PHOTO: Trump signing order for review of Dodd-Frank Act introduced after 2008 financial meltdown
The developments around Day 15 of the Trump Administration:
*A federal judge in Washington State blocks blocks the Administration’s “Muslim Ban”, suspending the visas of citizens of seven mainly-Muslim countries.
The ruling by Judge James Robart is the first to be applied to the entire country. The White House said immmediately that it will appeal the “outrageous” decision.
Airlines were told by Customs and Border Protection that passengers with the visas can again be seated.
The State Department says more than 60,000 visas were cancelled by the January 27 executive order.
See als0 US VideoCast: Muslim Ban — Will Trump Fold or Go All-In?
Lawyers and a Congressional staffer say “senior Trump administration officials” hindered access by lawyers to those detained at airports last weekend.
The sources said the Administration instructed guards at Washington’s Dulles Airport to give travelers phone numbers of legal services organizations, ignoring a mass of lawyers who had gathered at the airport. Most of the legal services offices were closed for the weekend, effectively preventing permanent residents from obtaining legal advice.
*Trump begins his effort to shred regulations instituted after the 2008 financial meltdown, announcing a review of the Dodd-Frank Act which consolidated agencies and strengthened oversight and transparency.
Trump also effectively halts a Labor Department rule that requires brokers to act in a client’s best interest, rather than seek the highest profits — while increasing risk — on investments.
*A staffer says Trump wants female personnel to “dress like women”.
Twitter users immediately respond with #DressLikeAWoman, celebrating gender, individual choice, and political responsibility.
Bring your baby. Teach her to vote. Teach her to govern. Dress like Licia Ronzulli in European Parliment. #DressLikeAWoman pic.twitter.com/t3jNEPVaC2
— smoze (@sarahmozal) February 3, 2017
*The Republican-majority House of Representatives continues its effort to roll back environmental regulations, voting to overturn a rule limiting methane emissions.
The Senate passes a bill to lower emission limits on drilling.
The Senate also approves the end of requirements for energy companies to disclose payments to foreign governments, amid uncertainty over who purchased 19.5% of Russia’s energy giant Rozneft in December.
*The US Treasury imposes sanctions on another 25 Iranian individuals and companies, amid the Trump Administration’s criticism of Iran’s ballistic missile testing.
See Iran Daily, Feb 4: Amid New US Sanctions, Tehran Stands By Missile Tests
*The Federal Communications Commission continues to block nine companies from providing subsidized Internet access to the poor.
The program, known as Lifeline, provides registered households with a $9.25-a-month credit for Internet service. Up to 13 million Americans are eligible, with about 900 service providers participating.
*The White House is trying to establish who leaked information about Trump’s calls with Australian and Mexican leaders.
Multiple officials provided embarrassing information about Trump’s heated comments to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last Saturday, which reportedly ended with Trump hanging up after 25 minutes.
See US Feature: TrumpWatch, Day 13
Trump also told Mexican President Ernesto Peña Nieto that the US might send troops to deal with the “bad hombres down there” if Mexican authorities did not act.
*The Chief of Information Security at the White House has been forced to resign, according to multiple reports.
The reports say other personnel attached to White House security, cyber-security, and information security were also dismissed and escorted out of the Executive Office Building.