June 25

Supreme Court June 2025 rulings gut transgender care and expand gun access

The Supreme Court issued several rulings in late June 2025 that restricted transgender healthcare access and expanded Second Amendment gun rights. The Court upheld state bans on gender-affirming care for minors in United States v. Skrmetti and struck down federal restrictions on certain firearms. The rulings came at the close of a term that also dramatically limited judicial power to issue nationwide injunctions and expanded religious exemptions in public schools.

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House committees subpoena ActBlue employees in campaign-finance fraud probe

On June 25, 2025, House committee chairs Jim Jordan, Bryan Steil and James Comer subpoenaed current and former ActBlue employees for depositions. The subpoenas sought testimony about the platform’s fraud-prevention practices and allegations of fraudulent donations.

Treasury cuts three Mexican banks off from the U.S. financial system over fentanyl

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three Mexican financial institutions as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers on June 25, 2025, cutting them off from the US dollar-clearing system for allegedly financing fentanyl trafficking networks. The designations froze the banks' US assets and prohibited American financial institutions from processing their transactions. Mexican officials protested the unilateral action as an infringement on sovereignty.

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Fed Chair Powell warns Congress that Trump tariffs will cause persistent inflation

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testified before Congress on June 25, 2025, warning that President Trump's tariff policies would cause inflation to remain elevated above the Fed's 2% target for an extended period. Powell said the Fed would not lower interest rates until inflation receded, regardless of presidential pressure. Trump had repeatedly called for rate cuts and had earlier threatened to fire Powell, whose term runs through 2026.

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Trump cuts Congress off from intelligence after Iran strike leaks

President Trump ordered a halt to routine intelligence briefings for congressional members on June 25, 2025, after classified information about the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities appeared in press reports. Trump said the briefings would resume only after the leakers were identified and prosecuted. The cutoff affected all members except the Gang of Eight leadership, raising constitutional questions about Congress's oversight authority over intelligence operations.

DOJ Official Emil Bove Told Staff to Defy Federal Judges

Trump Department of Justice official Emil Bove reportedly instructed DOJ staff that they could tell federal judges to go fuck themselves when faced with court orders conflicting with administration directives. The statement, relayed by a whistleblower, came as DOJ was engaged in multiple contempt proceedings. Legal scholars said the instruction constituted an unprecedented public directive to obstruct judicial authority and potentially exposed individual attorneys to professional discipline.

EPA delays PFAS drinking water cleanup until 2031 and drops four limits

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on June 25, 2025 that it would delay compliance deadlines for PFAS drinking water standards from 2029 to 2031 and withdraw limits on four of six regulated compounds, citing cost concerns. The Biden EPA had set maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS chemicals including PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion. The Trump EPA retained PFOA and PFOS limits but removed limits on GenX and three other compounds.

RFK Jr. replaces all 17 CDC vaccine advisers with skeptics

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on June 25, 2025, and replaced them with individuals who have publicly questioned vaccine safety and the childhood immunization schedule. ACIP sets the recommended immunization schedule used by insurers, Medicaid, and school vaccination requirements. Public health experts warned the replacements could lead to lower vaccination rates and a return of preventable diseases.

House Passes One Big Beautiful Bill With Healthcare Cuts by Single Vote

The House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on June 25, 2025, by a single vote, advancing $1.7 trillion in spending cuts including Medicaid work requirements and reductions to SNAP food assistance. Speaker Mike Johnson held the vote open past midnight to secure final passage. The bill extended 2017 Trump tax cuts, added new tax breaks, and cut funding for clean energy programs, sending the package to the Senate.

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GOP Responses to Minnesota Assassination Attempt Split on Conspiracy Lines

Following the attempted assassination of a Minnesota politician, Republican elected officials divided sharply between issuing formal condemnations and amplifying unverified conspiracy theories about the perpetrator. House leadership released a joint statement denouncing political violence, while several members used social media to promote claims about motive and identity that fact-checkers disputed within hours. The split illustrated how partisan information ecosystems shape official responses to violent events.

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Congress Opens Pell Grants to Short-Term For-Profit Job Training

Congress passed legislation expanding Pell Grant eligibility to cover 8-week workforce training programs offered by for-profit institutions. Previously, Pell Grants required enrollment in programs of at least 600 hours. Critics warned the change would expose low-income students to predatory for-profit programs with poor job placement records, while supporters argued it would give workers faster access to credentials in high-demand fields.

HHS shuts down the 988 lifeline option for LGBTQ youth

The Department of Health and Human Services eliminated the dedicated LGBTQ+ youth option from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on June 25, 2025, citing agency restructuring under RFK Jr. The specialized line had connected LGBTQ youth to counselors trained in their specific mental health needs and had handled over one million contacts since its 2022 launch. HHS said general 988 counselors would handle all calls, which advocates warned would deter LGBTQ youth from calling.

