What happened last week in US politics

 

In the past week, U.S. politics has seen significant government actions, labor disputes, international developments, and a looming potential government shutdown, with both legislative and executive branches making key moves.nytimes+2

Government Labor and Personnel Actions

• President Donald Trump ordered the removal of union rights for nearly half a million federal workers, continuing efforts to reshape federal workforce policies.cnn+1

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fired employees who publicly criticized Trump administration policies. These firings come after many workers were put on administrative leave following internal dissent.cnn

Government Shutdown and Budget Negotiations

• As Congress reconvenes after summer recess, the White House and Democratic lawmakers are positioned for a potential confrontation over the federal budget, raising the possibility of a government shutdown if an agreement is not reached in the coming weeks.cnbc+1

• Some Democratic leaders, like Senator Chris Murphy, have publicly staked out positions that set up direct ideological clashes with the Trump administration over government funding.politico

Judicial and Legal Developments

• A federal judge temporarily blocked an effort by the Trump administration to expand fast-track deportations, restricting the policy's scope for now.politico

• President Trump is seeking to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and is opposing a legal injunction that would block her removal while her lawsuit proceeds.cnbc

International and Trade Policy

• The U.S. government updated its sanctions regimes, including new designations relating to North Korea and the issuance of a general license for Russia.ofac.treasury

• The Trump administration is circulating a new plan for the Gaza Strip that would see U.S. administration of the enclave for at least a decade, amidst ongoing diplomatic activity in the region.cnbc

• Trump’s advisers are contesting ongoing legal battles over trade tariffs, framing the outcomes as crucial to broader trade and economic strategies.cnbc

Political Developments and Legislation

• Republican lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill from the August recess faced with internal party divisions and challenges in negotiating with Democrats over upcoming legislation and funding bills.cnn+1

• Redistricting plans in Texas, influenced by recent Republican gains among Hispanic voters, are being actively debated and will test party strategies in future elections.npr

These summaries represent major, fact-based developments in U.S. politics for the past seven days, based on multiple reputable sources.nytimes+5

1. https://www.nytimes.com/section/politics
2. https://www.cnn.com/politics
3. https://www.cnbc.com/politics/
4. https://www.politico.com/politics
5. https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions
6. https://www.npr.org/sections/national/
7. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics
8. https://apnews.com/politics
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_in_the_United_States
10. https://www.state.gov/public-schedule