Trump sues to block release of White House papers
Former President Donald Trump on Monday sued Congress and the National Archives, seeking to block the disclosure of White House files related to his actions and communications surrounding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. A lawyer for Trump argued that the materials must remain secret as a matter of executive privilege. He said the Constitution gives the former president the right to demand their confidentiality even though he is no longer in office — and even though President Joe Biden has refused to assert executive privilege over them. The lawsuit touches off what is likely to be a major legal battle.
FDA to allow ‘mix and match’ approach
The Food and Drug Administration is planning to allow Americans to receive a different COVID-19 vaccine as a booster than the one they initially received, a move that could reduce the appeal of the Johnson &Johnson vaccine and provide flexibility to doctors and other vaccinators. The government would not recommend one shot over another, and it might note that using the same vaccine as a booster when possible is preferable, people familiar with the agency’s planning said. But vaccine providers could use their discretion to offer a different brand, a freedom state health officials have been requesting for weeks.
Justice Dept. asks Supreme Court to block abortion law
In a forceful brief filed Monday, the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court to temporarily block a Texas law that bans most abortions in the state while a legal challenge moves forward, calling the law “plainly unconstitutional.” Leaving the law in effect, the brief said, would allow Texas to flout a half-century of Supreme Court precedents that forbid states from banning abortions before fetal viability, or about 22-24 weeks into a pregnancy. The challenged law, called Senate Bill 8, has been in force since the beginning of September and effectively bars abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy.
Biden plans new regulations for ‘Forever Chemicals’
The Biden administration Monday said it would require chemical manufacturers to test and publicly report the amount of a family of chemicals known as PFAS that is contained in household items like tape, nonstick pans and stain-resistant furniture, the first step toward reducing their presence in drinking water. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS, refers to more than 4,000 man-made chemicals that are often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment. Exposure to the chemicals has been linked to certain cancers, weakened immunity, thyroid disease and other health effects.
By The New York Times
© 2021 The New York Times Company
