Trump Admin Restores Tougher Citizenship Test Scrapped By Biden
Trump Admin Restores Tougher Citizenship Test Scrapped By Biden
The Trump administration is reviving a tougher version of the civics test that all prospective U.S. citizens must pass, as part of what officials describe as a “multi-step overhaul” of the naturalization process.
The changes, 
on Sept. 17, largely restore the Naturalization Civics Test to a longer, tougher format implemented in late 2020, near the end of President Donald Trump’s first term. That version was discarded in 2021, shortly after President Joe Biden took office.
Under the revised test, applicants will need to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly, rather than six out of 10, according to a
from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The pool of potential .pdf
has also been expanded from 100 to 128, with fewer that have simple, sometimes one-word answers. Officials say that about 75 percent of the questions remain the same or similar, and the other 25 percent covers new material.
The new questions include ones on the 10th Amendment, the significance of the Federalist Papers, the achievements of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the nature of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the meaning of the national motto “E pluribus unum,” and examples of American innovation, such as the light bulb and the moon landing.
Some existing questions have altered acceptable answers. For instance, the current model answer to “Who does a U.S. Senator represent?” is “all people of the state.” On the revised test, the correct answer is limited to “citizens” of the state.
As before, the test will be given orally during an applicant’s citizenship interview. A key difference, however, is that immigration officers will be required to ask only as many questions as needed to determine whether an applicant has passed or failed.
The current rule requires them to ask all 20 questions, even if the outcome might already be clear.
The new test will apply to applicants who file on or after Oct. 20.
“American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should only be reserved for aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles as a nation,” USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said in the Sept. 17 statement announcing the changes.
He added that the revisions are necessary so that “the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America’s greatness.”
“These critical changes are the first of many,” Tragesser said.
The current version of the civics test was introduced in 2008. Applicants who fail are given one additional opportunity to pass. Those who are at least 65 years old and have lived in the United States as permanent residents for 20 years or more may take a simplified test drawn from a pool of just 20 questions, in their preferred language.
According to USCIS, as of 2022, more than 92 percent of applicants 
the test on their first attempt.
Director of USCIS Joseph Edlow has argued that the test is “just too easy” and suggested it might be better to shift from an oral exam to a written, standardized format.
“We’re going to make the test harder in terms of making the questions a little bit more thought-provoking,” Edlow 
at a Sept. 4 event hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, adding that he is “looking at other potential ways to move forward.”
“Applicants would come in a different day and actually have to do that, and write an essay on what does it mean to me to be an American, and let’s see what people actually understand.
“Because being able to be coached through this process right now is not something that should be allowed and that should be that easy. And I’m seeing it, unfortunately.”
Fri, 09/19/2025 - 12:25
The Epoch Times
Trump Admin Restores Tougher Citizenship Test Scrapped by Biden
The pool of potential questions has also been expanded to 128 from 100, with fewer having simple answers.
The changes, USCIS
USCIS Unveils First Changes to Naturalization Test in Multi-Step Overhaul of American Citizenship Standards
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted a Federal Register notice announcing implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics test.
Federal Register :: Request Access
USCIS
Naturalization Test Performance | USCIS
Section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires naturalization applicants to demonstrate an understanding of the English language...
CIS.org
Immigration Newsmaker Transcript: A Conversation with USCIS Director Joseph Edlow
Transcript: Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), was featured in an Immigration Newsmaker conversation host...
Tyler Durden | Zero Hedge
Zero Hedge
Trump Admin Restores Tougher Citizenship Test Scrapped By Biden | ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
Things did not go well for her from the start (
The timing was flagged as, at best, tone deaf in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk by a shooter who wrote fascist references on his bullets and was clearly radicalized by such rage rhetoric.
For me, the timing was most notable in how Weingarten and Clinton are again pushing their extreme rhetoric as a new report emerged showing the utter failure of our schools to actually educate our children. Weingarten and Clinton cannot be bothered by the long-standing declines in education. They are returning to the three Rs: Republicans, Rage, and Recrimination.
Weingarten is “credited” with turning the teacher’s union into an extension of the Democratic Party, often appearing at political rallies with her signature high-volume screeds:
Clinton pushed the use of education to paint opponents as fascists: “Congratulations to my friend [Weingarten] on ‘Why Fascists Fear Teachers.’ From banning books to controlling curriculum, authoritarians go after public education because it’s a cornerstone of democracy.”
Schools have become the cornerstone of a political strategy as opposed to actual education. As Weingarten and Clinton were pushing the fascism attacks, a new study showed just how badly teacher’s unions and administrators have failed our students.
While Weingarten and other unions have 
Xi stipulated that the TikTok dispute should be resolved via 'market rules', according to state media - again, suggesting he's open to the US plan.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that negotiators recently reached a framework agreement on the popular social media app's ownership - however key questions remain even as talks appear to near toward a goal line.
Significantly, this is the first time the two have spoken directly since June, amid an ongoing standoff over trade restrictions centered on vital industries such as semiconductors and rare earths.
As for Trump's initial reaction, he quickly posted on Truth social that "progress" was made on trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and brining the Russia-Ukraine war to an end.
He went so far as to hail the call as "a very good" one and that "[I] appreciate the TikTok approval."
developing...
Key deadlines outlined in the order include:
30 days: DOE was required to initiate voluntary agreements with domestic nuclear companies to secure fuel supply chains.
90 days: DOE had to update its uranium management policy, aligning it with national security and energy independence goals.
120 days (this Saturday, September 20, 2025): A plan to expand domestic uranium conversion and enrichment capacity was due, along with steps from the Departments of Labor and Education to boost training and apprenticeships in nuclear energy careers.
240 days: DOE, working with Defense and other agencies, must deliver a comprehensive report to the President. This report is expected to recommend a national policy for managing spent nuclear fuel, evaluate recycling and reprocessing programs, and propose ways to strengthen U.S. nuclear supply chains and waste disposal strategies.
The executive order also set ambitious goals for the industry: adding 5 gigawatts of power uprates to existing reactors and ensuring that 10 new large reactors are under construction by 2030.
The results due this week—particularly the 240-day report—are seen as critical for shaping the nation’s nuclear energy strategy for the next decade. Policymakers, industry leaders, and international observers will be watching closely to see whether the administration’s push translates into actionable steps and sustained investment.
Certainly, the stock market seems to think so today. And we believe that if implemented successfully, the order could mark the most significant federal intervention in the U.S. nuclear industry in decades, aiming to ensure energy independence, strengthen national security, and secure America’s role in the global race for advanced nuclear technology.
To recap, during Kimmel's opening monologue on Monday, he suggested that Tyler Robinson - the 22-year-old charged in the fatal shooting at Utah University - was aligned with conservatives. “The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them."
By Wednesday, he was fired - leading to cries of censorship and 'free speech' by the left, which is hilarious.
Yet, according to an insider report by the Wall Street Journal, Kimmel's ouster was prompted by an immediate revolt by viewers and affiliate networks including Nexstar, and concerned advertisers.
Advertisers and affiliates soon called the network expressing concern about Kimmel’s show... -
House Republicans, led by House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.), 
While at the BOJ's proposed rate it would take more than a century to sell, stocks fell as it marked the first time the BOJ has laid out a plan for offloading the assets accumulated over years of ultra-easy monetary policy.
Sales could begin early next year, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the matter. In any case, the glacial pace of selling will take a loooooong time because the BOJ is terrified markets can frontrun its liquidations and send the local stock market crashing.
“We won’t be here in 100 years’ time,” Governor Kazuo Ueda said at a post-decision news conference. “But our intention is to keep selling for more than 100 years.” Of course, by then Japan - whose demographic collapse is truly staggering - will be some 60% smaller...
... while its ETF pile will be at best a few percent less.
The 7-2 vote to keep its policy rate at 0.5% also marked the first time there were two dissenters (Takata and Tamura) against a hold decision since Ueda took office in 2023 voting to raise rates instead, showing that pressure is building for Japan to raise interest rates. While the outcome on rates was expected by all 50 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, anticipation for a move is set to build ahead of the next policy meeting on Oct. 29–30. Ueda’s comments during his news conference didn’t obviously rule out an October hike, instead noting that the BOJ still needed to parse various data before making a decision.
