SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " federal " 4,515 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
CT sues, again, over withheld school mental health grants
CT joined a second lawsuit against the U.S. Education Dept as it continues trying to end federal grants for school mental health services.
Former nonprofit business manager pleads guilty to bank fraud
The former business manager of a local nonprofit pleaded guilty to bank fraud in federal court on Tuesday.
Takeaways from Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s first congressional testimony
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh on Tuesday offered his most detailed account yet of the sweeping changes he’s ushering in at America’s central bank and the philosophy behind them.
Yum shares fall after report US health authorities investigating Taco Bell in cyclosporiasis outbreak
Yum Brands' shares fell as much as 4.5% on Tuesday after the Washington Post reported federal and state health officials were investigating whether lettuce served at Taco Bell may have been associated with an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness.
NSF selects Rochester, New York, and Finger Lakes region as national laser innovation hub
The University of Rochester-led NSF STELLAR Engine launches with $15 million in federal funding over the next two years.
Mahmoud Khalil files lawsuit against federal government, private groups
Khalil alleges the groups were part of a conspiracy to suppress criticism of Israel.
Taco Bell investigated as lettuce emerges as possible source of cyclosporiasis outbreak
Federal and state health agencies are reportedly reviewing whether Taco Bell locations contributed to the cyclosporiasis outbreak sweeping Michigan and America.
9th Circuit rules for California small-business owner in challenge to federal anti-money laundering rule
A Southcrest business owner challenged a rule FinCEN said was aimed at combatting money laundering
Warsh: Fed Doesn’t Want to Be in Bailout Business
Asked about whether the Federal Reserve would step in with a bailout in the event of a financial crisis involving cryptocurrencies, Chairman Kevin Warsh says the central bank does “not want to be in the bailout business.” The Fed is going to “do everything we can to mitigate those sort of extra ris
Trump administration claims healthcare fraud crackdown has saved taxpayers $5.56B in six months
A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General shows most of the money comes from a small number of huge cases, where the federal government was able to reclaim hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds being abused by criminal defendants.
They harvest the nation’s food, but a new rule may strip them of health insurance
Seasonal work. Inconsistent hours. Frequent moves. Cash payments and informal jobs. For farmworkers who rely on Medicaid, these common employment patterns could put their health coverage at risk. It’s a heightened concern for the estimated million-plus farmworkers who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, as new work requirements kick in for the federal-state healthcare […]
Burcum: Who should decide what research gets funded, political operatives or scientists?
From columnist Jill Burcum: A proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget, led by Project 2025 architect Russell Vought, would shake up how federal dollars for research are allocated.
Trump’s Plan to Corrupt American Science
OMB’s Russell Vought would bring all federal research grants under direct political control, to align with ‘the president’s agenda.’
Health care, food aid enrollees down as deeper federal cuts loom
Three Republicans from NJ stand by their votes as nutrition program loses 5% of recipients and almost 70,000 residents drop insurance
NSF Won’t Fund Research Involving Chinese Scientists
The National Science Foundation will bar U.S. colleges and universities from collaborating with many Chinese scientists and other entities on the federal government’s restricted parties lists.
The policy gaps in behavioral health coverage — and what it’ll take to close them, per 1 exec
Nearly four years after the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched, states, payers and county systems still define behavioral health crisis care inconsistently, and Medicare offers limited coverage for community-based crisis stabilization services — leaving safety-net funding, Medicaid, federal block grants, and state and local dollars to carry the cost for nearly 200 million Americans. […]
Lettuce or salad greens could be source of diarrhea-causing illness, Michigan health officials say
The foodborne gastrointestinal illness has shown up in 31 states, and federal health officials say 86 people have been hospitalized.
Justices Kagan, Barrett to testify on need for additional security funding
As of July 1, there were 370 threats made against federal judges in Fiscal Year 2026, which ends on September 30
Justices Kagan, Barrett to testify on need for additional security funding
As of July 1, there were 370 threats made against federal judges in Fiscal Year 2026, which ends on September 30
Loyola awarded nearly $1 million to expand forensic science training, research
Loyola University Maryland has received nearly $1 million in federal funding to establish a forensic science training center, an investment university and law enforcement leaders say will strengthen forensic science education, expand research opportunities and deepen partnerships that support criminal investigations across the region.
