Federal

• Un tribunal federal de apelaciones ha anulado una medida cautelar de un tribunal inferior que ordenaba a la administración Trump restaurar el flujo de subvenciones federales a varios gobiernos locales, desbloqueando miles de millones de dólares en fondos que habían sido retenidos. • La decisión surge tras una disputa sobre cómo la administración interpreta las condiciones adjuntas a las subvenciones federales, con ciudades argumentando que la retención equivalía a una represalia política. • El fallo podría influir en cómo futuras administraciones pueden o no condicionar la ayuda al cumplimiento de políticas, y tiene implicaciones para el federalismo y la autonomía local.

• La administración Trump dio a conocer una nueva lista de nominados para encabezar varias juntas federales y fondos fiduciarios, incluyendo uno que supervisará una importante ceremonia de premios culturales este año, según anuncios de la White House. • Las selecciones incluyen aliados políticos cercanos y comentaristas conservadores, lo que refuerza el patrón de Trump de colocar a leales en funciones de supervisión que gestionan subvenciones, dotaciones e instituciones de cara al público. • Los demócratas y algunos organismos de control del buen gobierno han expresado su preocupación de que los nombramientos puedan introducir criterios partidistas en programas tradicionalmente no partidistas.

• La delegada del Congreso de DC de 88 años, Eleanor Holmes Norton, respondió de manera desafiante a la amenaza federal más seria al gobierno de la ciudad en 30 años por parte de Trump. • Norton, apoyada por aliados de Muriel Bowser, considera las acciones de Trump como una victoria política para el control local. • El enfrentamiento subraya las luchas de poder en curso entre la gobernanza federal y la de DC.

• Un juez federal desestimó una demanda del Departamento de Justicia que buscaba acceso a los datos de registro de votantes de Arizona, fallando a favor del estado. • El caso involucraba alegaciones sobre listas de votantes inexactas, pero el tribunal consideró que no había pruebas suficientes para proceder con las exigencias de la Administración Trump. • Este fallo protege la privacidad de los datos de los votantes del estado y podría impactar los debates actuales sobre la integridad electoral antes de las elecciones de mitad de mandato de 2026.

• La Federal Reserve votó el miércoles a favor de mantener la federal funds rate de referencia sin cambios en el rango de 3.5% a 3.75%, citando preocupaciones sobre el aumento de la inflación en medio de la guerra en Iran. • Esto marca la continuación de la pausa de la Fed en los ajustes de tasas tras tres cortes sucesivos de 25-basis-point en septiembre, octubre y diciembre de 2025. • El Chairman de la Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, tiene previsto ofrecer una rueda de prensa a las 2:30 p.m. ET para discutir la decisión, lo que marcaría su interest-rate announcement final como chair de la Federal Reserve.

• Una mayoría de estadounidenses expresa preocupación por el aumento de los costos de atención médica y apoya un mayor gasto de impuestos federales para abordar estos desafíos, según el Axios/Ipsos American Health Index publicado el 17 de marzo de 2026. • La encuesta demuestra un apoyo bipartidista a la acción del gobierno sobre la asequibilidad de la atención médica, lo que refleja la preocupación generalizada entre el público de EE. UU. por el incremento de los gastos médicos. • Los estadounidenses también muestran una mayor confianza en la gestión gubernamental de las decisiones sobre vacunación infantil, lo que indica una mayor confianza pública en las intervenciones de políticas de salud.

• Se llevan a cabo redadas federales en Twin Cities en medio de las tensiones actuales entre la administración Trump y los funcionarios de Minnesota • Regístrese en el correo de Breaking News US para recibir alertas de boletines en su bandeja de entrada • Agentes federales bajo el mando de la administración Trump han descendido nuevamente sobre las ciudades gemelas de Minnesota, principalmente para combatir el presunto fraude en guarderías, después de que la denominada “Operación Metro Surge” del Servicio de Inmigración y Control Aduanero de EE. UU. prácticamente finalizara a principios de año.

• Exclusiva: El gobierno estatal se compromete a reforzar las leyes mientras Higgins califica la respuesta del gobierno de Albanese a los problemas de seguridad de las mujeres como «desalentadora». • El gobierno de Victoria reforzará las leyes relativas al uso de las comunicaciones confidenciales de las víctimas después de la presión de defensores, incluida Brittany Higgins, quien describió su experiencia de haber tenido sus registros de asesoramiento citados judicialmente como una «violación». • En una entrevista con Guardian Australia, Higgins también criticó la falta de acción del gobierno federal tras una revisión exhaustiva de las respuestas del sistema judicial ante la violencia sexual, afirmando que el tema había «desaparecido completamente de la agenda».

