he’ll come back” and “I’ll keep him as long as I can.” Musk himself had alluded to his departure in a March 27th interview with Fox News, saying, “We plan to complete $1 trillion in federal government cost reductions by the end of May.”

The Politico report also mentioned that Trump had stated during a Cabinet meeting on March 24th that Musk would be leaving soon. While Trump has been a strong supporter of Musk’s reform efforts, there has been growing criticism of Musk’s approach. Some members of the administration have expressed frustration with Musk’s communication style and the unpredictability of his plans, especially after Musk made controversial remarks and shared unverified plans for reorganizing federal agencies via his X (formerly Twitter) account. Additionally, Musk’s public support for a conservative candidate in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, who ultimately lost by a significant margin, has sparked further concerns.

Despite the controversy, a senior administration official stated that Musk would continue to serve as an unofficial advisor to Trump and may still appear around the White House from time to time. Politico’s sources also suggested that Musk would not completely disappear from Trump’s orbit.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt strongly rejected the Politico report, calling it “garbage” and reaffirming that both Musk and Trump had publicly stated that Musk would step down from his government role once he completed his work at DOGE.

Social Security Administration cuts, services paralyzed.

The Social Security Administration website has crashed four times in the past 10 days, leaving millions of retirees without access to the service. Online access has been blocked due to the overwhelming influx of users, and calls to the office have been put on hold for hours.

This is the result of massive layoffs that have left existing civil service staff no longer able to handle the workload. This is the result of cost-cutting efforts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Social Security Administration, which has been disbursing $1.5 trillion annually to 73 million retirees, people with disabilities, and others, is now facing a crisis where it may no longer be able to continue its role. Despite the severe staffing shortage, President Trump’s soon-to-be-appointed SSA administrator, Frank Bisignano, is expected to push for further massive layoffs through a financial audit.

“This is a breakdown from within and it’s only going to accelerate,” said Senator Angus King. “I have retirees in their 70s and 80s coming to me and they’re scared, and they don’t know what to do.” “This government is acting unconscionable.”

Leland Dudek, who provided DOGE with the data and was later promoted to acting director, has been at the forefront of purges of existing professionals, some of whom have resigned in disgust at the policy changes.

As the service is cut off, angry constituents are asking their local representatives but are not getting much of an answer. Since Social Security benefits are the main source of income for 40% of retirees, it is inevitable that changes will be closely watched.

SSA has struggled to provide services to a growing number of retirees with outdated technology systems and a budget of $15 billion that has barely changed in the past decade, but President Trump has caused extreme chaos by cutting and reducing the budget since taking office. This has led to comments from within the administration that “it’s like lighting a fire to put it out,” and some have worried that “it seems like an effort to privatize government agencies.”

Advocacy Groups Call to Reopen New DACA Applications

Immigrant advocacy organizations are urging the Trump administration to resume processing new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On March 18th, the Korean American Service and Education Association (KASA), which represents five Korean community organizations across the U.S., held an online press conference to express concerns about the current state of the program. KASA pointed out that while a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on January 17th upheld the decision declaring DACA illegal, it limited the impact of the ruling to Texas. This decision, according to KASA, means that new DACA applications should be processed nationwide, yet the Trump administration has failed to take any action.

KASA emphasized that despite the appellate court’s decision taking effect on March 11th, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to process only renewals for existing DACA recipients and has not resumed accepting new applications. The group is urging the administration to correct this discrepancy and begin processing new applications.

However, caution is advised for those considering reapplying for DACA. The Korean American Council (KOA) warned of the uncertainty surrounding the situation, noting that there is a risk of personal information being exposed due to the lack of clarity on the administration’s next steps. Immigration attorneys also advised caution, stating that while it may not be easy for the Trump administration to resume new applications immediately, individuals should stay informed and consult with legal experts if necessary.

Additionally, the KOA condemned a new immigrant registration system introduced by the Trump administration in February. Set to take effect on April 11, this system would require certain undocumented immigrants over the age of 14 to register with the government, and mandate that 18-year-old immigrants possess a registration certificate. The KOA criticized this move as another attempt to target and stigmatize immigrants, particularly those who entered the U.S. without going through immigration screening.

While this regulation is seen as primarily affecting individuals who entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border, Korean immigration attorneys note that it will not likely impact most Korean immigrants, who generally entered the country through proper immigration channels. They advise individuals to consult with immigration attorneys if they have concerns or need guidance.

For further assistance, the Korean American Council operates an immigrant assistance hotline available 24/7, providing support and resources for individuals facing immigration-related challenges.

