D.C. Circuit says Trump cannot build White House ballroom without Congress
A divided federal appeals panel upheld an injunction blocking above-ground construction of the planned White House ballroom unless Congress approves the project.
National
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Senate passes stopgap funding bill to avert shutdown through Dec. 11
The Senate approved a short-term funding measure 90-6 on Aug. 8, but the bill still needs House approval and presidential action before it can become law.
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White House orders Section 301 investigations into 60 economies over forced-labor enforcement
A July 23 presidential memorandum directs the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate 60 economies over policies involving bans on goods produced with forced labor. No tariffs or import restrictions take effect under the order itself.
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Federal Reserve report shows inflation remains well above its 2% goal
The Federal Reserve’s July 2026 report to Congress said headline PCE inflation reached 4.1% through May, while energy prices rose 24% over the same period.
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USOPC says nearly 40% of 2026 U.S. Olympic team competed in college sports
An updated USOPC database says 88 of the 232 U.S. athletes at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics had collegiate experience across 54 schools.
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Federal Reserve report links higher U.S. inflation to Middle East conflict and energy shocks
The Federal Reserve’s July 2026 report says U.S. inflation reached 4.1% and energy prices rose 24% through May as conflict and shipping disruptions affected energy markets.
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FCC requires daily disaster reporting from public-safety voice and broadband operators
The FCC adopted a requirement for covered public-safety voice and broadband network operators to submit daily infrastructure-status reports when its Disaster Information Reporting System is activated in their service areas.
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Justice Department announces coordinated fraud crackdown across seven Southeastern states
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced coordinated fraud enforcement actions across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina on July 30, 2026.
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Sprout Social to Cut About 20% of Workforce as It Shifts Spending Toward AI
Sprout Social says about 260 employees could be affected by a workforce-reduction plan approved July 8, with most of the estimated $18 million to $20 million in pretax charges expected in the third quarter.
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VA says Chapter 35 benefits will no longer cover new high-school-level programs after Aug. 1
A VA policy change generally ends Chapter 35 payments for new high-school instruction, GED-level training, tutoring and remediation beginning Aug. 1, 2026.
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Workforce Pell Grants to Cover Qualifying Short-Term Training Starting July 1
A final Education Department rule will let eligible students use Pell Grants for qualifying short-term programs designed to prepare them for high-skill, high-wage and in-demand jobs.
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USDA’s $16 Billion Disaster Program Sets Aug. 12 Deadline for Farmers
Farmers seeking federal assistance for qualifying crop, tree, bush and vine losses from 2023 and 2024 disasters must submit applications for both stages of USDA’s Supplemental Disaster Relief Program by Aug. 12, 2026.
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Interior Reports 356 Billion Short Tons of Coal Resources Beneath Federal Lands
A new Interior Department assessment identifies 356 billion short tons of available coal resources beneath federally managed public lands, but it does not authorize mining or approve new leases.
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GAO Flags Risks to the Federal Jobs Report as Survey Response Rates Decline
A Government Accountability Office review found that users generally consider the monthly Jobs Report accurate and useful, but warned that declining response rates, revisions and gaps in technical feedback could weaken data quality.
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DHS allows some affirmative asylum cases to go to immigration court without an interview
An interim final rule effective July 28 allows USCIS to refer certain affirmative asylum applications to immigration court without first conducting an asylum interview.
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IRS warns donors about fake charities and inflated donation appraisals
A July 28 IRS warning urges taxpayers to verify charities, preserve donation records and watch for scams involving cash appeals, property valuations and hard-to-reverse payments.
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Census population estimate puts U.S. above 342.7 million as migration drives slower growth
The Census Bureau’s July 28 population-clock estimate placed the U.S. population at 342,704,625, while its latest completed annual estimates show growth slowing sharply as net international migration fell.
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IRS to phase in automatic penalty relief for taxpayers with timely histories
The IRS says a new automatic process will begin phasing in during summer 2026 for eligible taxpayers with three years of timely filing and payment history.
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U.S. seizes more than 1,000 domains accused of illegally streaming 2026 World Cup matches
The Justice Department says federal agencies seized more than 1,000 internet domains used to offer unauthorized real-time streams of 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
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USDOT robotics competition sets Aug. 10 deadline for transportation-safety and infrastructure proposals
The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened its first national robotics-in-transportation competition, with submissions due Aug. 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.
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Airbnb shares rise 17.4% after reported earnings beat, but official figures remain unavailable
Airbnb shares jumped after the Associated Press reported that the company exceeded analyst expectations for quarterly profit and revenue. The company’s detailed Q2 figures and guidance were not available in its investor-relations archive searched for this report.
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Social Security urges beneficiaries to switch to electronic payments before 2026 paper-check phaseout
The Social Security Administration says it plans to complete the nationwide move to electronic payments during 2026 and is urging beneficiaries who still receive paper checks to establish direct deposit.