April 29

Supreme Court Rules 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais, Narrowing VRA Gingles Standard

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana's second majority-Black congressional district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Alito's majority opinion reworked the Thornburg v. Gingles framework in three ways: requiring plaintiffs' illustrative maps to meet partisan objectives, requiring proof that racial bloc voting cannot be explained by partisan affiliation, and demanding strong evidence of present-day intentional discrimination rather than historical effects. Alabama and other Southern states immediately invoked Callais to justify eliminating court-ordered Black opportunity districts.

Alito opinion in Louisiana v. Callais weakens VRA Section 2 protections

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana's court-ordered second majority-Black congressional district was itself an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority, holding that race had been the predominant factor without a compelling governmental interest. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, joined by Sotomayor and Jackson, writing that the decision renders Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act "all but a dead letter." The ruling immediately triggered redistricting actions in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.

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Senate hears Burgum defend $10 billion mandatory fund for D.C. beautification, lawmakers skeptical

A controversial element of the Interior budget request included $10 billion in mandatory funding for presidential D.C. beautification projects. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and other members from both parties pressed Burgum on the fund's justification and appropriateness, given cuts to core conservation and park operations. The proposal drew criticism as a lower priority than park and public land management. (Senate Energy Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

House Republican leaders delay farm bill vote after E15 standoff

After the rule passed, Speaker Johnson scrapped the planned votes on the farm bill and accompanying E15 fuel bill, announcing the House would focus on FISA and DHS immigration funding instead. Johnson told reporters the House would allow more time for members to work through E15 disagreements. Senate Republicans privately indicated they planned to exclude E15 from their own farm bill version. (E&E News by POLITICO, Apr. 29, 2026)

DOJ and ATF announce 34 gun regulation changes after comprehensive review

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and ATF Director Robert Cekada announced 34 final and proposed rulemaking notices from a 14-month comprehensive regulatory review under Executive Order 14206. The package implements seven major reforms: pistol brace rule repeal, "engaged in the business" definition revision, bump stock rule updates, electronic record-keeping for licensees, Form 4473 simplification with electronic NFA signatures, and fixed-term 4473 retention (20-30 years instead of indefinite). (U.S. Department of Justice, Apr. 29, 2026)

Supreme Court rules 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais, weakening VRA Section 2

The Supreme Court issued its ruling in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, affirming and remanding in a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Samuel Alito. The case arose when Louisiana drew a second majority-Black congressional district in response to a prior court order finding its existing map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The Court struck down the remedial map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, holding that Section 2 prohibits only maps that are the product of intentional race discrimination, not maps that merely have a disadvantageous effect on minority voter representation.

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Rep. Paulina Luna confirms two-week delay for farm bill committee work

Rep. Paulina Luna of Florida, another holdout who flipped to yes after negotiations, confirmed leadership agreed to delay the farm bill for approximately two weeks. Luna had initially voted no, seeking separate consideration of the three bills under different rules. The delay allowed the House Rules Committee to further negotiate disputed provisions. (NewsNation, Apr. 29, 2026)

Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearing on four Trump district judge nominees

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) as ranking member, holds a confirmation hearing on Apr. 29 for four Trump district court nominees. Committee members question Hendershot on election law experience, Jones and Marck on immigration enforcement record, and Kuntz on ethics concerns about his simultaneous participation in Trump-related litigation. (Senate Judiciary Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

VA reports projection of increased Board of Veterans' Appeals inventory

During the Senate Veterans Committee hearing, VA witnesses project a year-over-year increase in pending Board of Veterans Appeals inventory for the first time since Appeals Modernization Act implementation. Margarita Devlin testifies for Veterans Benefits Administration. (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Apr. 29, 2026)

Senate Banking Committee advances Warsh nomination 13-11 in first fully partisan Fed chair vote

The Senate Banking Committee votes 13-11 to advance Kevin Warsh's nomination to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve - the first fully party-line committee vote on a Fed chair nominee in American history. All 13 Republicans vote yes; all 11 Democrats vote no. Warsh is Trump's pick to succeed Jerome Powell when Powell's term as chair expires in May 2026. (Senate Banking Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