Democratic Congressman Suggests Annexing D.C. to Maryland

Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the pressure on Washington, D.C., a Democratic stronghold, has been mounting. During the first Trump administration, the city faced strong pushback, including pressure to remove the Black Lives Matter Plaza, a prominent symbol of the movement in front of the White House. Federal aid cuts were even used as a weapon to encourage compliance. In this charged political environment, Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) recently suggested, “In order to escape the ravages of the Trump administration, let’s annex D.C. to Maryland.” While the proposal may seem like an impossible joke, it is not the first time Raskin has raised the idea.

Washington, D.C. was created in 1790 when land was transferred from Virginia and Maryland to establish a federal district. The U.S. capital moved from Philadelphia to D.C. in 1800. Since its establishment, there have been various proposals to include the district in neighbouring Maryland for administrative convenience. In fact, a bill was proposed as early as 1803, but none of these efforts have succeeded.

While Raskin’s proposal garners attention, D.C. residents have been pushing for a different solution. Instead of being annexed by Maryland, they are advocating for statehood, which would provide them with full representation in Congress. According to the D.C. mayor’s office, 86% of residents supported statehood in a 2016 referendum. Residents expressed a clear desire to advance their rights as citizens, stating, “We do not want to go backwards. Our clear goal is to become a state.”

Tensions have further escalated with recent legislative actions. Last weekend, Republican members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill that would treat Washington, D.C. like a federal agency, slashing its funding to the 2024 level. If passed, this bill would cut approximately $1 billion in funding to the D.C. government over the next six months. This move has heightened the demand among D.C. residents for federal representation, as they continue to fight for greater political autonomy and recognition.

Microplastics “Decrease Male Reproductive Function”

A recent study has found that long-term consumption of microplastics, commonly found in plastic bottled beverages such as water bottles, can negatively impact male reproductive development. Pukyung National University announced the findings of a research paper led by doctoral students Seungjin Jeong and Surye Park, along with professors Bomi Ryu and Seungjun Lee from the Department of Food and Nutrition. The study was published in the January issue of the prestigious academic journal Advanced Science.

The research team conducted an experiment where microplastics were ingested weekly by infant rat models for a period of 29 weeks. They then comprehensively analysed the microstructure of testicular and epididymal tissues, blood testosterone levels, sperm concentration and motility, and changes in ribonucleic acid (RNA) transcriptomes. The results showed a marked decrease in sperm concentration and motility, along with simultaneous inhibition of sperm production and maturation.

Through transcriptome analysis, the research team identified the molecular mechanisms by which the continuous ingestion of microplastics suppresses the expression of male hormones and genes related to meiosis, the process of cell division that leads to sperm production. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to microplastics could directly lead to a decline in reproductive function.

The research team highlighted the significance of their study, noting that it scientifically clarifies the potential long-term risks of commonly used PET bottle materials on human health. They called for further research to more precisely understand the effects of microplastics on reproductive health and to integrate these findings into improving environmental and health policies. The study was supported by the Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Foundation, the National Pukyong National University New Researcher Challenge Support Project, and the Korea Basic Science Institute Joint Research Project.

Fairfax County Teacher Shortage Eases Significantly

The long-standing teacher shortage in Fairfax County, Virginia, has improved considerably, with the number of vacancies now at an all-time low. According to ABC7 News, after four years of efforts by the county’s office of education to address the shortage, over 90% of current teachers remain in the district, and the vacancy rate has dropped to just 1%.

To address the issue, the county has implemented several measures aimed at boosting teacher morale and retention. These efforts include raising teacher salaries, investing in professional development, offering day contracts for special education teachers, and bringing in international teacher ambassadors. Additionally, the county has introduced a plan that allows individuals with bachelor’s degrees, but without teaching licenses, to receive certification if they are working as substitute teachers or educational assistants in schools.

Fairfax County currently employs between 4,500 to 5,000 substitute teachers across all levels of its school system. Furthermore, the county recently conducted a survey of school staff regarding their return for the next academic year. The results revealed that 96% of respondents indicated they plan to return to work in the coming year, further indicating the positive impact of these measures.

‘Deal Suspicion’ Over Tysons Casino Push

As legislation to build a casino in Tysons, Virginia, advances, allegations of backroom dealings have emerged. It is claimed that the casino developer, Comstock Holding Companies, funded research at George Mason University to commission a report that would support the casino bill. This issue was first reported last month by Virginia Politics Revealed, sparking a wave of criticism from various political figures.

Alex Badtani, an attorney for one of the Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor, strongly criticized the situation, describing it as “a backroom deal suspected of collusion, a fraud not policy, and an act of selling out the future of Virginia for money.”

