Resume, job interview, Office of Personnel Management, federal workforce — (Photo: Alex Green/Pexels)

by Sidnee Michelle

August 7, 2026

After Workforce Cuts, Trump Administration Launches New Push To Recruit Tech, Early-Career Talent

The initiative could create additional opportunities for recent graduates and early-career professionals.

The Trump administration and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are directing federal agencies to ramp up recruitment of early-career professionals and technology workers as it prepares for fiscal year 2027, signaling a shift toward targeted hiring after months of workforce reductions across the federal government, according to Federal News Network.

According to the outlet, a July 30 memorandum from the OPM instructs agencies to make early-career employees account for at least one-third of all federal hires during fiscal year 2027. The guidance also calls for expanded recruitment of technology professionals and broader use of governmentwide hiring tools designed to speed up the hiring process.

The initiative could create additional opportunities for recent graduates and early-career professionals seeking federal employment, particularly in technology, cybersecurity, and other mission-critical fields.

OPM said agencies should recruit through programs including the Pathways Program, the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program, and the recently launched USAJobs early-career talent network. The agency is also expanding its Tech Force initiative, which aims to hire about 1,000 employees for temporary two-year technology positions. About 300 recruits have joined the program so far, an OPM spokesperson told the outlet.

“Many agencies have gone on college campuses in the past, so nothing we’re doing here is brand new,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said. “But what we haven’t done is have a concerted effort where we can actually capture all those individuals in a talent network and then share those individuals pan-government.”

The hiring effort comes after a significant contraction in the federal workforce. According to the publication, the government has experienced a net loss of about 271,600 employees since early 2025, following widespread workforce reductions and limited hiring. OPM workforce data also shows the share of federal employees younger than 30 declined from about 9% in 2024 to 8% in 2025.

At the same time, hiring activity remains subdued. According to OPM data, USAJobs postings fell 42.8% between 2024 and 2025, and roughly three-quarters of the approximately 12,800 current job openings are concentrated within the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

The administration is also expanding the use of shared hiring certificates, with a goal of filling at least 60% of federal positions through the process in 2027. Under the system, OPM creates centralized lists of qualified applicants that multiple agencies can use instead of conducting separate recruitment efforts.

“OPM is trying to be the top of the funnel and really do a very big outbound recruiting effort for those roles,” Kupor told the outlet.

The July 30 memo also directs agencies to prioritize hiring outside the Washington metropolitan area and incorporate validated technical assessments into all hiring evaluations. Agencies are expected to complete detailed hiring forecasts before the start of fiscal year 2027 as OPM and the Office of Management and Budget review governmentwide staffing plans.

Wendy's, Fast food, AI — Photo by Chris Potter/Flickr

by Sidnee Michelle

August 7, 2026

Wendy’s Manager Earns Full Ride To Yale After Boss Invests In His Future

Thalles Winner DeSouza will enroll at Yale this fall after earning admission in May 2026.

A former Wendy’s shift manager who immigrated to the United States after fleeing gun violence in Brazil is preparing to attend Yale University on a full scholarship after two franchise owners helped pay for his college education, The New York Post reports.

According to the outlet, Thalles Winner DeSouza will enroll at Yale this fall after earning admission in May 2026. His acceptance follows years of academic achievement and financial support from Cape Cod Wendy’s franchise owners Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Ernest Smily, who encouraged him to pursue higher education instead of leaving the company for a higher-paying construction job.

El-Sehrawey told TODAY.com that when DeSouza shared plans to leave Wendy’s to save money for college, he urged him to stay and promised to help make college possible. The franchise owners began setting aside money based on the hours DeSouza worked, eventually covering three years of tuition at Cape Cod Community College.

“At the time, I had no idea how much that opportunity would change my life,” DeSouza wrote in a Facebook post published July 28.

While attending Cape Cod Community College, DeSouza earned straight A’s, founded a campus religious club, and served as student body president for two years. He later transferred to Bunker Hill Community College before applying to Yale. According to the Yale Daily News, the university admits roughly 2% of transfer applicants.

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Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, DeSouza said his family moved to the United States in 2016 after he survived a shooting inside their home. He was 13 and did not speak English when he arrived.

DeSouza said Yale awarded him a full scholarship valued at more than $194,500. He plans to major in political science, minor in human rights, and follow a pre-law track as he works toward becoming an attorney.

El-Sehrawey told the outlet that he wanted to recognize DeSouza’s determination and work ethic despite the challenges he faced after immigrating to the United States.