Congress Moves to Ban Chinese AI From Federal Agencies

Bipartisan legislation advanced in Congress on June 25, 2025 to prohibit federal agencies from using artificial intelligence systems developed by Chinese companies or those with significant Chinese investment. The No Adversarial AI Act targeted tools like DeepSeek and other models with links to Chinese military or government entities. The bill passed the House Science Committee with support from both parties and moved toward a floor vote.

US Cyber Defense Agency Loses Five of Six Division Chiefs Amid Attacks

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency lost five of its six division directors in June 2025 through a combination of DOGE-driven workforce reductions and voluntary departures, leaving the agency with critical leadership gaps. The departures came as Chinese state hackers escalated attacks on US critical infrastructure and as ransomware groups targeted hospitals. CISA's acting director warned Congress the agency could not fulfill its statutory mission.

Judge Carter turns Job Corps restraining order into preliminary injunction

Judge Andrew Carter Jr. converted the June 4 temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction on June 25, 2025, keeping all 99 contractor-operated Job Corps centers open during the ongoing lawsuit. Carter wrote that once Congress has passed legislation requiring a program like Job Corps to exist and funded it, the Department of Labor is required to enforce the law as intended. The ruling extended court oversight indefinitely.

House Passes Veterans Funding Bill 218-206 on Near-Party-Line Vote

The House of Representatives passed a veterans funding bill 218 to 206, with nearly all Republican members voting in favor and nearly all Democrats voting against. The bill appropriated funds for VA healthcare and benefits programs. Democrats objected to provisions they said cut long-term benefit guarantees, while Republicans said the measure streamlined delivery of services to veterans.

Labor Department stops enforcing Biden's gig worker protection rule

The Department of Labor announced on June 25, 2025 that it would no longer enforce the 2024 independent contractor rule that made it harder for companies to classify workers as gig contractors rather than employees. The rule had given gig workers access to minimum wage protections, overtime pay, and benefits. The Trump administration said it would issue a new rule restoring a simpler classification test favored by Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash.

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AIPAC spends record $14.5 million to defeat Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York primary

AIPAC's United Democracy Project spent $14.5 million to defeat Rep. Jamaal Bowman in the June 25, 2024, Democratic primary in New York's 16th District, the most any single group had ever spent on a House race. Westchester County Executive George Latimer defeated Bowman 58% to 42%. Combined outside spending from UDP, Democratic Majority for Israel, and FairShake super PAC topped $18 million, making it the most expensive House primary in U.S. history at the time.

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Signed into Law

President Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S 2551), the first major federal gun safety law in nearly 30 years. Key provisions: closes the 'boyfriend loophole' (extends firearm prohibitions to dating partners with domestic violence convictions), enhanced background checks for 18–20 year old firearm purchases (up to 10-day review), tightened FFL dealer licensing, $750M for school safety and mental health programs, and clarification of who must register as a federally licensed dealer.

Biden signs Bipartisan Safer Communities Act first significant federal gun safety law in 28 years

President Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first notable federal gun safety legislation since the Brady Act and assault weapons ban of 1994, 28 years prior. The bill passes the Senate 65-33 with 15 Republican votes and the House 234-193. main provisions include improving background checks for buyers under 21 by requiring review of juvenile records, closing the "boyfriend loophole" by barring those convicted of domestic violence against intimate partners (not just spouses) from buying guns, funding state red flag laws, increasing mental health resources and school safety funding, and clarifying who must register as a licensed firearm dealer. Biden calls it a "historic moment" but notes it does not include the assault weapons ban he had called for.

Biden signs Bipartisan Safer Communities Act first major gun safety law in 28 years

In a bipartisan achievement, President Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first significant federal gun safety legislation since the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993. The bill passes the Senate 65-33 with 15 Republican votes. Key provisions include closing the "boyfriend loophole" by expanding firearm prohibitions to include individuals convicted of domestic violence against intimate partners (not just spouses), enhancing background checks for buyers under 21 to include review of juvenile records, providing $750 million for state crisis intervention programs including red flag laws, increasing mental health and school safety funding, and clarifying "straw purchaser" penalties. Biden calls it "a historic step" while acknowledging it falls short of assault weapons ban legislation he sought.

Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun safety law in 30 years

Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law, the first major federal gun safety legislation since the 1994 assault weapons ban. The Senate passed the bill 65-33 on June 23, 2022, and the House passed it 234-193 the following day. The law closes the boyfriend loophole in background check requirements, strengthens checks for gun buyers under 21, funds state crisis intervention programs, and clarifies the definition of federally licensed firearms dealers. The legislation emerged after the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting killed 19 children and two teachers on May 24, 2022.

