US Politics

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is ending the random H-1B visa lottery and introducing a wage-based selection system that prioritizes higher-paid, highly skilled foreign workers. The change affects both the regular H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption, using federal wage levels to rank employer registrations. The agency states that the new process aims to align the program with labor market needs and strengthen protections for U.S. workers by favoring higher-wage positions. The numerical cap on H-1B visas remains unchanged under current law.

A preservation group raised concerns about rapid renovation and construction activity at the White House under President Donald Trump, citing limited outside oversight and unclear preservation safeguards. The group called for stronger, standardized limits and more transparency on how any administration can alter the historic executive mansion and its grounds. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between modernization, security needs, and historic preservation at one of the United States’ most significant federal properties.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released the first batch of Jeffrey Epstein-related records under a disclosure law signed by former President Donald Trump. The material includes photographs and redacted grand jury testimony drawn from past federal investigations. Officials say the documents are the initial installment in a phased review and release process mandated by statute. The files are subject to legal limits on grand jury secrecy, privacy and security concerns. Future releases will follow additional review cycles as agencies evaluate remaining Epstein records for public access.

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on a violent Mexican fuel-theft cartel and its imprisoned leader under the Trump administration’s crackdown on cartels that fund operations through stolen oil and gas. The measures block assets under U.S. jurisdiction and bar American individuals and entities from doing business with the designated group and its leader. The action aims to disrupt the cartel’s financial networks, limit access to the U.S. financial system and weaken revenue streams derived from illegal oil and gas theft, as part of wider cross-border efforts against organized crime.

Rep. Jamie Raskin plans to introduce a bill requiring major White House renovation and construction projects to undergo formal federal-style review. The proposal responds to past projects, such as President Trump’s ballroom, that drew attention for limited oversight. The measure would apply existing federal standards on planning, spending, and preservation to future large-scale work at the executive mansion. Lawmakers are examining how to balance security needs and privacy with transparency and congressional notification.