Reuters US Domestic News Summary

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Exclusive-Trump official tried to ban half of US voting machines, citing conspiracy theories

U.S. President Donald Trump's election-security czar last year sought to ban voting machines used in more than half of U.S. states by asking whether the Commerce Department could declare their components national-security risks, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. White House adviser Kurt Olsen, a lawyer Trump has tasked with proving widely debunked election-rigging conspiracy theories, pushed the plan to target Dominion Voting Systems machines.

SpaceX's upgraded Starship V3 blasts ​off in debut test flight from Texas

SpaceX launched its 12th Starship on an uncrewed test flight from Texas on Friday, in a high-stakes trial run of major upgrades to its next-generation spacecraft as Elon Musk's rocket company nears a record-breaking public listing. The debut flight of Starship V3 - designed to enable more frequent Starlink satellite launches and to send future NASA missions to the ​moon - represents a key milestone for the vehicle following months of testing delays. The outcome could also sway investor confidence ahead of SpaceX's initial public offering next month, expected to be the largest in history.

US appeals court revives $82 million of ‌verdict against Ford in trade secrets case

A ​U.S. appeals court on Friday revived $82.2 million of a $104.6 million verdict that Versata Software won against Ford for breaching a licensing contract and misappropriating trade secrets. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reinstated damages that a jury in Detroit had awarded to Versata in 2022 after finding that Ford violated their contract, and sent the case back for a new trial to determine the proper amount of damages for Ford's trade-secret theft.

Sinkhole expected to keep New York LaGuardia runway shut down until Saturday

The closure of one of the runways at New York's LaGuardia airport, which was caused by a sinkhole on Wednesday, is expected to continue until early Saturday, snarling flights for the busy Memorial Day travel period, the airport authority said.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages New York City area airports, said inspections using ground-penetrating radar on Thursday identified potential areas of concern on the runway that were repaired, and engineering crews are conducting additional inspections on Friday. Crews expect to complete surveys and any repairs by 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Fed's Waller's ready to axe 'easing bias,' says rate-cut talk now is 'crazy'

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, an influential voice in policymaking who until recently had advocated for ‌lower interest rates, on Friday said the Fed should axe the "easing bias" from its policy statement and effectively open the door to a possible rate hike. Waller said he wasn't advocating for a hike at this point, but felt that at the very least the Fed needs to keep the current policy rate in place until it is clear inflation, which he worries is broadening and becoming more persistent, shows signs of returning to the Fed's 2% target.

Americans brace for pricey summer travel with fuel costs near multi-year highs

Soaring gasoline prices and a looming fuel crunch from the Iran war are not stopping American travelers from taking to the road as the U.S. summer driving season kicks off this weekend, although some are planning shorter trips to cut down on costs. U.S. average retail gasoline prices have been hovering above $4.50 since early May, about 45% higher than levels before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. Prices for crude oil used to make gasoline have also surged, along with many goods, as the conflict has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade conduit through which roughly 20% of the world's oil consumption flows.

Exclusive-US tax officials consider adding citizenship question to tax forms

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is debating requiring taxpayers to disclose their citizenship status on next year's tax forms, according to three people familiar with the situation, as the Trump administration intensifies attempts to link federal agencies to its sprawling immigration enforcement and anti-fraud drive. IRS officials are considering two versions of Form 1040, the primary paperwork individuals use to report earnings and claim tax benefits, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear ‌of professional reprisals.

Trump joins Lawler to test fiscal pitch in competitive New York district

Donald Trump campaigned on Friday in New York's Hudson Valley to support a vulnerable House Republican facing reelection in November, a rare test of the U.S. president's standing with suburban voters concerned about rising costs. Trump's visit alongside Representative Mike Lawler came as political strategists eye congressional districts in suburbs, which are expected to be closely contested between Democrats and Republicans during the elections.

Over 2,000 gather in San Diego to mourn three men killed in mosque attack

More than 2,000 people gathered in a San Diego park on Thursday to mourn a security guard and two other men murdered as they tried to stop this week's attack on the city's largest mosque. Men and women, including police officers in uniform, stood in rows ‌for the Islamic funeral prayer, or Janazah, to remember the three men referred to as heroes by mourners for delaying and distracting the attackers, preventing further bloodshed at a time when children were at the mosque's school.