The Quintessential Trump-era Politician
In 2020, I wrote an article about collaboration and collaborators. The title was History Will Judge the Complicit, and it started with the story of two famous East Germans, Markus Wolf and Wolfgang Leonhard, who both landed in East Berlin just after the end of the war. Although they came from very similar backgrounds, the former stuck with the regime, eventually becoming its spy boss; the latter, horrified by the brutal reality of Soviet-style communism, escaped. By way of juxtaposition, I also wrote about Lyndsey Graham and Mitt Romney. These two men also made very different decisions when confronted by Donald Trump’s assault on the ideals that they had both grown up believing: A glance at their biographies would not have led many to predict what happened next. On paper, Graham would have seemed, in 2016, like the man with deeper ties to the military, to the rule of law, and to an old-fashioned idea of American patriotism and American responsibility in the world. Romney, by contrast, with his shifts between the center and the right, with his multiple careers in business and politics, would have seemed less deeply attached to those same old-fashioned patriotic ideals. Most of us register soldiers as loyal patriots, and management consultants as self-interested. We assume people from small towns in South Carolina are more likely to resist political pressure than people who have lived in many places. Intuitively, we think that loyalty to a particular place implies loyalty to a set of values. But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.” In the wake of Graham’s unexpected death on Saturday, I wrote about him again. He was, in many ways, the quintessential politician of Trump’s Washington, a man who shifted 180 degrees. Graham had been a fervent American patriot, proud reserve officer and military lawyer; he became one of the most important defenders of a president who believes soldiers are “suckers and losers” and shows no respect for law of any kind. As his politics changed, his language grew coarser and his behavior grew worse: He urged Israel to “level the place” in Gaza, and insulted the Danish prime minister in Munich, prompting a colleague, Senator Elissa Slotkin, to issue an apology. Here’s an excerpt from the article, which you can read in The Atlantic (gift link here) Like his close friend John McCain, Graham believed that America should stand at the center of a broad democratic alliance. The few times I met him were in that context, at the Munich Security Conference or at other European-American gatherings, which he once attended with great regularity. He also took seriously the practice of American democracy at home. In a 2014 conversation with The Atlantic, he described himself as a pragmatic politician who eschewed populist slogans. “I know Washington is broken, but what’s broken about it is everybody yelling and nobody trying to fix it,” he said. “I’m trying.” When Donald Trump first appeared in U.S. politics, Graham recognized him immediately for what he was: the spokesman for an alien ideology, one radically different from the idealistic patriotism that Graham had practiced and preached since childhood. Trump privately mocked the military that Graham loved as nothing but “suckers and losers.” He put falsehoods, cynicism, and personal greed at the center of his politics, while expressing disdain for transparency, accountability, and democracy itself. In 2015, Graham described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot” who should “go to hell.” Also as a “nutjob.” When Trump won, Graham understood, as did so many others, that he would have to make some important choices. For a while, he went silent. In the spring of 2016, I saw him at one of those conferences in Europe. He seemed too depressed to speak. But then, like many other Republicans—and, more important, like many other people who have lived under political occupation or experienced radical regime change—he made the decision to abandon his previous ideals, to bury the patriotism that was once so important to him, and to become, instead, a loud, opportunistic collaborator. As I wrote in 2020, it’s very hard to look in to anyone’s heart and to understand their motivations from the outside. But it does seem that Graham had a deep need to be relevant, to be in the game, to be a player, at any cost. And that, rather than any particular achievement, is what he will be remembered for. Continuing to monitor conflicts of interest, ostentatious emoluments, outright corruption and policy changes that will facilitate outright corruption. (Read my original article, Kleptocracy Inc and check out the SNF Agora Institute chart) June 27 Trump diverted funds from more than 900 projects nationwide—including safety upgrades at national parks—to finance beautification projects around Washington, including $700,000 used to fix a White House walkway. June 28 After a years-long Department of Justice investigation into Abbott Laboratories over its management of a baby formula facility where potentially deadly bacteria turned up enough evidence to criminally charge the firm, top department officials instead opted for a financial penalty—illustrating the department’s move away from strict corporate enforcement under the Trump administration. June 29 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stacked the Defense Policy Board—which is charged with providing independent national security recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of Defense—with Trump allies, including tech billionaire Marc Andreessen, who has invested in defense contractors like OpenAI and SpaceX, after purging the panel last year. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock in Axon—which makes about 90% of US tasers—two weeks before ICE solicited bids for a $220 million taser contract. The White House unveiled limited-edition US passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a portrait of Trump overlaid on the Declaration of Independence. June 30 Trump made around $1.2 billion from his various crypto companies last year, including more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial and $600 million from sales of his meme coin. Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. These are expected to be largely doled out through the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s informal network of intermediaries. White-collar defense attorneys say they can typically win pardons for clients for $2 million. Last year, Trump administration officials awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million to Clark Construction for the White House ballroom—negotiations in which the president was directly involved. July 1 The Amazon MGM Studios documentary about Melania Trump earned the First Lady more than $10 million. Trump made hundreds of individual stock purchases worth as much as $12.8 million the day before his announcement pausing “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days sent the S&P 500 soaring nearly 10%—one of the largest single-day gains ever. Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral saw record surges in revenue during Trump’s first year in office, earning $77.5 million and $121.9 million respectively, compared to average annual revenues of $25 million and $75 million during Trump’s first term. Entities across the Persian Gulf paid more than $300 million to Trump’s businesses last year, including $263 million from the sale of half his stake in World Liberty Financial to a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a top UAE royal and brother of the country’s president. Kash Patel failed to properly disclose his stock purchase of a Department of Justice contractor, MicroStrategy, worth up to $250,000 last year, despite laws requiring disclosure within 45 days of the trade. July 2 Trump has been directing administration officials to steer more government contracts—so far worth more than $2.4 billion—to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace firm, after Amazon gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donated to the White House ballroom project, and reached a $40 million deal to license a Melania Trump documentary. Alongside the billions he made from cryptocurrency last year, Trump earned millions of dollars from real estate licensing fees, including $21 million from organizations in the UAE and $9.2 million in Saudi Arabia, along with smaller sums from merchandise sales, including $4.7 million from Trump Watches and $35,920 from 45 Guitar, a guitar brand endorsed by the president. House Democrats accused consultants tied to the Trump administration of financial fraud, alleging they gave prospective donors to America250—the bipartisan committee created by Congress to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial—the banking and routing numbers for Freedom 250, the White House’s fund for events like the UFC cage fight. Democrats also allege that Freedom 250’s CEO traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to solicit donations from foreign government officials and business leaders. The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of gun regulations would lift the prohibition on mailing handguns to individuals, a significant win for GrabAGun—the direct-to-consumer firearm retailer on whose board Donald Trump Jr. sits and in which he holds a 1.1% ownership stake. GrabAGun currently must rely on a middleman to transfer firearms to customers. Trump’s financial disclosure revealed that he made more than 21,000 securities trades during his first year back in office, growing his investment account to at least $858 million across stakes in around 1,600 companies, compared to the 13 total trades Joe Biden made during his entire presidency. July 4 Nearly 1 million people who bought the president’s meme coin—Trump Coin—collectively lost $3.8 billion on the token, while he walked away with $636 million. July 6 Shares of Dell closed up 4.4% after Trump recommended people buy the firm’s computers during a speech announcing the launch of Trump investment accounts for children, boosting the more than $1 million worth of shares the president owns in the company. July 9 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh named crypto investor and Trump ally Marc Andreessen to a task force aimed at modernizing the Federal Reserve, including rethinking its approach to inflation—a key factor keeping interest rates elevated. Palm Beach International Airport has officially changed its name to Trump International Airport—a move that will require Florida to pay royalties to the president’s family for licensing his name. I was there a few months ago, during a trip to Barcelona. The sculptures were a revelation, I’d never seen so many together before. Each one has its own personality. Enjoy the good weather, if you are lucky enough to have it. History Will Judge the Complicit The Quintessential Politician Autocracy Inc Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Victory for Small San Diego Business! Federal Appeals Court Rules Against Ruinous Financial Surveillance of California Money Services Businesses
SAN DIEGO—San Diego small business owner Esperanza Gomez can continue to operate her money services business free of ruinous financial surveillance after a federal appeals […]
Scientists overwhelmingly against rule change that would give political appointees say over science grants
The window is quickly closing for members of the public to weigh in on proposed federal rule changes that, many scientists say, would politicize which studies get funded and profoundly harm American s...
Scientists overwhelmingly against rule change that would give political appointees say over science grants
Hundreds of thousands of scientists, including Nobel laureates, warn that changes to the way federal grants are approved would greatly damage American science
With Platner out, Democrat Jordan Wood relaunches U.S. Senate bid
A former congressional chief of staff, Wood, 36, said he knows how Washington works and has spent more than a year explaining his positions on federal issues to Maine voters.
South Carolina Plant Manager Says ICE Raid Left Business Severely Short-Staffed: ‘It’s Dead’
A South Carolina plant manager has sparked extreme reactions online after claiming his business hasn’t recovered since federal agents showed up. According to Fox Carolina, which interviewed the wareho...
