Articles about Federal

• President Trump rescinded Biden-era executive orders, directing federal agencies to terminate all DEI and environmental justice roles, offices, and equity-focused programs. • Funds are prohibited for promoting gender ideology, mandating 'sex' as male or female in documents like passports, eliminating 'X' gender options. • OMB and OPM are coordinating hiring changes, ending chief diversity officer positions and reinstating bans on racial bias training.

• President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 'Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors' on March 26, 2026, mandating a clause in all federal contracts prohibiting racially discriminatory DEI activities by contractors and subcontractors. • The clause subjects non-compliant parties to False Claims Act liability, contract termination, and potential debarment, with enforcement prioritized by the U.S. Attorney General including review of whistleblower qui tam actions. • This builds on prior Trump actions eliminating federal DEI programs and aligns with EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas's warning letter to the 500 largest U.S. companies about Title VII liabilities from DEI practices.

Trump administration claims list is part of an EEOC investigation into antisemitic discrimination at universityA federal judge on Tuesday ordered the University of Pennsylvania to hand over records about Jewish employees on campus to a federal agency as part of an investigation into antisemitic discrimination but said it did not have to reveal any employee’s affiliation with a specific group.US district judge Gerald Pappert said employees can refuse to take part in the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation but the agency “needs the opportunity to talk to them directly to learn if they have evidence of discrimination”. Continue reading...

Citing the first amendment, judge says president’s executive order is unlawful and unenforceableSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxCiting the first amendment, a federal judge on Tuesday agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), two media entities that the White House has said are counterproductive to American priorities.The operational impact of US district judge Randolph Moss’s decision was not immediately clear – both because it will probably be appealed and because too much damage to the public-broadcasting system has already been done, both by the president and Congress. Continue reading...

Critics say exemption exploits White House’s ‘self-made gas crisis’, and could doom the rare Rice’s whaleSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA US government panel on Tuesday exempted oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a move which critics say could doom a rare whale species and harm other marine life.The Endangered Species Committee – which had not convened in more than three decades – voted to approve the request for the ESA exemption at the request of the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Continue reading...

• The SAVE America Act, which would have implemented election law changes at the federal level, has stalled in Congress. • President Trump has shifted strategy to reshape election laws at the state level while attempting to assert control over elections beyond constitutional limits. • Election law experts warn that Trump's efforts to influence state election procedures represent an attempt to consolidate power beyond what the Constitution permits.

• Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act has darkened the outlook for approximately 17,000 federally-funded health clinics across the United States, which collectively stand to lose $32 billion in government support. • The policy represents a significant threat to community health infrastructure that serves vulnerable populations, though specific implementation details and timeline remain under review. • Federal health clinics provide essential services including primary care, preventive services, and treatment for underinsured and uninsured Americans in underserved communities.

• A year after federal mandates threatened to disrupt scientific research, university laboratories are experiencing cautious recovery in funding from NIH, NSF, and NASA. • Researchers at Northern Kentucky University and other institutions faced significant uncertainty when federal cuts impacted grants, laboratory operations, and student research opportunities. • The gradual thaw in federal science funding represents a critical turning point for academic research infrastructure, though underlying uncertainty about future appropriations remains.

Treasury department said Financial Times article about Scott Bessent’s views on Fed oversight was ‘manufactured’ The US treasury department demanded on Friday that the Financial Times (FT) retract a report on treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s views on the Federal Reserve, accusing the newspaper of publishing “false claims” in a formal complaint that was escalated to the news outlet’s parent company, Nikkei Inc.The email from treasury officials, addressed to senior editors at the FT and Nikkei, disputed multiple claims in the story and criticized the headline as misrepresenting the underlying reporting. Continue reading...

• U.S. District Judge Rita Lin ruled in favor of AI firm Anthropic, temporarily blocking the Pentagon from branding it a supply chain risk after failed defense contract talks. • The ruling also halts President Trump's directive for federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's Claude AI, following a hearing on March 24 in San Francisco federal court. • Judge Lin criticized the measures as punitive rather than protective, noting the government could simply cease using Claude without broader actions.

• At a Thursday Cabinet meeting, President Trump urged mayors and governors of blue cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to allow federal troops to 'come in and stop the crime,' citing claimed 75% crime drops in Washington, Memphis, and New Orleans. • The proposal revives past contentious deployments, including 4,000 California National Guardsmen and 700 US Marines sent after June immigration raids in LA, which a federal judge ruled unlawful for causing 'greater harm' to the city. • LA Mayor Karen Bass previously condemned such actions as a 'chaotic escalation,' and US District Judge Charles Breyer ordered control of the Guard returned to the governor, with a Supreme Court ruling ending similar nationwide deployments.

Face-off is over company’s refusal to let defense department use its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons systemsA federal judge in California sided with Anthropic in its case against the Department of Defense on Thursday, ordering a temporary pause on the government’s punitive measures against the artificial intelligence firm.Judge Rita Lin granted Anthropic’s request for a temporary injunction while the northern district court of California hears the company’s case. Anthropic argued that the Department of Defense and Donald Trump violated its first amendment rights in declaring the company a supply chain risk and ordering government agencies to cease using its technology. Continue reading...

• U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) led two bipartisan bills that passed the House unanimously on March 26, 2026, aimed at strengthening federal oversight and enhancing safety at federal facilities. • The legislation targets improvements in regulatory compliance and security protocols across government properties nationwide. • This rare unanimous support highlights cross-party consensus on bolstering federal infrastructure resilience amid rising security concerns.

