Trump regime

NY Times  -  The White House is seeking to exert more control over billions of dollars in annual government grants, aiming to restrict a vast swath of funding — in health, housing, science and transportation — so that it primarily serves the purposes and organizations politically aligned with President Trump.

While the administration says that its primary goal is to safeguard taxpayer money, its proposal amounts to a major escalation in its attempt to reimagine the nation’s spending, even as Congress and the courts continue to rebuke the president for abusing such powers.

Mr. Trump’s ambitions were made clear in a roughly 400-page blueprint that was released to little fanfare on Friday. If finalized, it would require all federal grants to be approved by the president’s political appointees, who must ensure that the money would “demonstrably advance the president’s policy priorities.”

Shortlysts -  The Trump administration has proposed a new initiative to reduce federal firearm regulations, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives proposing dozens of rule changes affecting gun sales, transportation, and licensing.

Among the most notable proposals is the repeal of a Biden-era rule that expanded the definition of who qualifies as a gun dealer. That rule was intended to require more firearm sellers to obtain federal licenses and conduct background checks. The administration is also proposing changes that critics say would make it harder for regulators to revoke dealers' licenses for violating federal rules.

A separate proposal from the U.S. Postal Service would allow lawful handgun owners to mail handguns under certain conditions. The change follows a Justice Department legal opinion that questioned the constitutionality of a federal restriction dating back nearly a century.