EPA’s children’s health advisory committee languishes
The advisory committee charged with advancing the agency's MAHA strategy has been defunct for months.
WVU Health System settles with federal government in controlled substance mismanagement case
$4.1 million fine and three-year improvement agreement announced.
WVU Health System settles for $4.17M over allegations of controlled substance violations
Federal prosecutors announced details regarding a multimillion-dollar settlement with West Virginia United Health System which has been accused of years of reco
Hochul wants answers from DHS on planned immigration detention centers in N.Y.
Gov. Hochul said in a letter the public did not hear about the projects from the federal government but from press reports and procurement records.
Judge: Trump sought to ‘manipulate the judicial process’ with his IRS lawsuit and attempted $1.8B fund
A federal judge Monday said a controversial lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against the IRS sought to “manipulate the judicial process” and that he acted in bad faith in bringing it.
Group of 11 athletes challenge new NCAA eligibility rules in suit
Eleven Division I athletes -- all who depleted their eligibility in the 2025-26 season, have filed a federal class action lawsuit alleging that the NCAA's new eligibility rules adversely affected their ability to extend their college careers.
‘The end of American science as we know it.’ White House funding plan sparks alarm
A Trump administration proposal would vastly expand political oversight of federal grants. Critics say it threatens “science as we know it.”
Federal health watchdog reports $5.56 billion in expected recoveries, cost savings
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General said its investigations into alleged fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in federal healthcare programs stem from tips submitted through its hotline. During the…
The State of Politics: How Evers ‘Fixed the Damn Roads’
He got help from Republican legislators and federal pandemic funding.
They harvest the nation’s food, but a new rule may strip them of health insurance
Seasonal work. Inconsistent hours. Frequent moves. Cash payments and informal jobs. For farmworkers who rely on Medicaid, these common employment patterns could put their health coverage at risk. It’s a heightened concern for the estimated million-plus farmworkers who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, as new work requirements kick in for the federal-state healthcare […]
Minneapolis business owners seek delay in Lyndale Avenue construction
Business owners in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood are seeking to delay a planned construction project along Lyndale Avenue, as a deadline to use federal funding for the project approaches.
Trump moves to tighten federal control of elections ahead of midterms
President Donald Trump is working to gain more control of the 2026 U.S. elections through a series of unprecedented moves to intervene in states.
US health watchdog expects $5.56 billion in recoveries and savings
The federal watchdog for the U.S. health department generated $5.56 billion in expected recoveries and projected savings over six months and barred 1,212 individuals and companies from federal programs, it said on Monday, even as its overall enforcement activity fell to the lowest level in two years.
US Health Watchdog Expects $5.56 Billion in Recoveries and Savings
By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - The federal watchdog for the U.S. health department generated $5.56 billion in expected recoveries and projected savings over six months and barred 1,212 individuals and companies from federal programs, it said on Monday, even as its overall ...
Opinion: The cost of Trump’s war on science will be measured in Alaska
When federal agencies lose expertise and data, Alaskans lose tools for navigating storms, fisheries, wildfires and a changing climate.
“It’s Dead”: Plant Manager Says ICE Raid Left Business Short-Staffed After Dozens of Workers Were Detained
A video reshared on X is drawing attention after a South Carolina plant manager said an ICE raid left his workplace severely short-staffed. Federal authorities said 48 employees were detained on alleg...
What to know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak hitting more than half of U.S. states
A surge of cases of the intestinal illness that causes diarrhea and nausea has been detected in 31 states, according to federal health authorities, but the source is still under investigation.
Federal funding and science doubled life expectancy. We can’t do more with less.
We are at dangerous risk of turning back the clock on the strides we’ve made in public health.
How ready is Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics?
Los Angeles area State Senator Ben Allen discussed Los Angeles' preparations for the 2028 Olympics, addressing lessons from the World Cup, infrastructure needs, and collaboration with federal and local partners.
Proposed federal funding rules could upend research and more
With Massachusetts receiving the most NIH funding per capita, the proposed rules are expected to have an outsized effect on a state.
Analysis: Wes Moore’s Bronze Star was a political rescue mission
New revelations raise serious questions about the process used to obtain the Bronze Star presented to Wes Moore in 2024 and whether it violated federal law.
Researchers worry a Trump rule could end U.S. scientific dominance
Research organizations warn a proposed rule for federal grants would upend the medical and technological advances that set U.S. science apart.