• The Federal Reserve released minutes from its April 16 policy meeting, revealing internal division over the appropriate timeline for interest rate cuts, with several governors questioning whether inflation has declined sufficiently to warrant near-term reductions. • Hawks on the committee expressed concern that premature rate cuts could reignite price pressures, while doves argued that pausing at 5.5% risks unnecessarily constraining growth and employment, setting the stage for a contentious May 2 vote. • Market reactions to the minutes were mixed, with bond futures pricing in only a 28% probability of a rate cut by July 2026, down from 35% before the release, while equity index futures declined 0.6% on expectation of extended higher rates.

• The Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Powell regarding the agency's building expenditures, marking a significant development in federal oversight. • The decision came amid broader discussions on Capitol Hill about federal accountability, with both Republican and Democratic representatives weighing in on the implications. • The outcome reflects shifting priorities in federal investigations and debates over Fed governance and spending practices.

• The Department of Justice has dropped its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, marking a significant policy shift. • The decision comes amid Trump's emergency economic orders, potentially easing tensions over Fed independence. • This move is viewed as stabilizing financial markets but criticized by conservatives seeking accountability on monetary policy.

The injunction pauses policy giving senior Trump official direct sign-off on federal clean energy projectsA federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday struck down several Trump administration actions slowing down development of clean energy, including a requirement that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters be personally approved by the interior secretary, Doug Burgum.Denise J Casper, chief judge of the US district court for Massachusetts, ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the administration’s actions violate federal statute and will cause irreparable harm if the court did not intervene. Continue reading...

• 88-year-old congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is leading a back-seat response to the most serious federal threat to D.C.’s government in 30 years. • The challenge targets local autonomy, echoing Muriel Bowser's conflicts with Trump policies. • Victory for D.C. allies could preserve home rule amid national partisan divides.

• The president requires congressional approval to extend a 30-day federal takeover of unspecified operations beyond the initial period. • Lawmakers from both parties debate the scope, with costs projected at millions in taxpayer funds. • Extension could set precedent for future interventions, raising federalism concerns among states.

The hearing marks a key hurdle Kevin Warsh must overcome in order to succeed Jerome Powell when his term ends on 15 MayHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve will commit to protecting central bank independence on interest rates at a crucial confirmation hearing later today.Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump’s labor secretary, resigned from her role with the administration. She said it was “an honor and a privilege to serve” to serve and that she would take on a job in the private sector. The departure came after she became entangled in a string of political and personal controversies. Democrats celebrated, writing “this administration is imploding”.Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, called for Kash Patel’s immediate resignation following a report from the Atlantic detailing the FBI director’s alleged excessive drinking and absences. Patel has sued the magazine for defamation with his attorneys calling the article a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece”.Donald Trump signed memorandums related to coal supply chains, natural gas and grid infrastructure on Monday. The president invoked the Defense Production Act in the energy-related memos, writing that increasing energy production is “essential to United States national defense”.The crowded field of Democratic candidates in the California’s governor’s race appears to be narrowing as Betty Yee — a former state controller— announced Monday she planned to end her campaign. Meanwhile, the California Democratic party chair Rusty Hicks continued to urge candidates trailing in the polls to exit the race. Continue reading...

Jose Serrano, a sergeant, said Deisy Rivera Ortega, his wife, was arrested at an immigration appointmentA US army sergeant with 27 years of military service – including deployment to Afghanistan – has said that federal immigration agents recently arrested his wife during an appointment at an El Paso, Texas, immigration office.In an interview with CBS News published Monday, Sgt First Class Jose Serrano said that Deisy Rivera Ortega, a Salvadoran and his wife, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers under the command of the Trump administration despite receiving legal protection in 2019 that bars her from being deported to El Salvador. Rivera Ortega, who wed Serrano in 2022, has been in the US since 2016, he said. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump is backing Kevin Warsh as his preferred candidate for Federal Reserve chair, intensifying pressure on current Fed Chair Jerome Powell amid ongoing policy disagreements. • Republican Senator Kevin Cramer discussed the timeline for the CLARITY Act and Trump's strategy to reshape Federal Reserve leadership during an appearance on 'Mornings with Maria.'