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House and Senate adopt budget resolution for $70 billion ICE and CBP reconciliation package

Both chambers passed a budget resolution instructing their respective committees to draft final legislation providing $70 billion for ICE and CBP operations through the end of Trump's term. The measure allows Republicans to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold. With reconciliation in motion, House and Senate Republican leaders declared they could now move the bipartisan DHS funding bill. (Congressional Budget Office, Apr. 29, 2026)

BLM faces $480 million cut, administration proposes transferring Forest Service fire management to Interior

The Bureau of Land Management would lose $480 million under the proposed budget, while a more controversial proposal would transfer all U.S. Forest Service wildland fire management operations to Interior. The transfer drew criticism from Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and others, who argued it would subordinate Forest Service decision-making on fire and fuels management. (Senate, Apr. 29, 2026)

USGS receives $526 million cut (37% reduction), Fish and Wildlife loses $526 million

The administration's budget proposal would reduce the U.S. Geological Survey by $526 million (37 percent) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the same amount. These deep cuts raised concerns among lawmakers about the agencies' abilities to conduct critical scientific research, manage endangered species recovery programs, and fulfill conservation mandates. (Senate Energy Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

National Park Service faces $1.06 billion cut including 26% reduction in operations funding

The Interior budget request proposed slashing the National Park Service budget by $1.06 billion, with operations funding cut by 26 percent. The reduction would impact park staffing, maintenance, and visitor services across the nation's 63 national parks. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) pressed Burgum on the impact to park staffing and water security during the hearing. (Senate Energy Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

House Oversight Committee advances nine anti-fraud bills

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform votes Apr. 29 to advance nine anti-fraud bills to prevent fraudulent federal payments before issuance. Chairman James Comer introduces legislation to strengthen the Do Not Pay system and establish a permanent Inspector General for Fraud. The GAO estimates federal fraud costs $233 billion to $521 billion annually. (House Committee on Oversight, Apr. 29, 2026)

DOGE announces $2.5 billion in USDA grant cuts, begins reviewing farm loans over $500K

On April 29, DOGE announces it has cut Department of Agriculture grants totaling $2.5 billion in award value. The same day, an internal USDA memo notifies staffers that DOGE employees will now review all farm loans and loan guarantees above $500,000, as well as loans to corporations and formal entities. DOGE''s presence at USDA has grown significantly since early 2025 after Secretary Brooke Rollins directed the agency to give the team "full access and transparency." DOGE members have administrative access to the National Payment Service, which controls government payments and loans to farmers. Prior cuts include cancellation of $1 billion in food purchasing programs for schools and food banks, termination of a $300 million land access program for new and minority farmers, and a freeze on USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant applications. USDA has also lost more than 24,000 workers through buyout programs since early 2025, straining Farm Service Agency offices that directly serve farmers. Many of the affected farmers are in rural counties that voted heavily for Trump.

Supreme Court rules 9-0 NJ pregnancy centers can challenge donor subpoena in federal court

In First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin, the Supreme Court unanimously rules that a network of five faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey can bring their First Amendment challenge to a state attorney general subpoena in federal court. Justice Neil Gorsuch writes for all nine justices. New Jersey AG Matthew Platkin subpoenaed First Choice in November 2023 through a "Reproductive Rights Strike Force" he created in 2022, demanding names, phone numbers, addresses, and employers of donors and up to 10 years of internal documents. The state acknowledged it had received no complaints against First Choice. Lower courts dismissed the challenge as unripe. Gorsuch writes that a government demand for private donor information itself creates a First Amendment injury — chilling associational rights — giving First Choice standing to sue immediately in federal court. The ruling cites NAACP v. Alabama (1958). It does not decide the underlying merits; the case returns to district court. The ACLU of New Jersey, which sided with the pregnancy centers on First Amendment grounds, praised the outcome.