Reflecting on his journey, DeSouza credited the franchise owners for believing in his potential.

“Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you,” he wrote. “I’m living proof of that.”

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by Sidnee Michelle

August 7, 2026

HBCU Alumni Survey Finds Graduates Outperform National Benchmarks

70% of recent HBCU graduates are thriving in their everyday lives

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to deliver strong career and life outcomes for graduates, according to a new national study that found recent HBCU alumni outperform national benchmarks in workplace engagement, well-being, and satisfaction with their college experience, Yahoo Finance reports.

The findings come from the first installment of “Proof of Promise: The Lasting Value and Impact of an HBCU Education,” a study released Aug. 4 by the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, the research arm of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, in partnership with Gallup. The report examines graduates from 40 four-year HBCUs who earned degrees between 2010 and 2025. Researchers say it is the largest study of HBCU alumni conducted to date and is part of a three-part project that will eventually include data from 64 institutions and more than 500,000 documented alumni contacts.

The report found that 70% of recent HBCU graduates are thriving in their everyday lives, according to Gallup’s well-being measure, compared with 46% of Black adults nationwide. It also found that 83% reported a strong sense of belonging during college, exceeding the national average of 65% among college graduates. Nearly three-quarters, or 72%, said they would recommend their alma mater to others, while 79% said their education was worth the cost.

The study also highlighted strong workforce outcomes. Nearly half of HBCU alumni surveyed, 46%, reported being engaged at work, compared with 31% of U.S. workers nationally. More than half of respondents secured employment within two months of graduation, including 39% who had accepted a job before earning their degree. Engineering graduates reported the strongest employment outcomes, with a 70% placement rate within two months of graduation.

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Researchers also identified opportunities for continued professional development. Alumni most frequently cited networking, public speaking, and generative artificial intelligence as the skills they want to strengthen as their careers advance.

While graduates who earned degrees between 2021 and 2025 reported a lower sense of belonging than earlier cohorts, researchers said their results remained above the national average, suggesting HBCUs continued to foster strong campus communities despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This research validates what HBCU graduates have experienced for generations,” Dr. M.C. Brown II, executive director of the Payne Research Center, said in a statement. “The data clearly demonstrate that HBCUs are producing graduates who are succeeding in the workforce.”

The study’s second installment is scheduled for release in summer 2027 and will expand the research to include earlier graduating classes, allowing for multigenerational comparisons. A third report, expected in summer 2028, will incorporate focus groups and interviews to examine the experiences behind the data.

T-Pain, T-Pain Lane — (Photo: Julia Beverly)

by Selena Hill

August 7, 2026

T-Pain Explains Why He Cashed Out His Music Catalog

The hitmaker says selling his music catalog wasn't about chasing another bag—it was about protecting his family's financial future.

T-Pain isn’t losing sleep over folks questioning why he sold his music catalog. As far as he’s concerned, the math was mathing.

The Grammy Award-winning artist recently revealed that he sold his publishing catalog and select master recording rights to HarbourView Equity Partners in a deal reportedly worth $100 million, not because he needed a quick payday, but because he refused to leave his children’s financial future in the hands of an industry he believes has repeatedly shortchanged artists, reports PEOPLE

During a Twitch livestream, the “Buy U a Drank” hitmaker didn’t sugarcoat his reasoning.

“I’m not leaving my kids’ future in the hands of the music industry at f—in’ all,” T-Pain said. “I know exactly what I want. I know exactly how much I want right now. I know exactly what I would need to live out the rest of my life.”

The artist, who was born Faheem Rashad Najm, pointed to the streaming era as the game changer that pushed him toward selling. According to T-Pain, artists never agreed to the dramatic shift in how music is valued once streaming platforms became the industry’s dominant business model.

“When streaming started, nobody came to any artist and said, ‘Hey, we’re about to put your s— on streaming platforms. How much do you want your music to cost?'” he said, adding that music once sold for about a dollar a song but now generates fractions of a cent per stream.

When HarbourView Equity acquired the catalog in 2025, T-Pain called the partnership “the next chapter” of his career, saying he looked forward to preserving the legacy of his music while making sure it continued reaching new audiences. That means T-Pain wasn’t chasing another flex; rather, he was playing the long game.