Design among projects before US Commission of Fine Arts as lawsuits challenge scale and impactDonald Trump’s design for the triumphal arch he wants built at an entrance to the US capital comes up for a review and possible vote on Thursday by a key federal agency. It is one of several projects the US president is pursuing alongside a White House ballroom to leave his lasting footprint on Washington.Trump said on social media that the arch “will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World” and a “wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!”. Continue reading...

• A dialysis unit in rural Nebraska closed after operating at a financial loss, leaving patients without local treatment access despite the state receiving $219 million in federal rural health transformation funding. • The closure highlights the challenges rural healthcare facilities face in maintaining operations even with substantial federal support aimed at rural health infrastructure. • The facility's closure upends the lives of dialysis patients who must now travel for treatment, raising questions about the effectiveness of federal rural health programs in sustaining critical services.

While the Lesbian Action Group claims a ‘definite win’, Equality Australia says the judge ‘simply identified legal errors in the tribunal’s reasoning’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Victorian lesbian group has won a legal appeal in its case to exclude transgender women from its public events after the federal court set aside a decision by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).The decision on Wednesday afternoon means the case will return to the administrative review tribunal for another determination. While the Lesbian Action Group called the finding a “definite win”, Equality Australia said the judge “simply identified legal errors in the tribunal’s reasoning”. Continue reading...

• DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and her political allies have characterized Trump administration threats regarding the city's governance as a symbolic victory, suggesting they have successfully resisted federal pressure. • The dispute centers on federal efforts to exert control over District of Columbia government operations, marking one of the most serious federal threats to local autonomy in 30 years. • The 88-year-old congressional delegate has mounted a defensive response to defend the city's semi-autonomous status and self-governance rights.

Kevin Warsh, seeking to replace Fed chair, Jerome Powell, had to file financial disclosures for Senate approvalKevin Warsh, the former Federal Reserve governor chosen by Donald Trump to lead the central bank, has submitted financial disclosures that suggest he holds assets worth well over $100m.The document is required for his nomination to advance through the Senate, beginning with a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing. Continue reading...

• A federal judge in New York dismissed actor Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni related to their work on the movie 'It Ends With Us.' • The dismissal occurred on April 11, 2026, but the judge allowed Lively's retaliation claim to proceed. • The ruling stems from an ongoing legal dispute between the co-stars amid production tensions.

• Kevin Warsh was nominated as the next Federal Reserve Chair, set to succeed Jerome Powell in May 2026. • Warsh, a critic of the Fed’s quantitative easing policies, is viewed by markets as a steady hand amid economic uncertainties. • The nomination comes as PCE inflation rose to 2.9% and core PCE to 3.0% year-on-year in March, aligning with consensus expectations.

• Measles cases from Texas federal detention facilities infected at least 4 El Paso residents who worked there, marking a community outbreak. • Infectious disease expert Flor M. stated, 'By definition, when more than 2 measles cases occur in a community where there should be 0 cases, this is an outbreak.' • The incident highlights risks of contagious diseases escaping confined settings into wider US populations amid ongoing vaccination policy debates.

• President Trump signed an executive order last week to place tight federal controls on mail-in voting, claiming it enables widespread cheating in blue states like California. • Trump stated 'Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating' and 'Cheating on mail-in voting is legendary,' despite no evidence of fraud. • California and other states sued, arguing states have constitutional rights to administer elections; Trump insists Democrats register noncitizens, especially Latinos.

Girl suffered alleged abuse at foster home immigration officials placed her at after separating her from motherSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxFor five months, the young father waited for his three-year-old daughter’s release from federal custody after she crossed the US-Mexico border with her mother, hoping through delays for their safe reunion.Only when he turned to the courts as a last resort did he learn that the girl had suffered alleged sexual abuse at the foster home where she’d been placed after immigration officials separated her from her mother. Continue reading...

Trump ordered data collection after raising concern about race being used as factor in college admissionsA federal judge on Friday halted efforts by the Trump administration to collect data that proves higher education institutions aren’t considering race in admissions.The ruling from the US district court judge F Dennis Saylor IV in Boston granting the preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general. It will only apply to public universities in plaintiffs’ states. Continue reading...