DOJ announces 276 arrests in global cryptocurrency scam center takedown

The DOJ announces 276 arrests and the dismantling of at least nine cryptocurrency scam centers targeting Americans on Apr. 29. The operation involves unprecedented cooperation between the FBI, Dubai Police, Chinese Ministry of Public Security, Royal Thai Police, and U.S. Secret Service. Federal charges were unsealed in San Diego against scam managers. (DOJ, Apr. 29, 2026)

Speaker Johnson holds rule vote open 2+ hours amid Republican revolt

Speaker Mike Johnson held the procedural rule vote open for over two hours on the House floor while negotiating one-by-one with holdout members. Rep. Lauren Boebert reportedly yelled at House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Agriculture Committee Chair GT Thompson over water project amendments. Multiple rebels eventually agreed to vote yes after leadership committed to addressing grievances on the farm bill and E15 provisions. (NewsNation, Apr. 29, 2026)

Federal Reserve holds rates at 3.5%-3.75% with 4 dissenting votes

The Federal Open Market Committee voted 8-4 to maintain the federal funds rate at 3.5%-3.75%, marking the most dissent since Oct. 1992. Governor Stephen Miran voted for a quarter-point cut. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan opposed language signaling an easing bias, citing elevated inflation from the Iran war and oil above $100/barrel. Powell said the Fed faces "an unusually difficult situation" from four supply shocks: pandemic, Ukraine, tariffs, and Iran. (CNBC, Apr. 29, 2026)

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House Agriculture Committee strips E15 ethanol mandate from farm bill after last-minute revolt

Facing a potential vote failure from corn-state Republicans, House Agriculture Committee leadership removed the year-round E15 sales provision from the farm bill. The decision allowed the bill to advance, but Republicans committed to a separate standalone vote on E15 scheduled for May 13. The move also removed a pesticide liability shield opposed by MAHA activists. (House Agriculture Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

Rep. Lauren Boebert secures water and millet amendments after flip to yes

Rep. Lauren Boebert announced she switched her vote to yes on the rule after securing leadership commitments. She won amendments to include a water delivery project for southeastern Colorado and designation of millet as a specialty crop. Boebert confirmed to reporters she expected to participate in farm bill conference negotiations when the bill goes to Senate reconciliation. (NewsNation, Apr. 29, 2026)

House passes budget resolution 215-211 unlocking $70 billion ICE and CBP reconciliation

House adopts the Senate-approved concurrent budget resolution in a 215-211 vote authorizing reconciliation pathway for $70 billion in ICE and CBP funding. Speaker Mike Johnson negotiates with Republican farm-state holdouts. Committees directed to submit legislation by May 15. (CBS News, Apr. 30, 2026)

Pentagon requests $1.5 trillion FY2027 defense budget, largest in U.S. history

Alongside his testimony on the Iran war, Defense Secretary Hegseth presented the Trump administration's $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal 2027 - the highest defense spending request ever submitted to Congress. The request triggered scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides, though Republicans generally supported the spending level as necessary deterrence against China and other strategic threats. (AP, Apr. 29, 2026)

Veterans Service Organizations testify on pending legislation at Senate hearing

Wounded Warrior Project, AMVETS, and Military Officers Association of America submit testimony and appear before the Senate Veterans Committee on 25 pending bills. VSO testimony provides independent advocacy separate from VA management positions on benefits, health care, and workforce issues. (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Apr. 29, 2026)

Interior Secretary Burgum testifies on FY2027 budget with $2.3 billion department-wide cut

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the Trump administration's FY2027 budget request for Interior, totaling $15.9 billion - a $2.3 billion reduction (13 percent) from FY2026 enacted levels. Testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Burgum detailed steep cuts across nearly every Interior bureau, including a 26 percent reduction in National Park Service operations and a 37 percent cut to the USGS. (Senate, Apr. 29, 2026)

Supreme Court rules 9-0 pregnancy center can challenge New Jersey subpoena for donor information

