Amnesty International on Monday condemned President Donald Trump’s executive order that significantly reduced funding for US-backed media outlets, including Radio Free Asia (RFA). The organization said that the reduced funding effectively amounted to a closure and the surrender of “a tried-and-tested tool of soft US power.” The statement highlighted RFA’s instrumental role in providing a [...]

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued an executive order targeting the law firm Jenner & Block, barring it from government contracts. The administration framed the order as a necessary measure to prevent conflicts of interest and safeguard national security, arguing that law firms engaged in legal opposition to the government should not benefit from [...]

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued letters on Monday to 20 prominent “Big Law” firms, expressing concerns that their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives may contravene federal anti-discrimination laws. The letters requested comprehensive data on these firms’ DEI programs, including details on internships, scholarships, fellowships, hiring practices and compensation structures. Additionally, the [...]

International civil rights organization CIVICUS on Monday added the US to its Monitor Watchlist of countries experiencing a decline in civic freedoms due to executive overreach. CIVICUS said in a press release that the decision comes after the Trump administration’s recent “assault on democratic norms and global cooperation,” and that the administration’s actions have “severely [...]

A coalition of US Democratic committees filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging President Donald Trump’s February 18 executive order extending his control over independent agencies. The lawsuit centered on authority over the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent agency charged with enforcing federal campaign finance laws. Plaintiffs stated that the “unprecedented assertion of presidential power,” [...]

Multiple associations representing US federal employees filed an amended complaint on Sunday, asserting that reporting requirements instituted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are unlawful. OPM sent an email on Saturday requiring federal workers to provide a five-bullet-point list outlining their accomplishments for that week. The complaint stated that prior to the email, “no [...]

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday stating that only the “President and the Attorney General shall provide authoritative interpretations of the law for the executive branch.” The order covers all federal employees and agencies, including independent agencies operating under the executive branch of the US government. Historically, independent agencies exist outside [...]

The Trump administration prepared an application on Sunday asking the US Supreme Court to remove a lower court order blocking the firing of the head of the Office of Special Counsel. The request argued the order was “an unprecedented assault on the separation of powers that warrant immediate relief.” The administration based its argument on [...]

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Tuesday denied an emergency motion by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reinstate federal aid funding freezes. The panel of three judges unanimously stated that the existing Temporary Restraining Order issued by a district court on February 1 was lawful. In the short decision, [...]

UN experts on Monday condemned an executive order by US President Donald Trump authorizing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), including asset freezes and travel restrictions on staff and affiliates. The experts stated that the order violates the rule of law, obstructs justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity and weakens [...]