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Biden signs Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, most significant gun safety law in 30 years

President Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal gun safety legislation since 1994. The bill includes enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21, funding for state red flag laws, provisions to address gun trafficking, and closes the boyfriend loophole. It also invests $15 billion in mental health services and school safety programs. The legislation passes with bipartisan support after negotiations led by Senator Chris Murphy following mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas.

Biden signs Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun safety legislation

President Biden signs the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. The bill includes enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21, funding for state red flag laws, and provisions to address gun trafficking. It also invests in mental health services and school safety. The legislation passes with bipartisan support after negotiations led by Senator Chris Murphy.

Biden signs DEIA Executive Order most comprehensive federal diversity initiative since LBJ

President Biden signs Executive Order 14035, establishing the most comprehensive federal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiative since the Great Society era. The order requires all federal agencies to assess barriers to equity in hiring, promotion, and professional development and submit Strategic DEIA Plans. It directs agencies to establish Chief Diversity Officer positions, expand DEIA training, advance pay equity, reduce reliance on unpaid internships that disadvantage low-income applicants, and improve collection of workforce demographic data. The order reverses Trump's September 2020 executive order banning diversity training in the federal government and builds on Biden's Day 1 equity order (EO 13985). By the time Trump takes office in 2025 and immediately dismantles all federal DEI programs, the Biden administration had embedded DEIA structures across dozens of federal agencies.

Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years for George Floyd murder

Judge Peter Cahill sentences former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 and a half years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, the longest sentence ever given a police officer for an on-duty killing in Minnesota. Cahill imposes the sentence above the standard presumptive 12.5 years because of "particular cruelty" and the presence of children at the scene. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces the DOJ has opened a formal pattern-or-practice investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department, the first such probe under the Biden administration. Civil rights advocates call the sentence a milestone but note it does not address systemic reform.

Justice Department sues Georgia over voting law after 2020 election

The Justice Department files a lawsuit on June 25, 2021, challenging Georgia's Senate Bill 202 under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The department alleges that parts of the law were adopted with a racially discriminatory purpose. The law changes absentee voting rules, drop boxes, provisional ballot counting, and restrictions on giving food or water to voters waiting in line. Georgia officials deny that the law is discriminatory and defend it as an election-integrity measure. The lawsuit becomes one of the Biden administration's first major voting-rights lawsuits after the 2020 election and after Shelby County weakened preclearance.

New Hampshire adopts classroom limits on race and gender instruction

New Hampshire enacted a law limiting public school lessons on race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. A federal judge later found the law unconstitutionally vague after educators argued it created uncertainty and threatened discipline for teaching about discrimination.

SCOTUS rules 6-3 in King v. Burwell ACA subsidies available on all exchanges

The Supreme Court rules 6-3 in King v. Burwell that the Affordable Care Act's tax subsidies apply to all marketplace exchange plans, including those on the federal healthcare.gov exchange, not just state-run exchanges. Chief Justice John Roberts writes the majority opinion, finding that the phrase "established by the State" must be interpreted in context of the whole statute. The ruling saves roughly 6.4 million people from losing subsidies that made their insurance affordable. Had the Court ruled against the government, the ACA would have faced near-certain collapse in the 34 states using the federal exchange.

Supreme Court preserves disparate-impact fair housing claims

The Supreme Court rules in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project on June 25, 2015, that disparate-impact claims are available under the Fair Housing Act. The case involves claims that tax-credit housing decisions reinforced racial segregation in the Dallas area. Justice Anthony Kennedy writes that the Fair Housing Act reaches some policies that have discriminatory effects, even without proof of discriminatory intent. The Court also warns lower courts to apply safeguards so defendants are not held liable for racial disparities alone. Disparate impact is a key tool for challenging systemic racism in housing markets and government programs.

Shelby County v. Holder Eliminates VRA Preclearance, Weakens Redistricting Oversight

The Supreme Court struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act in a 5-4 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, rendering Section 5 preclearance unenforceable. Section 5 had required states with a history of voter discrimination to obtain federal approval before changing voting laws or redistricting maps. The ruling freed nine states, primarily in the South, from the preclearance requirement. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, warning the decision was like throwing away an umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.

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Supreme Court strikes down Section 4 coverage formula in Shelby County, gutting Section 5 preclearance

The Supreme Court rules 5-4 in Shelby County v. Holder that the coverage formula in Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, effectively disabling Section 5 preclearance requirements. Chief Justice John Roberts writes that the formula, which used 1965 and 1972 voting data to determine which states must seek federal approval before changing election laws, is based on "40-year-old facts having no logical relationship to the present day." Because Section 5 relies on Section 4(b) to identify covered jurisdictions, the ruling immediately frees Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Alaska, and Arizona to change voting laws without DOJ approval. Within hours of the ruling, Texas announces it will implement a voter ID law previously blocked under preclearance.

