Articles about Blocks

• U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled on Friday to block the Pentagon's policy mandating media outlets pledge not to gather information without defense officials' formal authorization, siding with The New York Times. • Friedman wrote, 'Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nation’s security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech.' • The decision upholds First Amendment principles amid tensions over government transparency during the shutdown and foreign policy escalations.

• A late-night cloture vote on March 20, 2026, failed to advance the FY-2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, leaving TSA underfunded amid high travel volumes. • Daily TSA passenger throughput exceeds 2.4 million due to spring-break and March Madness demand, with missed connections at 8% versus a normal 1.6%, prompting three-hour early arrivals for domestic flights. • Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer plans a Saturday vote on a TSA-only continuing resolution, but GOP leaders signal they will block it, risking Easter travel chaos.

Lawsuit alleged changes gave DoD free rein to punish reporters and outlets over coverage it did not likeSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration’s restrictive Pentagon press access policy, which threatens journalists with being branded security risks if they seek information not authorized for public release.The lawsuit by the New York Times in the Washington DC federal court alleged that policy changes by the defense department last year gave it free rein to freeze out reporters and news outlets over coverage the department did not like, in violation of the constitution’s protections for free speech and due process. Continue reading...

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, claiming last year's strikes obliterated Iran's nuclear program with no rebuild efforts. • Republican senators blocked a war powers resolution to limit President Trump's Iran attacks, amid questions on an imminent nuclear threat. • Gabbard dodged direct queries during the hearing, drawing criticism from Sen. Jon Ossoff on threat assessments.

Distributor says authorities warned screening Tunisian film-maker Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama could harm India–Israel relationsThe Indian release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Oscar-nominated Tunisian film about the death of a five-year-old girl during the Israel-Gaza war, has been blocked by the country’s ratings body, according to the film’s Indian distributor.In a report by Variety, Manoj Nandwana of Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment said that he was told that if the film was released, it would “break up” India-Israel relations. Continue reading...

• A federal judge on Monday blocked HHS from implementing vaccine policy changes made by RFK Jr.'s revamped CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), reversing all recent decisions. • The ruling leaves unresolved the status of the RSV vaccine for infants, potentially making it no longer free for children who need it, as its inclusion was authorized by the current advisers. • Public health experts are scrambling to understand ramifications, with health groups concerned about unintended harms and weakened vaccination recommendations for hepatitis B and COVID-19.

• A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on Monday to block Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent changes to the nation's childhood vaccine schedule, following a lawsuit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. • The plaintiffs argued that Kennedy's alterations to vaccine recommendations and the influential vaccine advisory committee violated federal law, marking a significant setback to his health policy agenda. • This ruling highlights ongoing tensions between the Department of Health and Human Services and medical organizations over public health guidelines and federal compliance.

• A federal judge in Boston on March 16, 2026, temporarily blocked U.S. health officials from reducing the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines, halting changes announced by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in January. • The ruling stems from a lawsuit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups challenging cuts to flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and RSV vaccines, with ACIP meetings postponed as a result. • Medical organizations hailed the decision as restoring science-based policy, while HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon stated 'HHS looks forward to this judge’s decision being overturned,' amid concerns over confusion and weakened protections in 30 states.

Unprecedented changes to routine US immunization recommendations ‘arbitrary and capricious’, court saysSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe appointment of a controversial slate of vaccine advisers by Robert F Kennedy Jr likely violated federal law, and all votes taken by the committee over the past year have been stayed, a federal judge ruled on Monday.The advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) is not able to meet later this week, since its membership has been invalidated, the judge said. Continue reading...

• A federal judge on March 14, 2026, blocked subpoenas directed at the Federal Reserve by the Justice Department, hitting an institutional guardrail for the Trump administration. • The ruling delays confirmation of Kevin Warsh as next Fed Chair, with Republican Senator Thom Tillis warning of prolonged process; DOJ plans to appeal. • This occurs amid fading confidence in US trade policy and fiscal credibility, maintaining bearish USD views.

A federal judge on Friday threw out two Justice Department subpoenas targeting the Federal Reserve, ruling them improper in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, in a 27-page opinion, stated the subpoenas' dominant purpose was to harass Powell amid President Trump's public attacks, handing a victory to the central bank. The decision underscores escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the Fed, potentially delaying probes into monetary policy decisions. Legal experts anticipate appeals as the case highlights executive-branch overreach concerns.

A federal judge on Friday threw out two Justice Department subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve, ruling them improper in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, stated in a 27-page opinion that the subpoenas' dominant purpose appeared to harass Powell into yielding to President Trump or resigning. The decision represents a significant setback for the Trump administration's efforts to pressure the independent central bank amid public attacks on Powell. Legal experts anticipate appeals, potentially escalating tensions between the executive branch and judicial oversight of monetary policy.