Reuters US Domestic News Summary

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

US health agencies report 55 cases of E. coli and salmonella infections tied to alfalfa sprouts

U.S. health officials on Friday said they were investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli and salmonella infections linked to alfalfa sprouts. Here are more details:

US imposes deep Colorado River water cuts to California, Nevada ​and Arizona

The U.S. government on Friday finalized a two-year plan to slash water supplies to California, Nevada and Arizona to manage the drought-stricken Colorado River, while leaving open the possibility of far deeper cuts later in the decade. The three ​so-called lower basin states will take around a 21% reduction in water from the river in 2027 and 2028, but cuts could nearly double in later ‌years, according to ​the plan signed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Appeals court upholds block on US Justice Department subpoenas to NY AG James' office

A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that the Justice Department could not enforce subpoenas seeking information about cases pursued by New York Attorney General Letitia James because it had unlawfully installed an ally of President Donald Trump as a top prosecutor. The case stems from subpoenas that the top federal prosecutor in Albany, Trump ally John Sarcone, issued to James' office in August 2025 seeking records about civil lawsuits James filed against Trump and his family business and against the National Rifle Association gun rights group.

Explainer-Why is Trump talking about the Keystone XL oil pipeline?

A social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump declaring that the Keystone XL oil pipeline "may ‌be awoken from the grave" attracted attention this week in the midst of U.S.-Canada trade talks. Below is a look at the history of that project running through parts of Canada and the U.S., as well as details on the new oil pipeline proposal that follows a slightly different route: WHAT IS KEYSTONE XL?

Exclusive-Fauci's lawyers set up legal defense fund as US probes multiply

Lawyers for Anthony Fauci have launched a legal defense fund for the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, saying that the need to respond to a growing number of state and federal investigations related to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will require substantial resources. In January 2025, then-President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to Fauci, amid accusations from Republican lawmakers that he played a role in research that contributed to the pandemic and later sought to cover up its origins, claims that have not been independently substantiated.

US appeals court throws out California, Giffords 'ghost guns' challenge

A federal appeals court threw out on Friday a lawsuit by California and the Giffords gun control advocacy group claiming that a Biden administration-era rule to curtail ‌the production of illegal, largely untraceable "ghost guns" was not strict enough. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco voted 3-0 that California and Giffords did not show the rule's treatment of partially completed receivers, or frames, for AR-15 type semi-automatic rifles caused them harm.

US judge strikes down policy suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 nations

A U.S. judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, saying that ‌the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan said the policy that the State Department announced in January was "patently unlawful" and ran afoul of federal immigration law, which explicitly stripped the secretary of state of authority over consular officers' processing of immigrant visas.

Trump administration moves to end attorney group's law school oversight

The U.S. Department of Education on Friday moved to strip the American Bar Association of its longstanding status as the federally recognized accreditor of U.S. law schools, deepening a clash between President Donald Trump's administration and the nation’s highest-profile lawyer organization. Removing the ABA as the official overseer of law schools, a role it has filled since 1952, represents the administration’s latest effort to curtail the influence of the group, which a White House spokesperson in 2025 dismissed as a “snooty” organization of “leftist lawyers.”

Exclusive-US plans $725 million payment towards its large UN debt

The Trump administration has informed Congress of its intention to pay $725 million to the United Nations, a congressional notification seen by Reuters showed, a move aid experts said was a welcome step towards paying billions in dues owed. The administration has criticized the global body for not living up to its potential and slashed funding to many U.N. agencies. When asked about the planned payment, a U.S. official said any payments will be contingent ⁠on continued reforms of the organization and ​added that the U.S. has not transferred any funds as of Friday.

Pentagon fires US military newspaper leadership

The editor-in-chief of the Stars and ⁠Stripes U.S. military newspaper said on Friday that he was being fired for insubordination and Reuters learned that the Pentagon had sent notices to the paper's leadership informing them that they would be let go. "According to the notice, I am being fired for stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a personal red line," Erik Slavin said in a statement.