They're Building Half A Bridge to Save Science...
Today’s post is about science: what you can do now to protect it from unprecedented threats, and how your action is the first half of a long-term program that Congress must take up next. Let me start with describing the embryonic state of science advocacy. There are many well-meaning organizations: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Research!America, and subject-specific organizations such as the Society for Neuroscience and the American Physical Society. Their general approach is to emphasize the common good: the remarkable value that science and innovation have provided to all Americans. However, these organizations are offering an incomplete solution. Before I start, a preliminary: If you already know about the threat, go ahead and weigh in with OMB at this link. Ideas about what to say come from Research!America and the American Physical Society. You have until Monday, July 13 at 11:59pm Eastern. Then come back here and read the rest of this post. Finally, get in touch with whoever is likely to be your next member of Congress in 2027. The threat: An end to merit-based science… The onslaught of attacks on science is accelerating. It’s not just cuts to grants, which was the last battle. That battle is not done yet, but there is a new and worse threat. Now comes a proposed public rule from the Office of Management and Budget. The rule would take decision-making power over grants away from experts and put it into the hands of political appointees. Former NIH official Elizabeth Ginexi wrote an excellent summary of what OMB is trying to do, which is codify the executive branch’s ability to award or terminate grants, for arbitrary cause or no stated cause. Since World War II, a necessary step in scientific grant-making has been consideration of scientific merit. This approach has made America into a dominant scientific superpower, the envy of the world. Of course, political considerations do come into the mix. The proposed rule tilts the balance dramatically away from merit. …but why? Many people have difficulty comprehending why Russell Vought and OMB would want to damage science in this way. If you’re a working scientist, you are likely to be particularly uncomprehending. Who would hurt an activity so self-evidently good? The answer is: this is part of the program to replace the rule of law with a personalist regime. OMB Director Russell Vought, a Christian nationalist, would like to implement what legal scholars call a “unitary executive,” and what I would call a dictatorship. Or if you like, a personalist authoritarian regime. I am a working scientist. This rule will debilitate my research. It may chill the speech of scientists for speaking freely in the public sphere. It is a form of personalizing power and decision-making within the executive branch. In short, it sacrifices science in the service of tyranny. To Russell Vought, a decrease in the quality of science might be an acceptable cost. He might even consider it an added benefit to weaken a pillar of soft U.S. power based on knowledge and skepticism. The professional societies are building half a bridge The nonprofits are asking you to make public comment. Public comment is like building the first half of a bridge. Before implementation, OMB is compelled by law to have a period of public comment. Rules have to be consistent with the law and the Constitution. They express the federal government’s stance toward how those laws will be implemented. When a presidential administration works in good faith, these public comments are used to inform their eventual action, and sometimes mitigate it. The comment period reflects our First Amendment right to petition our government. The executive branch is then supposed to take those comments into account - completing the bridge between us, the people, and our government. Project 2025 seeks to take away the second half of the bridge. We have to replace it. The first half of the bridge Organizations like AAAS, Research!America, and SfN are partly right. You should certainly comment. Their core model is earnest: if enough of us make noise, then we will achieve change. This idealistic point of view is offered in good faith. That point of view is also currently bullshit. The fundamental reason is that the federal rulemaking process has two parts: There has to be a period of public comment. OMB makes the final rule…but is free to disregard public comment. Oops. That’s a loophole. However, not all is lost. Congress can complete the bridge Congress has enormous power. That power suggests a roadmap for how to proceed. This lawless administration is still going to issue that rule. Nonetheless, your comments still play an essential role. Here are two steps you can take. Step 1: Send your comment to your Representative and Senator. Whether they are Democrats or Republicans, many of them support science. Whatever you wrote as public comment in the Federal Register, also send it to your member of Congress. You can include information about jobs in your district or state by looking at Joshua Weitz’s ScienceMatters interactive map. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and give your town, zip code, or state, then deliver your message. Step 2: Politicize the hell out of science. You heard me, politicize it as an issue. We hear a lot from the old scientific establishment about science being nonpartisan. This is obsolete, sentimental thinking. Under normal conditions, it was true. But we can no longer make that assumption. We can keep on pretending, but we’re putting science at risk. There is a way forward. Rules are subordinate to the law…and Congress makes laws. Therefore Congress can step in. In this fall’s election, it is likely that Democrats will retake the House of Representatives. That puts at least one chamber of Congress in the hands of Democrats. They are far more inclined than the current Congress to investigate and legislate. This opens a path to undoing the damage. It also creates a permission structure for pro-science Republicans to find a way back from the brink. We have to encourage them. In the House, every district is up every two years. In your district, contact both of the major party candidates. If your state has a Senate race, contact those candidates too. Specifically mention the proposed OMB rule. Ask for two things: For this year’s appropriations process in August and September, ask that amendments be added to stop the implementation of the new rule. Those amendments should support peer-reviewed science and stop political interference. Looking ahead to next year, ask the Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator to work to hold hearings in 2027 on the importance and benefits of peer-reviewed science for health and prosperity. What hearings and amendments will accomplish Congress can use its investigatory power to summon heads of agencies and the director of the OMB. That will allow fact-finding regarding the consequences of this rule. Congress can override the rule through the appropriations process. They can write into statute a requirement to follow peer review and best scientific practices. In this way, Congress can stop the attacks on science. Postscript: Moving forward Now I have a request for you, to help me. As many of you know, I ran for Congress in order to save democracy and science. Although I did not win, that battle continues by other means. I met and heard from thousands of supporters both here in New Jersey and nationally. I learned that pro-science, pro-democracy activists have the potential to become a much greater force. In the weeks and months ahead, I will be building ways to harness that energy. I will be announcing those plans soon. In the meantime, an important step is to wind down the Congressional campaign, which has a few remaining bills to pay. Please help me retire that last debt.
Maryland attorney general sues Education Department to stop school mental health grant cuts
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a new lawsuit to stop the U.S. Department of Education from ending federally funded school mental health grants.
New York Times reporters are subpoenaed after Air Force One stories, raising press freedom concerns
The subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan next week, the Times said, adding that federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes.
‘Outrage’: Community and research allies blast Trump plan to politicize U.S. grants
The Office of Management and Budget has proposed a sprawling overhaul of a rule establishing the framework for federal financial assistance that would set up Trump and future presidents to politicize federal grantmaking, shifting grantmaking power to administration appointees and seizing broad latitude for the executive branch in the financial aid process. Wide-ranging opponents of the Trump administration proposal say it would tee up federal agencies to dismiss community needs and congressional intent on a partisan basis as they decide discretionary federal awards – with billions of dollars at stake.
Submit a Comment: Keep Politics Out of Science Funding : The Hastings Center for Bioethics
Bioethicists and others should submit comments on the Office of Management and Budget proposal to revise its rules on how the government awards and manages federal grants.
Submit a Comment: Keep Politics Out of Science Funding : The Hastings Center for Bioethics
Bioethicists and others should submit comments on the Office of Management and Budget proposal to revise its rules on how the government awards and manages federal grants.
PA’s top election official: Trump actions show “concerning” pattern of “reducing federal support for elections”
New York Times accuses federal agency of political retaliation in lawsuit battle
The New York Times accused a federal civil rights agency Friday of political retaliation and free speech infringement in a countersuit filed in response to a discrimination lawsuit the news organization faces on behalf of a white male employee who was rejected for a role awarded to a multiracial wom
US judge won't block FTC case against transgender health nonprofit
A U.S. judge on Friday declined for now to block the Federal Trade Commission from pursuing a lawsuit accusing a nonprofit focused on transgender health of making misleading statements about the benefits of gender-affirming treatments for minors.
Judge rules Washington health inspectors can enter ICE facility facing 3,500+ complaints, gov announces
A federal judge in Washington ruled in favor of the state on Thursday, ruling that state health inspectors can enter a Tacoma immigration facility.
Federal judge orders Tacoma ICE center to allow health and safety inspections
A federal judge has ordered the immigration detention center in Tacoma to allow Washington state officials access to conduct health and safety inspections.
