14 ways Trump administration action has affected Centre County
Multiple articles highlight how Trump administration policies have stirred diverse responses in Centre County, affecting local offices, business practices and educational institutions. Many local entities attribute increased stress to federal decisions, including tariff implementations and immigration enforcement.
In State College, school district officials discussed potential ICE raids in schools, clarifying protocols surrounding law enforcement activity in its schools. The Penn State community has been impacted in several ways, including student visas being revoked and later reinstated. The university also faces possible financial strain due to Trump's H-1B visa fee hikes, which could affect university staffing and local small businesses relying on foreign employees.
Amid these challenges, community organizers rallied, protesting federal climate policies and cuts to youth trans care.
NO. 1: STATE COLLEGE OFFICIALS DISCUSS DISTRICT POLICIES AMID CONCERNS OF ICE RAIDS IN SCHOOLS
“Please know we will do everything legally possible to protect our school communities and the safety of our students, their families and our employees,” Superintendent Curtis Johnson said. | Published January 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto
NO. 2: DOGE TO END 2 LEASES IN STATE COLLEGE AREA, INCLUDING US FISH & WILDLIFE OFFICE. WHAT WE KNOW
The cuts are part of more than 700 leases that DOGE has terminated nationwide in an effort to lower costs. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer
NO. 3: 'CLIMATE CAN'T WAIT.' PENN STATE STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS RALLY AGAINST TRUMP POLICIES
About 50 people attended a climate rally on the HUB lawn. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sofia Miranda
NO. 4: PENN STATE STUDENT VISAS STARTING TO BE REINSTATED AFTER REVERSAL BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
University officials have been in contact with students whose status has been reactivated, Penn State said in a statement. | Published April 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jessica McAllister
NO. 5: CENTRE COUNTY NONPROFIT’S PROGRAM FOR ENTREPRENEURS LOSES $70K IN FEDERAL FUNDING
The funding was lost with the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jacob Michael
NO. 6: CENTRE COUNTY BUSINESS LEADERS SAY TARIFFS HAVE ‘IMMEDIATE AND SIGNIFICANT’ IMPACT
New tariffs could force small businesses to reduce staffing and raise prices, a letter sent to federal legislators says. | Published May 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto
NO. 7: CENTRE COUNTY, STATE COLLEGE ACCUSED BY TRUMP ADMIN OF DEFYING IMMIGRATION LAW
The two were labeled as “sanctuary jurisdictions” by the Department of Homeland Security, meaning their federal funding could potentially be at risk. | Published May 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer
NO. 8: BILL THAT ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING WILL ‘SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT’ WPSU
It will be hard to produce local programming at the same level going forward, a WPSU board member said. | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 9: CENTRE COUNTY BIKE SHOPS HOPE FOR CONTINUED GROWTH DESPITE LOOMING TARIFF THREAT
Tariffs present serious challenges for an industry that relies on foreign imports, but business hasn’t yet slowed much in Centre County. | Published July 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sam Woloson
NO. 10: STATE COLLEGE RALLY PLANNED AS ANOTHER LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEM CUTS YOUTH TRANS CARE
Centre LGBT+ is holding a rally Sunday to demand local health care systems reverse their decisions to not offer gender-affirming care to people under 19, a decision Centre County’s largest health care provider appeared to make only recently. | Published August 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
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NO. 11: HOW CENTRE COUNTY RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS ARE RESPONDING TO GROWING ICE FEARS
Since reclaiming the White House, President Donald Trump has made sweeping changes to immigration policy, sending the U.S. | Published August 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jaden Perry
NO. 12: ICE CONFIRMS 24 ARRESTS ON HIGHWAY IN CENTRE COUNTY, THOUGH QUESTIONS REMAIN
The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement confirmed Monday that its officers arrested two dozen people last week on a highway in Centre County, though several questions remain unanswered. | Published August 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bret Pallotto
NO. 13: THOUSANDS SIGN PENN STATE’S PETITION IN SUPPORT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
As federal funding for research continues to be under attack, Penn State has launched a petition to support such investments that lead to real world impact. | Published August 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 14: TRUMP’S H-1B VISA CHANGES COULD COST PENN STATE, CENTRE COUNTY BUSINESSES MILLIONS
Penn State could be on the hook for millions of dollars in H-1B visa sponsorship payments after President Donald Trump slapped a $100,000 fee on new applications. | Published September 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Trebor Maitin
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.