May 21, 2019

Report: DHS may take millions from TSA for border, if necessary

Migrants cross the border between the U.S. and Mexico at the Rio Grande River. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

If Congress does not fund the Department of Homeland Security's $1.1 billion funding request, the agency will ask for $232 million from the Transportation Security Administration to be used for the border, NBC News' Julia Ainsley reports.

Why it matters: This would be yet another drastic step taken by DHS to provide more support to border officials struggling to handle the surge of migrants. Already, DHS has started sending hundreds of TSA employees to the border. It has asked the Pentagon to provide migrant housing and begun flying migrants to less crowded processing centers. FEMA has also been asked to contribute part of its budget to border efforts, per NBC.

Go Deeper: On the scene: The Pentagon commits to the border crisis

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Fadel Allassan

Judge rules against Trump policy limiting public comment on energy leasing

Photo: Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images

A federal judge on Thursday overturned a 2018 Trump administration directive that sought to speed up energy leases on public land by limiting the amount of time the public could comment.

Why it matters: U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush's decision voids almost a million acres of leases in the West, according to The Washington Post. It's a victory for environmentalists, who tried to block the change as part of an effort to protect the habitat of the at-risk greater sage grouse.

The ruling invalidated five oil and gas leases in Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, and affected 104,688 square miles of greater sage-grouse habitat, per The Associated Press.
Leases in greater sage-grouse habitat will return to allowing 30 days of public comment and administrative protest.

The big picture: From Axios' Amy Harder, this is the latest in a long and convoluted list of regulatory rollbacks the Trump administration is pursuing on environmental rules that courts are, more often than not, rebutting. With Congress gridlocked on these matters, expect the courts to be the default way Trump's agenda faces checks (unless, of course, a Democrat wins the White House this November).

Keep Reading20 mins ago - Energy & Environment

Marisa Fernandez

Your best defense against coronavirus

Photo: Adrian Greeman/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

Washing your hands is the best way to protect against the novel coronavirus, according to doctors and health officials, as the virus continues to spread around the globe.

Why it matters: Frequent hand washing can stop germs from spreading in a community, a known preventative for COVID-19 and influenza.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Health

Kendall Baker

Major League Soccer embarks on its 25th season

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

As Major League Soccer begins its 25th season, the league is financially stable and surging in popularity, and its 26 teams have gorgeous facilities and rapidly increasing valuations.

It also continues to expand, with David Beckham's Inter Miami and Nashville SC set to debut this season as the 25th and 26th teams. Plans are in place to reach 30 franchises by 2022 — triple the number from 2004.

Go deeper2 hours ago - Sports