Probe

• House Republicans announced an investigation into rampant hospice fraud in Southern California, alleging tens of millions in taxpayer funds lost to improper payments. • The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting documents on state oversight of federally funded hospice programs. • Fraud involves companies receiving payments for ineligible patients, prompting calls for stronger controls amid ongoing healthcare waste concerns.

• The Trump administration announced plans to halt billions in federal Medicaid payments to California, Florida, Maine, and New York, following similar actions against Minnesota involving over $2 billion in withheld funds and $260 million clawed back. • Officials cited alleged Medicaid fraud as the basis for these unprecedented measures, potentially creating a national playbook for pressuring states over program spending. • This escalation impacts public health insurance jointly funded by states and federal government, raising concerns about access for low-income Americans amid ongoing political tensions.

• The FBI and IRS are initiating a joint investigation into nonprofits over possible ties to domestic terrorism, targeting groups promoting extreme views on immigration, gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment. • The probe follows a memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi last year ordering lists of such organizations. • This initiative raises concerns about free speech and government overreach amid heightened security focus.

• The Trump administration is using Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act to investigate foreign factory capacity and forced labor, aiming to offset $1.6 trillion in tariff revenue lost due to a Supreme Court ruling on February 20. • Public hearings are scheduled for May 5 on factory capacity and April 28 on forced labor, with the goal to complete probes before the current 10% import tariffs expire in 150 days. • Trump imposed a temporary 10% tariff on all imports post-ruling, plans to raise it to 15%, but faces challenges from two dozen states; remaining tariffs on China, Canada, steel, lumber, and cars expected to yield $668 billion over a decade.

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.

The US Department of Justice issued subpoenas to NVIDIA investigating alleged 'loyalty penalties' that deter customers from rival AI hardware makers like Grok and Cerebras. This probe targets NVIDIA's dominance in AI chips, dubbed the 'new oil,' amid warnings that such chips will stay US-based without foreign investment in American manufacturing. The action intensifies semiconductor sovereignty battles, potentially reshaping competition as AI infrastructure surges.