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 29, 2026, in First Choice Women's Resource Centers v. Davenport that the New Jersey pregnancy center may challenge the subpoena in federal court. Justice Neil Gorsuch held that demands for donor identities burden First Amendment associational rights, tracing precedent to NAACP v. Alabama (1958). Platkin's subpoena sought names, phone numbers, and employment information for donors who gave through multiple channels. (Supreme Court of the United States, Apr. 29, 2026)

Senate Majority Leader signals FISA bill dead on arrival due to CBDC provision

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told House GOP leaders on April 29, 2026, that the House FISA bill was "very, very hard" to pass due to the CBDC provision. Thune indicated the Senate would move forward on a separate 45-day clean extension without the CBDC language. (ABC News, Apr. 30, 2026)

House passes three-year FISA Section 702 renewal 235-191

The House voted 235-191 on April 29, 2026, to pass a three-year Section 702 reauthorization that adds criminal penalties up to five years for surveillance misuse and requires FBI written approval before searching Americans' information. Section 702 authorizes warrantless collection of foreign communications but sweeps in Americans' data when they communicate with targeted foreigners. (ABC News, Apr. 30, 2026)

Senate Banking Committee votes 13-11 to advance Kevin Warsh nomination along party lines

The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 along party lines to advance Kevin Warsh's Fed chair nomination. The vote occurred hours after the Department of Justice announced it would drop its criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, removing a major stalling point. Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who pledged to block the nomination pending the investigation's termination, voted in favor after DOJ withdrawal was announced. (ABC News, Apr. 29, 2026)

House subcommittee holds hearing on First Amendment in higher education

The House Education Subcommittee on Higher Education held a hearing on April 29, 2026, titled "Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education." Four witnesses testified—Tyson Langhofer (Alliance Defending Freedom), Jud Horras (North American Interfraternity Conference), Emerson Sykes (ACLU), and Dr. Steven McGuire (American Council of Trustees and Alumni). (House Education & Workforce Committee, Apr. 29, 2026)

Hegseth dismisses critics as providing reckless, feckless, defeatist rhetoric on Iran war

In his first public defense of Operation Epic Fury, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized opposition to the Iran war as "reckless, feckless and defeatist." The rhetorical attack came after the operation extended two months beyond Hegseth's initial four-to-five-week timeframe. Republicans largely avoided confrontation, while Democrats pressed Hegseth on war strategy, exit plans, and the firing of senior military leaders. (Reuters, Apr. 29, 2026)

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Senate Banking Committee advances Kevin Warsh nomination to replace Powell

The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 along party lines to advance Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve chair to replace Jerome Powell, whose term expires May 15. The full Senate vote may not occur before Powell's term ends. After the FOMC meeting, Powell announced he would remain on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where his term runs through Jan. 2028. (CBS News, Apr. 29, 2026)

House passes budget resolution for $70 billion ICE and CBP funding

The House votes 215-211 on Apr. 29 to adopt a budget resolution unlocking a path for $70 billion in new ICE and CBP funding through budget reconciliation. Speaker Mike Johnson holds the floor vote open more than five hours negotiating with Republican holdouts. No Democrats vote yes. (CNBC, Apr. 30, 2026)

Pentagon comptroller discloses Iran war cost at $25 billion in first official estimate

Pentagon Acting Comptroller Jules Hurst III revealed that Operation Epic Fury against Iran has cost approximately $25 billion through late Apr. in landmark testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. The disclosure marked the first official Trump administration public cost estimate for the conflict. Hurst testified that munitions comprised the largest spending category, followed by operations and equipment replacement. (Reuters, Apr. 29, 2026)

Senate confirms Robert Cekada as ATF director in bipartisan vote

The Senate voted 59-39 to confirm Robert Cekada as ATF director in a bipartisan vote. Cekada, who joined the ATF in 2005, became only the third person confirmed as ATF director since 2006. Six Democrats—Fetterman, Hassan, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, and Shaheen—voted yes with all Republicans. The ATF had been led by acting directors for most years due to political gridlock over the position. (AP News, Apr. 29, 2026)

