Trump Administration

• Un'analisi di Politico sui dati del Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) di Trump rivela che l'amministrazione ha risparmiato meno del 5 percentuele dei risparmi dichiarati attraverso quasi 10.100 rescissioni di contratti. • Il DOGE, guidato da sostenitori dell'efficienza, aveva il compito di ridurre gli sprechi governativi e tagliare le spese superflue in tutte le agenzie federali. • Il divario significativo tra i risparmi dichiarati e quelli effettivi solleva interrogativi sull'efficacia della strategia di riduzione dei costi dell'amministrazione e sull'accuratezza delle cifre riportate.

• Il National Endowment for Democracy ha intentato una causa contro l'amministrazione Trump per fondi federali congelati o trattenuti che erano stati precedentemente approvati dal Congresso. • Questa causa è una tra le decine presentate contro l'amministrazione da organizzazioni che contestano la decisione di bloccare i fondi stanziati dal Congresso. • L'azione legale evidenzia le tensioni tra l'autorità di spesa del ramo esecutivo e l'autorità di stanziamento del budget del Congresso.

• Il senatore democratico Mark Kelly ha dichiarato a Face the Nation di CBS che la richiesta di budget di 1,5 trilioni di dollari per il Dipartimento della Difesa dell'amministrazione Trump è scandalosa. • Kelly ha sottolineato che l'importo proposto è quasi uguale a quanto il resto del mondo spende collettivamente per la difesa. • La critica evidenzia le preoccupazioni dei democratici riguardo all'eccessiva spesa militare in un contesto di cessate il fuoco fragili e altre priorità nazionali.

• Il Pentagono ha rilasciato venerdì 8 maggio 2026 decine di file su oggetti volanti non identificati (UFO) e fenomeni anomali non identificati (UAP), come da direttiva del Presidente Trump. • I documenti dettagliano avvistamenti e indagini precedentemente classificati, con l'obiettivo di aumentare la trasparenza sulle minacce aeree. • Questa mossa risponde alle richieste del Congresso per la divulgazione, in mezzo a preoccupazioni per la sicurezza nazionale riguardanti incursioni inspiegabili.

• Reporters Without Borders ha documentato il primo declino significativo e prolungato della libertà di stampa negli Stati Uniti nella storia moderna, attribuendo direttamente il deterioramento al ritorno di Trump in carica. • L'organizzazione riferisce che Trump ha tentato di fare pressione sulle società mediatiche per attenuare la copertura giornalistica e di installare leader alleati dell'amministrazione in posizioni chiave. • Questa tendenza preoccupante inverte un secolo di graduale espansione della libertà di stampa, segnando un momento critico per l'indipendenza dei media e le istituzioni democratiche.

A seguito di un ordine di gennaio del Dipartimento degli Interni degli Stati Uniti, i gestori di 55 siti hanno rimosso i divieti Donald Trump’s administration sta spingendo silenziosamente i gestori dei parchi nazionali, dei rifugi e delle aree selvagge a ridurre drasticamente le restrizioni alla caccia, sollevando dubbi sulla sicurezza dei visitatori e sull'impatto sulla fauna selvatica. Doug Burgum, segretario del US Department of the Interior, ha emanato un ordine a gennaio indirizzando diverse agenzie a rimuovere quelle che ha definito "barriere normative o amministrative non necessarie" alla caccia e alla pesca, e a giustificare i regolamenti che intendono mantenere. Continua a leggere...

• L'amministrazione Trump richiede l'approvazione del Congresso per prolungare un commissariamento federale di 30 giorni, annunciato l'8 maggio 2026. • La misura riguarda operazioni federali non specificate, mettendo in luce le dinamiche di potere tra i rami del governo. • La proroga potrebbe influire sull'attuazione delle politiche nazionali, attirando l'attenzione di entrambi i partiti sull'eccesso di potere dell'esecutivo.

The Guardian voleva sapere chi, esattamente, sarebbe finito nella rete delle deportazioni di massa del secondo mandato di Trump. Donald Trump ha iniziato il suo secondo mandato promettendo "deportazioni di massa". Ha inoltre promesso che avrebbe preso di mira i "peggiori tra i peggiori". The Guardian voleva sapere chi, esattamente, sarebbe stato coinvolto in questa rete di deportazione. Questa domanda ci ha portato ai moduli "Record of Deportable/Inadmissible Alien", noti anche come moduli I-213. Gli agenti dell'immigrazione compilano questi moduli ogni volta che effettuano un arresto, sostenendo che la persona si trovi nel paese senza autorizzazione. Il Department of Homeland Security (DHS) utilizza quindi questi moduli in tribunale per dimostrare che una persona si trova illegalmente nel paese. Continua a leggere...

