Department of Interior

Jon Ossoff drew attention at a Midtown Atlanta rally by calling out a little-known aide to President Donald Trump during a prepared speech criticizing Trump over the war in Iran. The comment went viral and faced swift backlash from Republicans. Despite his bold public persona, sources indicate Ossoff is meticulous and hands-on with all aspects of his campaign messaging.

Charges against David Hearn, a former Olympian, were dropped in the case involving the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Prosecutors attributed the pool's issues to flawed installation work by a Trump-connected contractor and incomplete information from the Department of Interior.

President Trump's attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education through interagency agreements face bipartisan opposition in the Senate. A 13-9 Senate education committee vote advanced legislation to reverse agreements transferring core functions to other departments, though Trump lacks the votes to abolish the agency outright.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation's attempt to regain 1.5 million acres in northeastern Utah under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The ruling affirmed that the disputed land in the Uncompahgre Reservation is ineligible for restoration, citing the 1880 Act's historical context, which involved the tribe ceding Colorado lands in exchange for relocation to Utah.

Democrats requested information on ties between the Trump and Lutnick families and critical mineral deals. They asked several U.S. departments and the Export-Import Bank to preserve records related to those deals.

Duke Energy has withdrawn its North Carolina offshore wind farm project as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Interior. The project, known as the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease, was acquired in 2022 for $155 million and was in the early stages of development.

The Reflecting Pool on the National Mall is experiencing an algae infestation, with hydrogen peroxide treatments eliminating one species but allowing Scenedesmus, a green algae, to flourish. The National Park Service and Department of Interior have not disclosed water safety or test results, leading to public concern.

President Trump's proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch in Washington, D.C., has been approved by the Commission of Fine Arts as a monument to American exceptionalism and the nation's 250th anniversary. The arch, featuring eagles and a Statue of Liberty, aligns with Trump's 'Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again' executive order, which emphasizes classical design to counter modernist 'ugly' federal buildings like the Hoover FBI Building.