Gabbard resigns as Trump's top US intelligence official

Tulsi Gabbard said on Friday she was resigning from her job as President Donald Trump's director of national intelligence, saying her husband had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and she was leaving her role to help him. Gabbard advised Trump of her intention to step down during an Oval Office meeting on Friday, Fox News Digital reported earlier. The resignation is effective June 30, it said.

Warsh takes the Fed's helm as inflation climbs, consumer sentiment dives

Kevin Warsh was sworn in as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve on Friday at a pivotal moment for an American economy where surging gasoline prices due to the Iran war are pushing up inflation and eroding consumer sentiment, potent ingredients for a policy dilemma with political implications. Warsh, wearing a dark suit and tie and accompanied by his wife, Jane Lauder, heiress to the Estee Lauder fortune, was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas after a lengthy introduction by President Donald Trump. The White House's East Room was peppered with top cabinet officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and longtime friends of Warsh, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

US judge dismisses Kilmar Abrego indictment, finding DOJ abused power

A U.S. judge dismissed an indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego on Friday, finding that the Trump administration abused its power by prosecuting him in retaliation for his lawsuit that challenged his deportation. In a rare finding, Nashville, Tennessee-based U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw wrote that the Justice Department reopened a probe into Abrego stemming from a 2022 traffic stop and secured an indictment because it needed "cover" to justify allowing Abrego back into the U.S.

Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to appeal to US Supreme Court to avoid re-arrest

A lawyer for Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil vowed on Friday to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court ⁠after a federal appeals court declined to reconsider a ​ruling that opened the door to President Donald Trump's administration re-arresting and deporting the pro-Palestinian activist. The Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals split 6-5 along ideological lines to leave in place a ruling holding that U.S. District Judge ⁠Michael Farbiarz lacked jurisdiction when he ordered Khalil's release from immigration detention last year.

Exclusive-Democrats demand Rubio explain visa for wanted former Polish official

Two top U.S. House of Representatives Democrats on Friday asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain whether his top deputy helped expedite a visa that allowed a wanted former Polish cabinet minister to flee to the U.S. from Hungary, evading an extradition request from Polish authorities. If true, "these events and decisions constitute a massive abuse of power and disregard for the legal immigration processes of the United States," Representatives Gregory Meeks and James Raskin wrote in a letter to Rubio that Reuters reviewed.

Trump will swear in Warsh on Friday to lead US Federal Reserve

U.S. President Donald Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh as the chair of the Federal Reserve on Friday at the White House, the Trump administration said on Thursday. Warsh was confirmed to the role in a near party-line vote on May 13. He succeeds Jerome Powell as the chair of the central bank, though ⁠Powell's separate term as a Fed governor extends through January of 2028.

North Carolina sues Vietnam's VinFast over delayed EV project

The State of North Carolina has sued Vietnamese EV maker VinFast for its alleged failure to meet its commitments to build an electric vehicle and battery factory in the state, Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in a statement. VinFast has abandoned work on the 712-hectare (1,759-acre) site in Chatham County for over a year, according to the statement issued on Thursday.

As Stephen Colbert exits 'The Late Show,' podcasts have the last laugh

Stephen Colbert's sign-off as the host of the CBS "The Late Show" may signal the end of a historic TV franchise, but the late-night tradition is far from dead. Comedy is booming on podcasts, where former late-night hosts like Conan O'Brien, Chelsea Handler and Samantha Bee have all found second acts. They're joined by established comedians like Amy Poehler, stand-up acts like Theo Von, and emerging stars like Kareem Rahma, whose celebrity ​interviews on the New York City subway have captured widespread attention.

Plains to restart portions of ruptured oil pipeline in East Los Angeles in couple of hours

Plains All American said on Friday it would soon restart unaffected portions of an oil pipeline in East Los Angeles after a section was shut down following a rupture. The line was struck by a third party conducting excavation work, the company had said earlier in the day. It did not provide details on how much oil may have leaked.

