Monday, May 3

· President Joe Biden raised the United States’ refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for this fiscal year from the previous administration’s historically low 15,000 cap, a move Biden had promised to do in February but delayed until now.

· Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the Biden administration began reuniting families who were separated at the Mexican border over the past four years, saying that this is “just the beginning” of a broader effort.

· The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule to slash the use of hydrofluorcarbons, a greenhouse gas used in refrigerators and air conditioners more powerful at warming the planet than carbon dioxide, by 85% over the next 15 years.

· Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the country’s economic outlook has “clearly brightened” but lower income groups are lagging, especially among minorities.

Tuesday, May 4

· Biden announced a goal to have 70% of all United States adults vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 shot and 160 million adults fully vaccinated by July 4.

· The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released weather data that indicates the U.S. is getting warmer and parts of it are getting wetter, tracking “new normals” in its data that show “the influence of long-term global warming is obvious.”

· Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in remarks to a Council of the Americas conference that global economic recovery rests on cutting vaccine inequity. “This is not just a public health requirement,” Tai said.

· Four senators urged the Biden administration to help raise $2.5 billion in aid for Yemen, where people are suffering from what they call “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis” in the war-torn and famine-threatened country.

Wednesday, May 5

· A federal judged ordered the Justice Department to release a memo that its legal counsel office prepared for former Attorney General William Barr before he announced former President Donald Trump would not be prosecuted for obstruction of justice in an investigation into Russian election meddling.

· The Labor Department rescinded a Trump-era rule that would have made it easier for businesses to classify workers as contractors rather than employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said this move “will help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect.”

· The U.S. backed intellectual property waivers for coronavirus vaccines, which would allow other countries like India that are struggling badly with COVID-19 outbreaks to manufacture more vaccines. The World Health Organization called it “a monumental moment” in addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

· A federal judge placed a temporary stay on an order released the same day that found the Centers for Disease Control exceeded its authority by imposing a federal eviction moratorium to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “Scientific evidence shows that evictions exacerbate the spread of COVID-19,” acting assistant attorney general Brian Boynton said in a statement.

· Interior Secretary Deb Haaland hosted a gathering with other federal officials in solidarity with demonstrations across the country on a day of awareness for the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children, who federal figures indicate are victimized at a disproportionate rate.

Thursday, May 6

· An anonymous State Department official told reporters that an agreement could be reached between the U.S. and Iran to resume compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal within the coming weeks if Iran makes a political decision to do so.

· After Ukraine asked the U.S. and Europe for accelerated entry into the North American Treaty Organization, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration is committed to keeping NATO’s doors open to new member nations as long as they meet certain conditions.

· Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the release of four Hong Kong activists facing jail time for participating in a vigil for victims of the Chinese government’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on dissent.

· Blinken visited Ukraine in a show of support after Russia amassed troops near Ukraine’s eastern border as part of a weeks-long standoff.

· Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said military priorities in Afghanistan will shift to supporting Afghan security forces from “over the horizon” as homeland troops step up to “play the major role in stopping the Taliban” after U.S. forces withdraw from the country.

Friday, May 7

· The Biden administration changed the federal government’s rental assistance program by allocating $21.6 billion to an emergency fund to help prevent evictions of people who lost their jobs in the pandemic. The change also included requiring government agencies to offer assistance directly to renters if landlords choose not to participate.

· A report from Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton said threats against members of Congress increased by 107% compared to 2020.

Saturday, May 8

· Al Jazeera reported on efforts from Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) to ensure Israel doesn’t use U.S. aid to violate Palestinian rights.

Sunday, May 9

· The Navy announced it seized an arms shipment of thousands of weapons including assault rifles, machine guns and sniper rifles hidden on a ship from Iran in the Arabian Sea bound for Yemen in support of the Houthi.