Key facts
- President Trump signed executive orders on birthright citizenship and the polysilicon industry.
- The administration is considering an order on vaccines and autism.
- The U.S. Commerce Department will block exports of tungsten scrap and battery waste.
- The export block is effective August 27.
- The U.S. is scrutinizing universities over admissions and pro-Palestinian protests.
- The DOJ alleged bias in Duke Law's admissions.
- The Education Department is probing San Jose State and San Francisco State.
- A proposal could allow President Trump to defer capital gains taxes on crypto holdings.
- The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cuba's military representative in Beijing.
- Sanctions target procurement activities in China.
President Trump has signed executive orders aimed at altering birthright citizenship rules for children of 'birth tourists' and certain foreign staff, and to protect the U.S. polysilicon industry. The administration is also considering an order related to vaccines and autism. In parallel, the U.S. Commerce Department is blocking exports of tungsten scrap and battery waste, a move designed to enhance domestic recycling and critical mineral production. This order, effective August 27, is part of a larger U.S. strategy to decrease dependence on China for essential minerals.
The Trump administration is also scrutinizing universities concerning admissions processes and pro-Palestinian protests. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has alleged bias in Duke Law's admissions practices. Meanwhile, the Education Department is investigating San Jose State and San Francisco State universities due to concerns about antisemitism linked to protests.
Separately, a bipartisan ethics proposal connected to cryptocurrency legislation could enable President Donald Trump to defer capital gains taxes on his digital asset holdings, as reported by Bloomberg News. The U.S. Treasury Department has also imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities associated with Cuba, specifically targeting its military representative in Beijing. These sanctions are aimed at Cuba's procurement activities within China.