President Donald Trump has announced the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education, stating that this is a necessary step in streamlining federal government operations.

The Department, which oversees federal student loans for college and university students, provides assistance to low-income students, and funds schools to facilitate programs for students with disabilities, will be officially dissolved as quickly as possible, according to the President's statement.

The White House argues that eliminating the department will improve student testing outcomes and yield significant savings.

However, critics, including some Democratic lawmakers, warn that this decision could leave marginalized students without essential support services needed for their education.

They assert that such funding is critical for underprivileged groups who rely on federal assistance.

This directive is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration aimed at reducing the size of the federal government, a strategy that has seen several agencies scrutinized and subjected to cuts in various capacities.

In a related development, Serbia's government has established an SOS hotline to address outbreaks of the infectious disease, foot-and-mouth disease.

The first meeting of the crisis headquarters for the prevention and eradication of the virus was held, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management.

This hotline, operational through the Veterinary Directorate, enables citizens to seek information about foot-and-mouth disease, preventive measures, and actions to take in suspected cases, with a goal of prompt response and containment.

Reports on the current situation and planned future activities will be sent weekly to the crisis team by the Veterinary Directorate, with the team meeting at least once a month.

Currently, no suspicions or confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported in Serbia, with the last case documented in 1996 in Kosovo and Metohija.

However, due to confirmed outbreaks in Germany and Hungary earlier in the year, the Serbian government is taking proactive measures to mitigate any potential risk.

Aleksandar Martinović, the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that the government is acting swiftly in response to the first infection case in Germany, issuing an order to prevent the disease's entry into Serbia.

An appeal has been made to farmers and stakeholders in livestock sectors to adhere to the guidelines and ensure that animal health is prioritized.

The newly issued order includes a ban on importing and transporting live domestic and wild ungulates, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, and other animal products for human consumption from nations where the disease is suspected or confirmed.

These measures currently apply to Germany and Hungary and may be adjusted depending on ongoing risk assessments.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects a wide range of susceptible animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, moose, antelope, and bison.

The disease spreads through infected or contaminated livestock, products, or even via the wind, posing a significant risk of economic losses and potential trade limitations if outbreaks occur.

The activities undertaken by the government align with the regulations governing crisis management to address animal infectious disease outbreaks, emphasizing the necessity to protect both animal and human health while maintaining Serbia's status as disease-free in this regard.

Moreover, the Veterinary Directorate has prepared an operational manual in line with national regulations and EU protocols, aimed at improving preparedness for potential outbreaks.