WashingTone

Washington Groups Protest Large-Scale Tree Removal at East Potomac Golf Course

Environmental advocates and local officials are challenging federal land managers over extensive tree removals at the East Potomac golf course, renewing debate over local influence on federally controlled land in Washington.

Wisconsin Lawmaker Survives Emergency Water Landing After Small-Aircraft Failure

A Wisconsin state legislator escaped a small aircraft after an emergency water landing and swam to safety, disrupting regional political schedules ahead of the November midterm elections.

Justice Department Carries Out First Deportation Under Alien Terrorist Removal Court Authority

Federal officials said they removed a foreign national using the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, marking the first operational use of the specialized national security process under the Trump administration.

Justice Department Sues Four Jurisdictions Over Policies Affecting Undocumented Migrants

Federal authorities filed complaints against Hawaii, Washington, D.C., Arkansas and Utah, accusing the jurisdictions of providing preferential treatment to undocumented immigrants as the administration expands its immigration enforcement...

White House Adviser David Sacks Pushes Back Against Calls for Federal AI Regulation

David Sacks, co-chair of a White House science and technology advisory council, rejected warnings from technology executives seeking federal intervention and argued that companies can halt advanced AI development without government manda...

White House Convenes Emergency Summit Over Artificial Intelligence Safety Dispute

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has called an interagency meeting of cyber and science officials amid disagreement between administration advisers and Silicon Valley executives over potential safeguards for advanced AI.

White House Rejects Calls From Technology Executives to Slow Advanced AI Development

President Donald Trump dismissed requests from technology leaders, including executives at Anthropic and OpenAI, for a pause in advanced artificial intelligence development, arguing that restrictions could weaken U.S. competition with Ch...

JD Vance Says Trump’s Proposed Cash Dividend Could Be Limited to Working-Class Americans

Vice President JD Vance said the administration may pursue a more targeted version of President Donald Trump’s $5,000 payment proposal rather than offering checks to every adult citizen.

Mike Johnson Distances House Republicans From Trump’s $5,000 Dividend Proposal

House Speaker Mike Johnson said President Donald Trump’s proposed cash payments would require congressional approval, as Republican fiscal conservatives raised concerns about adding to the roughly $40 trillion national debt.

Treasury Yields Jump as Markets React to Trump’s Proposed $1 Trillion Cash Dividend

U.S. Treasury yields rose to multi-year highs after investors reacted negatively to President Donald Trump’s proposed nationwide cash payout, complicating efforts by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to contain government borrowing costs.

Trump Administration Drafts Post-War Framework for Middle East

Senior State Department and National Security Council officials are circulating a proposed regional security framework intended for implementation after the current U.S. conflict with Iran ends.

White House Reviews U.S. Strike Reportedly Hitting Iranian Wedding

Pentagon and White House national security officials are reviewing a U.S. military strike that reportedly hit an Iranian wedding, raising fresh scrutiny of civilian casualties during the conflict.

Iran Threatens Commercial Ships Using U.S. Naval Assistance in Persian Gulf

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a restricted maritime zone south of the U.S. blockade line and threatened sanctions against commercial vessels that rely on American naval assistance while navigating the Gulf.

Trump Administration Finalizes 100-Year Venezuela Oil Rights Deal With U.S. Consortium

The White House says an agreement grants North American Blue Energy Partners century-long rights to 17 Venezuelan oil fields and access to an estimated 65 billion barrels of reserves, drawing criticism over the scale of the concession.

Federal Reserve Expected to Raise Rates as Inflation and Middle East Energy Costs Stay Elevated

The Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to lift the federal funds target range to 3.75%-4.00% in September as Chair Kevin Warsh confronts persistent inflation and rising energy prices linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict.

U.S. Navy Intercepts Iranian Missiles as Strait of Hormuz Blockade Escalates

U.S. Central Command said American naval forces intercepted an Iranian missile attack targeting an aircraft carrier and destroyer enforcing Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports, further escalating the confrontation in the Persian Gulf.

US Midterm Campaign Spending Expected to Reach Record Levels

Political strategists expect spending by super PACs and other outside groups to break previous midterm records as early voting begins in battleground states and control of the House remains contested.

US Midterm Primaries Intensify Amid Disputes Over Campaign Rhetoric

Partisan tensions are rising in the closing stages of the primary season as Democrats accuse Republican challengers in contested Rust Belt states of using inflammatory and Islamophobic campaign rhetoric.

Pentagon Invests $22 Million in Radiation Testing for Military Microelectronics

The Defense Department awarded $22 million to expand domestic radiation-testing capacity for microelectronics used in military satellites and nuclear command systems.

Drugmaker Dompé US Agrees to $32 Million Settlement Over Kickback Allegations

Dompé US agreed to pay $32 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it disguised improper payments to patients as charitable assistance involving federally funded healthcare programs.

