US Administration Live Updates: Ghislaine Maxwell, Nuclear submarines repositioned, Justice Dept. Questioning on Epstein
✍️ Written by: Prakriti Parul
A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s effort to remove hundreds of thousands of refugees from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered the United States through official ports of entry and were granted parole status. The injunction will remain in place for the duration of ongoing litigation.
Judge Jia M. Cobb, a Biden appointee serving on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled that the agency’s actions were not supported by relevant statutes and lacked rational justification. “Narrowly, this is a straightforward case of statutory interpretation and agency rationality,” Judge Cobb wrote. The contested agency activities are not permitted under the relevant statutes or the rules of reasoned decision-making. In a broader sense, fair play is at issue in this case.
This ruling provides a significant legal win for refugee advocacy groups, reinforcing protections for vulnerable migrants fleeing political and economic turmoil in their home countries.
Live Updates
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05:02 (IST) 02 Aug 2025
House Postpones Ghislaine Maxwell Testimony Pending Supreme Court Decision
Ghislaine Maxwell’s congressional testimony, originally set for mid-August, has been delayed until at least October, House Oversight Chair James Comer announced Friday. The committee will wait for the Supreme Court’s decision on whether to review Maxwell’s sex offender conviction before determining next steps. Comer called Maxwell’s testimony “vital” to ongoing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s 2007 non-prosecution deal and his death.
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05:00 (IST) 02 Aug 2025
Supreme Court Escalates Louisiana Redistricting Case, Puts Voting Rights Act at Risk
The Supreme Court today broadened a long-running Louisiana redistricting case, asking for new legal briefs on whether using race to comply with the Voting Rights Act violates the Constitution’s 14th and 15th Amendments. The move could further erode Section 2 of the landmark 1965 law, which bars voting discrimination. Legal scholars warn the court may now be questioning the very constitutionality of core VRA protections.
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04:59 (IST) 02 Aug 2025
VP Vance Backs Trump’s Firing of BLS Chief Despite Prior Confirmation Vote
Vice President JD Vance supports President Trump’s decision to fire BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, despite voting to confirm her in 2024. “President Trump has the right to hire and fire the people he wants,” Vance spokesperson William Martin said. McEntarfer was confirmed with bipartisan support in an 86–8 vote. Martin added that Vance’s vote “simply showed a willingness to move nominations forward,” even when he disagreed.
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04:58 (IST) 02 Aug 2025
Trump Responds to Fed Governor Kugler’s Resignation, Eyes Replacement Pick
President Trump reacted today to the resignation of Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler, saying, “We just found out that I have an open spot on the Federal Reserve Board.” Kugler, who did not give a reason in her resignation letter, said she was “honored” to serve during a critical economic period. She is set to return to Georgetown University this fall. Her early exit gives Trump a key opportunity to reshape the Fed ahead of the election year.
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04:57 (IST) 02 Aug 2025
Trump Calls Latest Jobs Report ‘Phony’ After Firing BLS Chief
President Trump doubled down on his decision to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, calling Friday’s weak jobs report “phony” and accusing the agency—without evidence—of manipulating data to favor Democrats. “You know what I did? I fired her… I did the right thing,” Trump told reporters. The BLS reported just 73,000 jobs added last month and revised down previous months’ figures, sparking Trump’s latest attack on the agency he once praised.