• The Trump administration is pressuring hospitals nationwide to shut down gender-affirming care programs for minors by threatening to withhold federal funding, described as 'unprecedented' by GLAD Law's Jennifer Levi. • Providers like Boston Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Mass General Brigham face a stark choice: discontinue medications for transgender youth or risk losing critical federal support that could shut them down. • In Massachusetts, state health leaders and smaller providers like Transhealth, serving 600-700 patients under 18, vow to continue care despite risks, with CEO Jo Erwin hiring more staff in anticipation of increased demand.

Deposed Venezuelan president and his wife, who both pleaded not guilty, were captured by US military in JanuaryThe deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is again scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday for his “narco-terrorism” case after his capture by US military forces earlier this year.US special forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on 3 January in a controversial pre-dawn raid during an assault on Caracas that reportedly killed 100 people. Continue reading...

• On March 25, 2026, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting Amendment Act of 2026, unanimously passed by the Council on March 3, which required Metropolitan Police to document arrests involving federal agents. • The ACLU of DC expressed deep disappointment, arguing the emergency legislation was essential for transparency during federal-local law enforcement interactions. • This veto highlights tensions over federal oversight in the capital, potentially affecting accountability in joint operations.

• President issued an executive order on March 24, 2026, further continuing the FEMA Review Council established by Executive Order 14180. • The council's term is extended until 10 days after its required report submission or May 29, 2026, whichever comes first. • Extension ensures ongoing assessment of FEMA operations amid disaster preparedness concerns.

• The Federal Register issued documents on March 25, 2026, including notices, proposed rules, final rules, and presidential actions. • Publication covers new government regulations and policy updates effective immediately. • Tracks key administrative changes impacting federal policy implementation across agencies.

• General Services Administration proposed changes to the federal grant system on March 24, 2026, potentially affecting funding distribution. • Updates could impact afterschool, summer, and educational programs reliant on grants. • Public comments accepted through March 30, 2026, shaping 2026 policy landscape.

In House depositions, disgraced financier’s associates say they were not contacted after his 2008 plea dealSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailJeffrey Epstein’s accountant and his attorney have both said that federal government investigators never interviewed them about the late financier’s crimes and their work with him, according to deposition videos released by the House of Representatives’ oversight committee.Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant, and Darren Indyke, Epstein’s lawyer, said in hours of closed-door interviews with the committee that they did not witness, nor were involved in, any wrongdoing relating to Epstein, who died in 2019 after being charged with child sex trafficking. Continue reading...

• A federal judge blocked sweeping changes to U.S. vaccine recommendations, including reductions in childhood immunizations and removal of COVID-19 guidance for certain groups, in a lawsuit brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. • The ruling paused a reconstituted vaccine advisory committee and signals a forthcoming decision on broader legal questions, with the case expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court soon. • Changes were driven by RFK's authority over federal vaccine policy, which critics argue lack scientific basis and threaten public health.

• 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.

• Rising yields across US and international bond markets reflect growing inflation expectations stemming from the energy shock caused by the Iran-US conflict, with 10-year gilts rising 14 basis points. • Market participants are increasingly betting on a Federal Reserve rate hike later this year as inflation anchoring concerns mount amid geopolitical disruptions to energy supplies. • The bond market deterioration follows Friday's significant equity selloff and signals potential monetary policy tightening ahead, with the Fed focused on ensuring inflation expectations remain anchored despite external supply shocks.

• The Trump administration published a national AI policy framework on March 20, 2026, calling for unified federal principles over state-level regulations. • The plan seeks to remove innovation barriers, assign oversight to existing agencies, and streamline AI infrastructure permitting. • Proposal faces Democratic criticism for potentially weakening consumer protections and state oversight.

Federal Coalition tells Pauline Hanson’s party to expect more policy scrutiny after historic result in South Australia electionThe Albanese government has sharpened its attacks on One Nation as a party of “stunts and the vibe” after the South Australian premier warned Pauline Hanson is a threat to Labor following its historic state election result.The federal Coalition is also dialling up the pressure, warning One Nation to expect more scrutiny of its policy positions as it attempts to avert a SA-style collapse in other parts of the country. Continue reading...

• On March 20, 2026, the Trump administration unveiled a policy framework for AI governance, organized around seven pillars emphasizing child protection, free speech, U.S. innovation, and workforce development. • The framework calls on Congress to preempt state and local AI laws, arguing AI development is an interstate issue with national security implications, and opposes new federal agencies. • It recommends sector-specific applications via existing regulators, industry standards, and AI resources like grants and tax incentives for small businesses to boost deployment.

• White House released a national AI legislative framework on March 20, 2026, proposing federal preemption of state AI regulations while carving out exceptions for child safety, fraud, consumer protection, zoning, and government procurement. • The framework defers copyright issues to courts rather than codifying the administration's position that training AI on copyrighted material constitutes lawful fair use, contradicting Senator Blackburn's bill that would categorically exclude copyrighted works from fair use. • Provisions address energy costs for data centers, government censorship via AI platforms, and workforce displacement studies, though the line between 'AI development' preemption and preserved 'consumer protection' authority remains contentious.

• A federal jury ruled Elon Musk liable for defrauding Twitter shareholders by intentionally driving down the stock price to renegotiate or exit the $44 billion takeover deal in 2022. • The verdict was reported by Reuters and Bloomberg News on Friday, with damages to be determined in a later phase of the trial. • This ruling holds significant implications for corporate takeover accountability, potentially affecting future high-profile mergers involving public companies.