In an era where ownership is king but predictability is priceless, the singer made it clear that generational wealth hits different when you cash out on your own terms.

artificial intelligence, ai, deepfakes, scammers, digital identity theft — Photo by ismagilov/Getty Images

by Sidnee Michelle

August 7, 2026

AI Is Put On Blast For Stealing Creators’ Faces, Businesses Could Suffer

The consequences are real

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making it easier for scammers to impersonate online creators, raising concerns about lost income, damaged reputations, and limited legal protections for entrepreneurs whose digital identities are stolen, PC Mag reports.

Is AI Participating In Digital Identity Theft

According to the outlet, creators across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube say AI-generated copycat accounts are repurposing their videos, altering their appearances, and using their likenesses to promote products or spread misinformation, exposing gaps in how social media platforms respond to AI-powered impersonation.

Among those affected is fitness creator Marsha Dunkel, who has built an Instagram following of about 1.2 million with partner Antoine Gillet. The couple told the magazine they discovered AI-generated versions of Dunkel circulating online after followers alerted them. Dunkel said one impersonator threatened to report her account after she requested the fraudulent content be removed, prompting concerns that even a temporary suspension could disrupt their business.

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The outlet also reported that fitness coach Abbey Reynolds, musician Sophie Burrell, and YouTube creator Rhett Shull have publicly documented similar experiences with AI-generated impersonation.

For creators, influencers, and small business owners, the consequences can extend beyond social media. Impersonation can undermine consumer trust, jeopardize brand partnerships, and divert revenue from legitimate businesses built around a creator’s personal brand.

Legal protections have yet to catch up with the technology. Thomas Dunlap, a partner at intellectual property law firm Dunlap, Bennett & Ludwig, told the outlet that federal law remains limited when it comes to commercial deepfakes. He pointed to the proposed No Fakes Act, which would create federal protections against the unauthorized AI use of a person’s voice or likeness if enacted.

“We just don’t have the law yet around regular deepfakes, especially when it comes to commercial stuff,” Dunlap told the publication.

Until broader protections are in place, Dunlap recommended documenting evidence, reporting impersonating accounts to social media platforms, notifying audiences through official channels, consulting an intellectual property attorney, and reporting serious incidents to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Google told the magazine that YouTube offers tools to detect and remove unauthorized AI-generated content, while Meta did not respond to the publication’s request for comment.

Nicole Lynn, Klutch Sports, Bijan Robinson, NFL, running back, Atlanta Falcons — PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 08: Nicole Lynn speaks during the 2023 Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at Mesa Arts Center on February 08, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)

by Selena Hill

August 7, 2026

Nicole Lynn Secures Historic $75 Million NFL Deal For Bijan Robinson

The sports agent continues to reshape the business of football after negotiating another record-breaking NFL contract.

Nicole Lynn is proving once again that she’s one of the most powerful executives in professional sports.

The 37-year-old sports agent, who serves as the president of football operations at Klutch Sports, negotiated a historic three-year contract extension for Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson worth up to $75 million, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The deal includes $51 million guaranteed and a $37 million signing bonus. The blockbuster agreement further solidifies Lynn’s reputation as one of the few Black women leading negotiations at the highest levels of professional sports—a space historically dominated by men.

Lynn celebrated the milestone with her now-signature social media message encouraging clients to “secure the bag,” a phrase that has become synonymous with many of her landmark negotiations. Earlier this year, she used the same slogan after helping New York Jets running back Breece Hall secure a three-year $45.75 million extension.

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Robinson, 24, earned the massive payday after a dominant 2025 campaign in which he led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage, scored 11 touchdowns and earned first-team All-Pro honors, reports Yahoo Sports. Since entering the league as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he has emerged as one of football’s premier offensive weapons.

The latest deal adds to Lynn’s growing résumé as one of sports’ premier negotiators. She is also the longtime agent for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. In 2023, she negotiated Hurts’ five-year $255 million contract extension, which made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.

Lynn also made history as the first Black woman to represent a player in the Super Bowl when Hurts led the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl LVII. The milestone cemented her place as a trailblazer in an industry where Black women remain significantly underrepresented in executive leadership and athlete representation.

From negotiating Jalen Hurts’ record-setting quarterback contract to now resetting the running back market with Bijan Robinson’s extension, Lynn has repeatedly demonstrated the power of strategic negotiation and executive leadership.

retirement, savings, social security, financial planning — Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-counting-money-6694530/

by Selena Hill

August 7, 2026

Financial Planners Say These Purchases Actually Build Wealth—And These Don’t

The smartest spending habits aren't about keeping up with TikTok trends; they're about protecting your health, time, and financial future.