• A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can keep 2020 election ballots seized from a Georgia election center in Fulton County. • The decision overturns a prior injunction and allows continued access to the records amid ongoing reviews. • This bolsters efforts to scrutinize past election processes as Republicans eye 2026 midterms.

• A federal judge has directed Trump administration officials to lay out plans regarding the disputed Washington D.C. golf course, and specifically instructed officials not to cut trees without prior notice to the court. • The ruling represents an ongoing legal battle over control and management of the golf course property involving the Trump administration. • The judge's intervention reflects heightened judicial scrutiny of Trump administration actions affecting District of Columbia properties and governance.

Civil rights inquiry claims policy may breach Title IX as administration escalates attacks on trans rightsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe US education department is investigating one of the country’s largest women’s colleges over its admittance of transgender women in another escalation of the Trump administration’s attacks on trans people.The department’s office of civil rights announced the investigation on Monday in a press release, saying the Massachusetts college could be violating federal law by “allowing biological males into women’s intimate spaces”, including dorms, bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams. Continue reading...

Agriculture secretary claims without evidence Snap recipients included owners of luxury cars The Trump administration’s attack on the 87-year-old food aid program that supports tens of millions of low-income Americans escalated last week as the agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, claimed that 14,000 Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (Snap) recipients included owners of luxury vehicles such as Ferraris, Bentleys and Teslas.Critics charge that the broadside is part of a disinformation campaign aimed at undermining a benefit relied on by some of the most vulnerable people in the US. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration announced plans to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, impacting the approximately 35,000 American service members currently stationed there. • Defense Secretary Hegseth is pulling the troops amid ongoing tensions between Trump and the German Chancellor over defense spending and NATO contributions. • The reduction marks a significant shift in U.S. military presence in Europe and signals potential strains in the transatlantic alliance during this period.

• President Donald Trump signed a comprehensive executive order significantly expanding U.S. sanctions against Cuba, targeting individuals, entities, and sectors linked to the Cuban government. • The new measures focus on key economic areas including energy, defense, financial services, and security sectors, with secondary sanctions allowed on foreign entities conducting business with targeted Cuban organizations. • The escalation reflects Trump's intensified pressure campaign against the Cuban government and signals broader shifts in U.S. foreign policy toward adversarial regimes.

• A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals, overturning an earlier injunction. • The ruling cited concerns over the administration's procedures and protections for vulnerable refugee populations. • The decision represents a legal setback for the administration's restrictive immigration policies.

• A federal judge issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration's attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals, preventing immediate removal of beneficiaries from the program. • The judicial decision came just days after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a related case examining the administration's authority over TPS designations. • The ruling protects thousands of Yemeni nationals currently in the United States who depend on TPS for legal residency and work authorization.

• A new POLITICO‑Citrin Center‑Possibility Lab survey released Friday shows that strong majorities of both Republicans and Democrats favor an independent commission to draw U.S. House district lines, weakening arguments against ending partisan gerrymandering. • The Trump administration is weighing proposals to codify independent redistricting panels by tying federal funds to states that adopt such commissions, a strategy that could reshape battleground districts in 2026 and beyond. • Civil‑rights groups and voting advocates cheered the poll findings, arguing that independent commissions would reduce partisan manipulation of maps that currently skew toward both parties.

Pete Hegseth argued that a ceasefire agreement with Iran more than three weeks ago ‘means the 60 day clock pauses, or stops’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHello and welcome to our live coverage of the day.Today marks 60 days since the Trump administration notified Congress that it was carrying out strikes on Iran – meaning that under the War Powers Act of 1973, today is the deadline for Donald Trump to either end the Iran war or seek congressional authorization to extend it.Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington DC, released edited security-camera video of the incident at the White House correspondents’ dinner amid questions about whether or not the suspected gunman, Cole Allen, fired his weapon before being subdued. While the video shows four muzzles flashes from the agent’s gun as he fired at Allen, it was not immediately clear that it does show Allen discharging his weapon after he pointed it at the agent.Sean Curran, the director of the US Secret Service, told Fox News that Allen was stopped not by secret service gunfire, but by a box used to transport a metal detector, which he tripped over.Congress has passed a 45-day extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a law that grants US intelligence agencies warrantless spying powers.Trump has threatened to withdraw troops from Spain and Italy, two countries that countries have been vocally critical of his war in the Middle East. This comes after Trump suggested reviewing US military presence in Germany after the country’s chancellor said America was being “humiliated” by Iran. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration has announced 'Operation Economic Fury,' implementing a comprehensive blockade against Iran as part of an expanded sanctions campaign. • The initiative represents a significant escalation in economic pressure against Iran, marking a shift in US foreign policy toward more aggressive measures. • This action comes amid broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and follows months of diplomatic tension between the US and Iran.