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DOJ restrains $701 million in cryptocurrency linked to pig-butchering scam money laundering

As part of the coordinated international takedown, the DOJ Scam Center Strike Force restrains more than $701 million in cryptocurrency linked to money laundering activities by pig-butchering scam networks. The restraint represents criminal proceeds from international scam centers that victimized Americans. (DOJ, Apr. 29, 2026)

Supreme Court narrows the Gingles framework 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, narrowing the Thornburg v. Gingles preconditions that plaintiffs must meet to bring vote-dilution claims under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Writing for the majority, Justice Amy Coney Barrett held that courts must give greater deference to legislatures when a challenged map can plausibly be explained by partisan rather than racial intent. The ruling immediately signaled new openings for Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw minority-represented districts.

Supreme Court rules 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais that second Black-majority district is unconstitutional racial gerrymander

The Supreme Court rules 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, striking down Louisiana's second majority-Black congressional district as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Equal Protection Clause. Justice Samuel Alito writes for the majority that the state relied too heavily on race when drawing the district in response to a federal court order, finding that "simply pointing to inter-party racial polarization proves nothing" because states may engage in constitutional partisan gerrymandering. Justice Clarence Thomas concurs but writes he would go further and hold that Section 2 has no role in redistricting at all. The three liberal justices dissent sharply, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writing that the ruling leaves Section 2 "nearly unenforceable." Legal scholars describe the decision as the most significant blow to the Voting Rights Act since Shelby County v. Holder in 2013.

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House passes three-year FISA 702 renewal 235-191 without warrant requirement

The House votes 235-191 to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for three years, covering the remainder of Trump's term through approximately 2029. The vote is bipartisan — 22 Republicans oppose the measure on privacy grounds, while 42 Democrats vote in favor. Section 702, first authorized in 2008, allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect the communications of foreign nationals located outside the country without a warrant. A major controversy surrounds the FBI's ability to search Americans' data swept up incidentally under the program without obtaining a warrant — a reform privacy advocates in both parties have long demanded. The House bill does not include a warrant requirement. Instead it adds modest guardrails: attorney approval before targeted reviews of Americans' data, written justification for each query submitted to the Director of National Intelligence, and criminal penalties of up to five years for misuse. Speaker Mike Johnson attaches an unrelated ban on the Federal Reserve ever creating a Central Bank Digital Currency to the bill as a concession to conservative holdouts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune calls the CBDC provision a "poison pill" and says it cannot pass the Senate. The program is set to expire at midnight April 30, leaving the Senate little time to act before the deadline.

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Fed holds rates at 3.5–3.75% with 4 dissents — most since October 1992 — in likely Powell's last meeting

The Federal Open Market Committee votes 8-4 to hold the federal funds rate at 3.5%–3.75% for the third straight meeting of 2026, in what is widely expected to be Chair Jerome Powell's last meeting leading the Fed. The four dissents are the most at any FOMC meeting since October 1992. Three regional bank presidents — Beth Hammack of Cleveland, Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis, and Lorie Logan of Dallas — dissent against the easing bias in the statement, arguing it is premature to signal future rate cuts given persistent above-target inflation. Fed Governor Stephen Miran, a Trump appointee who joined the board in September 2025, dissents in the opposite direction, voting in favor of a 25-basis-point rate cut. Powell announces at his post-meeting press conference that he will remain on the Board of Governors — whose term runs through January 2028 — even after Trump nominee Kevin Warsh is confirmed as the next Fed chair. Powell cites "unprecedented legal attacks on the Fed" by the Trump administration as his reason for staying, saying the threats "are ongoing." Inflation has remained above the Fed's 2% target for five straight years. Oil has returned above $100 per barrel due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. The Senate Banking Committee advances Warsh's nomination in a party-line vote the same day.

