National cultural center of the United States
The State Department is finalising a limited run of commemorative U.S. passports featuring Donald Trump’s portrait to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The designs will be issued this summer at the Washington Passport Agency, with no extra cost and no nationwide mail rollout.
A federal judge has ruled that only Congress can change the Kennedy Center’s name. The center must remove Trump references from official materials and signage by June 12, while renovations and potential future actions are paused. Ongoing disputes involve lawsuits and board actions tied to the President’s name and leadership at the venue.
The Section 702 surveillance law is set to lapse this week. President Trump has named Bill Pulte as acting DNI, triggering bipartisan concern and stalling renewal talks while lawmakers debate guardrails and timing. A Senate gridlock persists as Republicans and Democrats clash over the scope of surveillance and the president’s chosen interim leader.
A federal judge in Boston has voided the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on H‑1B visa petitions, ruling the payment functions as a tax that Congress did not authorize. The administration has filed a notice of appeal, and parallel lawsuits and appeals are proceeding in other federal courts, leaving the policy's fate to the appeals process.
A federal judge has weighed whether to block Sunday’s UFC fight on the White House South Lawn. The event, marking Trump’s 80th birthday, is backed by a private-public partnership and features a 92-foot arch called “The Claw.” Critics argue the setup commercializes national monuments; supporters say it showcases a national celebration amid the semiquincentennial.
Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, former SEC chairman and U.S. attorney, to be the next Director of National Intelligence. The move follows a congressional standoff over extending the expiring FISA program, with Pulte set to serve as acting DNI. Coverage details the political friction and potential implications for U.S. intelligence oversight.
A $14m renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has produced a dark blue lining that is peeling and the water has returned to bright green from an algae bloom. Federal crews have been treating the water with ozone nanobubbles and hydrogen peroxide and are vacuuming algae, while the administration has claimed vandalism and reported arrests without publicly releasing evidence.
A federal judge has ordered the removal of President Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center’s facade and related materials, and the appeals court has refused to pause the order as legal challenges continue. The Kennedy Center’s board sought to overturn the ruling, arguing the name change was lawful, but the court found only Congress can rename the center. The dispute widens as Trump’s renovations and broader projects for Washington’s monumental core proceed.
A 51-year-old man, Paul Kueker of Niantic, Connecticut, has died after falling from an elevated seating area inside Madison Square Garden during a Goose concert. Witnesses reported he appeared intoxicated before the fall. The band and venue are offering condolences and grief support, while investigators continue to determine the cause of death. The event prompted the band to proceed with a Central Park show and to coordinate support for fans affected by the tragedy.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to explain why scaffolding and a tarp remain on the Kennedy Center after workers removed President Trump’s name under a court order. The judge has demanded a status report by 31 July and has blocked the center’s planned two‑year closure while legal appeals proceed.
The Kennedy Center has proceeded with removing Donald Trump’s name from the building’s facade, after a court-ordered deadline and overnight work, as legal challenges continue to play out. Scaffolding and tarps were used amid storms, with officials seeking extensions that were denied, and the name’s removal is now underway or completed depending on when observed.
The world’s richest person has seen his fortune swing wildly after SpaceX’s IPO. SpaceX and Tesla shares have fallen amid a broader tech sell-off, eroding Musk’s trillionaire status. Despite volatility, he remains the wealthiest individual as markets reassess growth prospects in AI and tech.
Trump has canceled a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, saying he will not sign until Senate passes the SAVE America Act. The move follows a tense exchange at a Capitol Hill luncheon where Cassidy challenged the administration’s Iran war approach. The episode highlights deep GOP rifts as lawmakers balance housing affordability with stricter voting measures ahead of midterms.
The Kennedy Center has named Bill Maher the Mark Twain Prize for Humor, as legal battles over the venue’s leadership and a planned two-year closure unfold. Trump’s influence on the center’s governance has dominated the narrative, with a gala featuring Maher and other celebrities taking place as the center navigates the controversy.
The East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. is set for major renovations, with President Trump stating plans to begin Sept. 1. A court case challenges the overhaul, and officials say plans are still under review. The project is part of a broader push to reshape public spaces in the capital.
The Reflecting Pool renovation has been plagued by an algae bloom and peeling coating after initial completion, with officials citing vandals, while investigations highlight contracting questions and security measures as the 250th anniversary approaches.
David Hearn has been indicted on a felony count of destruction of property linked to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation. He denies vandalism, saying the damage existed before his visit. Prosecutors say evidence shows a deliberate act. A July 9 hearing is scheduled.
A White House Domestic Policy Council report has accused the National Museum of American History of ideological capture and distorting U.S. history, arguing for a restoration of a shared patriotic narrative. Smithsonian leadership rejects claims of partisan activism while officials weigh possible changes.
Sen. Whitehouse has expanded a probe into renovations at the Kennedy Center, accusing leadership of mismanaging funds, bypassing contracting rules, and pursuing cosmetic changes to please the president. Courts have forced the removal of the president’s name from the building amid a broader legal fight about branding and governance.
The White House has issued an executive order targeting the Smithsonian, directing the National Park Service to place signs about a July 4 report that criticizes how American history is told and to stage a temporary exhibit to present what it calls accurate history. Smithsonian leaders defend their work as a fuller, continuously updated 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.
HBO host Bill Maher has sparked renewed debate about the Kennedy Center row surrounding Donald Trump, after commenting on the Center’s status and the political climate. He has criticized Trump’s influence and defended the Center’s programming, while Democrats and Republicans clash over cancelations and art’s role in politics.