US health department seeks public feedback on vaccine guidelines after Trump order

The U.S. health department said on Friday it was seeking public feedback on federal vaccine recommendations, including how they are categorized and communicated, after President Donald Trump's executive order calling ⁠for fewer childhood vaccinations. The Department of Health and Human Services has posted a notice asking for comments on possible revamped categories, such as whether some vaccines should be recommended but not during infancy, or recommended with qualifications.

US Army Secretary Driscoll is expected to step down by year's end, WSJ reports

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down from his role by the end of the year after months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the discussions.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Trump caps summer of ​US 250th birthday with auto race through Washington

President Donald Trump will cap the celebration of the U.S. 250th anniversary with a first-of-its-kind auto race through the streets of Washington, closing a summer defined by sports and spectacle as drivers speed past some of the capital's most iconic landmarks. IndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix will zoom through the National Mall, past the U.S. Capitol, down historic Pennsylvania Avenue and around the National Archives, with the marquee event on Sunday afternoon. ⁠The race is expected to draw roughly 200,000 spectators, officials said, and tickets are free. Passes to private trackside clubs sold for $5,000.

Trump seeks to bolster Darline Graham's Senate bid at South Carolina rally

President Donald Trump campaigned on Friday for political novice Darline Graham in the race for her late brother's U.S. Senate seat, a contest that could test the White House's political clout before November midterm elections. Trump offered a meandering hour-and-20-minute address as Graham faces her stiffest political headwind after she tripped over a basic foreign policy question during a recent debate with U.S. Representative Ralph Norman, her opponent in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff election.

Brush fire in Nevada grows to over 10,500 acres

A fast-moving ⁠brush fire ​on a hillside in Northern Nevada, just outside Reno, has grown to over 10,500 acres as of Saturday evening. The Hawk fire grew to 10,523 acres, mapping platform Perimeter Map said. Reno Police asked residents to refer to Perimeter Map for evacuation information.

Texas seeks federal probe of airport washing facilities, Muslim group denounces move

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday sought a federal probe into airport facilities for ritual washing before Islamic prayers, a move that a Muslim advocacy group called an "anti-Muslim political stunt." In a letter to the Department of Justice, Abbott called on the department to immediately review the ablution facilities at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, casting them as discriminatory.

Motor racing- Palou claims seventh IndyCar pole of season in Washington

Alex Palou took pole position for Sunday's Freedom 250 in Washington after posting a 56.899-second lap in Saturday's Fast Six qualifying session, his seventh pole of the IndyCar season. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver was 0.567 seconds faster than Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood on the 1.7-mile, seven-turn street circuit, which runs along Pennsylvania ⁠Avenue and passes landmarks including the White House and Capitol Hill.

Analysis-Trump heads into midterms short on foreign policy wins

With the Iran war now at a costly standoff and crises from Ukraine to Gaza still unresolved, President Donald Trump's ambitious foreign policy agenda appears stuck as he heads into November's midterm elections. The setbacks are striking for a president who returned to office last year promising to be a "peacemaker" and made resolving international conflicts a centerpiece of his second-term agenda.

Supreme Court lets Trump continue ⁠work on White House ballroom for now

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday allowed President Donald Trump's administration to continue construction of his White House ballroom ⁠project for now, temporarily pausing a judicial order that would halt much of the development. The court's action, known as an administrative stay, gives the justices additional time to consider the administration's formal request to let it continue working on the $400 million ballroom while a lawsuit by a historic preservation group seeking to stop the project proceeds.

TikTok agrees to $400 million US children's privacy settlement

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance on Friday agreed to a $400-million settlement to resolve the U.S. Justice Department's allegations the short-video app violated children's online privacy. The Justice Department sued TikTok and ByteDance in 2024 for allegedly failing to protect children's privacy, and illegally collecting their information.

US HHS launches initiative to improve response to missing autistic individuals

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday launched an initiative to improve ‌preparedness and response when autistic individuals are reported missing. Here are more details:

Trump, former fixer Michael Cohen ‌have warm interview at political low point for president

U.S. President Donald Trump had a warm public reunion on Thursday with Michael Cohen, his former fixer turned foe whose court testimony contributed to Trump's 2024 conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush-money trial. Cohen, who is seeking ​a pardon, interviewed Trump on his New York radio program. He called Trump "boss" and gave a six-minute monologue on friendship and forgiveness.