US labor market shows resilience in face of war; housing still subdued

The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, pointing to labor market resilience and giving the Federal Reserve room to focus on surging ⁠inflation from the war with Iran. There are no signs yet that employers are responding to rising costs by reducing headcount. The nearly three-month-long U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, boosting energy prices, as well as straining global supply chains and causing shortages of a wide range of goods, including fertilizers, aluminum and consumer products.

Trump says he will not attend son Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would not attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, because he has to stay in Washington for government business. "While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

US temporarily moving immigration lawyers to DOJ to speed up citizenship crackdown, Axios reports

The Trump administration is temporarily moving immigration lawyers to the ⁠Justice Department ​to speed up efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans, Axios reported on Friday. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

US releases second batch of government declassified UFO files

The U.S. Defense Department on Friday released a second batch of previously classified files on alleged UFO sightings, including references to people reporting unexplained green orbs, discs and fireballs. At the order of President Donald Trump, the first batch was made public on May 8. He is the latest president to release U.S. government reports on unidentified flying objects, a disclosure process that began in the late 1970s.

US tells foreigners seeking green cards: Return to your countries to apply

Foreigners seeking to adjust their immigration status in the United States to secure green cards will have to do so from outside the country via the State Department, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said on Friday, in a move criticized by aid groups. USCIS announced the move in a policy memo, which directed officers to consider relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether extraordinary relief is warranted.

Audit finds over 70% increase in federal immigration arrests in NYC under Trump

New York City experienced a more than 70% increase in federal immigration arrests since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House, according to a city audit released on Friday. The audit, ordered by Mayor Zohran Mamdani soon after he took office this year, found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 5,567 people in the New York City area between January 20, 2025, when Trump, a Republican, was sworn in as president, and March 10, 2026. Over half of those arrests took place at immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, according to the report.

Angst over rising ⁠cost of living pushes US consumer sentiment to record low

U.S. consumer sentiment fell to a record low in May as surging gasoline prices linked to the Iran war intensified affordability concerns, highlighting broader dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy. The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers on Friday showed sentiment among Republicans and Independents dropped to the lowest level of Trump's second term. Trump won re-election in 2024 in large part because of his promise to reduce inflation, but Americans have faced higher prices from his sweeping tariffs and now from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Experimental treatments could help US Ebola patient

The U.S. missionary who tested positive for Ebola and is undergoing treatment in a German hospital has been given drugs aimed at reducing disease symptoms ⁠after exposure to the virus and other therapies, U.S. health officials said on Friday. There are no vaccines or known drugs specifically approved to treat the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has infected almost ⁠750 people and killed 177.

Paul McCartney helps Stephen Colbert say goodbye to 'Late Show'

Comedian Stephen Colbert signed off from his late-night talk show on Thursday after 11 seasons with a sentimental chat with Beatles musician Paul McCartney and pointed jokes about his forced departure from CBS. The final installment of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" began with the comic thanking the in-person and television audience for watching his nightly take on current events, often punctuated by verbal jabs at Republican President Donald Trump.

Families weigh moves with gender-affirming care access under assault in US

Confronted with Trump Administration threats to gender-affirming care for young transgender people, American families are weighing moves out of their states to gain access to needed healthcare, according to doctors, patients, policy experts and advocacy groups. Upon taking office for the second time, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at limiting access to gender-affirming care for patients under age 19, building on legislation or rules in 27 mostly Republican-led states that restrict such care. The order has been temporarily blocked by a judge but the administration continues to push new bans.

Exclusive-US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair warns of China role in Argentina contract bid

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast has warned U.S. Secretary ‌of State Marco Rubio of "Chinese malign influence" in a bid for a major contract in Argentina, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The April 23 ‌letter concerns an auction for a 25-year contract to dredge and operate Argentina's Parana River, a vital waterway for most of the country's agricultural exports, that Argentina estimates will reach $10 billion in investment.

Trump says more late night talk show hosts to depart after Colbert exit

President Donald Trump said on Friday that more late-night talk shows will depart after he praised the end of CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Trump has ​repeatedly pressured the Federal Communications Commission to strip broadcast networks of their licenses, called on Walt Disney to fire ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel and urged Comcast's NBC to fire host Seth Meyers.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)