A string of recent moves by the current administration—including federal layoffs, prosecutorial shifts, and regulatory changes—raises legal and constitutional questions about the evolving relationship between the executive branch and the rule of law.

And Democrats keep their foot on the gas in opposition to the recently passed "Big, Beautiful" spending bill.Here are the top stories involving the U.S. government this past week.Tariff talks return to forefrontPresident Donald Trump again pushed back the deadline on his so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs,

A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a contentious executive order ending birthright citizenship after certifying a lawsuit as a class action, effectively the only way he could impose such a far-reaching limit after a Supreme Court ruling last month.

Senator Dick Durbin has said the messages appear to support claims that the Trump administration defied court orders.

The U.S. government's decision to appeal the Perkins Coie ruling could foreshadow its next move in the other three law firm executive order cases.