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Mississippi State Auditor Shad White calls on legislature to eliminate majority-Black 2nd Congressional District

Hours after the Supreme Court hands down its 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, Mississippi Republican State Auditor Shad White publicly calls for lawmakers to use the ruling to eliminate Mississippi's only majority-Black congressional district — the 2nd, held by Democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson. White posts on social media: \"This likely opens the door to redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts. Mississippi might no longer have a district drawn to protect Bennie Thompson.\" Thompson's 2nd District runs from the Mississippi Delta through Jackson and was originally created to comply with the Voting Rights Act's requirement that Black voters in Mississippi have meaningful representation. Thompson, who led the House January 6 Committee, represents the state's only reliably Democratic seat. White's statement comes alongside a call from Republican state Sen. Kevin Blackwell, who writes: \"It's time to erase Bennie Thompson's District.\" Gov. Tate Reeves has a special legislative session already scheduled for May 20 focused on state Supreme Court districts, which operatives say could be expanded to include congressional redistricting.

House passes 215-211 budget blueprint to fund ICE and Border Patrol via reconciliation

After more than five hours of floor negotiations, the House votes 215-211 along party lines to adopt the Senate's budget reconciliation framework, unlocking the process for Republicans to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection without Democratic support. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) votes present. It is the slimmest possible victory for Speaker Johnson with a 217-212 majority. The vote is the first step — not the final appropriation — in a two-track Republican strategy to end a 74-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Committees now have until May 15 to draft a reconciliation bill that will direct roughly $70 billion to ICE and CBP for the remainder of Trump's term through approximately 2027. A separate appropriations bill to fund the rest of DHS — which passed the Senate with bipartisan support in March — still must clear the House. The vote is delayed for hours by a revolt from roughly two dozen Midwestern Republicans furious that Speaker Johnson decoupled E15 ethanol provisions from the upcoming farm bill. Johnson holds the vote open and negotiates on the floor before agreeing to a standalone vote on E15 at a later date. Democrats, united in opposition, argue the agencies could be funded immediately if the The House passed the Senate's bipartisan DHS bill.

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White calls for eliminating Mississippi majority-Black congressional district

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White publicly calls for redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts to eliminate the state's only majority-Black seat. White states: \"This likely opens the door to redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts. Mississippi might no longer have a district drawn to protect Bennie Thompson.\"

Supreme Court blocks Louisiana map with second Black-majority district

The Supreme Court blocked Louisiana’s congressional map with a second Black-majority district, weakening a major Voting Rights Act pathway and intensifying the 2026 redistricting fight. The ruling gave Republican-led states new incentives to revisit majority-minority districts before the midterms.

Supreme Court hears oral arguments on TPS termination for 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in two consolidated cases — Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot — on the Trump administration's effort to revoke Temporary Protected Status for approximately 350,000 Haitian and 6,000 Syrian nationals living lawfully in the United States. Conservative justices appear sympathetic to the administration. TPS, created by Congress in 1990, allows nationals of countries experiencing disasters, war, or humanitarian crises to live and work legally in the U.S. for renewable periods. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem terminated TPS for Haiti and Syria in 2025, citing improved conditions. Lower courts blocked both terminations after finding DHS had not adequately consulted with the State Department as required by law. Much of the argument centers on whether courts can review TPS terminations at all. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argues Congress explicitly barred review. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito signal agreement. If the court rules TPS decisions are unreviewable, it would affect litigation pending over 1.3 million TPS holders from 17 countries. A ruling is expected by early July 2026.

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Supreme Court rules in Louisiana v. Callais that VRA-compliant districts can be racial gerrymanders

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that majority-Black congressional districts drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act can themselves constitute unconstitutional racial gerrymanders under the Equal Protection Clause. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority; Justice Elena Kagan dissented, arguing the ruling created an impossible compliance trap for states trying to satisfy the VRA. The decision immediately triggered Republican-led redistricting campaigns in Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas, with legislatures moving to redraw majority-Black districts as unconstitutional.

