Executive department steering federal lands, natural resources and Native affairs
The Supreme Court has denied emergency requests to reinstate a preliminary injunction against Texas’s App Store Accountability Act, leaving in place a 2025 district-court order that had blocked the law. The 5th Circuit previously stayed that injunction and will hear oral arguments on August 4 as challenges continue over whether the law improperly regulates speech and requires age verification.
Wyoming lawmakers and allies are backing a plan to swap 933 acres of public land around Martin’s Cove for LDS Church-owned land nearby. The deal would bring public land into the conversation and seek congressional approval, while expanding church-held parcels in two tracts. The proposal has drawn broad, high-profile support but faces questions about process and impact.
The White House has released a July Fourth report criticizing the Smithsonian’s portrayal of American history as biased toward activism. President Trump has issued an executive order directing sidewalk signs outside the Smithsonian and a temporary exhibit to present what he calls accurate information, while Smithsonian leadership defends ongoing scholarship and a fuller account of the nation’s story.
The White House reveals updated perimeter security plans, including fencing Lafayette Park and a new underground screening facility, as part of a broader modernization drive. Projects are advancing amid ongoing security concerns and dramatic architectural changes across Washington.
A federal analysis shows Lake Powell could fall to 3,491 feet by March 2027, risking hydropower as the reservoir nears the minimum power pool. Authorities are moving water from Flaming Gorge to stabilize levels while talks among Western governors intensify.
The Interior Department has finalized rules that require individualized protection plans for species added to the threatened list and mandate economic analyses for critical habitat. Critics warn the move could hamper wildlife recovery, while supporters say it balances conservation with development. Several species, including monarch butterflies and the grizzly bear, are cited in ongoing debates.
The Palisades nuclear plant near Lake Michigan has been repeatedly delayed after Holtec International restarted a plan to revive the shuttered reactor. The project, begun soon after the plant’s sale, has faced corrosion discoveries, supply-chain hiccups and an underground leak, underscoring the hurdles in reviving U.S. nuclear energy despite bipartisan interest.
Prosecutors have moved to dismiss charges against former Olympian David Hearn after new documents show the Reflecting Pool damage resulted from a botched installation by a contractor, not vandalism. The White House has championed the project as part of America’s 250th anniversary preparations. The development follows Pirro’s admission of mischaracterizing the evidence and the Interior Department’s role in the case.
The reflecting pool renovation is under scrutiny as charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn are dismissed after prosecutors say damage resulted from flawed installation. Trump criticizes Pirro’s handling while defending earlier vandalism claims; the pool remains shuttered for further work. The episode underscores political and financial controversy around DC’s landmark renovation.
Trump has criticized Jeanine Pirro’s handling of the reflects pool repair case, saying the judge was vicious and Pirro choked. He has cited the botched installation as the true cause of damage, while defending the contractor and questioning the pace and transparency of the repairs ahead of Fourth of July events.
The Reflecting Pool controversy has intensified as Jeanine Pirro’s bid to drop the Hearn case is supported by new information attributing damage to flawed installation rather than vandalism. President Trump has publicly criticized Pirro, calling her response “a mistake” and “choked,” while signaling uncertainty about Pirro’s continued role.
Unaccompanied migrant children in government care face potential gaps in legal representation as a federal contract for legal services expires. Providers warn that without attorneys to guide them through asylum proceedings, children could face higher deportation risks amid ongoing immigration enforcement drives.
RWE has relinquished its offshore wind leases in the US after a settlement with the Trump administration. The company will reinvest about $1.2 billion into a Louisiana LNG terminal and 15 natural gas peaker plants, while winding down projects on New York, California and Louisiana coasts. The move follows a pattern of government buybacks of offshore wind leases.
The reflecting pool renovation has drawn criticism and spurred accusations of vandalism. President Trump has publicly blasted Pirro after she dropped charges related to alleged damage, while officials dispute the vandalism narrative and blame a botched installation for the pool’s problems. The dispute has intensified political tension surrounding a high-profile project tied to national celebrations.
Vandals defaced the World War II Memorial with foam, red and green paint and the message “Clean hands Dirty $.” Melissa Farris has been charged with depredation of U.S. property and destruction of veterans’ memorials. The case follows related incidents at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, with President Trump and U.S. officials weighing in.
Federal agencies have unveiled a 10-year framework to manage the Colorado River, mandating deep cuts to California, Arizona and Nevada while preserving flexibility for future negotiations as drought persists. The plan contemplates annual reductions in the lower basin and signals ongoing debate over allocation and long-term governance.
Maintenance projects across national parks face a growing backlog, with a $24 billion gap. White House priority lists tie funds to Washington, risking delayed repairs at sites nationwide.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the U.S. federal name for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and has said the change is effective immediately. The move comes as Washington and Ottawa have imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods and Canadian leaders have rejected the renaming.
California lawmakers oppose a proposed land exchange that would grant a private developer a short access road to Yosemite National Park in exchange for lands elsewhere in California. Kingsbarn Realty Capital argues the plan would ease congestion and cut emissions, while opponents warn of privatizing public land and impacting conservation. The proposal is under federal review with public comment ongoing.
The Colorado River drought continues to squeeze water supplies across the U.S. West. New reductions are planned; states face ongoing cuts and cities scramble for backups. Reservoirs hit record lows while federal plans leave uncertainty for communities from Phoenix to Las Vegas.
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. geographic names database to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Google has updated Google Maps to show “Lake America” to U.S. users while Canadian users still see Lake Ontario; Apple has not yet changed its maps and MapQuest has refused, triggering a surge in downloads and political backlash.
Rains driven by El Niño have intensified at Bright Angel Creek, triggering a deadly flood near the Grand Canyon. The event follows drought and a megafire that scarred the area, with authorities warning debris flows and ongoing risk as crews assess damages.
Democratic-aligned groups have warned against President Trump’s Great Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle, citing disruption to Arlington Cemetery and the site’s historic value. Courts are weighing challenges as Interior Secretary Burgum says ground may begin within days; critics say congressional authorization is required.
Prosecutors have dropped the felony case against 67-year-old David Hearn after acknowledging the damage to the Reflecting Pool stemmed from a botched installation. The judge is weighing whether to allow refiled charges in the future, while Trump presses for a renewed pursuit.
Lonnie G. Bunch III will leave the Smithsonian Institution by year’s end. The departure follows a White House report criticizing Smithsonian leadership and a broader push from the Trump administration to realign how American history is presented in national museums. The move comes as the institution faces renewed calls for changes to exhibits and leadership amid partisan pressure.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a directive redefining what constitutes a prohibited take under the Endangered Species Act, signaling that harm or killing must be intentional to count. The move, echoed across multiple outlets, has sparked lawsuits and warnings from environmental groups.
California and New York attorneys general have filed lawsuits over the Trump administration's plan to buy back offshore wind leases, arguing the deals divert taxpayer money to fossil-fuel projects and raise electricity costs while hindering clean-energy progress. The actions involve Invenergy and Bluepoint Wind, with multiple states joining New York in blocking the moves.
Backpack has won Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park, beating Bear 910 in the final vote. The 20-year-old bear, officially Bear 89, has cemented his reputation as a quiet, non-aggressive giant who fattens up on salmon ahead of winter.
More than 500 trees will be removed from East Potomac Golf Course as part of a National Park Service rehabilitation to restore historic character. The removal includes 169 trees starting Saturday, with 90 more slated later. The project aims to reopen views toward landmarks while keeping the course open to the public. Plaintiffs say the work could violate the act that created the park in 1897. Trump has touted the site as a potential host for major tournaments, though scheduling remains unclear.