After three consecutive rate hikes since the start of 2024, the second of which sparked the biggest crash in Japanese stocks since Lehman, the BOJ has gotten cold feet and kept rates on hold since January.
Following the announcement, BOJ Governor Ueda did not provide much clarity during his press conference, saying Japan's economy is recovering moderately, albeit with some weakness; will continue to raise policy rate if economy and prices move in line with forecast.
On the economy: Downside risks to economy still present.
On policy: Not considering changing pace of ETF sales to adjust monetary policy. Not thinking now of repurchasing ETFs as monetary policy tool. Decision on timing of next rate hike would depend on the risk of US tariff impact materialising and the course of food inflation.
On trade/tariffs: The domestic economy is withstanding tariff impact. Tariff costs likely to be passed down to consumers in the US from November. Not seeing negative impact in Japan's economy from US tariffs.
Overall, it seems that an October move is on the cards assuming that data, October 1st Tankan in focus, presents no surprises and the October 4th LDP leadership contest occurs without a major curveball; helpfully, Ueda is scheduled to speak on October 8th.
“Ueda’s press conference didn’t provide any clear direction. In other words, he didn’t rule out an October rate hike either,” said Hideo Kumano, economist at Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute. “I believe December is the next timing for a rate hike, but I think it’s entirely possible it could happen in October.”
Taken together, Bloomberg writes that "the central bank’s moves Friday highlighted further progress in Ueda’s normalization campaign." Since taking over the reins at the BOJ in spring 2023, the governor has taken multiple steps to unwind the massive easing program conducted under his predecessor Haruhiko Kuroda, and the fate of ETFs was the last major question still remaining.
To put the announcement in context, The BOJ’s ETF holdings are worth around ¥37 trillion by book value and was about ¥70 trillion at market value at the end of March. It became the single biggest holder of Japanese stocks around 2020 during its massive monetary easing program, which ended last year.
While the bank stopped its regular buying of ETFs some time ago, the value of its holdings has continued to rise as the stock market hit record highs earlier this week. The Nikkei 225 has gained around 26% since the start of this fiscal year.
The lack of rate action on Friday was widely expected after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation declaration kicked off a race for his successor, roughly a year after the last leadership election. From an economic perspective, BOJ officials are still assessing the impact of US tariffs both at home and abroad even after Japan managed to solidify its US trade deal, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg earlier. It may be possible to raise rates again this year regardless of domestic political uncertainty given current economic conditions.
Friday’s policy statement reiterated the BOJ’s projection that inflation is likely to be in line with its goal in the second half of its three-year projection period, in another signal of the bank’s continued progress toward another rate hike. Board members Hajime Takata and Naoki Tamura proposed raising rates to 0.75%, each citing a different reason to do with inflation.
“We don’t necessarily have to see all of the data through to the end,” Ueda said on judging the impact of tariffs on the US economy for example. “We probably have no choice but to move based on what we forecast based on data that keep coming in.”
The BOJ's ETF surprise hit Japanese stocks, which erased earlier gains, with the Nikkei-225 gauge closing down 0.6%. Bonds fell, sending yields on two-year and 10-year government bonds higher as expectations increased for a future rate hike from the BOJ. In the swaps market, the chance of a hike by the BOJ at the next meeting at the end of October increased to more than 50%, and the yen made gains against the dollar which were later mostly erased.
d
How can a $3.5 trillion company fail to figure out a more scratch-resistant finish for the covers of its new iPhones?
First of all, Omar seems obsessed with bashing the U.S., with bizarre desires to collapse capitalism, while her home country of Somalia remains an utter wreck. She denounces America, yet has reportedly amassed a 
Hours before the Truth Social post, Trump told reporters on AF1, "I think she should be impeached. I think she's terrible. She should be impeached, and it should happen fast."
🚨 JUST IN: While aboard Air Force One, President Trump calls for Ilhan Omar to be EXPELLED from Congress after she glorified Charlie Kirk’s kiIIing
“She’s from SOMALIA! These people come from a place with NOTHING, and then they tell us how to run our country”
EXPEL AND DEPORT! 
