Latest News
Federal Reserve’s Independence at Stake in Upcoming Administrative Hearing
An administrative hearing scheduled for next month in Washington, D.C., is headed toward a pivotal decision on how much influence the president can exert over independent governmental agencies.
President Donald Trump recently announced the creation of a White House committee to investigate Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over allegations she made false statements on mortgage documents.
The investigation renews Trump's effort to fire Cook from the central bank.
The committee plans to hold a closed door hearing on Nov. 5 at the White House, where Cook must appear and will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The inquiry follows a Supreme Court ruling that allowed Cook to remain in office after Trump’s attempt to fire her last year. The Court said she was entitled to notice and an opportunity to respond before she could be terminated.
Federal judge Orders Halt to Tree-Cutting at Historic D.C. Golf Course Targeted by Trump
A federal court hearing planned for Oct. 26 is expected to determine whether historic preservationists succeed in halting tree-cutting at a historic public golf course in Washington, D.C., that is part of the president’s plan to renovate the capital city.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes has ordered a pause in the work after the National Park Service cut down hundreds of trees two weeks ago at East Potomac Golf Links.
Reyes was responding to an emergency request from the D.C. Preservation League.
The National Park Service cut down 430 trees on Oct. 10. Another 299 are scheduled for removal.
The Trump administration plans to transform East Potomac Golf Links into an 18-hole championship golf course capable of hosting major professional tournaments. Construction costs are estimated between $20 million and $49 million.
Appeals Court Weighs Legality of Trump’s National Guard Deployment in D.C.
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., plans to rule within days on the legality of the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to the nation's capital.
Attorneys for the D.C. attorney general argued at a hearing last week that the deployment violates federal law and infringes on local self-government under the Home Rule Act.
The federal law enacted in 1973 allows residents of Washington to elect their own mayor and city council and to govern local affairs, but Congress retains authority to veto their decisions.
A lower court largely agreed with the D.C. attorney general in a previous ruling. The court said the deployment is an illegal expansion of presidential authority.
The case pending on appeal raises questions about the constitutionality of using military personnel for domestic law enforcement.
Legal Briefs
Alleged Unsanitary Conditions Prompt Justice Dept. Investigation of D.C. Jail
The Justice Department is investigating the District of Columbia Jail after a lawsuit by current and former inmates raised alarms about unsanitary conditions creating constitutional violations.
Evidence for the lawsuit included photos of a dead mouse in a salad, rodent droppings on milk containers and cockroaches in oatmeal.
Inmates who complained said they sometimes were met with threats by jail staff members. Other staff members ignored the complaints or provided only “band-aid” solutions, according to the lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit filed this month in U.S. District Court invokes Fifth Amendment rights. The Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause requires that jail detainees be treated humanely and provided reasonably adequate sanitary conditions, medical care, and basic necessities.
The lawsuit is only the latest complaint lodged against the D.C. Department of Corrections.
After the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, rioters held in the jail said they were being confined in “inhumane” conditions. A separate audit found that plumbing and other infrastructure at the jail was substandard, sometimes creating health hazards and bad odors.
The lawsuit seeks financial compensation and a court order for more sanitary conditions. The complaint describes incidents dating from July 2023 through August 2026.
One of the six plaintiffs, Pernell Jackson, alleged that he added toppings and dressing to his meal and had eaten several bites before noticing something unusual, namely a dead mouse.
The complaint says Jackson "tried to swallow the bite, but gagged and then spit out what was left in his mouth... he held the tray up to the crack in the door and realized he had chewed on a dead mouse."
“He immediately jumped back from the meal tray and vomited,” the complaint says.
D.C. in Brief
Bicycle Advocates Settle Lawsuit Over Access to Federal Lands in D.C.
Washington, D.C., area cycling advocates and the federal government revealed a settlement last week of their lawsuit over pedestrian and bicycle access on federal lands.
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association sued the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation and other agencies after bike lanes on major streets were either removed or plans to build them terminated.
A joint status report filed last week in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia shows they have reached an agreement, but terms were not disclosed.
A central issue was legal obligations of federal agencies in providing safe access for cyclists and pedestrians using roads and public spaces in Washington.
The association has advocated for safer bicycling conditions throughout the Washington region, including improvements to bicycle infrastructure and protections for people traveling on two wheels.
Federal lands and roadways account for significant portions of Washington's transportation network. They include areas surrounding the National Mall and other prominent public spaces.
Bicycle advocates argued that safe, dedicated infrastructure could reduce conflicts between cyclists and motor vehicles while improving conditions for other road users.
In April, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled in WABA’s favor in a separate lawsuit challenging plans to remove protected bicycle lanes on 15th Street NW. The court found that the agencies' decision-making was arbitrary and capricious before remanding the case.
The case is Washington Area Bicyclist Association Inc. v. Burgum, No. 1:26-cv-00988, filed April 21, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
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