Joe Klein: At 80, Here’s What I’ve Learned About Politics—and Life
I am 80 years old, this year of our 250th anniversary, and I find myself a cliché. My life has been a common political journey, from left to center. I recently took the Pew Research Center’s “political typology” test and found that I was a “pragmatic and polite conservative,” which seemed a rather abstruse basket: A politically mixed (though Republican-tilting) group, they lean conservative on economics and the role of government, while tilting more liberal on issues related to race and foreign policy. They prize civility and cooperation in politics. Well, that sounds pretty mushy—and I find it hard to square with the strong opinions I have on many issues. I’ve voted for Democrats in federal elections, but I grow more Republican the closer I get to local politics. Democrats, I’ve found, simply aren’t very good at running things, especially school systems, where they are in the thrall of the teachers unions. My friends joke about my obsession with the unions. They know all my lines. If industrial unions are organized against the power of capital, who are the public employees organized against? But enough of that. I’ve ranted that rant too often, and my political journey has been more complicated than that one issue. It has been empirical, based on actual experience—on a lifetime of reporting and a lot of reading. An early example: I was a journalist with the underground press in Boston at the turn of the 1970s and considered myself a member of the antiwar and civil rights movements. The first big issue I covered was busing to achieve school integration. Yes, the white bigots were disgusting. But I couldn’t find any black parents who favored the plan to bus their children to schools outside their neighborhoods either. Black activists and politicians—and white liberals—were gung ho, but not actual parents of black kids in school. Busing was a form of social engineering imposed from on high, by a judge—W. Arthur Garrity—who lived in a wealthy liberal suburb. Wealthy liberal suburbs were not affected by his plan, of course. I began to see that there were limits to what government could do, especially when it came to changing a society’s culture.
NC’s first full budget since 2023 reflects transformed health policy landscape
It’s been more than 1,000 days since the legislature passed a state budget, but sweeping federal health care changes may force North Carolina to rethink how it funds Medicaid, food assistance and other health programs.
Eight school-based health clinics close in Southwest Virginia as federal funding pressures mount
The outreach program had served as an extension of health services into communities where access to primary care is limited. It has been funded by reinvesting savings from a federal drug pricing program back into the communities the clinics serve.
Trump Administration Taps Climate Science Critic to Oversee National Climate Assessment
Matthew M. Wielicki has criticized the scientific consensus on global warming as alarmist. Now he’ll oversee a major federal report on the topic.
Trump ousts election commission members in latest push to reshape U.S. voting
The White House on Friday confirmed the executive action against members of the Election Assistance Commission, which distributes federal grants to states, oversees the testing of voting systems and maintains the national voter registration form.
Here’s what happens when you put politicians in charge of science
Proposed federal rules would rely on political appointees to decide how a lot of U.S. science gets done. History shows the consequences of such actions.
Here’s what happens when you put politicians in charge of science
Proposed federal rules would rely on political appointees to decide how a lot of U.S. science gets done. History shows the consequences of such actions.
Senate investigates what health officials knew about COVID-19 vaccine side effects
A Senate review led by Sen. Ron Johnson is examining how federal officials handled reports of possible COVID-19 vaccine side effects.
Trump says he won’t sign housing bill that’s set to become law at midnight
President Donald Trump said Friday that he will not sign a bipartisan housing bill, which is set to become law at midnight even without his signature, as he digs in on controversial federal elections overhaul legislation.
Donald Trump ousts election commission members in latest push to reshape US voting process
President Donald Trump has ousted members of a bipartisan federal election commission charged with assisting state and local elections officials
NFIB Opposes Unworkable New Mandates to Small Business Operations
Finalizing a federal heat standard would add unnecessary burdens and massive compliance costs on Main Street
Cutting federal science funding threatens Kansas’ economic power
Sen. Jerry Moran stood up for vital research done in his state. We need everyone to follow his lead. | Opinion
Loyola University Maryland receives $965,000 to expand forensic science program
Loyola University Maryland is receiving $965,000 in federal funding to expand its nationally recognized forensic science program. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley highlighted the program’s impact, saying, “We’ve hired several Loyola graduates who have become valued
Trump seeks to limit funding that doesn't 'advance' presidential policies
Proposed in late May, the rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over federal grants for research, education and infrastructure.
ACLU alleges new Kansas election statute violates federal voting rights laws
The law, which went into effect July 1, was designed to rapidly remove ineligible voters from registration rolls and restrict the use of voter registration websites. The Republican-led Kansas Legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kelly's veto to pass the bill.
Virginia moves up to 3rd in CNBC’s ‘top state for business’ ranking. Here are 6 things to know.
Virginia’s score rose or stayed the same in seven of 10 categories. The biggest drop was in “economy,” which CNBC blamed on federal cutbacks.
Trump fires Election Assistance Commission leaders
The White House on Thursday fired the leadership of the federal agency that provides funding and security guidance to election officials, according to sources familiar with the matter and an email reviewed by CNN — a move that’s already raising alarm bells among election officials about federal interference ahead of the midterms.
Trump Terminates Election Assistance Commission Members
By Bo Erickson and Erin Banco WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday terminated the members of the Election Assistance Commission, the independent, federal commission that assists election administration officials nationwide, according to one person familiar with ...