House passes procedural rule 216-210 on party lines after deal-making

The House voted 216-210 along party lines to adopt the procedural rule after Speaker Johnson won over holdouts through negotiations. Johnson agreed to drop the farm bill itself from the rule and return it to committee after the vote, giving members two weeks to resolve disputes over E15 and other provisions. The rule covered FISA extension and DHS immigration funding. (NewsNation, Apr. 29, 2026)

CBO scores China Exchange Rate Accountability Act at under $500,000

The Congressional Budget Office scored H.R. 8290 on April 29, 2026, at less than $500,000 over 2026-2031 to implement. The low cost reflects modest administrative expenses for Treasury reporting on China's IMF compliance and exchange rate practices. (Congressional Budget Office, Apr. 29, 2026)

Senate blocks CRA vote to restore automatic 540-day work permit extensions

Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) forced a Senate floor vote on April 29, 2026, on S.J. Res. 99, a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Trump administration's October 2025 rule eliminating automatic employment authorization document extensions. Republican senators held a 50-vote wall with one defection, defeating the resolution. The rule, published October 30, 2025, ended the automatic extension of work permits from 540 days to zero, leaving renewal applicants at risk of losing work authorization while their cases pend.

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House attaches CBDC ban to FISA bill, overcoming Republican privacy concerns

To secure House passage of the FISA Section 702 three-year reauthorization, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) agreed to attach a CBDC ban on April 29, 2026. The addition appealed to Republican hardliners opposed to FISA expansion but concerned about government digital currency. The House passed the combined bill 235-191. (Yahoo News, Apr. 29, 2026)

Senate Veterans Committee holds hearing on 25 pending bills

The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs held a hearing on Apr. 29 to review 25 pending bills covering veterans health care, disability benefits, appeals, workforce planning, homelessness, burial benefits, and specialty care access. Chairman Jerry Moran confronted VA leadership about the undisclosed closure of half the ICU and surgical beds at the Leavenworth, Kansas VA Medical Center. (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Apr. 29, 2026)

House Democrats file contempt resolution against Bondi over Epstein subpoena

Rep. Robert Garcia and all House Oversight Committee Democrats filed a civil contempt resolution on April 29, 2026, after former Attorney General Pam Bondi failed to appear for a bipartisan subpoena deposition on the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. The DOJ had argued Bondi's firing nullified the subpoena because she could no longer testify in an official capacity. Republicans on the committee simultaneously announced Bondi would testify voluntarily on May 29, defusing the contempt push.

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HUD indefinitely delays HOME tenant protections and subsidy rules

HUD published a Federal Register notice indefinitely delaying two provisions of the January 2025 HOME Investment Partnerships Program final rule: tenant protections under 24 CFR 92.253 — including security deposit limits, eviction notice requirements, and tenant selection criteria — and green building standards under 24 CFR 92.250. This was the fourth delay of these specific provisions since the rule's January 2025 publication, following delays in February, April, and October 2025. Secretary Scott Turner provided no timeline for when the provisions would take effect.

Vance and Kennedy announce Medicare and Medicaid drug price negotiations

Vice President JD Vance joined HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a press conference on April 29, 2026, to announce implementation of Medicare and Medicaid drug price negotiations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services selected 10 high-cost drugs for the first negotiation cycle under the Inflation Reduction Act's drug pricing provisions—a mechanism the Trump administration continued despite earlier Republican opposition. Pharmaceutical companies have until 2027 to accept negotiated prices or face an excise tax on Medicare drug sales.

Reeves announces special session for Mississippi redistricting

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announces a special legislative session for May 20, leaving the door open to redistricting Congress to target Rep. Bennie Thompson's majority-Black 2nd District. Reeves posts: \"First Dobbs. Now Callais. Just Mississippi and Louisiana down here saving our country!\"

Blackwell calls for erasing Bennie Thompson congressional district

Mississippi State Senator Kevin Blackwell publicly calls for eliminating Rep. Bennie Thompson's majority-Black 2nd District. Blackwell states: \"It's time to erase Bennie Thompson's District.\"

Supreme Court strikes down court-ordered Black-majority map in Louisiana v. Callais

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana's second Black-majority congressional district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Alito wrote that Louisiana had used race as the predominant factor when drawing the court-ordered remedial map, triggering strict scrutiny the state couldn't satisfy. The court unanimously held that the challengers (Callais plaintiffs) had standing to sue. Republican state legislators in Tennessee and other Southern states immediately cited the ruling as clearing the legal path for maps that reduce Black representation.

