Trump Orders DHS to Avoid Protests in Democratic Cities Unless Federal Assets Are Threatened 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firm’s Panama Canal Port Contracts Over Constitutional Violations 
Illinois Joins WHO Global Outbreak Network After U.S. Exit, Following California’s Lead 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Faith Leaders Arrested on Capitol Hill During Protest Against Trump Immigration Policies and ICE Funding 
Trump Proposes Two-Year Shutdown of Kennedy Center Amid Ongoing Turmoil 
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Panama Supreme Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Concessions, Raising Geopolitical and Trade Concerns 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
The U.S. government has frozen $2.1 billion in funding for major Chicago infrastructure projects, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced Friday. The move comes during the ongoing partial government shutdown and marks another blow to Democratic-led cities.
The projects impacted include the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project, critical initiatives aimed at modernizing one of the nation’s largest transit systems. According to Vought, funding was halted to ensure compliance with a new rule prohibiting race-based contracting, part of a broader review by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
This decision follows similar actions earlier in the week, when $18 billion in transit projects in New York, such as the Hudson Tunnel and Second Avenue Subway, were also put on hold. Additionally, the Department of Energy canceled nearly $8 billion for hundreds of energy initiatives across 16 Democratic-led states, including California and New York.
In the final days of the Biden administration, nearly $2 billion had been allocated to extend Chicago’s Red Line by 5.5 miles, connecting the Far South Side to the city’s rail system. Supporters emphasized that the project would reduce transit inequities in predominantly Black and underserved neighborhoods.
Despite the setback, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the CTA, which serves more than 300 million riders annually and ranks as the third-largest U.S. transit agency, have not yet commented. The USDOT also announced it would delay a $300 million reimbursement for the subway project due to the shutdown.
The Trump administration has long targeted transit funding for cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago, framing it as part of a campaign against “Democrat Agencies.” President Trump has also vowed to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, further escalating tensions as federal immigration enforcement clashes with local officials.
Meanwhile, the Hudson River tunnel project—a $17.2 billion plan crucial for Amtrak and New Jersey commuters—faces delays that could threaten the economic stability of a region generating 10% of U.S. output.