Terry Clower, a professor at George Mason University, had expressed scepticism about the construction of the Fairfax Casino in 2023 but participated in a panel discussion advocating for the casino’s development in 2025. Media outlets have raised questions about a potential deal between the university and the developer in exchange for research funding, and an investigation is reportedly underway, using emails exchanged between the two parties as evidence.

US Executive Order 9066 and Trump’s Executive Order Rule

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, D.C. has been hosting a special exhibition since November of last year that focuses on the works of three Japanese American female painters. Titled “Pictures of Belonging,” the exhibition highlights the contributions of Miki Hayakana (1899–1953), Hisako Hibi (1907–1991), and Mine Okubo (1912–2001). The exhibition aims to restore the artistic legacy of these individuals, who were undervalued during a time of racial exclusion. These three painters share the harrowing experience of being incarcerated in internment camps or being forcibly relocated under Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in February 1942, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Executive Order 9066 allowed the U.S. government to relocate civilians from military areas, but it was specifically applied to Japanese Americans. Beginning in March 1942, Japanese Americans in military areas like California were detained in “assembly centres” under the guise of a forced evacuation. This affected artists such as Hibi and Okubo. Hayakana, on the other hand, avoided internment by relocating to New Mexico, a place where she had no prior connections. According to the National Archives, around 125,000 people, including 70,000 U.S. citizens, were detained in camps under this order.

The executive order came during the heightened fears of Japanese American collusion with the enemy in the Pacific War. Strangely, no forced internment occurred in Hawaii, which was geographically closer to Japan and where Japanese Americans made up 40% of the population. The National Archives notes that before the executive order, Japanese Americans in the western U.S. were economically competitive, and anti-immigrant groups were lobbying Congress for stricter measures. This came at a time when the U.S. was also engaged in a fierce war against Nazi Germany, with about 11,000 German residents in the U.S. also interned, though under individual investigations based on the Alien Enemies Act. This raise concerns that Executive Order 9066 was driven not by military necessity, but by racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.

The discriminatory nature of the order has been criticized, especially since it disproportionately targeted Asian Americans. In 1982, the U.S. federal government concluded that the internment measures were not a result of military necessity but were instead based on racial prejudice and wartime paranoia. Executive Order 9066 remains one of the most infamous executive orders in U.S. history.

Executive orders have been a tool used by U.S. presidents since the nation’s founding, with each president wielding executive power granted by Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution. While some executive orders serve symbolic purposes, others bypass legislative processes and circumvent Congress. Former President Franklin Roosevelt, who served from 1933 to 1945, holds the record for the most executive orders, signing 3,721 during his presidency. President Donald Trump, in contrast, issued 220 executive orders during his four years in office, with 58 of those signed in the first two weeks of his second term, surpassing the average number of annual executive orders.

Trump’s executive orders spanned a wide array of topics, including immigration, energy, diplomacy, and national defence. Some of these orders, such as those attempting to end birthright citizenship, were viewed as unconstitutional or contrary to Supreme Court precedents. However, these orders are being challenged in courts, reflecting concerns about their potential impact on the system of checks and balances that is central to U.S. democracy. As a result, there is growing anxiety over the long-term consequences of President Trump’s “executive order rule” and the potential erosion of democratic principles.

U.S. Airport Air Traffic Controller Shortage

The recent crash and collision of a passenger plane and a helicopter in Washington, D.C. has brought the issue of air traffic controller shortages into sharp focus. Washington, D.C. is notorious for its complex air traffic environment, with frequent flights at civilian airports, military bases, and helicopters carrying high-ranking government officials. However, the lack of air traffic control personnel in the area has raised concerns about safety. This shortage is not isolated to the Washington, D.C. region but is widespread across the United States.

According to a report by The New York Times (NYT), data from the controllers’ union revealed that as of early January, 91% (285) of the 313 air traffic control facilities in the U.S., including control towers, were below the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) recommended staffing levels. Among these, 73 facilities were found to have a quarter of their staff positions unfilled. This widespread staffing issue has highlighted the strain placed on the nation’s air traffic control system.

Two control facilities on Long Island—responsible for managing air traffic at major international airports like New York’s JFK, LaGuardia, and New Jersey’s Newark—were reported to be operating with 40% of their staff vacant. Additionally, an internal preliminary report from the FAA revealed that, at the time of the recent accident, Reagan National Airport’s control operations were concentrated in the hands of just one person, further underscoring the challenges of managing air traffic with insufficient staff.