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SCOTUS strikes down Voting Rights Act Section 4 formula in Shelby County v. Holder

The Supreme Court rules 5-4 in Shelby County v. Holder (570 U.S. 529, 2013) that Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the formula used to determine which states and localities must get federal preclearance before changing voting laws, is unconstitutional. Chief Justice Roberts writes that it relies on 40-year-old data. The decision effectively disables Section 5 preclearance, freeing Texas, North Carolina, and other states to immediately pass voter ID laws and redistricting plans without DOJ approval.

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SCOTUS strikes down VRA coverage formula 5-4 in Shelby County v. Holder gutting preclearance

The Supreme Court rules 5-4 in Shelby County v. Holder that the Voting Rights Act's Section 4(b) coverage formula, which determines which states must obtain federal preclearance before changing voting laws, is unconstitutional because it relies on 1960s and 1970s data that no longer reflects current conditions. Chief Justice John Roberts writes the majority opinion. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg writes a dissent comparing the decision to "throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm." Without a valid coverage formula, Section 5 preclearance becomes unenforceable. Within hours of the ruling, Texas and other states begin enacting voting restrictions that had previously been blocked.

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Shelby County v. Holder Strikes Down VRA Preclearance Formula

The Supreme Court struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, invalidating the formula that determined which states needed federal approval before changing election laws. The majority held the 40-year-old coverage formula no longer reflected current conditions. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, joined by Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan. Within hours, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that a previously-blocked voter ID law would take effect immediately.

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Supreme Court strikes down three of Arizona SB 1070's four provisions as federally preempted

The Supreme Court ruled 5-3 in Arizona v. United States that three of Arizona SB1070 four challenged provisions were preempted by federal immigration law. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, holding that states cannot create independent immigration crimes, cannot make warrantless arrests based solely on civil deportability, and cannot require immigrants to carry federal registration documents. The Court preserved SB1070 Section 2(B) -- the show me your papers provision -- allowing officers to check immigration status during stops, but stressed that even this provision must be implemented without conflicting with federal enforcement priorities. The ruling cemented the principle that immigration enforcement requires one voice from the federal government and became the primary precedent that Judge David Ezra later cited when blocking Texas SB4.

Supreme Court rejects Montana's corporate spending ban, ruling Citizens United is nationwide

The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Montana Supreme Court decision upholding the state 1912 Corrupt Practices Act in a two-paragraph per curiam order in American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock. The Montana law had banned corporate spending in state elections since the days when copper-mining interests routinely bribed legislators. The five-justice majority dismissed the case without oral argument, holding that Citizens United logic applied to states as well as the federal government.

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Supreme Court blocks most of Arizona immigration law but leaves status checks

The Supreme Court rules in Arizona v. United States on June 25, 2012, striking down several provisions of Arizona's SB 1070 but allowing the state's immigration-status check provision to take effect for the moment. The Court says federal law preempts much of Arizona's immigration scheme. Civil rights groups continue to warn that status checks can produce racial profiling of Latino residents. The ruling defines the boundaries of state immigration enforcement while leaving a core civil rights concern unresolved.

Supreme Court narrows McCain-Feingold ad limits in Wisconsin Right to Life case

On June 25, 2007, the Supreme Court ruled in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life that issue ads could not be banned unless they were the functional equivalent of express campaign advocacy. The ruling weakened limits on election-season political advertising.

SCOTUS Strikes Line Item Veto Act in Clinton v. City of New York

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 25, 1998, in Clinton v. City of New York that the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was unconstitutional because it allowed the president to cancel individual spending items without returning the bill to Congress, violating the Presentment Clause. Justice Stevens wrote the majority opinion holding that only a constitutional amendment could give the president line-item veto authority. The ruling reinforced Congress's exclusive power to define the scope of appropriations.

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Supreme Court strikes down Line Item Veto Act in Clinton v. City of New York

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 25, 1998, that the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was unconstitutional. Congress gave President Clinton power to cancel specific spending items from bills after signing them. Clinton used it to cancel Medicaid provisions benefiting New York and a tax break for agricultural cooperatives. Justice Stevens wrote that the Act gave the president power to unilaterally amend enacted statutes, violating the Presentment Clause. Congress cannot voluntarily hand its appropriations authority to the executive branch.

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Supreme Court decides Chevron v. NRDC, creates agency deference

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on June 25, 1984, that federal courts must defer to a federal agency's reasonable interpretation of any ambiguous statute the agency administers. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion in Chevron USA Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, with three justices recused. The two-step Chevron framework became the most-cited administrative law doctrine in American history before its 2024 reversal.