• The Trump administration filed an appeal Wednesday evening against a Massachusetts federal judge's March 16 ruling that blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s overhaul of the nation's childhood vaccine schedule. • Judge Brian Murphy had ruled that Kennedy replaced the CDC's vaccine advisory committee "unlawfully" and placed any decisions made by the committee on hold. • The appeal signals the administration's intention to proceed with restructuring the vaccine advisory process despite legal challenges to its authority.

Order last week is only partial rescheduling, making ‘an already complex process more confusing,’ expert saysThe Trump administration is making good on its promise to reschedule cannabis, but only partially – raising plenty of questions for those in the cannabis industry.Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, signed an order last week that removes products sold under state medical cannabis licenses and FDA approved cannabis products from schedule I – defined as substances with no accepted medical use, to schedule III – which includes legal but regulated substances including certain doses of Tylenol with codeine and ketamine. Continue reading...

Syrian officials say a group of Australians are ‘awaiting a solution’ as Albanese government refuses to repatriate themThe Trump administration says it is in “active communication” with countries, urging them to repatriate citizens stranded in Syria, while the Australian government maintains its hardline stance towards Australian women and children detained since the fall of Islamic State.A group of four women, their nine children and grandchildren left al-Roj camp, in Syria’s north-east, last Friday in a bid to return to Australia, with reports on Thursday morning that the Albanese government’s refusal to help them has left them stuck in Damascus. Continue reading...

• Gas prices have surged above $4 per gallon and flights skyrocketed as the Strait of Hormuz blockade impacts energy markets amid the US-Israel war with Iran, eroding Trump's key political advantage. • More than three-quarters of registered voters—including over half of Republicans and 82% of independents—now blame Trump for the cost-of-living crisis affecting fuel, groceries, housing, and healthcare. • Trump's second-term approval ratings have fallen far faster than previous presidents after a government shutdown, tariffs, and the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warning the war is fueling inflation.

• A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking access to Arizona voter registration data, ruling in favor of the state. • The case involved claims of inaccurate voter rolls, but the court found insufficient evidence to proceed with the Trump administration's demands. • This ruling protects state voter data privacy and may impact ongoing election integrity debates ahead of 2026 midterms.

Albanese defends plan forcing Meta, Google and TikTok to make deals with Australian news publishers through a levy The Trump administration has described Australia’s moves to make big tech companies pay for news online as “extortion” but Anthony Albanese defended the plan by saying it was about protecting and rewarding media outlets for the work they produce.Labor’s plan to encourage Meta, Google and TikTok to make deals with Australian news publishers, or face a 2.25% levy, is likely to be supported by the Coalition and Greens in parliament. But a bigger problem may be the ire of Donald Trump, who has strongly opposed extra regulation being imposed on US-based tech companies. A major tech industry lobby group on Wednesday urged the White House to consider retaliatory trade measures. Continue reading...

US representatives Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin earlier this month called agreements outrageous and unlawfulSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Trump administration blocked two permitted US wind energy projects from development this week, with an agreement to pay millions of dollars in refunds to the companies behind them if those funds are reinvested in oil and gas.US Department of the Interior officials framed the canceled agreements as a way to “promote US energy security and affordability” by funneling funds “away from intermittent, higher-cost energy sources toward proven conventional solutions”, in an announcement issued Monday. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration pledges a crackdown on Chinese companies exploiting American-made AI models, focusing on national security risks. • Officials singled out China for foreign tech firms' unauthorized use of US AI technologies, vowing stricter enforcement measures. • The initiative aims to protect US intellectual property and prevent adversarial nations from leveraging American innovations in AI development.

Justice department has already identified 384 foreign-born people whose US citizenship it wants to revokeThe Trump administration is reportedly pushing the justice department to pursue hundreds of denaturalization cases, in which Americans born outside of the US are stripped of their citizenship.The justice department has already identified 384 foreign-born US citizens, whose citizenship it wants to revoke and will begin the process in the coming weeks, according to the New York Times. Continue reading...