U.S.
Justice Department Appeals Court Order to Release More Unredacted Epstein Records
A federal judge ordered the DOJ to unredact additional Epstein files or justify each redaction; the department declined by the deadline, defended its redactions as victim protection, and is appealing.
FBI Reportedly Shifted Probes of ICE Shootings to ICE's Own Investigative Unit; Justice Department and DHS Deny Any Change
News reports citing anonymous sources say the FBI told managers it would stop investigating assaults and shootings involving immigration officers, moving that work to ICE's Homeland Security Investigations; the Justice Department and DHS say oversight has not changed.
Rhode Island Judge Declines to Pause His Order Requiring USCIS to Resume Immigration Processing for 39 Countries
U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. denied the government's request to halt his ruling while it appeals, leaving in place an order that USCIS restart asylum, green-card and naturalization cases for nationals of dozens of countries.
House Republicans Introduce Stopgap Bill to Fund Government Through December 4
The continuing resolution, unveiled July 17, would extend current spending past the September 30 deadline and past November's midterm elections while full-year appropriations remain unfinished.
ICE on Pace for Record Monthly Arrests in July, Averaging More Than 1,400 a Day
Federal data and news reports show immigration arrests running at their highest level of the Trump administration, sharpening disputes over who is being detained and how.
Interior Department Finalizes Rule Ending Automatic Endangered Species Act Protections for Newly Listed Threatened Species
The July 17, 2026 rule replaces a default "blanket" shield with species-by-species plans and lets regulators weigh economic costs in habitat decisions; conservation groups have sued the administration over a related Endangered Species Act rule change and say they plan to challenge this rule in court as well.
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Pushes Air-Quality Alerts Across Midwest and Northeast; Trump and GOP Lawmakers Blame Canada, Ottawa Cites Climate Change
Smoke from hundreds of active Canadian wildfires triggered health alerts for well over 100 million Americans in July 2026, reviving a dispute over whether forest management or a warming climate is the primary cause.
State Attorneys General Allege ICE Shared Medicaid Data With Palantir in Possible Violation of Court Order
A motion from more than 20 Democratic attorneys general says immigration officials passed a federal Medicaid dataset to contractor Palantir; the administration says its data use is lawful and a judge will weigh the dispute in August.
Wind-Driven Wildfires in Eastern Oregon Destroy Homes, Force Evacuations; State Invokes Conflagration Act a Third Time in 2026
The Lower Dry Creek Fire in Umatilla County and the Hoag Fire in Gilliam County burned multiple homes and displaced hundreds of residents as Oregon mobilized additional state firefighting resources.
DHS Finalizes Rule Ending Open-Ended 'Duration of Status' for Foreign Student, Exchange, and Media Visas
A rule published July 17 replaces indefinite student-visa admission with fixed terms capped at four years, effective September 15, 2026.