TikTok has become the latest destination for consumers sharing the products and experiences they believe are “always worth the money,” from luxury skincare and premium airline seats to high-end kitchen gadgets. Certified financial planners, however, say financial success comes from spending with intention, not chasing viral trends.

According to CNBC, experts say the best investments are often the least flashy. Rather than splurging on status symbols, financial planners recommend prioritizing purchases that protect your health, preserve your income, and prevent larger expenses down the road. Preventive medical and dental care, routine home and vehicle maintenance, quality skincare, and everyday wellness products consistently ranked among the smartest financial decisions.

Experts also point to what they call “anything between you and the ground,” which includes quality shoes, mattresses, and office chairs as well as reliable tires—as purchases that deliver long-term value. As Spokane, Washington-based certified financial planner Noah Schwab explained, “The cost per use is pennies, and the alternative eventually shows up as a medical bill.”

Financial experts also stress the importance of buying back your time. Financial planners say services like housecleaning, curbside grocery pickup, or paying someone to handle administrative tasks can create space to focus on higher-value work, family responsibilities, or growing a business.

“Buying back your own time is one of the few purchases that quietly pays you back,” said San Francisco wealth advisor Vishal Kumar.

When it comes to building wealth, planners also emphasize maximizing workplace retirement benefits. Contributing enough to receive a full employer match in a 401(k) remains one of the highest-return financial moves available to many workers.

However, not every purchase falls into a “yes” or “no” category. Experts say term life insurance can be essential for families that depend on a breadwinner’s income, while whole life insurance generally makes sense only for a limited number of high-net-worth households. Likewise, home renovations should be viewed primarily as lifestyle investments rather than guaranteed financial returns. On the other hand, planners warn against spending driven by appearances. Storage units that become long-term holding spaces, forgotten subscription services, and luxury purchases made to impress others often create financial drag instead of lasting value.

“As one of the biggest financial mistakes I see isn’t a specific product—it’s lifestyle inflation driven by comparison,” New Jersey private wealth advisor Brett Hina said. “Buying things primarily to signal success can make it harder to achieve genuine financial independence.”

University of Cambridge and Jesus College (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

by Selena Hill

August 6, 2026

Youngest Black Professor At University Of Cambridge Resigns

Jason Arday, a celebrated sociology professor, stepped down after Cambridge opened a new inquiry into his academic qualifications.

Professor Jason Arday’s rise through British academia symbolized perseverance, representation, and possibility. Now, the sociologist who made history as the University of Cambridge’s youngest Black professor has resigned as the institution launches a new investigation into allegations involving his academic record and professional credentials.

Arday announced his resignation Wednesday, saying the intense public scrutiny surrounding the allegations had become unsustainable.

“It is with profound sadness that I write to resign, with immediate effect, from my position at the University of Cambridge and Jesus College,” he wrote in a statement published on the Good Law Project website. “The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love. There comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great.”

He added that stepping away would allow him to prioritize his well-being after months of public scrutiny.

“I need space to heal, to reflect, and to rebuild away from the glare of public scrutiny.”

According to The Guardian, Cambridge confirmed it has begun investigating “new information” related to Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments. The university also said separate complaints concerning alleged research misconduct remain under review under its existing policies.

The resignation follows months of scrutiny over claims that portions of Arday’s doctoral dissertation and published research contained unattributed material. Arday has consistently denied committing plagiarism, pointing to previous institutional reviews, including one by Liverpool John Moores University, which did not find evidence of academic misconduct. The university also concluded any citation issues were likely the result of “honest and reasonable error.”

Beyond plagiarism allegations, recent reports have questioned aspects of Arday’s résumé, fundraising claims, and honorary academic appointments. Cambridge has not disclosed the nature of the newly received information prompting its latest investigation.

Arday became an internationally recognized figure in 2023 after his appointment to Cambridge, drawing widespread attention for his story of overcoming autism, dyslexia, and developmental delays before building a distinguished academic career focused on race, education, and social mobility. His appointment was widely celebrated as a milestone for Black representation within one of the world’s most prestigious universities, where Black professors remain significantly underrepresented.

Despite stepping down, Arday said he remains committed to the values that shaped his academic career.

“My belief in education, scholarship and the transformative power of opportunity remains unshaken, and I hope to return to academic life in the future.”

He also maintained that his resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.

“Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.”