Trump fires federal election commissioners ahead of midterms
The firings cripple a key bipartisan agency just months before the midterms.
White House Moves to Control Federal Science Grants as RFK Jr. Threatens Scientific Journals
A proposed tax bill could raise premiums on privately insured Californians, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes aim at medical journals.
USDA lowers beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data
The U.S. Department of Agriculture dramatically lowered its reported beef export sales for late June on Thursday, sparking fresh concerns about the quality of the agency's data after staffing losses as part of the Trump administration's reshaping of the federal government.
Jackson County Sheriff: Federal search at Kansas City business was 'not an immigration raid'
A federal criminal search warrant executed at a northeast Kansas City food manufacturing business led to the arrest of an unregistered sex offender. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office says the operation was not an immigration raid.
Loyola forensic science training center gets federal funding
Loyola University Maryland's forensic science program is set to expand with $965,000 in federal funding.
Virginia climbs back to No. 3 in CNBC’s top states for business rankings
Virginia has climbed a spot in CNBC's annual ranking of the best states for business, a year after federal job cuts helped knock it out of the No. 1 position. The state placed third in the 2026 rankings released today (Thursday), up from fourth last year. Ohio took the top spot for the first time,
Indiana: Stop playing politics with kids' food.
In Indiana, over 650,000 kids are without consistent meals this summer because the state opted out of an important federal food program. I just introduced a bill to change that.The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program is designed to fill a gap for kids who typically rely on free meals at school. It’s a win-win program: the federal government covers the cost of the food benefits. Congress has already approved it, and it’s set to go — signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered to 650,000 Hoosier kids in need. That’s how the program works in other states.
NYU Langone, Other NY Hospitals Blocked from Releasing Trans Youth Health Records
In May 2026, a federal grand jury in Fort Worth sent a subpoena to NYU Langone Hospitals, demanding that they turn over the identities and sensitive health information of any patient who had received medical treatment for gender dysphoria at the hospital while they were under 18 years old between January 2020 through May 2026.
New York area lawmakers rally behind longtime head of WTC Health Program
The program has grappled with staffing shortages over the past year amid the federal layoffs and buyouts.
New York Fed says many businesses are not finished raising prices to offset tariffs
Nearly half of firms that paid tariffs plan additional price increases, with some expecting to raise prices six months or more in the future, according to a new survey from the New York Federal Reserve.
The Plan To Make Climate Science Harder To Erase
As climate information disappears from federal websites, scientists are rebuilding it elsewhere.
Will federal changes to research funding promote ‘accountability’ or politicize science?
A retired Brown University professor says the Trump administration is weakening a system that relies on subject-matter experts to judge scientific merit.
Federal agents and hazmat crews descend on home of Irvine teen accused of wild science experiments
Anchorage behavioral health center funding approved despite Fairview representatives’ opposition
The $750,000 federal funding award follows two months of public discourse.
Federal judge denies Kalshi's request to override N.Y.'s gambling laws
The prediction market company is pushing back.
Virginia Department of Health says there are 10 cases of cyclosporiasis
Health experts say cyclosporiasis tends to spread more in the summer months.But federal officials say there are more cases this year than they'd normally see in
Warm here, cold there reception greets go-live of ‘Make Hospital Food Healthier’
HHS reiterates: Consistent with the Code of Federal Regulations and CMS guidance, hospitals “should provide inpatient meals that align with the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”
Funding cuts jeopardize Navajo Nation teen health program at Johns Hopkins
A Johns Hopkins Center program offering sports camps with reproductive health education for Navajo Nation youth is at risk after losing $1.1 million in federal funding.
Trump denies disaster aid for four Democratic-led states
The move deepens what Democrats say is the president's politicization of federal emergency management decisions.
United must face lawsuit over 'window seats' that don't have windows, judge rules
A federal judge ruled passengers plausibly alleged United Airlines breached its agreement by selling certain window seats without an actual window, allowing the proposed class action to proceed.
Will Congress Save America's Hemp Businesses Before It's Too Late?
With Nov.26 federal hemp ban looming, a $28B industry faces potential extinction. Here's what the new THC cap means for businesses, jobs, and the future of hemp.
Maine clergy speak out against voting restrictions
A group of more than 20 members of clergy from a variety of religions gathered under the new mural in downtown Lewiston to speak out against what they say are federal efforts to prevent eligible voters from voting.
SUN | Baltimore, business owners fight Dali owners’ bid to limit liability
Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and a business coalition are pushing back against the owners and operators of the Dali ship, asking a federal judge to reject