Federal SNAP Data Lawsuits Put State Benefit Privacy in Court
The Justice Department sued four states over five years of SNAP records, escalating a dispute over federal oversight, privacy and data security.
Federal Courts
-
-
Federal court challenge tests whether FBI employees can be punished for work on Trump investigations
Five new friend-of-the-court briefs are putting fresh focus on a lawsuit over whether former FBI employees were fired for politically sensitive investigative work.
-
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks New Cuts to School Mental-Health Grants
A federal judge temporarily blocked Education Department cuts to school mental-health grants, giving districts short-term planning relief before the 2026-27 school year.
-
FBI assigns 260 staffers to Georgia 2020 election records probe
An FBI memo obtained by AP describes a nationwide surge of 260 analysts and specialists reviewing Fulton County records, but it does not establish fraud or charges.
-
Supreme Court leaves $656 million judgment against Palestinian authorities in place
Justice Sonia Sotomayor declined on August 3 to pause enforcement of a roughly $656 million judgment while the Palestinian Authority and PLO appeal.
-
New President’s House exhibit tests who controls public history
A replacement exhibit in Philadelphia keeps slavery in view but changes its emphasis, raising questions about federal authority over historic interpretation.
-
D.C. Circuit Says EPA Improperly Ended Clean-Energy Grants
A divided D.C. Circuit ruling favors nonprofit climate-finance groups, but the disputed funds remain unavailable while EPA weighs Supreme Court review.
-
Immigration courts are issuing more in-absentia removal orders
Immigration courts are clearing cases faster, but missed hearings and in-absentia removal orders are rising, putting asylum claims and due process at issue.
-
Attorney and SCOTUSblog co-founder sentenced to six years for tax fraud
Thomas Goldstein was sentenced to 72 months in prison after a February jury conviction on tax offenses and false mortgage statements.
-
Federal appeals court keeps Trump voter-list order blocked in 23 states
The First Circuit left key voter-list and mail-ballot provisions blocked in 23 states and Washington, D.C., as the Supreme Court weighs the administration’s request.
-
States sue over federal access to TANF recipient data
Twenty-two states and D.C. sued over a federal notice covering TANF records, including Social Security numbers and immigration-status information.
-
Former Missouri Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
Former Northwoods officer Samuel Davis received a 10-year federal sentence after convictions over force against a handcuffed man and efforts to mislead investigators.
-
What the end of federal oversight means for Alabama’s Tutwiler women’s prison
A federal court closed Alabama’s Tutwiler case, ending oversight tied to 44 requirements while staffing concerns and separate men’s-prison litigation remain.
-
Ninth Circuit Draws Line Between Private Prayer and School Work
The Ninth Circuit upheld limits on student-facing book displays by an Oregon school specialist while preserving stronger protection for private religious expression outside official duties.
-
Federal judge orders access protections at 2 New York immigration courts
A July 21 injunction protects public access to eligible in-person hearings at two Manhattan immigration courts while preserving security and enforcement authority.
-
Judge lets DHS border-wall project near Presidio proceed for now
A federal judge denied a request to halt DHS border-wall work near Presidio, Texas, while a lawsuit over levee safety and federal authority continues.
-
DOJ sues Milwaukee over rules requiring federal officers to identify themselves
The Justice Department is challenging Milwaukee’s mask and identification rules, setting up a federal court fight over accountability and federal authority.
-
Man charged in alleged Northeast Philadelphia mosque arson
Federal prosecutors charged Vincent Lang in the alleged July 5 fire at a Northeast Philadelphia mosque. The building was unoccupied, and no injuries were reported.
-
New York says federal freeze puts $445 million in wind projects at risk
New York is asking to join a federal lawsuit over an alleged Pentagon review freeze affecting two proposed projects, an estimated $445 million in investment and 806 jobs.
-
U.S. bankruptcy filings rose 12.2% in year ending June 30
Federal bankruptcy filings rose 12.2% over the year ending June 30, 2026, with most cases involving households as debt reached $18.8 trillion.
-
Federal judge keeps Trump administration bound by records law during appeal
A June 30 order leaves the Trump administration under a Presidential Records Act injunction while the Justice Department challenges the law’s constitutionality.
-
Federal indictment accuses 11 in Texas rail-container deaths
A federal indictment accuses 11 people of using freight trains to smuggle seven migrants through Texas, where prosecutors say all seven died.