Monday, July 1

á           Iran announced it surpassed the 2015 nuclear dealÕs limits on enriched uranium. In response the White House warned, Òmaximum pressure on the Iranian regime will continue until its leaders alter their course of action.ÓThe Office of U.S. Trade proposed an additional $4 billion in tariffs on the European Union.

á           President Trump signed into law the bipartisan Taxpayer First Act to reform the IRS. The new law will improve customer service, technology, and aid for victims of tax-related identity theft as well as support taxpayersÕ rights.

Tuesday, July 2

á           $2.5 million in National Park Service funding used for park upkeep and maintenance will be diverted to fund President TrumpÕs ÒSalute to AmericaÓ July 4 event in Washington D.C.

á           Federal Judge Marsha J. Penchman of a Seattle District Court blocked an order made by Attorney General William Barr that would allow detained migrants to be held indefinitely while their asylum cases are decided. Judge Penchman called the order unconstitutional and ruled that migrants must be granted a bond hearing within seven days of a request or be released if they have not received a hearing in that time.

á           The Department of Homeland SecurityÕs Office of Inspector General released a report describing the detention centers where migrants are being held. Inspectors found overcrowded conditions where detainees are held in cells with only enough room to stand and are not provided hot meals or showers.

á           The House sued the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service for access to President TrumpÕs tax returns citing the administrations prior refusals to provide the documents as Òan extraordinary attack on the authority of Congress to obtain information needed to conduct oversight of Treasury, the I.R.S. and the tax laws on behalf of the American people.Ó

Wednesday, July 3

á           A San Francisco federal appeals court upheld a lower courts decision to block President Trump from using the $2.5 billion in funds from the Department of Defense to construct the southern border wall.

á           After stating they would not do so, Justice Department officials announced that they would follow President TrumpÕs order to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

á           U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett of Ohio issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking a state law that would ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, when fetal heartbeat is detected.

á           President Trump accused the European Union and China of manipulating their currencies and claimed that the United States should do the same.

Thursday, July 4

á           Republican Representative Justin Amash of Michigan announced in an Op-Ed in the Washington Post that he was leaving the party. Amash has been the target of attacks for his criticism of President Trump and for being the only Republican in Congress to support the presidentÕs impeachment.

Friday, July 5

 

á           President Trump announced that the White House is currently working on an executive order that would require pharmaceutical companies to drastically lower drug prices to Òwhatever the lowest nationÕs price isÓ. 

á           The United States called an emergency meeting with United Nations nuclear watchdog group to discuss IranÕs failure to comply with the agreements made in the 2015 nuclear deal.

Saturday, July 6

á           The Trump administration continued efforts to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Justice Department lawyers looked for a legal workaround and President Trump said heÕs considering using an executive order to force the question forward.

Sunday, July 7

á           Iranian leaders refused to meet with President TrumpÕs representatives following their breach of the 2015 nuclear deal. Behrouz Kamalvandi of IranÕs Atomic Energy Organization said that Iran is Òfully prepared to enrich uranium at any level with any amount.Ó

á           The Justice Department announced it was changing out its legal team on the census citizenship question for a new lineup of lawyers, including some from the consumer protection branch.