Dr. Erica Schwartz (Photo Credit: public domain)

by Selena Hill

August 6, 2026

Dr. Erica Schwartz Becomes The 1st Black Woman Confirmed As CDC Director

The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control, putting a seasoned public health veteran in charge of the agency

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a new boss.

The U.S. Senate voted 51-44 to confirm Dr. Erica Schwartz as the CDC’s next director, making her the first Black woman to hold this position. The confirmation ends nearly a year of revolving-door leadership at the nation’s top public health agency. It also gives the Trump administration a rare policy win while placing one of its most experienced public health veterans in charge of an agency facing no shortage of smoke, reports Reuters.

Schwartz, a physician, attorney, retired rear admiral, and former deputy surgeon general, has a proven track record of navigating high-pressure situations. Her résumé includes serving as the U.S. Coast Guard’s chief medical officer and overseeing health operations across the military branch before moving into executive healthcare leadership, reports the AP News. Still, she’s inheriting a whole lot more than a new office.

The CDC has spent the last year battling leadership turnover, declining employee morale, staffing reductions, and mounting public scrutiny while responding to a resurgence of measles, international Ebola outbreaks, and significant foodborne illness concerns. That’s a heavy lift for any executive, let alone the first permanent CDC director in nearly a year.

During her confirmation hearing, Schwartz pledged to restore public confidence through what she called “radical transparency” and “unwavering scientific integrity.” She also voiced support for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, though lawmakers pressed her repeatedly on whether she would push back against political interference in public health decisions.

“The issue at hand is not complicated,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, who opposed her nomination, at the July hearing. “Will we have people in the Trump administration who have the guts to stand up to people who are anti-science and into conspiracy theories?”

Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, who serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, also showed concern about Schwartz’s stance on supporting science.

“We need a CDC director that will actually stand up to crazy, stupid things being said that undermine faith in immunization,” Cassidy said during the hearing, according to The Hill.

Cassidy ultimately decided to support Schwartz’s nomination after the CDC updated its website about vaccines and autism to address his objections.

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by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 6, 2026

How Wealthy Families Use Life Insurance Trusts To Cut Estate Taxes

Estate taxes can create challenges for families whose wealth is tied up in illiquid assets.

High-net-worth families facing large estate tax bills may be able to preserve more of their wealth by using an irrevocable life insurance trust, or ILIT, a strategy that can provide heirs with liquidity to pay taxes without forcing the sale of businesses, real estate, or other assets, Business Insider reports.

Estate taxes can create challenges for families whose wealth is tied up in illiquid assets. Rather than requiring beneficiaries to sell investments or family-owned companies to cover federal estate taxes, an ILIT allows a life insurance policy’s death benefit to be held outside of the taxable estate when structured correctly.

Currently, the federal estate tax applies at a 40% rate to taxable estates exceeding the federal exemption amount. Because the trust, not the individual, owns the policy, the insurance proceeds are generally excluded from the taxable estate, potentially saving qualifying families millions of dollars in taxes.

“It’s low-hanging fruit,” Robert Strauss, a partner at law firm Weinstock Manion, told the outlet. “It succeeds in removing the insurance from the estate.”

Beyond covering estate tax liabilities, ILITs can give grantors greater control over how inherited wealth is distributed. The trust can specify when and how beneficiaries receive assets, such as limiting distributions to education expenses or other approved purposes instead of unrestricted access to the funds.

The trusts may also provide an added layer of protection from creditors or divorce proceedings, depending on state law, according to Dan Griffith, director of wealth strategy at Huntington Bank, the outlet reports.

To qualify for the tax benefits, however, an ILIT must be carefully structured. The trust must own the life insurance policy and be named as its beneficiary. Estate planning attorneys often recommend having the trust purchase the policy rather than transferring an existing one, since policies transferred into an ILIT may still be included in the taxable estate if the insured dies within three years of the transfer.

Grantors also typically make annual cash contributions to the trust so it can pay policy premiums. Those contributions may qualify for the annual federal gift tax exclusion if trustees follow IRS rules, including notifying beneficiaries of their temporary right to withdraw the funds through what’s known as a Crummey notice.

Failing to provide those notices can jeopardize the trust’s tax treatment and potentially pull the insurance proceeds back into the taxable estate.

Financial experts also caution that ILITs are not appropriate for everyone.

Permanent life insurance policies, which are commonly used with these trusts, often carry significantly higher premiums than term life insurance. Estate planning professionals recommend evaluating whether the coverage aligns with a family’s long-term wealth transfer goals before establishing an ILIT.