Stories from Washington · United States

David Morens, 78, a former aide to Dr. Anthony Fauci, was arrested and handcuffed for alleged email violations. The arrest involved federal agents and reportedly included the use of guns and bulletproof vests. Morens previously worked for the National Institutes of Health.

US Food & Drug Administrator Markary was reportedly pushed out following a conflict with President Trump over fruit-flavored vapes. The President supports the flavors, while the health community opposes them.

President Trump announced the departure of Marty Makary, the head of food and drug regulation. Makary's resignation follows weeks of political tumult at the agency. This follows discussions about the commissioner's role.

Lawmakers have requested more details about the cost of the war with Iran. They are defending the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion budget request before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

The FCC has approved EchoStar's spectrum sale to SpaceX and AT&T. EchoStar will sell 65 MHz of spectrum to SpaceX for its direct-to-cell service, and AT&T will acquire 50 MHz. The Federal Communications Commission has approved the spectrum sale from EchoStar to SpaceX and AT&T.

The auction of $42 billion of 10-year US Treasury notes experienced weak demand. The auction results could influence future bond pricing. The auction results were reported by Modernity/fed_treasury. The average interest rate for Treasury Bonds was 3.403% as of April 30, 2026.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly initiating investigations within the Department of Health and Human Services. The source expresses skepticism about the predetermined outcomes of these investigations.

US inflation has accelerated to an annual rate of 8%, driven significantly by rising gas prices. Wage increases may no longer be outpacing inflation. Core CPI, excluding volatile food and energy prices, rose to 0.4% in April and 2.8% year-over-year. This data comes as a highway stretching from Texas to Montana could be named in honor of President Trump. Oil prices rose 4% to over $102 per barrel. Despite inflation concerns, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended higher by 56 points. The Labor Department reported that inflation climbed 3.8% last month, the highest rate seen since May. This surge is partly fueled by the ongoing conflict with Iran. The US inflation rate reached 3.8% in April, according to data released Tuesday. This data point has put pressure on the market, contributing to a general pullback in chip stocks. This is a slight increase from the previous month's rate.

China has resumed buying U.S. soybeans late last year, though not at the levels previously hoped for. Small businesses report low confidence, with the lowest level since 2024. This action indicates a shift in trade relations. This move comes amid ongoing trade negotiations and evolving global market conditions. The volume of these purchases is being closely watched. The move signals a potential easing of trade tensions. This development was reported from Beijing.

The Department of Homeland Security is requesting $7.5 million to develop facial recognition wearable devices for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Some agents are already utilizing off-the-shelf versions of this technology.