US Officials Assess BRICS New Delhi Declaration and China’s Expanding Influence

State Department and national security officials are reviewing the BRICS summit declaration adopted in New Delhi, focusing on Chinese efforts to deepen economic and technology cooperation within the bloc.

Democrats Attack Trump’s Proposed $5,000 Payments Over Fiscal and Election Concerns

Democratic leaders including California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized President Donald Trump’s proposed direct payments, arguing that the plan would use taxpayer funds for electoral advantage and worsen federal finances.

White House Considers Means-Testing Proposed $5,000 Payments

Senior administration advisers and Republican allies are considering income limits for President Donald Trump’s proposed direct payments in an effort to reduce the estimated $1 trillion cost.

Lawmakers Raise Debt Concerns as US Borrowing Tops $40 Trillion

Republican fiscal conservatives and moderate Democrats are warning about additional stimulus and tax-cut proposals after the national debt surpassed $40 trillion.

Senate Appropriators Stall Fiscal 2027 Spending Bills Ahead of Election Recess

The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to advance any of its 12 regular fiscal 2027 spending bills, leaving lawmakers with a compressed timetable for negotiations after the election.

IRS Faces Nearly 9% Budget Cut Under Stopgap Funding Deal

The temporary government funding measure holds the Internal Revenue Service budget at $11.2 billion, nearly 9% below the previous fiscal year and reducing resources available for enforcement and modernization.

US Authorities Seize Chinese-Operated Illicit Digital Marketplaces

Federal prosecutors and the FBI carried out coordinated domain seizures against online marketplaces allegedly operated by transnational Chinese criminal groups as part of a wider crackdown on financial fraud and cybercrime.

Justice Department Launches National Fraud Detection Center

The Justice Department created a prosecutor-led interagency center bringing together personnel from the FBI, Treasury Department and Homeland Security Investigations to target complex fraud involving federal programs.

US Customs Agency Proposes Tougher Supply-Chain Traceability Rules

Customs and Border Protection proposed requiring importers to retain more foreign export records and disclose additional information about overseas manufacturers as authorities target transshipment and customs evasion.

Trump Orders Creation of United States Space Academy

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation directing the establishment of a dedicated United States Space Academy to train officers for the Space Force and future military aerospace operations.

Pentagon Invests $174 Million to Build Domestic Gallium Supply Chain

The Defense Department announced a $174 million investment in US gallium processing and manufacturing, seeking to reduce reliance on Chinese supplies of a critical material used in military radar and microelectronics.

Pentagon Approves $4 Billion F-35 Sale to Singapore

The Defense Department disclosed a proposed sale of 20 F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft to Singapore valued at just over $4 billion as Washington strengthens allied air capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

US Imposes 10% Surcharge on International Postal Imports

The Trump administration introduced a 10% baseline tariff on inbound international postal shipments under Section 122, closing a duty exemption that had allowed large volumes of low-cost foreign e-commerce goods to enter the country with...

US 10-Year Treasury Yield Climbs Above 4.9% Amid Inflation and Borrowing Concerns

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose above 4.9% as investors reacted to persistent inflation and the prospect of additional federal borrowing associated with proposed stimulus measures.

US Imposes Section 338 Tariffs on Canada as Ottawa Retaliates

The Trump administration imposed new tariffs on a broad range of Canadian goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Ottawa against US exports and escalating a trade dispute covering dairy products, vehicles and alcoholic beverages.

Congress Approves Stopgap Funding to Avert Government Shutdown

Congress approved temporary government funding through December 11, avoiding a shutdown weeks before the midterm elections while postponing disputes over fiscal 2027 spending until the post-election lame-duck session.

US Treasury Signals Continued Cooperation on Pillar Two Global Minimum Tax Rules

Treasury officials welcomed updated international guidance from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and signaled continued coordination with foreign tax authorities on implementation of global minimum tax standards.

US Trade Representative Defends Canadian Import Restrictions Despite USMCA Preferences

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration’s restrictions on selected Canadian agricultural, automotive and beverage imports are justified economic countermeasures and apply regardless of preferential treatment under ...

OECD Updates Global Minimum Tax Information Return

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released a revised Global Minimum Tax Information Return incorporating new administrative provisions, prompting a positive response from the US Treasury Department.

House Returns for Brief Session Before Midterm Campaign Break

The House of Representatives is back in Washington for a shortened legislative period focused largely on suspension bills and federal agency measures before lawmakers leave through November to campaign for the midterm elections.

US Senate Returns Facing Compressed Calendar for Government Funding Decisions

Senators are returning from the August recess with limited time to address stopgap spending measures and policy disputes before current federal appropriations expire in December.

Trump Revises Tariffs and Bans Selected Canadian Imports as Trade Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump issued five proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 revising 50% tariffs on selected Canadian goods and barring imports of Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motor vehicle components.

White House Revives Presidential Fitness Test and Creates Los Angeles Olympics Task Force

The administration restored the presidential physical fitness assessment for schoolchildren and established an interagency group to coordinate federal security, infrastructure and funding preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics.