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A panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday granted the Justice Department’s request for an emergency order allowing it to proceed with the termination of Temporary Protected Status for citizens of Nicaragua, Honduras and Nepal. (Order.) (Politico.)
Judge Richard M. Berman (S.D.N.Y.) on Wednesday denied the government’s motion to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from the Epstein case. Judge Berman ruled that there is “clear precedent and sound purpose for grand jury sealing” and no “exceptions” under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or “special circumstance” justify unsealing. (Decision and Order.)
The Justice Department in June issued subpoenas to more than 20 hospitals for extensive and sensitive records relating to medical treatments for minor transgender patients. One such subpoena included demands for emails, Zoom recordings, “every writing or record of whatever type” doctors have made, voicemails and text messages on encrypted platforms dating to January 2020. (WaPo.)
President Trump on Wednesday called for the resignation of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and is reportedly considering ways to fire her for cause after the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency accused her of mortgage fraud. (@realDonaldTrump.)(WSJ.) The WSJ Editorial Board argues the FHFA director is weaponizing the housing regulator. (WSJ.)
At least two major law firms that made deals with President Trump have committed to doing free legal work for the Commerce Department. (NYT.) See past roundups for background on how law firms have been approaching their agreements with the administration.
President Trump on Wednesday ordered the Pentagon to deploy three Navy warships to interdict drug cartels off the South American coast, expanding the Defense Department’s role in countering drug trafficking. (WSJ.)
The White House on Wednesday launched an official TikTok account, just weeks before the deadline for the app to be sold to a non-Chinese buyer or face a federal ban. Federal employees are still banned from downloading TikTok on work devices. (TIME.)
The Department of Education on Tuesday rescinded guidance directing schools to accommodate the needs of English-learner students. The move was one of many recommended in a Justice Department memorandum last month requiring federal agencies to prioritize English as the official language. (WaPo.)
Elizabeth Warren proposed that Congress reform the Federal Reserve to enhance its transparency and accountability. (WSJ.)
Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court
Noem v. Perdomo: The government filed an application on August 7 to stay a federal district court order preventing federal immigration officials in Los Angeles and six other California counties from conducting detentive stops based on the following factors, according to the application: “[1] apparent race or ethnicity; [2] speaking in Spanish or accented English; [3] presence at a location where illegal aliens are known to gather; and [4] working or appearing to work in a particular type of job.” Pedro Vasquez Perdomo filed a response in opposition to the government’s application for a stay on August 12. The government filed a reply in support of its application for a stay on August 13.
National Institutes of Health, et al. v. American Public Health Association, et al.: The government filed an application on July 24 to stay a federal district court order that prevented the National Institutes of Health from canceling grants that, according to the administration, are related to DEI and “gender ideology.” The American Public Health Association filed a response in opposition to the government's application for a stay on August 1. The government filed a reply in support of the application for a stay on August 4.