This week’s federal policy roundup covers public health, immigration enforcement, voting rights, and civil liberties. From new executive efforts seeking greater federal control over children’s medical care to a nationwide injunction blocking the mail-voting executive order ahead of November to a new policy restricting advance parole travel, this week’s developments reflect consequential shifts in federal policy impacting families, communities, and democratic processes. Stay informed and learn more on our website.
Executive Order Seeks to Restructure Childhood Vaccine Recommendations
President Trump signed an executive order August 10 directing federal agencies to promote a revised childhood vaccine schedule seeking to reduce the number and timing of childhood vaccine recommendations. The order, however, does not change the federal recommended vaccine schedule because the president does not have that authority. Only the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director has the authority to issue such recommendations, and those must be informed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Medical organizations continue to recommend the established schedule. The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) called the executive order “unscientific and dangerous” and echoed other medical organizations in rejecting comments falsely linking autism to vaccines. The administration’s actions may continue increasing parental reluctance to fully vaccinate their children as the country is experiencing outbreaks of deadly, preventable diseases, including the highest number of Measles cases in 35 years.
At least 28 states and the District of Columbia have adopted or begun using vaccine guidance independent of the CDC, which may produce greater variation across states. Previous attempts to bypass the regular vaccine recommendation process by the president and members of the administration remain blocked by a court while it hears an ongoing lawsuit.
Advance Parole Travel Can Now Trigger Reentry Bars For Some Immigrants
On August 13, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) held that leaving the country on advance parole is a departure under immigration law, overturning its 2012 holding to the contrary. This impacts noncitizen immigrants who require applying for an advance parole document to travel abroad, including some with a pending green card or asylum applications or who have DACA or TPS. The ruling applies only to people who accumulated more than 180 days of unlawful presence before the trip, such as time after an authorized stay ended or after entering without inspection. For them, the departure triggers a three-year bar on admission if the unlawful presence was under one year and a ten-year bar if longer than one year. During that period, the government must deny a green card or visa application unless it approves a waiver. Potentially impacted people should seek legal advice before traveling. The ruling applies to trips taken after August 13, 2026.
Federal Court Blocks Mail-Voting Executive Order Nationwide
A federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction August 11 barring the United States Postal Service (USPS) from implementing President Trump’s March executive order on voting. The order seeks to require states to provide the USPS with lists of voters approved to vote by mail, giving the federal executive branch a role in determining which ballots would be delivered. The judge found voting rights groups likely to prove the order exceeds presidential authority, as the Constitution only allows Congress to change how states administer elections. The ruling expands a June decision that had blocked implementation in 23 states and Washington, D.C., to apply nationwide while litigation continues. In response, the Trump administration on Wednesday again asked the Supreme Court to intervene on its emergency docket as it had done last month after the earlier injunction. Unless it is overturned, the ruling preserves existing state and local mail-voting procedures fewer than 90 days before the November 3 midterm elections, limiting the risk that last-minute federal changes could disrupt ballot delivery or voter access.
Senate Confirms Attorney General, Labor Board Members, and Dozens of Other Nominees
The Senate confirmed dozens of presidential nominees before it went on recess last weekend. Todd Blanche was sworn in as attorney general on Monday after being confirmed by the Senate in a 50-49 vote Saturday. Blanche had served as acting attorney general since April and was President Trump’s private criminal defense attorney before joining the administration. His confirmation intensifies concerns about the Justice Department’s independence and the potential politicization of federal law enforcement. The Senate also confirmed James Macy and David Prouty to the five-member National Labor Relations Board, filling all five seats and giving Republican members the three votes traditionally required to overturn existing board precedent. The new majority could reverse labor policies supporting union organizing and change how federal law applies to union elections and employer conduct. The broader confirmation package of 74 nominees includes Cameron Hamilton as the first permanent FEMA administrator of Trump’s second term, along with leadership positions across several federal agencies.
ORR Awards Contract for Unaccompanied Children’s Legal Services to Our Rescue
On August 7, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) awarded Our Rescue a no-bid contract valued at up to $244 million to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children in federal custody. Our Rescue presents itself as anti-human trafficking operations and reported approximately $36.9 million in assets in 2025, a fraction of the contract’s maximum value. The organization was founded by Tim Ballard, who resigned in 2023 and faces ongoing lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and forced labor. It remains unclear how Our Rescue will pivot its work to immigration, how many children it will represent, or when services will begin. The award follows ORR’s decision to end its contract with the Acacia Center for Justice, which coordinated nearly 100 legal organizations representing approximately 26,000 children. A federal judge ordered the administration to pay $65 million owed to those organizations for services already provided and has required the administration to report how it is maintaining legal services for children. Burke Law Group, a small Texas firm with no immigration law experience, had also been selected for a separate no-bid contract but later withdrew from consideration.
State Department Reports Revoking More Than 175,000 Visas
The State Department announced Monday it has revoked a record 175,000 visas during the Trump administration’s first 18 months. A visa revocation can prevent entry into the country or contribute to removal proceedings, but it does not automatically determine whether or not someone may remain. The limited case-level information released makes it difficult to assess how many revocations were based on convictions, pending accusations, or protected expression, raising concerns about the use of visa authority to penalize lawful speech without clear or consistent standards.
Administration Ends Medicaid and CHIP Funding for Some Transgender Youth Healthcare
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a rule Tuesday, set to take effect in October, that prohibits federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for certain types of gender-affirming care for minors. Patients already receiving certain types of therapy may retain coverage for up to six months to taper off treatment. States may continue providing covering using state funds but will no longer receive federal matching payments, leaving low-income families with few affordable alternatives if their state does not replace the funding. Major medical organizations including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics recognize gender-affirming care as medically necessary, and more than 90 percent of the nearly 35,000 public comments received opposed the rule. Civil rights organizations have announced plans to challenge rule in court. The rule could also set a broader precedent to use federal reimbursement authority to exclude other forms of medical care that clinicians and major medical organizations consider appropriate.