Senate blocks CRA resolution to restore Colorado regional haze plan, 46-52

The Senate voted 46-52 on April 29, 2026, to block a Congressional Review Act resolution that would have overturned the EPA's rejection of Colorado's Regional Haze Plan — a Biden-era rule requiring upwind states including Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to reduce pollution fouling visibility at Colorado's national parks. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper forced the vote under the CRA's expedited procedures. The party-line vote left Colorado's parks exposed to continued haze from out-of-state industrial sources.

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DOGE directs USDA to cancel $2.5B in rural and research grants

DOGE directed the Department of Agriculture to cancel approximately $2.5 billion in grants on April 29, 2026, targeting rural broadband, nutrition research, agricultural extension, and conservation programs. Rural Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in criticizing the cuts, which threatened $300 million in land-access programs for underserved farmers and disrupted conservation technical assistance across 40 states. Legal challenges were immediately filed arguing the cancellations violated the Impoundment Control Act.

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H.R. 8312 creates permanent Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery

The House Oversight Committee advances H.R. 8312, introduced by Rep. Pete Sessions. The bill creates a permanent Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery within Treasury to absorb functions of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee. (House Committee on Oversight, Apr. 29, 2026)

CBO releases cost estimate for federal rural housing credit programs

The Congressional Budget Office released a cost estimate on April 29, 2026, analyzing USDA Rural Housing Service credit programs including Section 502 direct loans for very-low and low-income households and guaranteed loans with 90% USDA guarantees for moderate-income rural borrowers. The report informed FY2027 budget deliberations. (Housing Assistance Council, Apr. 30, 2026)

Senate confirms Robert Cekada as ATF director, ending 11-year vacancy

The Senate confirmed Robert Cekada as ATF Director in a 59-39 bipartisan vote on April 29, 2026, ending the longest confirmed-director vacancy in the agency's history. Cekada, a career federal agent and former federal firearms prosecutor, became the first ATF director confirmed under a Republican president. Upon confirmation, Cekada signed 34 notices of rule changes aimed at easing regulatory burdens for firearms dealers. Gun control advocates noted that confirmation under Trump made robust enforcement unlikely despite the historic milestone.

Supreme Court guts VRA Section 2 in 6-3 Louisiana redistricting ruling

In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court rules 6-3 along ideological lines that Louisiana's 2024 congressional map — which created a second majority-Black district to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito writes the majority opinion, joined by Roberts, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. The case arose after federal courts found Louisiana's original 2022 map likely violated Section 2, since it included only one majority-Black district in a state where Black residents make up 30% of the population. Louisiana drew a remedial map in 2024 adding a second majority-Black district, leading to the election of Rep. Cleo Fields. A group of "non-African-American voters" then challenged that new map as racial gerrymandering. Alito writes that compliance with Section 2 could not justify race-based redistricting. Justice Elena Kagan dissents, joined by the two other liberal justices: "Today's decision renders Section 2 all but a dead letter." Hours after the ruling, Florida lawmakers pass a new congressional map targeting additional Republican-leaning districts. Redistricting experts expect Republican-led legislatures across the South to redraw or eliminate majority-minority districts currently held by Black members of Congress.

Florida Legislature passes DeSantis 24-4 congressional map in special session

The Florida House approved Governor DeSantis's proposed congressional map in an 83-28 party-line vote on April 29, 2026, followed by the Florida Senate in a 21-17 vote. The map targets four Democratic incumbents: Kathy Castor (Tampa), Darren Soto (Orlando), Lois Frankel (West Palm Beach), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fort Lauderdale). DeSantis had unveiled the 24-4 map on April 27, the day before the special session opened. If enacted, the map would increase Republican representation from 20 to 24 seats out of Florida's 28 congressional districts.

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