Trump news: White House celebrates ‘big win’ in Supreme Court birth control ruling as US hits 3m coronavirus cases
Administration pushes for schools to reopen in fall despite surging infection rates
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White House officials boasted a "big win" in the US Supreme Court's birth control ruling, which stated employers were not required to provide employees with contraceptives in their health coverage if it went against their religious beliefs.
The administration – which rolled back an Affordable Care Act policy that aimed to expand women's healthcare – marks a significant blow to the landmark Obama-era legislation as Donald Trump seeks the court's ruling to overturn the entire law.
Meanwhile, the president has threatened to cut school funding for areas that refuse to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, adding he disagrees with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “very tough” and “expensive” guidelines.
The White House coronavirus task force – without Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert – announced that the agency would release revised guidelines following the president's threats.
Total coronavirus infections in the US have surged past 3 million, with 1 million cases identified within the last month alone.
Hospitals in states like Florida and Texas are reporting limited capacity in their hospital intensive care units, and rising infection rates have signalled to health officials that the virus is spreading. In Arizona, as many as one in four tests are returning positive.
Meanwhile, key impeachment witness Alexander Vindman has announced his retirement from the army by citing “intimidation” led by Mr Trump.
”The president of the United States attempted to force Lieutenant Colonel Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a president,” said Lt Col Vindman’s lawayer, accusing the president of a "campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation".
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Key impeachment witness Alexander Vindman to retire from army over 'intimidation' led by Trump
"The president of the United States attempted to force Lieutenant Colonel Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a president. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers," his attorney David Pressman said in a statement to CNN.
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Trump boasts strong economy as coronavirus cases continue to soar
Donald Trump shared his enthusiasm over job numbers increasing and stocks rallying this week.
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Cuomo attacks Trump's threat to cut school funding if districts don't reopen in the fall
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has responded to Donald Trump's threat to cut federal funding for schools that refuse to reopen in the fall.
The governor said New York would make its decision in August on if schools would remain online or reopen pending the coronavirus pandemic, adding it was not up to the federal government.
He said the state "will reopen if it's safe" and would be looking at all the data that first week in August when making the decision.
Trump administration can allow employers to deny birth control, Supreme Court rules
The US Supreme Court has sided with a policy under Donald Trump's administration that allows employers with religious or moral objections to limit access to birth control.
Alex Woodward with the breaking news:
United States hits 3 million coronavirus cases
The United States has reported 3 million coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic in March, according to Johns Hopkins University.
This grim milestone comes as more states are reporting a surge in cases instead of declining numbers. ICU beds in states like Texas and Florida have reached capacity in some hospitals, concerning healthcare professionals about how they will treat any future patients.
Despite a surge in cases, Donald Trump has doubled down on states continuing their reopen plans, including opening schools come August.
Pence says 'it's time' to get kids back to school, adding CDC will release new guidelines
Vice President Mike Pence, a member of the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, addressed the issue with schools reopening in the fall during a press briefing on Wednesday.
He said the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will now release new guidelines after Donald Trump called the current ones "very tough" and "expensive".
"We're absolutely determined to work in partnership with our states to give the guidance for states and communities to be able to safely reopen our schools," Mr Pence said.
The new guidelines would be "part of a five-part series of recommendations that will give all new tools to our schools," he added.
Earlier on Wednesday Mr Trump threatened to cut the federal funding of any school or district that refused to reopen in the fall. The president also pushed for schools reopening earlier in the week.
"As the President made clear yesterday it's time. It's time for us to get our kids back to school," Mr Pence said.
Pence says government will be 'respectful' of schools that decide not to reopen
Vice President Mike Pence appeared to walk back the threat Donald Trump made earlier on Wednesday about denying funding for schools unable to reopen in the fall.
A reporter asked the vice president how the White House Coronavirus Task Force would handle schools that were in areas with a surge of Covid-19 cases, which is when he went slightly against what the president said.
"I think we would account for the fact that while we hope every school in America opens this fall, there may be some that...adjust to either a certain set of days or limitations. And we'll be respectful of that," he said.
Mr Pence mentioned how states control about 90 per cent of their own school budget while the federal government contributes to about 10 per cent of that budget. This fact seemingly hinted that Mr Trump's threat would not harm schools if implemented.
United Airlines sending layoff notices to nearly half of US employees
United Airline officials announced on Wednesday that the company will send layoff notices to 36,000 of its employees. That number accounts for nearly half of the airline's US staff.
Company officials said the 36,000 number was a worst case scenario and that they hope United can curb some of the layoffs by offering early retirement to qualifying employees.
The cuts will include 15,000 flight attendants, 11,000 customer service and gate agents, 5,500 maintenance workers and 2,250 pilots. Layoffs could begin as early as 1 October.
Full report here:
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