Monday, Aug. 22
á
Dr. Anthony Fauci
announced he will step down as President BidenÕs top medical adviser and the
director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in
December. Fauci, 81, led the agency for 38 years and
advised seven presidents.
á
In response to the FBIÕs Aug. 8 search of former
President Donald TrumpÕs Mar-a-Lago residence, TrumpÕs legal team filed a
lawsuit alleging his constitutional rights were violated and requesting the
appointment of a special master or third-party attorney, to ensure the Justice
Department return what he claimed were his private documents.
Tuesday, Aug. 23
á
In a letter to employees, Internal Revenue
Service Commissioner Charles Rettig announced the
agency will launch a full security review of its 600 nationwide facilities as
both congressional Republicans and right wingers are lashing out at the new
funding the agency is set to receive.
á
The U.S. State Department urged Americans to
leave Ukraine, fearing days of missile strikes by Moscow on civilian infrastructure
and government facilities as the country marks its upcoming Independence Day.
Wednesday, Aug. 24
á
Biden announced both an extension of the existing
moratorium on federal student loan payments, currently set to expire Aug. 31,
along with the student loan forgiveness program of up to $20,000 for borrowers
with incomes below $125,000 a year. The government will make available
applications for student loan relief although the process for millions of borrowers may be automatic
should the Department of Education already have student income information.
á
Two U.S. military bases were under rocket attack
in northern Syria with service members sustaining minor injuries. To minimize
the risk of harm to civilians, American troops surveilled
militant Iranian-backed Islamic forces for a week in preparation for two
retaliatory airstrikes, both launched within a 24-hour period.
á
The New York Times reported that the CIA has
begun making payments under the Havana Act, passed by Congress last year to
provide compensation to a dozen officers, diplomats and their families for
traumatic brain injuries incurred while serving the U.S. government in China,
Austria, Serbia and Havana. Debilitating symptoms were first reported in 2016
in Havana. A report to the Biden administration indicated pulse radio energy
may have caused the head injuries and subsequent symptoms.
á
First Lady Jill Biden again tested positive for
the coronavirus nine days after first contracting the
virus. Although she did not experience any symptoms, protocols were followed
for contact tracing, self-isolated, and prescribed Paxlovid,
an antiviral medication for both the president and first lady.
á
The New York Times reported on the findings from
multiple investigations by the Interior DepartmentÕs Office of Inspector
General of Ryan Zinke, a former interior secretary
during the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019. ZinkeÕs
alleged unethical conduct included intentionally misleading investigators in
their decision not to act on two Native American tribesÕ request to open a new
casino in Connecticut. Zinke is currently the
Republican nominee for a congressional seat in Montana and is expected to win
the general election.
á
The U.S. delivered almost $3 billion in military
weapons and equipment to Ukraine on the six-month anniversary of the war and
UkraineÕs Independence Day. The aid was part of the $40 billion assistance
package Congress approved in May. Biden said this new financial assistance
would allow Ukraine to purchase Òair defense systems, artillery systems and
munitions, counter-unmanned aerial systems, and radar to ensure it can continue
to defend itself over the long term.Ó
á
The Seattle office of the National Labor
Relations Board filed a complaint against Starbucks, accusing the company of illegally
discriminating against employees who voted to unionize by denying them wage and
benefit increases and discouraging union activity. The labor boardÕs case is
schedule before an administrative law judge at a hearing on October 25 unless
Starbuck agrees to settle in advance.
á
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill
blocked a portion of an Idaho law that bans abortions except in cases involving
rape, incest or when the womanÕs life is in danger because it did not contain
an exception for when the pregnant womanÕs health is at risk. The judge said
the law violated a federal law that requires hospitals participating in the
Medicare program to provide treatment when the personÕs life or health is at
stake.
Thursday, Aug. 25
á
Judge Bruce E. Reinhart ordered the release of a
redacted version of the FBIÕs affidavit used as justification to obtain the
search warrant for Mar-a-Lago disclosing details about the search and seizure
of documents at former President TrumpÕs Florida residence.
Friday, Aug. 26
á
The newly released affidavit for the search of
TrumpÕs Mar-a-Lago earlier in August shows the FBI found 184 classified
documents among those that had been returned to the National Archives in
January.
á
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is
slated to receive $65 million over five years from President BidenÕs Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law intended to improve roads, trails, water quality, fish
habitat, and create jobs.
á
Secretary Debra Anne Haaland
of the Department of the Interior, traveled to New Mexico to discuss clean
energy and the Gulf of Maine to gauge interest in wind energy projects. More
than $309 million in funding will help design and build water reuse projects
across the country.
Saturday, Aug. 27
á
Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, told lawmakers on the
House Intelligence and Oversight Committees an assessment of the possible risks
to national security from former President Donald TrumpÕs handling of
classified documents after the FBI seized boxes from his Florida home. Federal
agents are investigating potential violation of federal laws under the
Espionage Act and other statues which address the concealment, removal and
destruction of records.
Sunday, Aug. 28
á
Two U.S. Navy warships traveled through the Taiwan
Strait conducting maneuvers. China performed military exercises in the Strait,
sending warplanes and firing long-range missiles as a message to punish Taiwan
after Pelosi visited the island against BeijingÕs opposition. China views the
island as part of its national territory.