A federal judge has blocked the deportation of Kilmar Abrego García, an immigrant and father, after his detention by ICE. The judge ordered the Trump administration to keep Abrego García in the U.S. while considering legal challenges to his deportation to Uganda, a move which was strongly opposed. Despite this order, ICE arrested and began processing Abrego García for deportation. A hearing has been scheduled to address the lawsuit filed by his attorneys challenging the deportation, with the government agreeing to comply with the judge’s order.
Read More
Former President Barack Obama expressed concerns regarding the Trump administration’s increasing use of the military for domestic operations, citing threats to due process and civil liberties. His comments followed a Department of Homeland Security request for support from Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois for potential immigration crackdowns, mirroring President Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard troops elsewhere. Illinois leaders have vowed to resist any military mobilization in Chicago, with Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson opposing the presence of troops. This situation has led to political tensions, especially given Trump’s criticisms of Chicago’s crime rates and Pritzker’s response, with no official decisions made yet regarding the DHS request.
Read More
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis has resigned from the CDC, citing irreconcilable ethical and scientific concerns with the Trump administration’s policies. He condemned the sidelining of career scientists, withholding of data, and the manipulation of immunization schedules, warning that such actions threaten public health. Daskalakis highlighted the administration’s efforts to erase transgender populations and cease critical HIV programming as further reasons for his departure. This resignation follows a cascade of exits at the CDC, including the ousting of the CDC Director, and reflects growing tensions between career scientists and the Trump administration.
Read More
On Wednesday, Susan Monarez, the newly appointed CDC Director, was removed from her position by the Trump administration with no explanation given. According to reports, Monarez’s ousting may be due to her pro-science stance and refusal to support changes to US vaccine policies. Following the announcement, at least three other CDC leaders resigned, citing concerns about the “weaponizing of public health” and the censorship of scientific findings. This occurred shortly after the revoking of the emergency use authorization for Covid-19 vaccines, a move that was praised by the Health Secretary, who has reshaped advisory panels to include vaccine opponents.
Read More
Following the release of an open letter critical of the Trump administration’s FEMA overhaul, several employees have been placed on administrative leave. The “Katrina Declaration” letter, signed by over 180 current and former FEMA staff, warned of potential catastrophic failures in disaster response due to political interference and unqualified leadership. The administration’s actions are seen by some as retaliatory, with the agency defending its reforms as necessary to improve efficiency. This situation mirrors similar actions taken against EPA employees who expressed concerns about the administration’s policies.
Read More
A whistleblower alleges that former senior Trump administration officials at the Social Security Administration copied the names, birthdays, and Social Security numbers of over 300 million Americans to a private, less secure cloud environment. This data copy, created within the agency’s existing cloud infrastructure, is accessible to other former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees and lacks sufficient security measures. Career cybersecurity officials expressed serious concerns about the risks, including the potential need to reissue Social Security numbers. Despite these warnings, the data transfer proceeded after the Supreme Court granted DOGE team members temporary access to sensitive SSA data.
Read More
The Trump administration has instructed 40 states, five territories, and Washington, D.C., to eliminate references to transgender people from their sex education programs within the federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) or risk losing funding. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sent letters demanding the removal of “gender ideology” from curricula, citing a need to reflect the intent of Congress. This directive follows the termination of $12 million in PREP funding for California after they refused to remove transgender-related content. These actions align with the administration’s broader efforts to restrict federal recognition of transgender individuals and the use of federal funds for programs that include them.
Read More
A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against all 15 federal judges in Maryland, ruling the Justice Department lacked the legal standing to limit court power in immigration cases. Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, criticized the administration for its efforts to smear the justice system and its unprecedented challenge to the judiciary. The lawsuit stemmed from a Maryland court rule that temporarily blocked the removal of immigration detainees who challenged their deportation, a practice the Justice Department deemed unlawful. The government has appealed Cullen’s ruling, which asserted that the executive branch couldn’t sue judges over judicial actions, to the 4th US Circuit of Appeals.
Read More
The Trump administration announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on Indian products, as indicated in a draft notice released on Monday. This action signals the White House’s intention to escalate trade measures, coinciding with potential challenges in ongoing peace negotiations. The Department of Homeland Security’s notice specified that the increased tariffs would apply to Indian goods entering the US market on or after August 27, 2025. This policy reflects the administration’s commitment to its trade agenda.
Read More
Under pressure from the Trump administration’s investigation into gender-affirming care for minors, Michigan Medicine announced it would halt the provision of hormone therapy and puberty blockers for patients under 19. This decision, prompted by federal subpoenas and escalating threats, has caused significant concern among parents and advocacy groups. The hospital system stated it will continue to offer other support services but is facing potential legal issues and civil rights violations. This comes amidst the backdrop of a broader national debate surrounding the legality and necessity of such care for transgender youth, with the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics supporting gender-affirming care.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker